Dispensing Device

• US 20140375458A1
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spencer D. Miller
• Original Assignee: Spencer D. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Spencer D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A dispensing device has a downward-facing outlet for dispensing a material, a mechanism causing material to be dispensed, a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device, and an alert mechanism. The first sensor, detecting an approaching person, activates the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.

Claims

1. A dispensing device comprising:

a downward-facing outlet for dispensing a material;

a mechanism causing material to be dispensed;

a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device; and

an alert mechanism;

wherein the first sensor, detecting an approaching person, activates the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising an electronically-activated valve controlling the downward-facing outlet and a second sensor positioned to sense a user'"'"'s hands in position to accept material dispensed, wherein the second sensor, detecting the person'"'"'s hands, activates the electronically-activated valve, dispensing a preset amount of material.

3. The dispensing device of claim 2 further comprising a side-facing third sensor adapted to sense a person passing by the device to one side.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 further comprising a processor with a coupled data repository, the processor coupled to the valve-controlled outlet, to the sensors, and to the alert mechanism, wherein the processor executes one or more coded instructions to sense approach of the person, activate the alert mechanism, activate the valve-controlled outlet to dispense material for a pre-set time in an event the person activates the third sensor, whether or not the person activates the second sensor, records these events if and as they occur, and activates the data-reporting mechanism to report the recorded events to the remote destination.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein the processor, executing the instructions, in the event a person is sensed by the third sensor passing without having activated the second sensor, activates an audio or visual alarm, or both.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5 wherein the processor, following the coded instructions, records events as they occur, and periodically transfers data regarding the events by a network interface.

7. The dispensing device of claim 6 wherein the network interface is a local area network (LAN) interface, a wide area network (WAN) interface, or a wireless interface.

8. A system comprising:

a dispensing device comprising a downward-facing valve-controlled outlet for a dispensing material, a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device, a second sensor facing in a horizontal direction at a right angle to the first direction, adapted to sense the person passing by the dispensing device, a third sensor facing downward, adapted to sense the person'"'"'s hands in position to accept material dispensed from the dispensing device, an alert mechanism, a data repository adapted to store data and instructions, a data-reporting mechanism adapted to send data to a destination remote from the dispensing device, and a processor coupled to the valve-controlled outlet, to the sensors, to the alert mechanism and to the data repository;

wherein the processor, wherein the processor executes one or more coded instructions to sense approach of the person, activate the alert mechanism, activate the valve-controlled outlet to dispense material for a pre-set time in an event the person activates the third sensor, whether or not the person activates the second sensor, records these events if and as they occur, and activates the data-reporting mechanism to report the recorded events over a network connection to a remote server having a coupled data repository.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote server, executing coded instructions from a non-transitory physical medium, prepares reports regarding the recorded events, and makes the reports available for download by authorized persons.

10. A sensing and processing device comprising:

a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the processing device;

an alert mechanism; and

an attachment interface adapted to join the processing device to a dispensing device;

wherein the first sensor, detecting an approaching person, activates the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.

11. The sensing and processing device of claim 10 further comprising a second sensor positioned, with the sensing and processing device joined to a dispensing device, to sense a user'"'"'s hands in position to accept material dispensed.

12. The sensing and processing device of claim 11 further comprising a side-facing third sensor adapted to sense a person passing by the device to one side.

13. The sensing and processing device of claim 12 further comprising a processor with a coupled data repository, the processor coupled to the valve-controlled outlet, to the sensors, and to the alert mechanism, wherein the processor executes one or more coded instructions to sense approach of the person, activate the alert mechanism, activate the valve-controlled outlet to dispense material for a pre-set time in an event the person activates the third sensor, whether or not the person activates the second sensor, records these events if and as they occur, and activates the data-reporting mechanism to report the recorded events to the remote destination.

14. The sensing and processing device of claim 13 wherein the processor, executing the coded instructions, in the event a person is sensed by the third sensor passing without having activated the second sensor, activates an audio or visual alarm, or both.

15. The sensing and processing device of claim 14 wherein the processor, following the coded instructions, records events as they occur, and periodically transfers data regarding the events by a network interface.

16. The sensing and processing device of claim 15 wherein the network interface is a local area network (LAN) interface, a wide area network (WAN) interface, or a wireless interface.

17. A method for influencing hand cleaning behavior, comprising:

providing a dispensing device having a downward-facing outlet for dispensing a material, a mechanism causing material to be dispensed, a first sensor facing in a forward horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device, and an alert mechanism;

placing the dispensing device in a position to direct the first sensor to sense an approaching person; and

sensing an approaching person, activating the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.