Water-Powered Hand-Washing Method

Abstract

A hand-washing system for washing fingernail beds and cuticular regions of human fingers and thumbs (collectively “digits”). The hand-washing system includes a work enclosure for containing ones of the digits and a high-velocity, high-flow water spray during a washing operation. The work enclosure defines an interior space, part of which defines an energy-dissipation region that, during use, provides a water reservoir for dissipating energy in the high-velocity, high flow water spray. The work enclosure includes a high-energy spray nozzle and a digit portal sized to receive the four fingers of one hand simultaneously in closed-fingered, upwardly-curled configuration. A mixing valve may be provided to allow a user to adjust the temperature of the water during washing. A quick-disconnect fluid-coupling assembly may also be provided and be used to quickly select between work enclosures of differing size.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of washing all five digits of a human hand, each digit having a nail bed, comprising:
 providing a work enclosure having an opening, an interior space, a base portion with a bottom and a spray nozzle positioned opposite the bottom for providing a spray of water to the interior space;   providing water to the spray nozzle so that the inlet water pressure of the spray nozzle is at least 10 pounds per square inch, the outlet flow rate is at least 0.7 gallons per minute and the nozzle exit velocity of the spray of water delivered from the spray nozzle is at least 35 feet per second;   inserting through the opening and into the interior space in the work enclosure the four three-phalanx digits;   delivering the spray of water while positioning the four three-phalanx digits so that the spray of water penetrates into the nail beds of the digits for a first period of time;   removing the four three-phalanx digits from the interior space;   inserting the opposing thumb into the interior space so that the tip of the opposing thumb is pointing substantially toward the spray nozzle; and   delivering the spray of water while positioning the thumb for a period of time so that the spray of water penetrates into the nail beds of the thumb for a second period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said providing of the water, disconnecting said work enclosure from a water source using a quick-disconnect assembly, inserting a washing-agent pill into a quick-disconnect coupling of said quick-disconnect assembly, and reconnecting said work enclosure to a water source using said quick-disconnect assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said providing of the water, replacing a second work enclosure with said work enclosure using quick-disconnect couplings. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising during said allowing steps, allowing the water to accumulate in the base portion of the enclosure to a first depth and then flow out of the opening so as to maintain said first depth, said first depth selected so as to preclude the water from the spray nozzle from parting water in said base portion deeply enough to reach the bottom of the base portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further wherein said first inserting step is performed so that tips of the distal phalanges of the four three-phalanx digits are spaced no more than two inches from the spray nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further wherein said second inserting step is performed so that the tip of the distal phalanx of the thumb is spaced no more than two inches from the spray nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first inserting step is performed so that said four digits are inserted in an upwardly curled position. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second periods of time are equal to at least 20 seconds. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein no disinfectant chemicals are added to the water provided to the spray nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water is provided so that the inlet water pressure of the spray nozzle is at least 30 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including moving slightly the four three-phalanx digits and the thumb while delivering the spray of water so as to enhance alignment of the nail beds of the digits and thumb with the spray of water so as to facilitate penetration of the water into the nail beds. 
     
     
         12 . A method of washing digits of a human hand, each digit having a nail bed, comprising:
 providing a work enclosure having an opening, an interior space, and a spray nozzle positioned for providing a spray of water along a path to the interior space;   providing water to the spray nozzle so that the spray of water is delivered from the spray nozzle with a V/Q ratio of at least about 20 FPS/GPM;   inserting through the opening and into the interior space in the work enclosure at least one of the four three-phalanx digits so that the nail bed is positioned in the path of the spray of water such that the spray of water extends into the nail beds of the digits for at least 20 seconds;   removing the at least one of the four three-phalanx digits from the interior space;   inserting the opposing thumb into the interior space so that its nail bed is positioned in the path of the spray of water such that the spray of water extends into the nail bed for at least 20 seconds.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further including manipulating the at least one digit and the thumb within the work enclosure to enhance alignment of the nail beds thereof with the path of the spray of water. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one digit and the thumb is moved side-to-side and back and forth within the work enclosure to enhance alignment of the nail beds thereof with the path of the spray of water. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein an anti-microbial agent is added to the spray of water before it is delivered from the spray nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray of water is delivered from the spray nozzle with a V/Q ratio of at least about 30 FPS/GPM. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12 , where the first inserting step is performed so that the at least one digit is inserted in an upwardly curled position and the second inserting step is performed so that the thumb is inserted in an upwardly extending position.