SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF TOUCH-FREE DEVICES IN A COORDINATED MANNER

• US 20140366264A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ciavarella, Nick E., McNulty, John J., Wegelin, Jackson W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,030,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/678
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of touch-free devices and systems comprising touch-free devices operating in a concerted effort are disclosed below. An exemplary touch-free device includes a spout, a processor, memory, an object sensor, a communication interface and logic stored on the memory. The logic contains processor readable instructions for causing the touch-free device to communicate with a second touch-free device. Wherein the processor readable instructions coordinate the operation of the touch-free device with respect to the second touch-free device.

Claims

1. A touch-free dispensing system comprising:

a touch-free faucet,

a touch-free soap dispenser;

communications circuitry for allowing the touch-free faucet to communicate with the touch-free soap dispenser;

memory;

logic stored on the memory;

the logic containing processor readable instructions for coordinating operation of the faucet and operation of the soap dispenser.

2. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 1 wherein soap is prevented from dispensing while water is being dispensed.

3. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising compliance logic to ensure a user complies with guidelines for washing hands.

4. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 3 wherein the compliance logic prevents the water from running for greater than a set time unless the soap dispenser has dispensed soap.

5. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 4 further comprising an indictor to indicate to a user to use soap.

6. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising a hand dryer and logic for coordinating the dispensing of water, soap and air.

7. The touch-free dispensing system of claim 6 further comprising logic for preventing the soap from dispensing when air is being dispensed.

8. A touch-free device comprising:

a spout;

a processor;

memory;

an object sensor;

a communication interface; and

logic stored on the memory;

the logic containing processor readable instructions for causing the touch-free device to communicate with a second touch-free device;

wherein the processor readable instructions coordinate the operation of the touch-free device with respect to the second touch-free device.

9. The touch-free device of claim 8 wherein the touch-free device is one of a soap dispenser, a faucet and a hand dryer.

10. The touch-free device of claim 8 further comprising logic to prevent the touch-free device from operating if a second touch-free device is operating.

11. The touch-free device of claim 8 further comprising a second touch-free device and logic stored on the computer readable medium for determining whether to operate the first touch-free device or the second touch-free device when an object is detected by both touch-free devices.

12. The touch-free device of claim 11 wherein the first touch-free device and the second touch-free device comprise a faucet and a soap dispenser.

13. The touch-free device of claim 11 wherein the first touch-free device and the second touch-free device comprise a faucet and a hand dryer.

14. The touch-free device of claim 13 further comprising logic to prevent the touch-free hand dryer from operating unless the touch-free faucet has dispensed water.

15. The touch-free device of claim 11 further comprising compliance logic.

16. The touch-free device of claim 15 wherein the compliance logic requires the activation of a touch-free soap dispenser prior to allowing the water to be turned on for more than a set time limit.

17. A method of controlling a touch-free faucet and a touch-free soap dispenser comprising:

providing logic on a processor readable medium for preventing the touch-free faucet and the touch-free soap dispenser from operating at the same time.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising logic on the processor readable medium for determining which touch-free device to activate when object sensors relating to both touch-free devices detect an object.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising logic on the processor readable medium for controlling a hand dryer.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising compliance logic.