Device and procedure for surveillance of the use of a hygiene station

• US 20020135486A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allan Salaker, Per Brohagen
• Original Assignee: Allan Salaker, Per Brohagen
• Inventors: Salaker, Allan, Brohagen, Per
• Application Number:
  US10/101,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

The invention related to a device for surveillance of the use of a hygiene station (1) or a similar establishment for washing of hands by one or more users, which device comprises a first sensor device (4) arranged in connection with said hygiene station (1), for detection of presence and identification of users who are in its vicinity, and also a control unit (6) to which said first sensor device (4) is connected. The invention is characterized in that the control unit (6) is connected to a second sensor device (7) for detection of the use of a drying device (2) arranged for drying after the use of said hygiene station (1), where the control unit (6) is arranged for gathering and storage of information concerning said detection of presence, identification and use of the drying device (2) based on signals from said first sensor device (4) and said second sensor device (7), respectively. The invention also relates to a procedure for such surveillance, and also a drying device intended to be used at such surveillance. The invention offers an enhanced arrangement and procedure for surveillance of the extent to which a number of users uses a hygiene station, for example a washstand (1), for washing of hands.

Claims

1. Device for surveillance of the use of a hygiene station (1) or a similar establishment for washing of hands by one or more users, which device comprises a first sensor device (4) arranged in connection with said hygiene station (1), for detection of presence and identification of users which are in its vicinity, and also a control unit (6) to which said first sensor device (4) is connected, characterized in that the control unit (6) is connected to a second sensor device (7) for detection of the use of a drying device (2) arranged for drying after the use of said hygiene station (1), where the control unit (6) is arranged for gathering and storage of information concerning said detection of presence, identification and use of the drying device (2) based on signals from said first sensor device (4) and said second sensor device (7) respectively.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first sensor device (4) said second sensor device (7) and said control unit (6) are arranged to be integrated into said drying device (2).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first sensor device (7) is arranged to communicate wirelessly with an identification unit (5) intended to be carried by respective user, for automatic detection of presence and identification of said user.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said identification unit (5) comprises a signalling device (29) which indicates for the user that the use of the hygiene station (1) has been accomplished in an acceptable manner.

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said identification unit (5) comprises one more signalling device (30) that indicates for the user that the hygiene station (1) has not been used in accordance with stipulated criteria.

6. Device according to any of the appended claims, characterized in that said drying device (2) consists of a container for material for drying of hands, preferably paper.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said second sensor device (7) consists of a detector for detection of the amount of consumed paper in said container (2).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said container (2) comprises a rotating component (8) which rotation corresponds to the amount of fed paper, and that said second sensor device (7) is arranged to detect the rotation of said component (8).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said second sensor device (7) consists of a Hall-sensor which cooperates with a permanent magnet (9) arranged in said rotating component (8).

10. Device according to any of the appended claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one more sensor device (10) for detection of the consumption of a cleaning agent from a container (11) and/or the amount of water which is flushed from a water tap (12) belonging to the hygiene station (1).

11. Device according to any of the appended claims, characterized in that said control unit (6) is arranged to communicate with a local computer unit (13) for gathering, treatment and storage of data which has been delivered to said control unit (6).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said local computer unit (13) is connected with an external computer unit (19) for treatment, presentation and distribution of data which has been gathered via said local computer unit (13).

14. Procedure according to claim 13, characterized in that said detection of presence, identification, detection, gathering and storage is performed via sensor arrangements (4, 7) and a control unit (6) which are arranged to be integrated into said drying device (2).

15. Procedure according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises communication between a first sensor arrangement (4) and an identification unit (5) intended to be carried by said user, for detection of presence and identification of said user.

16. Procedure according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises verification via a signalling device (29) on said identification unit (5) that the use of the hygiene station has been accomplished in an acceptable manner.

17. Procedure according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it comprises a reminder via one more signalling device (30) on said identification unit (5) that the hygiene station (1) must be used in accordance with stipulated criteria as soon as possible.

19. Procedure according to any of the claims 14-18, characterized in that it comprises communication between said control unit (6) and a local computer unit (13) arranged for control and setting of parameters related to demands concerning the use of said hygiene station (1).

20. Procedure according to claim 19, characterized in that the local computer (13) communicates with an external computer unit (19) for treatment, presentation and distribution of data which has been gathered via said local computer unit (13).

13. Procedure for surveillance of the use of a hygiene station (1) or a similar establishment for washing of hands by one or more users, comprising detection of presence and identification of a user who is in the vicinity of said hygiene station (1), characterized in that the procedure also comprises:

detection of the use of a drying device (2) arranged for drying after the use of said hygiene station (1), and gathering and storage of information concerning said detection of presence, identification and use of the drying device (2).

18. Procedure according to any of the claims 13-17, characterized in that it comprises detection of the consumption of a cleaning agent from a special container (11) and/or the amount of water which is flushed from a water tap (12) belonging to the hygiene station (1).

21. Drying device (2) for drying in connection with washing of hands and arranged to be used at detection of whether one or more users uses a hygiene station (1) or similar arrangement, characterized in that it comprises:

a first sensor device (4) for detection and identification of an identification unit (5) intended to be carried by respective user,

a second sensor device (7) for detection of the use of said drying device (2) for drying after the use of said hygiene station (1), and also

a control unit (6) for gathering and storage of information from said first sensor device (4) and said second sensor device (7), respectively.

22. Drying device (2) according to claim 21, characterized in that is consists of a container for material for drying of hands, preferably paper.

23. Drying device (2) according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that it also comprises one more sensor device (10) for detection of at least one parameter which constitutes a measure of the use of said hygiene station (1).

25. Procedure according to claim 24, characterized in that said sensor (4, 7, 10) is used for gathering information concerning detection of presence and identification of persons who use said hygiene station (1).

26. Procedure according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that said sensor (4, 7, 10) is used to gather information concerning the use of a drying device (2) arranged for drying after the use of said hygiene station (1).

24. Procedure for distribution of information from a computer based central unit (19) to an authorised user (23), comprising:

reception of information concerning the identity of said authorised user (23),

reception of information concerning the order of desired information from said authorised user (23), where said authorised user (23) communicates with a central unit (19) via a communication system (22),

output from a data base (20) concerning information which corresponds to the desired information of the authorised user, and also

transfer of information to the authorised user (23) via said communication system (22), characterized in that said information comprises data related to the extent of use of a hygiene station (1) or a similar establishment, where said information is gathered via at lest one sensor (4, 7, 10) for generation of signals which indicate the degree of use of the hygiene station (1) and which are fed into said central unit (19).

27. Procedure for surveillance of the consumption of at least one piece of consumer goods in connection with a hygiene station (1) or a similar establishment, characterized in that the procedure comprises:

gathering signals from at least one sensor (7, 10) concerning the consumption of said consumer goods,

transfer of said signals to a computer based control unit (13;

19), and also

generating signals concerning order and/or refill of said consumer goods at the hygiene station (1), in dependence of said gathered signals from said sensor (7, 10).