Device for encouraging hand wash compliance

• US 20060067545A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Richard P., Tramontina, Paul F., York, Cheryl L., Kaufman, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/950,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20060067545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/124
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A device to encourage hand washing compliance in a facility such as a restroom includes a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface. An ambient light sensor is disposed relative to the housing to detect ambient light within the room. An audio device within the housing contains at least one audible hand washing compliance message track that is played over a speaker within the housing. A controller is in operable communication with the ambient light sensor and the audio device, and activates the device upon determining whether a threshold amount of ambient light is present in the room.

Claims

1. A device to encourage hand washing compliance in a restroom, comprising:

a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface of a restroom;

an ambient light sensor disposed relative to said housing to detect ambient light within the restroom;

an audio device within said housing, said audio device containing at least one audible hand washing compliance message track;

a speaker within said housing, said speaker in communication with said audio device;

a control circuit in operable communication with said ambient light sensor and said audio storage device, said control circuit initiating playing of the hand wash compliance message over said speaker in a repeating timed cycle when a threshold amount of ambient light is present in the restroom and detected by said ambient light sensor.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a master switch that deenergizes said device regardless of ambient light within the restroom.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device is battery powered and further comprises a battery compartment within said housing.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein said audio device stores a plurality of audible message tracks, and further comprising a selector switch in communication with said control circuit so that a desired one of said message tracks is selectable for playback.

5. The device as in claim 4, wherein each said message track contains multiple messages.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said message track contains a single message.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein said message track contains multiple messages.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said ambient light sensor is a photodiode.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a microprocessor.

10. The device as in claim 9, wherein said audio device comprises an electronic storage chip, said message track retrieved from said storage chips via said microprocessor.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said message track is preprogrammed and permanently stored on said storage chip.

12. The device as in claim 10, wherein said message track is programmable via said microprocessor for customization by a user of said device.

13. The device as in claim 1, further comprising an adjustment switch to adjust dwell time between messages on said message track.

14. The device as in claim 1, wherein said control circuit shuts down said device after a predetermined time period of playing said message track.

15. The device as in claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a programmable microprocessor and said message track contains a plurality of different messages, said microprocessor playing said messages according to a preprogrammed sequence.

16. The device as in claim 15, wherein said sequence is random.

17. The device as in claim 1, wherein said ambient light sensor is disposed to look out through said housing in a direction in the restroom wherein ambient light can generally not be disrupted by persons in the restroom.

18. A device to encourage hand washing compliance, comprising:

a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface;

an ambient light sensor disposed relative to said housing to detect ambient light incident on said housing;

an audio device within said housing, said audio device containing multiple audible hand washing compliance message tracks;

a speaker within said housing, said speaker in communication with said audio storage device;

a microprocessor controller in operable communication with said ambient light sensor and said audio device, said controller programmed to play at least one of said message tracks in a repeating pattern upon determining whether a threshold amount of ambient light is incident on said housing.

19. The device as in claim 18, further comprising a selector device to switch between said message tracks to be played by said device.

20. The device as in claim 18, wherein each said message track comprises multiple different messages.

21. The device as in claim 18, further comprising an adjuster that varies a dwell time between played messages.

22. The device as in claim 18, wherein said microprocessor controller is programmable and said message track is changeable via said microprocessor.

23. The device as in claim 18, wherein said microprocessor controller is programmed to switch to a shut down mode after a predetermined time period of playing said message track.