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(11) | EP 0 066 555 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Foot washing machine |
| (57) Foot-washing machine comprising a watertight container 1 with an outlet 2, a cover
3, a water inlet faucet 8 with a soap feeding device 9, an opening with an elastic
sheath 7 for insertion of the foot and in the interior of container 1 four rotating
brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 arranged according to a quadrangle for the brushing and washing
of feet (one drawing). |
Foot-washing machine
[0003] On the contrary, up to now people washed their feet manually which is very unpleasant and little comfortable.
[0004] Furthermore, obviously there is a necessity for service personnel in hospitals or similar institutions to frequently wash the feet of patients, if these people are unable to do so personally.
[0005] It is also known that certain people perspire especially at their and that they have to wash them every day which constitutes a not indifferent burden.
[0006] Purpose of the present invention is the creation of a machine which is capable of washing feet automatically without the need for manual intervention, simply inserting the foot into a purposely prepared case for the relevant washing.
[0007] To this purpose and in accordance with the characteristics of this invention, as can be seen from the attached claims, the foot-washing machine consists in a case containing a plurality of mobile brushes which are arranged in such a way as to receive the foot and to brush it, while a simultaneous sprinkling of water and soap and subsequently only of water is taking place.
[0008] The above-mentioned characteristics however, will be better understood and become evident, and others will appear from the subsequent detailed specification of an embodiment by means of the attached drawings in which a sectional view can be seen in lateral projection on a vertical plane of a foot-washing machine in a preferred example of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] From the figure of the attached drawing it can be seen that the foot-washing machine consists essentially of a watertight container 1 with at least an outlet 2 at the bottom and a cover 3 on top which can be closed hermetically with means known in the art, prefer- rably with hooks of the turnbuckle type 4 and a watertight washer 5.
[0010] On its top, cover 3 shows an opening 6 including a device as a suction cup or an elastic joint 7, preferably in segments in such a way that it closes around the calf of the leg in order to avoid leaking of the water; a faucet 8 is foreseen on the side of said opening 6, still on cover 3, for permitting the water to enter in a jet into the interior of container 1 suitably directed or to be directed and possibly supplied with an automatic or semiautomatic distributor 9 of soap, preferably liquid, which can be fed to the container by ejection.
[0011] In the interior of container 1 a support 10 is preferably foreseen to rest foot 11 on it, and around the foot are preferably installed four brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 which are arranged according to their numbering in anti-cloockwise direction according to a quadrangle and they rotate all in anti- clockwise direction; it is, however, foreseen that 12 and 13 are arranged closer to 14 and 15 in order to permit insertion of foot 11 oriented towards the right.
[0012] The brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 are obviously supported on the lateral walls of container 1 by respective watertight rotation axles and these axles will extend towards the exterior in a closed container in order to avoid accidents where the motor and the transmission are attached to these brushes.
[0013] The brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 will rotate preferably at the same speed and will have a suitable diameter for convenient treatment of the foot, while the rotation of these brushes can be pre-arranged or varied or adjusted in function of the type of service and of the major efficiency for washing.
[0014] The supports of the brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 can obviously be of an elastic type or the brushes themselves can be sufficiently elastic to permit an adequate clearance of foot 11 betweeen those brushes for the purpose of washing.
[0015] In a not shown variant the rotating brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 can be in a lower or higher number and some of them or all can be substituted with alternative brushes.
[0016] According to a further not shown variant the foot-washing machine can be produced only as a simple container in the interior of which are arranged a plurality of rotating brushes without water inlets or outlets. This embodiment can be used for instance at the borders of swimming pools where the user can clean his feet already wet from the shower or during a preceding swim before a subsequent plunge again into the water.
1. A foot-washing machine characterized by the fact that it comprises:
a watertight container (1) with at least one outlet (2) and an upper watertight cover (3) to be opened or closed and on top of which is foreseen at least one opening of access (6,7) for the foot (11) of a person to be subjected to washing, the container (1) being of such dimensions as to easily receive in its interior said foot (11);
brushes (12, 13, 14, 15) arranged in the interior of the container (1) and driven mechanically and arranged conveniently to brush the whole surface of the foot to be subjected to washing and inserted in container (1) with possible cooperation of the motion;
means for the inlet of water (8) with possible means of inlet of soap or detergent (9) for relevant washing in cooperation with said brushing means (12, 13, 14, 15).
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said brushing means
(12, 13, 14, 15) consist of a plurality of rotating brushes suitably arranged to determine
the brushing of the whole surface of the foot (11) subjected to washing.
3. Foot-washing machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said
brushing means (12, 13, 14, 15) comprise at least a shaped brush provided with alternative
rotatory or circular movement.
4. Foot-washing machine according to any of the preceding claims characterized by
the fact that said brushing means comprise at least one rotating brush of cylindrical
form or possibly shaped periferically concave to receive a convex part centrally of
the foot or of the calf of the foot or of the ankle.
5. Foot-washing machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that
said access opening (6) on cover (3) for foot (11) is equipped with an elastic closing
device and is shaped (7) in order to avoid the leakage of liquid towards the exterior
during washing in the interior of container (1).
6. Foot-washing machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that
said inlet device of water (8) and/or soap (9) is arranged in the upper part of cover
(3) and presents a jet of liquid directed towards the brush devices for the washing
of foot (11).
7. Foot-washing machine according to claims 1 and/or 2, characterized by the fact
that the brushing devices are four wheels of brushes (12, 13, 14, 15) arranged according
to the four corners of a quadrangle conveniently spaced between the axles to receive
between the two upper ones the passage of the foot (11), while underneath is foreseen
a supporting device between theslower couple of brushes (13/14).
8. Machine for brushing the feet, characterized by the fact that it comprises:
a container with at least one outlet of liquid and an upper cover which can be opened and closed and on the top of which is foreseen at least one opening of access for the wet foot of a person subjected to cleaning, said container being of such dimensions that it can easily receive in its interior the wet foot:
brushing means arranged in the interior of said container which are mechanically driven and conveniently arranged for the purpose of brushing the foot all over its surface when inserted in said container with the possible cooperation of its motion;
motor means suitable to confer the necessary motion to said brushing means.