Hand washing timer

• US 20080280275A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles T. Collopy
• Original Assignee: Charles T. Collopy
• Inventors: Collopy, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US11/803,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/028 the dosing device being provided with a dip tube and fitted to a container, e.g. to a bottleneck
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/06 Indicating or recording devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0076 Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying

Abstract

Generally, a material dispenser having reciprocal means which operates to deliver an amount of material from a material delivery conduit and generates timed indicia of elapse of a dispensed material use interval. Specifically, a hand wash dispenser having reciprocal means which operates to deliver an amount of hand wash material and generates timed indicia of elapse of a hand wash interval.

Claims

1. A material dispenser, comprising:

a) a container;

b) a material in said container;

c) a material dispenser which provides a reciprocal means which travels from a first position toward a second position to dispense an amount of said material from said container; and

d) a timer located in a part of said reciprocal means of said material dispenser, wherein said timer includes;

i) a timer means;

ii) a timed indicia element which upon activation of said timer circuit operates to indicate elapse of a dispensed material use interval;

iii) a switch having a location on said reciprocal means of said material dispenser to engage of a part of a hand to activate said timer; and

iv) a power source which delivers an amount of energy to said timer sufficient to operate said timed indicia element to indicate elapse of said material use interval.

2. A material dispenser as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal means comprises a plunger.

3. A material dispenser as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal means comprises a lever.

4. A material dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said timed indicia element comprises an illumination element.

5. A material dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said timed indiciq element comprises vibration element.

6. A material dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said timed indicia element comprises a sound generation element.

7. A material dispenser as described in claim 4, wherein said switch comprises a spring responsive to a flexible membrane which engages said part of said hand to activate said timer, wherein said spring provides a first contact element and a second contact element, wherein said first contact element electrically engages a trigger of a timer element, and wherein said second contact element travels to electrically engage said power source.

8. A material dispenser as described in claim 7, wherein said material in said container comprises a hand wash material and wherein said a dispensed material use interval comprises a dispensed material use interval of between about 5 seconds and about 30 seconds.

9. A material dispenser as described in claim 7, wherein said material in said container comprises a cosmetic material and wherein said a dispensed material use interval comprises a dispensed material use interval of between about 5 seconds and about 1 hour.

10. A method of dispensing a material, comprising the steps of:

a) containing a material in a container;

b) engaging with a part of a hand a reciprocal means coupled to said container;

c) activating a timer coupled to said reciprocal means by engagement of said part of said hand with said reciprocal means;

d) generating travel in said reciprocal means from a first position towards a second position to dispense an amount of material from said container;

e) timing a dispensed material use interval; and

f) indicating elapse of said dispensed material use interval by generation of a sensorial perceivable indicia.

11. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 10, further comprising the step of generating an amount of flexure in a flexible material coupled to a part of said reciprocal means to close a switch to activate said timer.

12. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 11, wherein said step of containing a material in a container comprises containing a hand wash material in said container.

13. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 12, wherein said step of timing a dispensed material use interval comprises the step of timing a hand wash interval having a duration of between about 5 seconds to about 20 seconds.

14. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 11, wherein said step of containing a material in a container comprises containing a cosmetic material in said container.

15. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 14, wherein said step of timing a dispensed material use interval comprises the step of timing a cosmetic use interval having a duration of between about 5 seconds to about 1 hour.

16. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 13, wherein said sensorial perceivable indicia comprises a sensorial perceivable amount of sound.

17. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 13, wherein said sensorial perceivable indicia comprises a sensorial perceivable amount of vibration.

18. A method of dispensing a material as described in claim 13, wherein said sensorial perceivable indicia comprises a sensorial perceivable amount of light.