Usage competent hand soap dispenser with data collection and display capabilities

• US 6,404,837 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Copeland, James L., Howes, Ronald B. Jr., Thompson, Luke P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, TUAN THIEU
• Application Number:
  US09/096,079
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 377/13, 377/15, 377/16
• US Class Current: 377/13
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A device which measures individual employee usage of a liquid product or hand soap dispenser as part of an overall hygiene compliance program. The dispenser consists of a self-contained keypad/display module which is attached to a standard hand soap dispenser. An employee enters a unique personal ID code and then activates the dispenser. The dispenser counts all inputs to the dispenser in order to generate meaningful data for management. Alternatively, the dispenser may only track and report total usage and not account for individual employee usage.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a liquid product, the dispenser comprising means that collects and stores usage data for later retrieval, the dispenser comprising:

(a) a container of liquid product having means to dispense the liquid in response to a pressure input on an activating surface of the dispenser;

(b) electronic processing means that accepts a user identification and electronically counts each pressure input on the activating surface;

(c) electronic storage means configured to accumulate the user identification and each input for data processing; and

(d) a housing that encloses the container, electronic processing means, and electronic storage means.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the data processing comprises usage figures calculated for individual users in response to individual identification numbers.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the data processing comprises total usage figures calculated in response to a pressure input requesting such data.

4. A dispenser for a liquid product, the dispenser comprising means that collects and stores usage data for later retrieval, the dispenser comprising:

(a) a container of liquid product having means to dispense the liquid in response to a pressure input on an activating surface of the dispenser;

(b) processing means that electronically counts each pressure input on the activating surface, said processing means configured to send usage data to a data output means;

(c) a data entry key pad configured to receive identification information and prompt the dispenser to send usage data to a data output means; and

(d) a housing that encloses the container and processing means;

wherein any pressure input occurring under a single identification number and within a predetermined period is counted as a single use and wherein the processing means that counts each input also comprises data processing and accumulation means that calculates the individual usage of the dispenser based on key pad entry data.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said dispenser optionally comprises an external data port suitable for external data processing means such as a hand-held computer.

6. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the data accumulation means calculates the number of pressure inputs per individual use.

7. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the predetermined period is less than 10 seconds and the data output means comprises a remote display.

8. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the data processing and accumulation means send data to the data output means in response to a code entered into the data entry key pad.

9. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which numerically displays total hand soap usage.

10. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which numerically displays hand soap usage per use.

11. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which displays frequency of use.

12. An add-on system that can be installed on a dispenser for a liquid product, the system comprising means that collects and stores usage data for later retrieval, the system comprising:

(a) pressure input means, used with a container of liquid product having means to dispense the liquid in response to a pressure input on an activating surface of the dispenser, the input means generating a signal per each use of the pressure input;

(b) electronic processing means that electronically counts each pressure input on the activating surface, said processing means capable of sending usage data to a data output means;

(c) a data entry key pad that can identify each user and can prompt the processing means to send usage data to a data output means;

wherein any pressure input occurring under a single identification number and within a predetermined period is counted as a single use and wherein the processing means that counts each input also comprises data processing and accumulation means that can calculate the individual usage of the dispenser based on key pad entry data.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said dispenser optionally comprises an external data port suitable for external data processing means such as a hand-held computer.

14. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the predetermined period is less than 10 seconds.

15. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the dispenser further comprises a remote means to display frequency of use.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which numerically displays total hand soap usage.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which numerically displays hand soap usage per use.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the data output means is a remote LCD display which displays frequency of use.