Hand wash monitoring system and method

• US 20060071799A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vincent L. Verdiramo
• Original Assignee: Vincent L. Verdiramo
• Inventors: Verdiramo, Vincent L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.500
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

An identification badge worn by an individual is sensed when that individual enters a lavatory. The individual is also provided with an indication device which is worn on or about the hands. Inside the lavatory, there is also provided a hand cleaning station which includes a sensor that determines whether the indicating device is in close proximity and dispenses soap on the individual'"'"'s hands, then provides an appropriate indication to a computer system. Should the badge sensor sense the individual'"'"'s departure from the lavatory without an appropriate indication being generated by the indicator sensor, a warning signal is generated, which is sent to the computer system and to an appropriate officer, who can then address the individual.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring hand cleaning at a cleaning station by an individual wearing an identification device containing a code identifying the individual and also wearing an indicating device in the proximity of his hands, comprising

an identity sensor proximate the cleaning station sensing the presence of the identification device;

an indicating device sensor at the cleaning station positioned to sense the presence of the indicating device in the cleaning station; and

an alarm generator providing a warning signal when the individual has left the vicinity of the cleaning station and the indicating device sensor has not sensed the presence of the indicating device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning station is in an enclosed area accessed by a door and the identity sensor is located in the vicinity of the door in a position to sense the entry and departure of the individual to and from the enclosed area.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer disposed in the cleaning station, the computer being connected to identity sensor and the indicating device sensor and to receive a signal from each the signal from the identity sensor identifying the individual and the signal from the indicating device sensor relating to the indicating device being sensed, the alarm generator being part of the computer.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the computer further comprises a transmitter which communicates with a location remote from the cleaning station.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hand sensor for sensing the presence of the individual'"'"'s hands in a particular are of the cleaning station, a container for cleaning solution, and a dispensing controller responsive to the hand sensor to dispense cleaning solution from said container into said particular area.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a warning transmitter for transmitting the warning signal to a remote computer.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a local computer disposed in the cleaning station, the computer being connected to identity sensor and the indicating device sensor and to receive a signal from each the signal from the identity sensor identifying the individual and the signal from the indicating device sensor relating to the indicating device being sensed, the alarm generator and warning transmitter being part of the local computer.

8. The method of claim 1 Further comprising an enclosure for the cleaning station, the enclosure having an enclosed compartment and an opening providing access to the compartment, the indicating device sensor having access to the compartment.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a hand sensor having access to the compartment for sensing the presence of the individual'"'"'s hands in the compartment, a container for cleaning solution, and a dispensing controller responsive to the hand sensor to dispense cleaning solution from said container into said compartment.

10. A method for monitoring hand cleaning at a cleaning station by an individual wearing an identification device containing a code identifying the individual and also wearing an indicating device in the proximity of his hands, comprising:

sensing the presence of the identification device in the proximity the cleaning station;

sensing the when the indicating device is present in the cleaning station; and

generating a warning signal when the identification device has left the vicinity of the cleaning station and the presence of the indicating device in the cleaning station has not been sensed.

11. The method of claim 10 performed with a cleaning station which is in an enclosed area accessed by a door, an identity sensor is located in the vicinity of the door in a position to sense the entry and departure of the individual to and from the enclosed area, the step of sensing the presence of the identification device being performed by the identity sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a computer is disposed in the cleaning station, the computer being coupled to the identity sensor, there being further provided an indicating device sensor to perform the step of sensing when the indicating device is present, the computer being coupled to the indicating device sensor, the generating step being performed by the computer in response to the identity sensor and the indicating device sensor.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of transmitting the warning signal to a location remote from the cleaning station.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising sensing the presence of the individual'"'"'s hands in a particular are of the cleaning station and dispensing a cleaning solution from a container into said particular area.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting the warning signal and the individual'"'"'s identity to a remote computer.