Dispenser use monitor

• US 9,443,357 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W., Archer, Matthew J., Ciavarella, Nick E., Gannon, Deirdre
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US13/523,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20130015956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0038 Inner container disposed in an outer shell or outer casing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A dispenser use monitor provides a housing configured to be removably attached to a portable dispenser, such as a soap dispenser. The housing includes a controller that stores one or more reference ID codes that match the tag ID codes associated with each of one or more data tags. The data tags are used to identify predetermined areas in which the portable dispenser is to be used. Thus, as the use monitor is brought into proximity with each data tag, indicating that the portable dispenser has been used in the associated area, the use monitor validates the reference ID codes if it matches the tag ID code of the particular data tag. In addition, an indicator displays the remaining number of reference ID codes that have not been validated, thereby providing a reminder to the user of the portable dispenser of the progress of their job completion.

Claims

1. A use monitor for a portable dispenser having a neck extending from a body, the portable dispenser configured to dispense material from a nozzle in fluid communication with the neck at one or more areas each identified by a data tag, the use monitor comprising:

a housing adapted to be removably attached to the portable dispenser, such that the neck of the portable dispenser extends out of said housing, wherein when the neck of the portable dispenser is grasped by a user, the entire weight of said housing is carried on the body of the portable dispenser;

a controller carried by said housing;

a memory unit coupled to said controller, said memory unit adapted to store one or more reference ID codes that match at least one tag ID code associated with each of the one or more data tags;

a data tag reader coupled to said controller, said data tag reader configured to acquire the tag ID code from each of the one or more data tags; and

an indicator coupled to said controller;

wherein if the acquired tag ID code matches one of said one or more reference ID codes, said controller validates said reference ID code and said indicator indicates the number of remaining reference ID codes that have not been validated.

2. The use monitor of claim 1, wherein if each said one or more reference ID codes have been validated, said indicator generates a prompt.

3. The use monitor of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sensor coupled to said controller, such that when said magnetic sensor detects the presence of a magnet, said controller resets said indicator.

4. The use monitor of claim 1, further comprising a reset switch coupled to said controller that when actuated resets said indicator.

5. The use monitor of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to monitor and store operating data associated with the operation of the portable dispenser.

6. The user monitor of claim 5, wherein said controller stores the date and time that each said reference code ID is validated.

7. The use monitor of claim 5, further comprising a memory data port coupled to said controller, said memory data port adapted to be removably coupled to a portable memory device to store said operating data.

8. The use monitor of claim 1, further comprising a computer data port coupled to said controller, said computer data port adapted to be removably coupled to a computing device to update said one or more reference ID codes stored at said memory unit.

9. The use monitor of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of illuminable elements, such that each said illuminable element corresponds to each of said one or more reference ID codes, wherein each said illuminable element is turned on or off based on whether the corresponding reference ID code is validated.

10. A method of cleaning an area comprising:

providing a portable dispenser having a neck extending from a body, the portable dispenser configured to dispense an amount of material from a nozzle in fluid communication with the neck;

attaching a use monitor having a housing to said portable dispenser, such that the neck of the portable dispenser extends out of said housing, said use monitor having a controller coupled to a memory unit to store one or more reference ID codes, a data tag reader coupled to said controller to detect one or more data tags each associated with a tag ID code, said use monitor also having an indicator coupled to said controller;

grasping the neck of the portable dispenser by a hand of a user, whereupon the entire weight of said housing is carried on the body of the portable dispenser;

providing said one or more data tags at one or more areas;

grasping the neck of the portable dispenser by a user;

actuating said portable dispenser at said one or more areas;

acquiring said tag ID code at said data tag reader;

validating said reference ID code if said acquired tag ID code matches one of said one or more reference ID codes; and

indicating at said indicator the remaining number of reference ID codes that have not been validated.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating a prompt at said indicator if each said one or more reference ID codes have been validated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing the date and time when said validating step occurred at said memory unit.