Hand washing alert system

• US 7,236,097 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward L. Cunningham
• Original Assignee: Edward L. Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/112,556
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/567, 340/555, 340/692, 340/691.6, 340/309.7, 340/529, 340/628, 340/693.2
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A hand washing alert system includes a housing that is mounted on a wall above a doorway. A motion detector is mounted on the housing and is adapted for detecting motion through the doorway. A processor is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to the motion detector. A sound emitter is mounted on the housing and is electrically coupled to the processor. An electronic memory storage is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to the processor. A message indicating that a person should wash their hands is recorded on the electronic memory storage. The processor is adapted for playing the message on the sound emitter between 20 seconds and 40 seconds after the motion detector detects motion.

Claims

1. A hand washing alert system comprising:

a housing being mounted on a wall above a doorway;

a motion detector being mounted on said housing and being adapted for detecting motion through the doorway;

a processor being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said motion detector;

a sound emitter being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor; and

an electronic memory storage being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, a message indicating that a person should wash their hands being recorded on said electronic memory storage, said processor being adapted for playing said message on said sound emitter between 20 seconds and 40 seconds after said motion detector detects motion.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a primary power supply being electrically coupled to said processor;

a power sensor being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said primary power supply and being adapted for detecting an interruption in electrical power from said primary power supply;

a backup power supply being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said power sensor; and

a light emitter being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said power sensor, said power sensor being adapted for turning said light emitter on when an interruption in electrical power is detected.

3. The system according to claim 1, further including a smoke detector being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled said processor, said processor sounding an alarm signal on said sound emitter when said smoke detector detects smoke.

4. A hand washing alert system comprising:

a housing being mounted on a wall above a doorway;

a motion detector being mounted on said housing and being adapted for detecting motion through the doorway;

a processor being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said motion detector;

a sound emitter being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor;

an electronic memory storage being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, a message indicating that a person should wash their hands being recorded on said electronic memory storage, said processor being adapted for playing said message on said sound emitter between 20 seconds and 40 seconds after said motion detector detects motion;

a primary power supply being electrically coupled to said processor;

a power sensor being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said primary power supply and being adapted for detecting an interruption in electrical power from said primary power supply;

a backup power supply being mounted in said housing and being electrically coupled to said power sensor;

a light emitter being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said power sensor, said power sensor being adapted for turning said light emitter on when an interruption in electrical power is detected; and

a smoke detector being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said processor sounding an alarm signal on said sound emitter when said smoke detector detects smoke.