HYGIENE COMPLIANCE MODULE

• US 20160240070A1
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W., Archer, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,633,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A hygiene compliance module is configured to be retrofit with a compatible dispenser to enable hygiene compliance monitoring functions. The hygiene compliance module is configured to be coupled to the dispenser via a communication interface to receive power, ground, and dispenser actuation signals therefrom. In addition, the hygiene compliance module is enabled to communicate with a wireless data tag that is worn by a user of the dispenser and with a remote hygiene compliance monitoring station.

Claims

1. A compliance monitoring system comprising:

a hygiene compliance monitoring station;

a soap or sanitizing dispenser;

the soap or sanitizing dispenser having

a housing;

a refill unit;

the refill including a container, a pump, and a soap or sanitizer;

a communication port located within the housing;

a dispenser power supply; and

a compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module controller located on the circuit board;

a module housing;

a radio frequency transceiver; and

a connector for connecting to the communication port;

the connector having a power conductor;

wherein when the compliance module installed in the dispenser, the compliance module receives power from the dispenser power supply; and

a data tag;

the data tag having an radio frequency transceiver;

wherein the compliance module is intermittently in wirelessly communicates with at least one of the data tag and the hygiene compliance monitoring station.

2. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the connector for connecting to the communication port further comprises a ground conductor and an actuation signal conductor, wherein the actuation signal conductor provides a signal to the compliance module that is indicative of a dispense event.

3. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising replacement refill unit containing soap or sanitizer for replacing the refill unit.

4. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 further comprises a module housing.

5. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 4 comprises a front cover and a back cover.

6. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 5 wherein the front cover is connected to the rear cover with one or more screws.

7. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 4 wherein the module housing comprises plastic.

8. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of data tags, wherein each of the data tags is assigned to an individual.

9. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the data tag transmits a unique identification code associated with the data tag.

10. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits a dispense event.

11. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits a dispenser identification code.

12. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits an identification code associated with a data tag.

13. The compliance monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the module housing comprises a front cover and a back cover.

14. A compliance monitoring system comprising:

a soap or sanitizing dispenser;

the soap or sanitizing dispenser having

a housing;

a dispenser power supply;

a refill unit located within the housing;

the refill unit including a container, a pump, and a soap or sanitizer;

a communication port located within the housing;

wherein at least on connector on the communication port receives power from the dispenser power supply;

a compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module controller located on the circuit board;

a module housing;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with one or more of a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a connector for connecting to the communication port;

the connector having a power conductor, a ground connector, and a actuation signal connector;

wherein when the compliance module is installed in the dispenser, the power conductor receives power from the communication port to power to the compliance module.

15. The compliance monitoring system of claim 14 further comprising a data tag.

16. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the data tag includes data tag wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with the compliance module.

17. The compliance monitoring system of claim 14 further comprising a monitoring station located remote from the soap or sanitizer dispenser.

18. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 14 wherein the module housing comprises a front cover and a back cover.

19. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 18 wherein the front cover is connected to the rear cover with one or more screws.

20. A soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising:

a housing;

the housing having a base and a cover;

a refill unit located within the housing;

the refill unit including a container, a pump, and a soap or sanitizer;

a communication port located within the housing;

a power source located in the dispenser for providing power to the dispenser;

a power conductor providing power to the communication port;

a dispenser controller in circuit communication with the communication port for providing a signal indicative of a dispense event to the communication port;

a removable compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module controller located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the module controller;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with one or more of a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a connector for releasably connecting to the communication port;

the connector having a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a actuation signal conductor for receiving a signal indicative of a dispense event from the controller;

wherein when the connector of the compliance module is installed in the communication port of the dispenser, the compliance module receives power from the dispenser power supply, and when the connector is unconnected from the communication port, the compliance module does not receive power.

21. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 further comprising a visual indication that the dispenser has dispensed soap or sanitizer to an individual wearing a data tag.

22. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 21 wherein the visual indicator is on the compliance module.

23. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 wherein the module housing comprises a front cover and a back cover.

24. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23 wherein the front cover is connected to the rear cover with one or more screws.

25. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 wherein the module housing comprises plastic.

26. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 wherein the module wireless communication circuitry comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

27. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 wherein the module wireless communication circuitry comprises an infrared transmitter.

28. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 further comprising a replacement refill unit for replacing the refill unit when the refill unit is empty.

29. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 20 wherein the power source is a plurality of batteries located on a first side of the refill unit and the compliance module connector connects to a communication port on an opposite side of the refill unit.