APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STANDARDIZING HAND CARE

• US 20130291947A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kramer, Anthony Lee, Carlson, Brian Philip, Dobizl, Kenneth Thomas, Chandler, Denise, Gilbertson, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US13/803,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/046 Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line or at the water outletpreventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for providing and dispensing various hand care alternatives from a common point of dispension, such as a faucet, for standardizing the hand care, washing, sanitizing, and drying process is disclosed. Included is a liquid flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source and an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point. A secondary flow path has an inlet in communication with one or more hand care alternatives and an outlet in communication with the user reception point. A user-perceivable output provides notification of the hand care operation being provided at the user reception point.

Claims

1. A faucet adapted to provide a plurality of hand care alternatives, comprising:

a. a liquid flow path having;

i. an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source; and

ii. an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point;

b. a secondary flow path having;

i. an inlet in communication with one or more hand care alternatives;

ii. an outlet in communication with the user reception point;

c. a user-perceivable output providing notification of a hand care operation provided at the user reception point.

2. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the liquid flow path is connected in communication with the secondary flow path to dispense liquid and the hand care alternative as a mixture.

3. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the hand care alternative is drawn through the secondary flow path by venturi affect provided by liquid flow through the liquid flow path.

4. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the hand care alternative is pumped from a source by a pump.

5. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the user-perceivable output comprises at least one of:

a. a visible output;

b. an audible output;

c. a tactile output.

6. The faucet of claim 1 further comprising a tertiary flow path having an inlet in communication with a supplementary source and an outlet in communication with the liquid flow path, secondary flow path, and/or user reception point.

7. The faucet of claim 6 wherein the supplementary source controls a tactile attribute of the hand care operation provided at the user reception point.

8. A system adapted for dispensing a plurality of hand care alternatives from a common point of dispension for standardizing the hand washing process, comprising:

a. a liquid flow path having;

i. an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source; and

ii. an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point;

b. a product flow path having;

i. an inlet in communication with one or more hand care products;

ii. an outlet in communication with the user reception point;

c. a user-perceivable output providing notification of a hand care operation provided at the user reception point.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a pump in communication with the product flow path for pumping the hand care products from a hand care product source.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the liquid flow path is in communication with the product flow path for displacing a dose of the hand care product to the user reception point.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a sensor to identify when the user reception point is occupied by a user'"'"'s hands.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the liquid flow path is connected in communication with the secondary flow path to dispense a mixture of liquid and hand care product at the user reception point.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the user-perceivable output comprises at least one of:

a. a visible output;

b. an audible output;

c. a tactile output.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising a supplementary flow path having an inlet in communication with a supplementary source and an outlet in communication with the liquid flow path, product flow path, and/or user reception point.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the supplementary source controls a tactile attribute of the hand care operation provided at the user reception point.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising a mixing flow path having an inlet in communication with the liquid flow path and an outlet in communication with the product flow path for controlling a tactile attribute of the hand care operation at the user reception point.

17. A method for dispensing a plurality of hand care alternatives from a common point of dispension for standardizing the hand washing process, comprising:

providing a liquid flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source and an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point;

communicating a hand care product through a product flow path having an inlet in communication with a hand care product source and an outlet in communication with the user reception point; and

notifying a user by a user-perceivable output of a hand care operation provided at the user reception point.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising pumping the hand care product from the hand care product source.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising drawing the hand care product into the liquid flow path by venturi effect.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising displacing hand care product from the hand care product source with liquid from the liquid flow path.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of displacing hand care product through the flow path comprises use a of a secondary flow path comprised of pressurized air induced by an additional pumping mechanism.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the product flow path is connected in communication with the secondary air flow path to dispense the mixture of hand care product and air at the user reception point.