SURGICAL WASHBASIN

LAVABO POUR CHIRURGIEN

English Abstract

The front wall of this washbasin forms a central recess to receive the
surgeon's waist while the bowl forms, on each side of the recess, a pocket
which
extends down to the bowl bottom. The surgeon's elbows are received within the
pockets while the hands and forearms are being washed.

Claims

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention, in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:
1. A washbasin for use by surgeons comprising a perimetral wall
composed of generally straight back and side wall portions and of a front wall
portion defining a central generally semi-circular recess and a lateral
straight wall
section on each side of said recess and generally parallel to said back wall
portion, and a bottom wall merging with said perimetral wall whereby the bowl
formed by said bottom and perimetral walls has two pockets, one on each side
of
said central recess, which extends down to said bottom wall.
2. A washbasin as defined in claim 1, wherein said back wall
portion and adjacent sections of said side wall portions are higher than said
front
wall portion.
3. A washbasin as defined in claim 2, wherein said bottom wall has
a drain opening and slopes down towards said opening.
4. A washbasin as defined in claim 2, wherein the top of said back
wall portion is rearwardly extended by a flat and generally horizontal ledge
and
further including a splash board upstanding from the back of said ledge.

5. A washbasin as defined in claim 4, wherein said ledge has a
central hole for the passage of a faucet water feeding pipe.
6. A washbasin as defined in claim 4. wherein said bottom wall has
a drain opening and slopes down toward said opening.
7. A washbasin as defined in claim 5, wherein said bottom wall has
a drain opening and slopes down toward said opening.
8. A washbasin as defined in claim 1, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
9. A washbasin as defined in claim 2, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
10. A washbasin as defined in claim 3, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
11. A washbasin as defined in claim 4, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
12. A washbasin as defined in claim 5, wherein said side and front
portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.

13. A washbasin as defined in claim 6, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
14. A washbasin as defined in claim 7, wherein said side and front
wall portions have a top edge forming an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.

Description

CA 02249104 1998-10-09
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Surgical washbasin.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to washbasins and more particularly
to a washbasin for use by surgeons for washing their hands and forearms prior
to
performing surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -
It is known that surgeons must spend a considerable time for
completely washing their hands and forearms to disinfect the same before being
presented with rubber gloves prior to performing surgery. Therefore, the
washing
must be effected in such a manner that the forearms always upwardly extend
from the elbows to prevent washwater which might contain any type of germs
from flowing back onto the hands.
Conventional washbasins are very awkward to use by surgeons for
hand washing purposes since the elbows must be spread laterally to clear the
upper edge of the washbasin.
U.S. Patent 1,848,385 dated March 8, 1932 to Ferdenand
G.SCHINDOSKI and entitled "WASHBASIN" shows a washbasin which is
characterized by a central front recess to permit the basin to extend
rearwardly
around the waist of the user but, here again, this washbasin is not suitable
for
use by surgeons since the top of the washbasin is co-extensive all around with
the top edge of its bowl.
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CA 02249104 1998-10-09
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide
a washbasin particularly designed for use by surgeons for washing their hands
and forearms prior to performing surgery.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washbasin of
the character described which specifically permits the surgeon to insert his
elbows within the washbasin bowl with his forearms upwardly extending from the
elbows while washing his hands to prevent washwater from flowing back onto the
hands and also from dripping on the floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washbasin of
the character described which is manufactured as a unitary unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The washbasin of the invention is for use by surgeons and
comprises a perimetral wall composed of generally straight back and side wall
portions and of a front wall portion defining a central generally semi-
circular
recess and a lateral straight wall section on each side of said recess and
generally parallel to said back wall portion, and a bottom wall merging with
said
perimetral wall whereby the bowl formed by said bottom and perimetral walls
has
two pockets, one on each side of said central recess, which extends down to
said
bottom wall. -
Preferably, the back wall portion and adjacent sections of the side
wall portions are higher than said front wall portion.
Preferably, said bottom wall has a drain opening and slopes down
towards said opening.
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CA 02249104 1998-10-09
Preferably, the top of said back wall portion is rearwardly extended
by a flat and generally horizontal ledge and further including a splash board
upstanding from the back of said ledge.
Preferably, said ledge has a central hole for the passage of a faucet
water feeding pipe.
Preferably, said side and front wall portions have a top edge forming
an inwardly downwardly sloping surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like
elements throughout.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the washbasin of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a partial section taken in area 3 of Fig. 2; and
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the washbasin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 the washbasin 2 of the present invention
includes a bottom wall 4 and a perimetral wall 5 upstanding from and merging
with the edges of bottom wall 4. The latter has a drain hole 6 at its center.
The
top surface of the bottom wall 4 slopes downwardly towards the drain hole 6.
Perimetral wall 5 is defined a back wall 8, a pair of side walls 10 generally
normal
to the back wall 8 and a front wall 12 which forms a central semi-circular
recess
14 with, on each side thereof, a lateral straight wall section 16. The bowl
formed
by the bottom wall 4 and perimetral wall 5 defines therefore pockets 18 on
each
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CA 02249104 1998-10-09
side of the central recess 14 and these pockets extend all the way down to the
bottom wall 4. .
A ledge 20 rearwardly extends from the top of the back wall 8 and a
splashboard 22 upwardly extends from the rear of ledge 20. The top ledge 20 is
slightly downwardly slanted from both sides towards its center to allow
flowing of
any spilled over washwater down the washbasin 2.
The top edges 24 and 25 of the side walls 10 and front wall 12
respectively, define an inner downwardly slanting surface 26 to prevent
washwater from falling onto the floor.
A hole 28 is made through the centre of top ledge 20 for receiving
the pipe P of a faucet F. The faucet F is positioned at a lower level than
ledge 20
and top edge 24 of the back section 30 of each side wall 10. Front wall 12 is
lower than back wall 8.
As clearly shown in Fig. 2, a surgeon S can wash his hands under
the faucet F while his elbows E are conveniently positioned within the pockets
18
with the arm's portion from shoulder to elbows downwarly extending close to
the
surgeon's waist and with his forearms J upwardly extending towards the faucet
F.
Therefore, washwater falling on the hands flows downwardly towards the elbows
and drops within the bowl of washbasin 2; it cannot reverse direction towards
the
hands and therefore eliminating the possibility of recontaminating the washed
hands with germs.
It has been found that effective hands and forearms washing can be
carried out in this manner.
In a preferred embodiment, the washbasin of the present invention
preferably has the following dimensions:
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its overall width is 80 cm;
its overall depth is 68 cm; .
the semi-circular recess has a radius of 20 cm;
the width of the ledge is 5 cm;
the thickness of the splashboard is 3 cm;
the thickness of the perimetral wall is about 3 cm;
the height from the top surface of the bottom wall to the top of the
front wall is 28 cm and to the top ledge is 42 cm;
the splashboard has a height of about 8 cm.
5

Representative Drawing