Information sharing hygiene apparatus

• US 8,169,327 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthmark LLC
• Original Assignee: Healthmark LLC
• Inventors: Lynn, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/068,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0076 Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed which involve an improved way to coerce use of a soap dispenser (or other hygiene device). A soap dispenser according to at least one embodiment, includes a teaching or entertaining device that is fun and informative that is triggered when the soap dispenser is utilized. The soap dispenser may also be utilized as an advertising tool.

Claims

1. A soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser that provides information during use, comprising:

a dispensing device intended to be used by multiple different persons;

an identifier interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser, the identifier operable to identify an individual user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser; and

a communicator interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser, the communicator operable to communicate a large variety of educational information selected by the identified user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser.

2. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the educational information presented to the user is tracked.

3. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising memory associated with the information sharing device, the memory operable to store the information communicated to the user.

4. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a remote computer interfaced with the communicator, the remote computer operable to store the information communicated to the user.

5. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 4, wherein the remote computer communicates with the information sharing device over the Internet.

6. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 5, wherein the communicator allows the user to select the information from a plurality of web sites.

7. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a plurality of packets including digital information.

8. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

9. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a voice recognition device or other biometric device.

10. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the information shared with the user is work related.

11. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 4, wherein the computer keeps records of hand washing frequency.

12. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least some portion of the information is advertising information not necessarily chosen by the user.

13. A method for educating a user of a soap dispenser or hand sanitizer intended to be used by multiple persons, comprising:

providing a communicator operable to be interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer;

identifying an individual user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer using an identifier interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer;

receiving an activation signal at the communicator when the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer is used; and

communicating from the communicator to the identified user after receipt of the activation signal a large variety of educational information selected by the user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking the educational information presented to the user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the communicator is operable to interface with the Internet to communicate information to the user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising updating the information communicated to the user by using a news reader program.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the identifier comprises a voice recognition device or other biometric device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein in addition to the educational information the information also comprises an advertising message.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the advertising message is targeted to the user.