Soap dispenser and wash signal device

• US 5,771,925 A
• Filed: 11/27/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Lewandowski
• Original Assignee: James Lewandowski
• Inventors: Lewandowski, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Joanne Y.
• Application Number:
  US08/754,404
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 137/552.7, 137/624.13, 137/624.11, 222/39, 222/638, 222/181.3, 222/181.2
• US Class Current: 137/552.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8208 Time

Abstract

The invention comprises a signaling device for a soap dispenser. The signalling device is mounted in the housing of the soap dispenser which has a pivotally mounted soap dispensing handle; and when pivotally moving the soap dispensing handle, the movement of the handle causes activation of the signalling device, immediately after dispensing the soap. The signalling device has an electrical circuit with a flexing panel which upon movement of the flexing panel by the engagement of the handle against the panel, it triggers an initial alarm or sound to signal to the operator that the timing interval for the operator to wash his hands with the dispensed soap has begun. The activated circuit thereafter counts a selected interval of time in seconds considered adequate for the operaor to thoroughly wash his hands; and at the end of that interval, the circuit sounds a second alarm or sound indicating that the washing time is over. The circuit then resets itself to repeat the sequence.

Claims

1. A soap dispensing and washing timer signaling device comprising a soap dispenser device and a signaling timer device, said soap dispenser having a housing, said signaling timer device having a housing with a flexible activation panel on one side and an adhesive mounted on its other side, said signaling timer device having electrical counting means and signaling means and a battery in said signaling timer device housing, said signaling device being mounted to the exterior of said soap dispenser housing by said adhesive, said panel being flexible for activation of said electrical counting means by said operator compressing said panel with his hand and with said panel upon compression activating said counting means on said device so that said counting means will immediately sound an alarm to indicate the start of the timing and will count an interval time considered adequate for washing a person'"'"'s hands and will sound an alarm when said device has counted the interval of time considered adequate for washing one'"'"'s hands.

2. A soap dispensing and washing timer signaling device comprising a soap dispenser and a signal timer device, said soap dispenser having a housing, said signaling timer device having a housing with a flexible panel on one side and means to secure the signaling timer housing to the dispenser on the other side, said signaling timer device having electrical counting means, signaling means and battery means in said signal timer housing, said panel being flexible for activation of said electrical counting means by said operator compressing said panel with said panel upon compression activating said counting means on said signaling timer device so that said counting means will immediately sound an alarm to indicated the start of the timing and will count an interval of time considered adequate for washing a person'"'"'s hand and will sound an alarm when said device has counted the interval of time considered adequate for washing'"'"'s one hands.