Hygiene compliance module

• US 9,633,545 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W., Archer, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US15/139,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 3405391, 34053923, 3405721, 340 58, 340 1324, 222 1, 222 52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A hygiene compliance module is configured to be retrofit with a compatible dispenser to enable hygiene compliance monitoring functions. The hygiene compliance module is configured to be coupled to the dispenser via a communication interface to receive power, ground, and dispenser actuation signals therefrom. In addition, the hygiene compliance module is enabled to communicate with a wireless data tag that is worn by a user of the dispenser and with a remote hygiene compliance monitoring station.

Claims

1. A soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising:

a housing;

the housing having a base and a cover;

a refill unit located within the housing;

the refill unit including a container, a pump, and a soap or sanitizer;

a communication interface located within the housing;

a power source located in the dispenser for providing power to the dispenser;

a power conductor providing power to the communication port;

a dispenser controller in circuit communication with the communication interface for providing a signal indicative of a dispense event to the communication interface;

a compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the circuit board;

the module communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more devices; and

a connector for connecting to the communication interface;

the connector having a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a actuation signal conductor for receiving the signal indicative of the dispense event from the controller;

wherein when the compliance module is installed in the dispenser, the compliance module receives power from the dispenser power supply via the connector and receives the signal indicative of the dispense event.

2. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the module communication circuitry comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

3. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 2 further comprising an indicator light for indicating when a data tag is recognized.

4. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 3 wherein the indicator light is located on the compliance module.

5. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the module communication circuitry comprises an IR receiver.

6. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the connector of the compliance module has eight connection points.

7. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the connector of the compliance module has more than three connection points.

8. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the power source is located on a first side of the dispenser and the communication interface is located on a second side of the dispenser.

9. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits a signal to the data tag and receives a signal from the data tag that identifies the data tag.

10. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 9 wherein the compliance module transmits a signal that identifies the data tag to the monitoring station.

11. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits the signal indicative of the dispense event to the data tag.

12. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the compliance module transmits the signal indicative of the dispense event to a monitoring station.

13. The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a refill unit.

14. A compliance module comprising:

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the module control circuitry;

the module housing having a front cover and a rear cover;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with one or more of a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a connector for connecting to a communication interface of a dispenser;

the connector having a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a actuation signal conductor for receiving a signal indicative of a dispense event from a controller located in the dispenser;

wherein when the compliance module is installed in the dispenser, the compliance module receives power from a power supply of the dispenser via the connector.

15. The compliance module of claim 14 wherein the compliance module transmits a signal to the data tag and receives a signal from the data tag that identifies the data tag.

16. The compliance module of claim 15 wherein the compliance module transmits the signal that identifies the data tag to the monitoring station.

17. The compliance module of claim 14 wherein the compliance module transmits the signal indicative of the dispense event to the data tag.

18. The compliance module of claim 14 wherein the compliance module transmits the signal indicative of the dispense event to a monitoring station.

19. A compliance module comprising:

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the module control circuitry;

the module housing having a front cover and a rear cover;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a connector for connecting to a communication interface of a dispenser;

the connector having a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a actuation signal conductor for receiving a signal indicative of a dispense event from the dispenser;

wherein when the compliance module is installed in the dispenser, the compliance module receives power from a power supply of the dispenser via the connector.

20. The compliance module of claim 19 wherein the compliance module sends a signal to a data tag in range and the data tag transmits a signal that may be used to identify the data tag and wherein the compliance module sends a signal to the compliance monitoring station that is indicative of the identity of the data tag and that a dispense event has occurred.

21. A compliance monitoring device comprising:

a soap or sanitizing dispenser;

the soap or sanitizing dispenser having

a housing;

a refill unit;

the refill including a container of soap or sanitizer;

a dispenser connector located within the housing for releasably connecting to a compliance module; and

a compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

wireless communication circuitry;

a module connector for connecting to the dispenser connector; and

a module housing;

the module housing at least partially enclosing the circuit board and module control circuitry;

wherein the compliance module is configured to receive a signal indicative of a dispense event through the connector and is configured to wirelessly transmit the signal indicative of the dispense event to one of a data tag and a compliance monitoring station.

22. A method of obtaining hygiene compliance data comprising:

providing a soap or sanitizer dispenser having

a housing;

a receptacle for receiving a refill unit containing soap or sanitizer; and

a dispenser connector located within the housing;

providing a compliance module for insertion into the dispenser;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

a module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the module control circuitry;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with one or more of a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a module connector for connecting to the dispenser connector;

wherein when the compliance module connector is connected to the dispenser connector, the compliance module receives a signal indicative of a dispense event when the dispenser is actuated;

installing the compliance module by connecting the module connector to the dispenser connector in the soap or sanitizer dispenser.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting the signal indicative of the dispense event to one of the compliance monitoring station and a data tag.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising displaying the dispense event.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising displaying information indicative of the identification of the data tag.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving a signal indicative of the identification of a data tag and transmitting the signal to the compliance monitoring station.

27. The method of obtaining hygiene compliance data of claim 22 further comprising installing a refill unit containing soap or sanitizer in the dispenser.

28. A method of obtaining and displaying hygiene compliance data comprising:

causing a soap or sanitizer dispenser to dispense soap or sanitizer;

the soap or sanitizer dispenser having

a housing;

a receptacle for receiving a refill unit containing soap or sanitizer; and

a dispenser connector located within the housing;

a compliance module;

the compliance module having

a circuit board;

module control circuitry located on the circuit board;

a module housing at least partially surrounding the module control circuitry;

module communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with one or more of a compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

a module connector for connecting to the dispenser connector;

wherein the compliance module connector is connected to the dispenser connector to enable the compliance module to receive a signal indicative of a dispense event when the dispenser is actuated;

causing the transmission of the signal indicative of the dispense event to one of the compliance monitoring station and a data tag; and

causing information indicative of the dispense event to be displayed on the compliance monitoring station.

29. The method of obtaining hygiene compliance data of claim 28 further comprising installing a refill unit containing soap or sanitizer in the dispenser.