US20150189966A1

US20150189966A1 - Automatic hair and body cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20150189966A1
Application number: US14/151,723
Authority: US
Inventors: Nancy Y. KIM
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-09
Filing date: 2014-01-09
Publication date: 2015-07-09

Abstract

An automatic hair cleansing apparatus include a chamber, water nozzles, a brush, drier nozzles, and an enclosing curtain. The chamber is for enclosing a portion of a head of user. The water nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the chamber. The brush is installed on the inner surface of the chamber. The drier nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the chamber. The enclosing curtain extends from the inner surface of the chamber, encloses a first portion of the head of the user including the hairs, and prevents water and soap bubbles from leaking to a second portion of the head of the user other than the first portion. Flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the hairs of the user automatically.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for automatic cleansing of human body parts or whole body. More particularly, this invention relates to devices, in which the various cleansing functions are provided automatically and conveniently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hygiene is very important for every one. It is important to normal and healthy people. And, of course, it is much more important to unhealthy people, patients who have difficulties to move alone. Or, even for healthy people, automatic cleansing services may be provided conveniently in some commercial environments. Also, such services can be combined preferably with conventional ones.
Accordingly, a need for such a deice has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.
An object of the invention is to provide automatic cleansing apparatuses.
The automatic hair cleansing apparatus comprises a chamber, a plurality of water nozzles, a brush, a plurality of drier nozzles, and an enclosing curtain.
The chamber is configured for enclosing a portion of a head of user and comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and a connecting neck portion.
The plurality of water nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to eject water inward.
The brush is installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean hairs of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners.
The plurality of drier nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the hairs of the user.
The enclosing curtain extends from the inner surface of the chamber, encloses a first portion of the head of the user including the hairs, and prevents water and soap bubbles from leaking to a second portion of the head of the user other than the first portion.
Flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the hairs of the user automatically.
The chamber may have a shape of a helmet.
The connecting neck portion may be configured to contain pipes for the water, the soap, and the warm air, and wherein the connecting neck portion comprises an adjustable gooseneck structure so as to be positioned freely around the head of the user.
The apparatus may further comprise water-controlling device for controlling flow and temperature of the water through the water nozzles.
Each of the plurality of water nozzles may be configured to protrude from a first position to a second position by a predetermined length and retreat.
The brush may comprise a plurality of resilient straps, and the brush is configured to rotate, extract, and retreat for soaping and washing of the hairs.
The brush may have a shape or ball or disc.
Flow and temperature of the warm air from the drier nozzles may be controllable.
The enclosing curtain may comprise an elastic band along an edge thereof adapted to wrap tightly around the head of the user.
The apparatus may further comprise a controller configured to control behaviors of the apparatus, and the behaviors comprise soaking, soaping, washing, rinsing, drying, controlling the flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air, and controlling the temperatures of the water, the liquid soap, and the warm air.
Some of the plurality of water nozzles may be grouped together.
The grouped water nozzles may form a circular center and a plurality of triangular petals extending from and tilted away from the circular center.
The brush may further comprise one or more massaging rollers disposed therein, and the one or more massaging rollers are configured to be controlled to perform massaging functions while brushing and cleaning the hairs.
The brush may still further comprise one or more heaters therein, and the one or more heaters are configured to be controlled to warm the brush while brushing and cleaning the hairs.
Another aspect of the invention provides an automatic body cleansing apparatus.
The automatic body cleansing apparatus comprises a cylindrical chamber, a plurality of water nozzles, a plurality of brushes, a plurality of drier nozzles, and enclosing curtains.
The cylindrical chamber is configured for enclosing a portion of a body of user and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface.
The plurality of water nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to eject water inward.
The plurality of brushes are installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to issue liquid soap, brush, and clean the body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners.
The plurality of drier nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
The enclosing curtains are configured for enclosing one or more open end portions of the cylindrical chamber and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out of inside of the cylindrical chamber.
Flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the body of the user automatically.
Some of the plurality of water nozzles may be grouped together.
Still another aspect of the invention provides an automatic body cleansing chair.
The automatic body cleansing chair comprises a chair portion, a plurality of first water nozzles, a plurality of first brushes, a plurality of first drier nozzles, and an enclosing room.
The chair portion is configured for a user's sitting thereon and comprising a front surface and a rear surface. The plurality of first water nozzles are installed on the front surface of the chair portion and configured to eject water.
The plurality of first brushes are installed on the front surface of the chair portion and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean a body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners.
The plurality of first drier nozzles are installed on the front surface of the chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
The enclosing room is configured for enclosing the chair portion having the plurality of water nozzles, the plurality of brushes, and the plurality of drier nozzles, and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out to outside thereof.
Flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the body of the user automatically.
The automatic body cleansing chair may further comprising a plurality of second water nozzles, a plurality of second brushes, and a plurality of second drier nozzles.
The plurality of second water nozzles are installed on an inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to eject water.
The plurality of second brushes are installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean a body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners.
The plurality of second drier nozzles are installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
Some of the plurality of first or second water nozzles may be grouped together on an extractable tube.
Some of the plurality of first or second drier nozzles may be grouped together on an extractable tube.
The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the device performs functions for automatic cleansing on a human body; and (2) the device can be applied to many different situations.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic hair cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view showing the automatic hair cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an automatic body cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective front view showing an automatic cleaning chair according to still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-4 show automatic cleaning devices according to embodiments of the invention.
An aspect of the invention provides an automatic hair cleansing apparatus 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The automatic hair cleansing apparatus 100 comprises a chamber 10, a plurality of water nozzles 20, a brush 30, a plurality of drier nozzles 40, and an enclosing curtain 50.
The chamber 10 is configured for enclosing a portion of a head of user 90 and comprising an inner surface 12, an outer surface 14, and a connecting neck portion 16.
The plurality of water nozzles 20 are installed on the inner surface 12 of the chamber 10 and configured to eject water inward.
The brush 30 is installed on the inner surface 12 of the chamber 10 and configured to issue liquid soap and/or rinse and brush and clean hairs of the user 90 in a plurality of predetermined manners. The plurality of predetermined manners may include a water-only cleaning, a short-time cleaning, a medium-time cleaning, a long-time cleaning, rinsing only, etc.
The plurality of drier nozzles 40 are installed on the inner surface of the chamber 10 and configured to blow warm air and dry the hairs of the user 90 as shown in FIG. 1.
The enclosing curtain 50 extends from the inner surface 12 of the chamber 10, encloses a first portion of the head of the user 90 including the hairs, and prevents water and soap bubbles from leaking to a second portion of the head of the user other than the first portion. The first portion may include part of or entire hair portion, and the second portion may include the forehead and the neck of the user 90.
Flows of water through the water nozzles 20, the liquid soap through the brush 30, and the warm air through the drier nozzles 40 are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the hairs of the user automatically.
The chamber 10 may have a shape of a helmet. However, its shape is not limited to that. It can have any shape such as a box, for example.
The connecting neck portion 16 may be configured to contain pipes (not shown) for the water, the soap, and the warm air, and the connecting neck portion 16 may comprise an adjustable gooseneck structure so as to be positioned freely around the head of the user 90. And, of course, the pipes are connected to the plurality of water nozzles 20, the brush 30, and the plurality of drier nozzles 40, so as to provide the water, the soap and/or rinse, and the warm air.
The apparatus 100 may further comprise water-controlling device 70 for controlling flow and temperature of the water through the water nozzles as shown in FIG. 2. Of course, the water-controlling device 70 can be expanded to include further functions for controlling flow or amount of the warm air, shampoo, or rinse. The water-controlling device 70 can be provided separately and connected to the helmet 10, or alternatively it can be provided integrally with the helmet 10 itself. Still in another embodiment, it can be provided separately and connected wireless to the apparatus 100.
Each of the plurality of water nozzles 20 may be configured to protrude from a first position (attached to the inside wall of the helmet 10) to a second position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) by a predetermined length and retreat. And their positions can be controlled or selected on the water-controlling device 70.
The brush 30 may comprise a plurality of resilient straps as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and the brush 30 is configured to rotate, extract, and retreat for soaping and washing of the hairs.
The brush 30 may have an overall shape or ball or disc.
Flow and temperature of the warm air from the drier nozzles 40 may be controllable through the water-controlling device 70.
The enclosing curtain 50 may comprise an elastic band 52 along an edge thereof adapted to wrap tightly around the head of the user 90 as shown in FIG. 2.
The apparatus 100 may further comprise a controller 80 configured to control behaviors of the apparatus 100, and the behaviors comprise soaking, soaping, washing, rinsing, drying, controlling the flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air, and controlling the temperatures of the water, the liquid soap, and the warm air as shown in FIG. 2.
Some of the plurality of water nozzles 20 may be grouped together as shown in FIG. 1.
The grouped water nozzles 20 may form a circular center 22 and a plurality of triangular petals 24 extending from and tilted away from the circular center as shown in FIG. 2.
Another aspect of the invention provides an automatic body cleansing apparatus 200 as shown in FIG. 3.
The automatic body cleansing apparatus 200 comprises a cylindrical chamber 210, a plurality of water nozzles 20, a plurality of brushes 30, a plurality of drier nozzles 40, and enclosing curtains 50.
The cylindrical chamber 210 is configured for enclosing a portion of a body of user (not shown) and comprising an inner surface 212 and an outer surface 214.
The user can lie down through the cylindrical chamber 210 with his or her head and feet exposed outside both ends thereof.
The plurality of water nozzles 20 are installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber 210 and configured to eject water inward, so as to soak the body of the user.
The plurality of brushes 30 are installed on the inner surface 212 of the cylindrical chamber 210 and configured to issue liquid soap, brush, and clean the body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners. The plurality of predetermined manners may include a water-only cleaning, a short-time cleaning, a medium-time cleaning, a long-time cleaning, rinsing only, etc. And the plurality of predetermined manners may be selected and controlled by a controller 80 as in the previous embodiment. Of course, the controller 80 can control the operations of the water nozzles and the brushes coordinatingly.
The plurality of drier nozzles 40 are installed on the inner surface 212 of the cylindrical chamber 210 and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
The enclosing curtains 50 are configured for enclosing one or more open end portions of the cylindrical chamber 210 and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out of inside of the cylindrical chamber 210.
In the illustrated embodiment, one of the two enclosing curtains 50 is for the feet of the user. However, the one for the feet can be replaced with a closed end, so as to contain the feet inside the cylindrical chamber 210.
Flows of water through the water nozzles 20, the liquid soap through the brush 30, and the warm air through the drier nozzles 40 are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the body of the user automatically.
Some of the plurality of water nozzles 20 may be grouped together as illustrated.
Still another aspect of the invention provides an automatic body cleansing chair 300 as shown in FIG. 4.
The automatic body cleansing chair 300 comprises a chair portion 310, a plurality of first water nozzles 320, a plurality of first brushes 330, a plurality of first drier nozzles 340, and an enclosing room 350.
The chair portion 310 is configured for a user's sitting thereon and comprising a front surface 312 and a rear surface 314.
The plurality of first water nozzles 320 are installed on the front surface 312 of the chair portion 310 and configured to eject water to the body surface of the user (not shown).
The plurality of first brushes 320 are installed on the front surface 312 of the chair portion 310 and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean the body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners, which may include the different ways as in the previous embodiments.
The plurality of first drier nozzles 340 are installed on the front surface 312 of the chamber 310 and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
The enclosing room 350 is configured for enclosing the chair portion 310 having the plurality of water nozzles 320, the plurality of brushes 330, and the plurality of drier nozzles 340, and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out to outside thereof.
Flows of water through the water nozzles 320, the liquid soap through the brush 330, and the warm air through the drier nozzles 340 are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the body of the user automatically.
The automatic body cleansing chair 300 may further comprising a plurality of second water nozzles 322, a plurality of second brushes 332, and a plurality of second drier nozzles 342 as shown in FIG. 4.
The plurality of second water nozzles 322 are installed on an inner surface of the enclosing room 350 and configured to eject water.
The plurality of second brushes 332 are installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room 350 and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean a body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners.
The plurality of second drier nozzles 342 are installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room 350 and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.
Some of the plurality of first or second water nozzles 320, 322 may be grouped together on extractable tubes.
Some of the plurality of first or second drier nozzles 340, 342 may be grouped together on extractable tubes.
In certain embodiment, the enclosing room 350 may include a door and one or more windows (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 4, the automatic body cleansing chair 300 may be combined or installed in a place with the automatic hair cleansing apparatus 100, such that the user can make the body and the hairs washed automatically at the same time.
By the same token, the automatic hair cleansing apparatus 100 can be combined with the automatic body cleansing apparatus 200 in FIG. 3.
Also, each of the automatic body cleansing apparatus 200 and the automatic body cleansing chair 300 may further include something like the connecting neck portion 16 configured to contain pipes (not shown) for supplying the water, the soap, and the warm air as in the automatic hair cleansing apparatus 100.
In certain embodiments, the brush 30 may further comprise one or more massaging rollers 32 disposed therein, and the one or more massaging rollers 32 are configured to be controlled to perform massaging functions while brushing and cleaning the hairs.
The brush 30 may still further comprise one or more heaters 34 therein, and the one or more heaters 34 are configured to be controlled to warm the brush while brushing and cleaning the hairs.
Since the one or more massaging rollers 32 and the one or more heaters 34 are installed in the brush 30, the brushing or cleaning functions of the brush 30 can be facilitated further.
In certain embodiments, the one or more massaging rollers 32 and the one or more heaters 34 are controlled by the controllers 70, 80. These features are applied to all the embodiments of the invention. The features are omitted in some of the figures.
Since the one or more massaging rollers 32, the one or more heaters 34, and their control are well known to the community, the details thereof are omitted here.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic hair cleansing apparatus comprising:

a chamber configured for enclosing a portion of a head of user and comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and a connecting neck portion;

a plurality of water nozzles installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to eject water inward;

a brush installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean hairs of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners;

a plurality of drier nozzles installed on the inner surface of the chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the hairs of the user; and

an enclosing curtain extending from the inner surface of the chamber, enclosing a first portion of the head of the user including the hairs, and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking to a second portion of the head of the user other than the first portion,

wherein flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the hairs of the user automatically.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber has a shape of a helmet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connecting neck portion is configured to contain pipes for the water, the soap, and the warm air, and wherein the connecting neck portion comprises an adjustable gooseneck structure so as to be positioned freely around the head of the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising water-controlling device for controlling flow and temperature of the water through the water nozzles.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the each of the plurality of water nozzles is configured to protrude from a first position to a second position by a predetermined length and retreat.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush comprises a plurality of resilient straps, and the brush is configured to rotate, extract, and retreat for soaping and washing of the hairs.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the brush has a shape or ball or disc.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein flow and temperature of the warm air from the drier nozzles are controllable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosing curtain comprises an elastic band along an edge thereof adapted to wrap tightly around the head of the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control behaviors of the apparatus, wherein the behaviors comprise soaking, soaping, washing, rinsing, drying, controlling the flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air, and controlling the temperatures of the water, the liquid soap, and the warm air.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of water nozzles are grouped together.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the grouped water nozzles form a circular center and a plurality of triangular petals extending from and tilted away from the circular center.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the brush further comprises one or more massaging rollers disposed therein, wherein the one or more massaging rollers are configured to be controlled to perform massaging functions while brushing and cleaning the hairs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the brush further comprises one or more heaters therein, wherein the one or more heaters are configured to be controlled to warm the brush while brushing and cleaning the hairs.

15. An automatic body cleansing apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical chamber configured for enclosing a portion of a body of user and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;

a plurality of water nozzles installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to eject water inward;

a plurality of brushes installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to issue liquid soap, brush, and clean the body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners;

a plurality of drier nozzles installed on the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user; and

enclosing curtains for enclosing one or more open end portions of the cylindrical chamber and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out of inside of the cylindrical chamber,

wherein flows of water through the water nozzles, the liquid soap through the brush, and the warm air are controlled so as to soak, soap, wash, and dry the body of the user automatically.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein some of the plurality of water nozzles are grouped together.

17. An automatic body cleansing chair comprising:

a chair portion configured for a user's sitting thereon and comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

a plurality of first water nozzles installed on the front surface of the chair portion and configured to eject water;

a plurality of first brushes installed on the front surface of the chair portion and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean a body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners;

a plurality of first drier nozzles installed on the front surface of the chamber and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user; and

an enclosing room for enclosing the chair portion having the plurality of water nozzles, the plurality of brushes, and the plurality of drier nozzles, and preventing water and soap bubbles from leaking out to outside thereof,

18. The automatic body cleansing chair of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of second water nozzles installed on an inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to eject water;

a plurality of second brushes installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to issue liquid soap and brush and clean a body of the user in a plurality of predetermined manners; and

a plurality of second drier nozzles installed on the inner surface of the enclosing room and configured to blow warm air and dry the body of the user.

19. The automatic body cleansing chair of claim 18, wherein some of the plurality of first or second water nozzles are grouped together on an extractable tube.

20. The automatic body cleansing chair of claim 18, wherein some of the plurality of first or second drier nozzles are grouped together on an extractable tube.