Device for encouraging hand wash compliance

• US 20060067546A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• 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:
  US11/215,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20060067546A1
• 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, comprising:

a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface;

a passive sensor disposed relative to said housing to detect a threshold condition adjacent said device;

a receptacle within said housing configured for receipt of a removable storage device that contains at least one hand wash compliance message track stored thereon;

an audio playback device within said housing that processes and plays said message track stored on said removable storage device in audible format over a speaker upon detection of the threshold condition by said sensor; and

wherein a plurality of said removable storage devices with different hand wash compliance message tracks are compatible with said playback device.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one said removable storage device, wherein said removable storage device contains said message track in digital form.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein said removable storage device comprises a memory card that is insertable into said receptacle within said housing.

4. The device as in claim 2, wherein said removable storage device contains a plurality of different message tracks.

5. The device as in claim 2, wherein said removable storage device is programmable with different or additional message tracks.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device is battery powered, and further comprising control circuitry configured with said playback device and passive sensor, said control circuitry placing said playback device in a ready powered-up state upon detection of the threshold condition, and further comprising an additional sensor configured with said control circuitry that initiates playback of said message track upon detection of an additional sensed parameter near said device.

7. The device as in claim 6, wherein said passive sensor comprises an ambient light sensor, and said additional sensor comprises a passive sensor.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein said additional sensor comprises an additional ambient light detector that senses changes in ambient light resulting from persons passing by or near said device.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein said ambient light sensor is disposed to look out through said housing in a direction wherein ambient light is generally not be disrupted by persons near said device, and said additional ambient light sensor is disposed in a different direction to detect variations in ambient light caused by persons near said device.

10. The device as in claim 6, wherein said additional sensor comprises an active sensor.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said active sensor comprises an IR transmitter and receiver.

12. A battery powered device to encourage hand washing compliance, comprising:

a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface;

a battery compartment within said housing;

a self-contained electronics package further comprising a playback device, message storage device, and associated control circuitry, said electronics package removable from said housing;

a receptacle within said housing configured for receipt of said electronics package, when inserted into said receptacle said electronics package is in communication with said battery compartment; and

wherein said message storage device includes at least one hand wash compliance message track that is played by said playback device at a predetermined frequency.

13. The device as in claim 12, further comprising a speaker mounted within said housing, said electronics package in communication with said speaker when inserted into said receptacle.

14. The device as in claim 12, wherein said message storage device comprises an internal non-removable component of said electronics package.

15. The device as in claim 14, wherein said electronics package comprises an input port for externally programming said message track on said message storage device.

16. The device as in claim 12, wherein said message storage device is removable from said electronics package.

17. The device as in claim 12, wherein said electronics package further comprises a sensor that detects a threshold condition near said device prior to said control circuitry initiating playback of said message track.

18. The device as in claim 17, wherein said sensor comprises an ambient light sensor that detects a threshold amount of ambient light adjacent said device, said control circuitry initiating playback of said message track at a predetermined frequency with ambient light above the threshold value.

19. The device as in claim 17, wherein said sensor comprises an active sensor that detects the presence of individuals near said device.

20. The device as in claim 12, wherein said electronics package further comprises an externally accessible adjustment to vary dwell time between playback of said message track.

21. The device as in claim 12, wherein said housing comprises a removable front cover that prevents removal of said electronics package from said housing in a closed position of said cover.