Interactive packaging for development of personal hygiene habits

• US 7,999,686 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• 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:
  US12/844,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/5.1, 340/540, 340/539.11, 340/693.9, 340/692, 340/3.1, 434/236, 434/262, 490/2, 461/9, 222/321.9, 377/13, 377/14, 377/15, 377/16
• 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. An interactive packaging system for monitoring the usage of a plurality of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene product packages, and restroom facilities, the interactive packaging system comprising:

a plurality of usage monitoring means each configured to detect physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring means is associate, and to transmit usage messages containing information relating to the detected physical stimulus; and

a means for receiving the usage messages transmitted by the plurality of usage monitoring means and to generate sensory perceptible outputs corresponding to the information contained in the usage messages,

wherein one of the usage monitoring means and the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to determine whether the usage of the product, package or facility associated with a usage monitoring means is an appropriate usage based on the physical stimulus detected at the corresponding usage monitoring means; and

wherein one of the usage monitoring means is associated with a personal hygiene product package having a means for dispensing a liquid personal hygiene product disposed therein and having a means for sensing movement operatively coupled to the means for receiving the usage messages, the means for sensing movement being configured to detect movement of the means for dispensing liquid 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 movement detected by the means for sensing movement, and wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is programmed to receive the sensor output signals from the means for sensing movement, to calculate the amount of the liquid personal hygiene product dispensed from the package based on the sensor output signals received from the means for sensing movement.

2. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each usage monitoring means is configured to determine whether the usage of the associated product, package or facility is an appropriate usage based on the physical stimulus detected at the usage monitoring means, and wherein the usage messages transmitted by the usage monitoring means contain information relating to the outcomes of the usage appropriateness determinations.

3. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to determine whether the usage of a product, package or facility associated with a received usage message is an appropriate usage based on the information contained in the received usage message.

4. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to transmit usage evaluation messages to the usage monitoring means containing information relating to the outcomes of the usage appropriateness determinations performed by the means for receiving the usage messages, and wherein each usage monitoring means is configured to receive the usage evaluation messages relating to the usage of the associated product, package or facility, and to output a sensory perceptible output corresponding to the outcome of the usage appropriateness determination.

5. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interactive packaging system monitors the performance of personal hygiene tasks requiring the usage of a plurality of the products, packages and facilities of the interactive packaging system, and wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to determine whether the personal hygiene task has been appropriately performed based on the information contained in the usage messages from the usage monitoring means of the products, packages and facilities required to perform the personal hygiene task.

6. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to store information relating to the outcomes of the usage appropriateness determinations for the products, packages and facilities of the interactive packaging system, to compile the information relating to the outcomes of the usage appropriateness determinations for a specified time period, and to output a summary of the outcomes of the usage appropriateness determinations for the products, packages and facilities of the interactive packaging system for the specified time period.

7. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to receive input regarding the identity of a user of the interactive packaging system, and to perform user-specific processing of the information contained in the usage messages based on the identity of the user received at the means for receiving the usage messages.

8. The interactive packaging system in accordance with claim 7, comprising a plurality of user identification devices each configured to transmit user identification messages containing the identity of a particular user associated with the user identification device, and wherein the means for receiving the usage messages is configured to receive the user identification messages of a user identification device when the user identification device is disposed proximate the interactive packaging system, and to perform the user-specific processing of the information contained in the usage messages corresponding to the user identified in the user identification messages in response to receiving user identification messages.