Container for cleaning an object submerged in a fluid comprising ferromagnetic components

Abstract

A container for the cleaning of an object, intended to receive, in addition to the object to be cleaned, a fluid including ferromagnetic components, and intended to be submitted to the action of a magnetic field generated by the rotation of magnets. The container comprises a bottom wall, a lateral wall, and a removable closing lid, said container being transparent to the magnetic field. The lateral wall of said container comprises on its inside radially-protruding longitudinal fins.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a lateral wall having a symmetry of revolution about a median axis, the lateral wall having formed thereon, at an exterior top portion, a thread; a bottom wall adjacent to and in contact with the lateral wall; a removable lid shaped to engage the lateral wall and including an interior threading complementary to, and configured to engage with, the thread of the lateral wall; and a plurality of fins arranged symmetrically about the median axis, each fin: (i) coupled to the lateral wall along an edge of the fin extending longitudinally along the lateral wall, (ii) having two corresponding planar surfaces extending inward from the lateral wall toward the median axis between 5 mm and 2 cm, and (iii) having a thickness between the two corresponding planar surfaces between 1 mm and 5 mm, wherein the container is transparent to magnetic fields, and wherein there remains a margin of approximately 1 centimeter between the bottom of the lateral wall and a lower end of each of the plurality of fins.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container has four fins.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EXAMPLE

(1) The invention relates to a container intended to be inserted into an appropriate device enabling to clean an object, particularly by submerging it in a fluid comprising ferro-magnetic components, and by stirring said ferromagnetic components by the action of rotating magnets.

(2) The ferromagnetic components are well known in the art and are for example needles of small dimensions, typically metallic and ferromagnetic. These components may thus be made of iron filings.

(3) The objects to be cleaned may be of any type fit for such a cleaning and are for example dental prostheses, jewels, or even non-magnetic mechanical parts.

(4) Referring to the accompanying drawing, the container (1) is transparent to magnetic fields and is of generally cylindrical shape. It defines, in particular, a bottom wall (1a) and a lateral wall (1b). A thread (2) is formed on the periphery of the container (1) and at the level of its upper end, to receive by screwing a closing lid (3) comprising a complementary internal threading (3a).

(5) The container (1) is intended to receive, in addition to the object to be cleaned, a fluid comprising ferromagnetic components. It is advantageously made of plastic material by injection, and typically of polyethylene or polypropylene.

(6) The lateral wall (1b) of said container (1) comprises on its inside four radially-protruding longitudinal fins (4). The fins (4) are arranged symmetrically around the median axis of the container (1) and do not extend all the way to the bottom (1a) of the container (1) to leave a margin of approximately 1 cm between the bottom (1a) of the container (1) and the lower end of the fins (4).

(7) The fins advantageously result from a molding.

(8) They extend towards the center of the container, or more specifically towards the median axis of the container, by approximately 1 centimeter, and have a thickness in the range from 1 to 5 millimeters.

(9) During the cleaning, the ferromagnetic components are stirred in the fluid. The fins (4) of the container (1) enable to push the ferromagnetic components towards the center of the container (1). Thereby, the efficiency of the cleaning is optimized, due to the forming of a vortex created by the ferromagnetic components under the action of the magnetic field generated by the magnets fitting the cleaning device receiving the container or bowl of the invention.

(10) As appears from the foregoing, the invention provides a fully satisfactory device and container (1) for cleaning an object submerged in a fluid comprising ferromagnetic components. The container (1) is advantageous as compared with those of the state of the art in that it enables to optimize the efficiency of the cleaning.