Interactive packaging for development of personal hygiene habits

• US 7,411,511 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Sawin, Philip Andrew, O'Neill, Kilian John, Papa, Alyce Johnson, Kennish, Yolanda Christina
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/349,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/540, 340/693.9, 340/692, 340/3.1, 340/539.11, 434/236, 434/262, 490/2, 461/9, 222/321.9, 377 13- 16
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0076 Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to an interactive packaging system for monitoring the usage of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene product packages, and restroom facilities. The interactive packaging system may include a plurality of usage monitoring devices each configured to detect physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring device is associate, and to transmit usage messages containing information relating to the detected physical stimulus. The interactive packaging system may further include a base station configured to receive the usage messages transmitted by the plurality of usage monitoring devices and to generate sensory perceptible outputs corresponding to the information contained in the usage messages. Either the usage monitoring devices or the base station may be configured to determine whether the products, packages or facilities are used appropriately based on the detected physical stimulus.

Claims

1. A usage monitoring device for detecting usage of a personal hygiene product, a personal hygiene product package or a restroom facility, and for determining the appropriateness of the detected usage of the product, package or facility, the usage monitoring device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect a physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring device is associated and to transmit a sensor output signal corresponding to the detected physical stimulus;

an output device configured to generate a sensory perceptible output; and

a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the output device,

the controller being programmed to receive the sensor output signals from the at least one sensor,

the controller being programmed to determine whether the usage of the associated product, package or facility is an appropriate usage of the associated product, package or facility based on the sensor output signals received from the at least one sensor, and

the controller being programmed to cause the output device to generate a sensory perceptible output corresponding to an appropriate usage of the associated product, package or facility in response to determining that the usage of the associated product, package or facility was an appropriate usage, and

wherein the usage monitoring device is associated with a personal hygiene product package having a pump for dispensing a liquid personal hygiene product disposed therein, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pump movement sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the pump movement sensor being configured to detect movement of the pump to dispense a portion of the liquid personal hygiene product disposed in the package, and to transmit a sensor output signal corresponding to the amount of pump movement detected by the sensor, and wherein the controller is programmed to receive the sensor output signals from the pump movement sensor, to calculate the amount of the liquid personal hygiene product dispensed from the package based on the sensor output signals received from the pump movement sensor, and to determine that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage based on the calculated amount of liquid personal hygiene product dispensed from the package.

2. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the output device to generate a sensory perceptible output corresponding to an inappropriate usage of the associated product, package or facility in response to determining that the usage of the associated product, package or facility was an inappropriate usage.

3. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the usage monitoring device is associated with a personal hygiene product package that is configured to be opened and closed during the dispensing of the personal hygiene product disposed therein, the at least one sensor comprising:

a first sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the first sensor being configured to detect the opening and closing of the package, and to transmit sensor output signals corresponding to the opening and closing of the package; and

a second sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the second sensor being configured to detect the dispensing of the personal hygiene product from the package, and to transmit sensor output signals corresponding to the dispensing of the product from the package,

the controller being programmed to receive the sensor output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor,

the controller being programmed to determine that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage in response to receiving a first sensor output signal from the first sensor, a sensor output signal from the second sensor, and a second sensor output signal from the first sensor.

4. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to determine that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage in response to receiving a second sensor output signal from the first sensor within a predetermined period of time after receiving the first sensor output signal from the first sensor.

5. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the usage monitoring device is associated with a toilet, the at least one sensor comprising:

a first sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the first sensor being configured to detect the proximity of a user to the toilet, and to transmit a sensor output signal indicating that a user is located proximate the toilet; and

a second sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the second sensor being configured to detect the flushing of the toilet, and to transmit a sensor output signal corresponding to flushing of the toilet,

the controller being programmed to receive the sensor output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor,

the controller being programmed to determine that a usage of the toilet is an appropriate usage in response to receiving a sensor output signal from the second sensor within a predetermined period of time after receiving a sensor output signal from the first sensor.

6. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein usage monitoring devices for related products, packages and facilities are configured to transmit usage messages to each other indicating usage of the corresponding products, packages and facilities, the usage monitoring device comprising a receiver operatively coupled to the controller, the receiver configured to receive a usage message from a usage monitoring device of a related product, package or facility, and to transmit the received usage message to the controller, the controller being programmed to receive the usage message from the controller, and to determine that a usage of the associated product, package or facility is an appropriate usage if a sensor output signal is received from the at least one sensor within a predetermined period of time after receiving the usage message.

7. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein usage monitoring devices for related products, packages and facilities are configured to transmit usage messages to each other indicating usage of the corresponding products, packages and facilities, the usage monitoring device comprising a transmitter operatively coupled to the controller, the transmitter configured to transmit usage messages from the usage monitoring device, and the controller being programmed to cause the transmitter to transmit a usage message in response to receiving a sensor output signal from the at least one sensor.

8. A usage monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the usage monitoring devices are components of an interactive packaging system having a base station configured to receive usage monitoring messages from the usage monitoring devices of the interactive packaging system, the usage monitoring device comprising a transmitter operatively coupled to the controller, the transmitter configured to transmit usage monitoring messages from the usage monitoring device, and the controller being programmed to cause the transmitter to transmit a usage monitoring message to the base station in response to receiving sensor output signals from the at least one sensor.

9. A method for detecting usage of a personal hygiene product, a personal hygiene product package or a restroom facility, and for determining the appropriateness of the detected usage of the product, package or facility, the method comprising:

detecting a physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility;

determining whether the usage of the associated product, package or facility is an appropriate usage based on the detected physical stimulus; and

outputting a sensory perceptible output corresponding to an appropriate usage of the associated product, package or facility in response to determining that the usage of the associated product, package or facility was an appropriate usage, and

wherein the usage of a personal hygiene product package having a pump for dispensing a liquid personal hygiene product disposed therein is monitored, the method comprising;

detecting movement of the pump to dispense a portion of the liquid personal hygiene product disposed in the package;

calculating the amount of the liquid personal hygiene product dispensed from the package based on the detected movement of the pump; and

determining that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage based on the calculated amount of liquid personal hygiene product dispensed from the package.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, comprising outputting a sensory perceptible output corresponding to an inappropriate usage of the associated product, package or facility in response to determining that the usage of the associated product, package or facility was an inappropriate usage.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the usage of a personal hygiene product package that is configured to be opened and closed during the dispensing of the personal hygiene product disposed therein is monitored, the method comprising:

detecting the opening and closing of the package;

detecting the dispensing of the personal hygiene product from the package; and

determining that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage in response to detecting the opening of the package, detecting the dispensing of the person hygiene product from the package, and detecting the closing of the package.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, comprising determining that a usage of the package is an appropriate usage in response to detecting the closing of the package within a predetermined period of time after detecting the opening of the package.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the usage of a toilet is monitored, the method comprising:

detecting the proximity of a user to the toilet;

detecting flushing of the toilet; and

determining that a usage of the toilet is an appropriate usage in response to detecting flushing of the toilet within a predetermined period of time after detecting that the user is located proximate the toilet.

14. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein usage of related products, packages and facilities is monitored, the method comprising:

detecting usage of a first one of the products, packages and facilities;

transmitting a usage message from the first one of the products, packages and facilities to a second one of the products, packages and facilities in response to detecting the usage of the first one of the products, packages and facilities;

determining that a usage of the second one of the products, packages and facilities is an appropriate usage if usage is detected at the second one of the products, packages and facilities within a predetermined period of time after the usage message is received at the second one of the products, packages and facilities.

15. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the products, packages and facilities are components of an interactive packaging system having a base station configured to receive usage monitoring messages from the products, packages and facilities of the interactive packaging system, the method comprising transmitting usage monitoring messages from the products, packages and facilities to the base station in response to detecting usage of the products, packages and facilities.