System and method for collecting data on tissue consumption

• US 5,691,919 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Gemmell, Bruce M., Frazier, Alan D., McConnell, Wesley James
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/395,771
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 33/1 PT, 33/733, 33/734, 33/735, 33/737, 33/743, 364/550, 364/560, 364/561, 364/562, 364/469, 364/470, 364/471, 364/472, 364/473, 340/540, 340/541, 340/555, 340/556, 340/573, 340/675, 242/563, 242/563.2
• US Class Current: 702/163
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/046 using magnetic means

Abstract

A system and method for collecting data on individual and aggregate use of toilet tissue or other types of rolled absorbent paper in a public washroom includes a sensing system for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location, and a recording system for receiving and recording data from the sensing system, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied. The system further analyzes the data to determine such things as the total amount of paper used, the duration of time over which paper is used, the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user and the amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.

Claims

1. A system for collecting data on toilet tissue use at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of toilet tissue use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby toilet tissue use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating a duration of time over which tissue is used.

2. A system for collecting data on toilet tissue use at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of toilet tissue use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby toilet tissue use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating the number of discrete pulls on the toilet tissue taken by a user.

3. A system for collecting data on toilet tissue use at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of toilet tissue use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby toilet tissue use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating an amount of toilet tissue taken by a user per discrete pull.

4. A system for analyzing individual and aggregate usage of toilet tissue use at a particular toilet stall, comprising:

determining means for determining whether a person is present in a toilet stall;

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of toilet tissue use at the toilet stall;

analyzing means for analyzing data that is supplied by said sensing means, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating a duration of time over which tissue is used; and

recording means for recording data from at least one of said sensing means and said analyzing means, whereby toilet tissue use at the toilet stall can be accurately monitored and studied.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating the number of discrete pulls on the toilet tissue taken by a user.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating an amount of toilet tissue taken by a user per discrete pull.

7. A system for collecting data on the use of a roll form absorbent commercial paper product at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating a duration of time over which paper is used.

8. A system for collecting data on the use of a roll form absorbent commercial paper product at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user.

9. A system for collecting data on the use of a roll form absorbent commercial paper product at a particular location, comprising:

sensing means for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location;

recording means, in communication with said sensing means, for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied; and

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, said analyzing means further for calculating an amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.

10. A method for collecting data relevant to an individual'"'"'s use of an absorbent roll type paper product in a communal area, comprising steps of:

(a) determining when a person enters an area that is adjacent to a paper product dispenser;

(b) monitoring the person'"'"'s use of the paper product in such a manner that the person is not aware of such monitoring;

(c) recording data obtained from said monitoring; and

(d) analyzing the data obtained in step (b), wherein said analyzing step comprises calculating a duration of time over which paper is used.

11. A method for collecting data relevant to an individual'"'"'s use of an absorbent roll type paper product in a communal area, comprising steps of:

(a) determining when a person enters an area that is adjacent to a paper product dispenser;

(b) monitoring the person'"'"'s use of the paper product in such a manner that the person is not aware of such monitoring;

(c) recording data obtained from said monitoring; and

(d) analyzing the data obtained in step (b), wherein said analyzing step comprises calculating the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user.

12. A method for collecting data relevant to an individual'"'"'s use of an absorbent roll type paper product in a communal area, comprising steps of:

(a) determining when a person enters an area that is adjacent to a paper product dispenser;

(b) monitoring the person'"'"'s use of the paper product in such a manner that the person is not aware of such monitoring;

(c) recording data obtained from said monitoring; and

(d) analyzing the data obtained in step (b), wherein said analyzing step comprises calculating an amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.

13. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing roll form paper product to be used at a particular location, comprising:

a dispenser housing;

an axial element rotatably supported by said housing and adapted to maintain the roll form paper product for dispensation thereof;

sensing means, operatively associated with said axial element, for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at the particular location;

analyzing means for analyzing information received from said sensing means, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating a duration of time over which paper is used; and

recording means, in communication with said sensing means for receiving and recording data from said sensing means, whereby paper use at the particular location can be monitored and studied.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said analyzing means is further for calculating an amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.