Dispensing and accountability system and method for assuring washing of hands

• US 8,922,378 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Raccio, Alfred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US14/120,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20140240131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/540, 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

Abstract

A dispensing and accountability system for assuring washing of a person'"'"'s hands includes at least one passive infrared detector adapted to detect the presence of the person having a requirement of washing the hands. Further, the dispensing and accountability system includes a controller having a scalable processor architecture operatively coupled to each passive infrared detector of the at least one passive infrared detector. Furthermore, the dispensing and accountability system includes at least one audio signal unit operatively coupled to the controller. The at least one audio signal unit is adapted to generate an audio signal to remind the person to wash the hands. In addition, the dispensing and accountability system includes at least one dispensing unit operatively coupled to the controller. Because of the scalable processor architecture of the controller, the system may be expanded or contracted depending on the needs of the institution using it.

Claims

1. A dispensing and accountability system for assuring washing of a person'"'"'s hands, the dispensing and accountability system comprising:

at least one passive infrared detector adapted to detect the presence of the person having a requirement of washing the hands;

a controller having a scalable processor architecture operatively coupled to each passive infrared detector of the at least one passive infrared detector for receiving and accounting a first set of information from the each passive infrared detector, wherein the first set of information relates to detection of the presence of the person;

at least one audio signal unit operatively coupled to the controller, the at least one audio signal unit adapted to generate an audio signal to remind the person to wash the hands, wherein the audio signal is generated when the presence of the person is detected by the at least one passive infrared detector; and

at least one dispensing unit operatively coupled to the controller, such that the controller is capable of receiving and accounting a second set of information from the at least one dispensing unit, the second set of information relating to a response of the person when reminded of washing the hands;

wherein each dispensing unit of the at least one dispensing unit comprises a reservoir for storing a cleansing fluid and is adapted to dispense the cleansing fluid from the reservoir onto the hands of the person when the person activates the each dispensing unit on being reminded and wherein because the controller has the scalable processor architecture, each of the at least one passive infrared detectors, each of the at least one audio signal units, and each of the at least one cleansing fluid dispensing units can be easily added or removed from the system.

2. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the each passive infrared detector of the at least one passive infrared detector comprises at least one light emitting diode for generating a visual signal in order to remind the person to wash the hands.

3. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the each dispensing unit of the at least one dispensing unit further comprises,

a pump attached to the reservoir and operated by the person for activating the each dispensing unit in order to withdraw the cleansing fluid from within the reservoir onto the hands of the person;

and

a micro switch adapted to regulate the pump.

4. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio signal unit is an audio enunciator.

5. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the each passive infrared detector of the at least one passive infrared detector through one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

6. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the each dispensing unit of the at least one dispensing unit is operatively coupled to the controller through one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

7. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, further comprising at least one power source for supplying power to the at least one passive infrared detector and the at least one audio signal unit.

8. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the each passive infrared detector comprises a sensor for sensing characteristics of the person.

9. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a computing unit comprising a processor for processing the first set of information, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory adapted to store data corresponding to the first set of information.

10. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the response of the person is one of washing the hands and rendering the hands unwashed.

11. The dispensing and accountability system of claim 1, wherein the cleansing fluid is an alcohol-based hand cleansing fluid.

12. A method for operating a system for assuring washing of a person'"'"'s hands, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing and accountability system, the dispensing and accountability system comprising,

at least one passive infrared detector adapted to detect the presence of the person having a requirement of washing the hands,

a controller having a scalable processor architecture and operatively coupled to each passive infrared detector of the at least one passive infrared detector for receiving and accounting a first set of information from the each passive infrared detector, wherein the first set of information relates to detection of the person,

at least one audio signal unit operatively coupled to the controller, the at least one audio signal unit adapted to generate an audio signal to remind the person to wash the hands, wherein the audio signal is generated when the presence of the person is detected by the at least one passive infrared detector,

at least one dispensing unit operatively coupled to the controller, such that the controller is capable of receiving and accounting a second set of information from the at least one dispensing unit, the second set of information relating to a response of the person when reminded of washing the hands, wherein each dispensing unit of the at least one dispensing unit comprises a reservoir for storing a cleansing fluid and adapted to dispense the cleansing fluid from the reservoir onto the hands of the person;

detecting the presence of the person by the at least one passive infrared detector;

providing the audio signal generated by the at least one audio signal unit to remind the person to wash the hands when the presence of the person is detected by the passive infrared detector;

dispensing the cleansing fluid from the reservoir onto the hands of the person when the each dispensing unit is activated by the person being reminded;

recording a response of the person when reminded of washing the hands, by the controller;

adding to or deleting from the system at least one passive infrared detector, at least one audio signal unit, or at least one cleansing fluid dispensing unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the each passive infrared detector comprises at least one light emitting diode.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a visual signal generated by the at least one light emitting diode in order to remind the person to wash the hands.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the controller is a computing unit comprising a processor for processing the first set of information, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory adapted to store data corresponding to the first set of information.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the each dispensing unit of the at least one dispensing unit further comprises,

a pump attached to the reservoir and operated by the person for activating the each dispensing unit in order to withdraw the cleansing fluid from within the reservoir onto the hands of the person;

and

a micro switch adapted to regulate the pump.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the dispensing and accountability system further comprises at least one power source for supplying power to the at least one passive infrared detector and the at least one audio signal unit.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the each passive infrared detector comprises a sensor operatively coupled to the controller.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising sensing characteristics of the person by the sensor.