Automated dispenser for disinfectant with proximity sensor

• US 5,695,091 A
• Filed: 10/25/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Path Xl Limited
• Original Assignee: Path Xl Limited
• Inventors: Winings, Thomas R., Samson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/548,052
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/52, 222/642, 222/25, 222/36, 222/39, 222/63, 222/305, 222/333, 222/361, 4/623
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A unit suitable for wall mounting contains a supply of disinfectant and a proximity detector that senses an individual'"'"'s approach. When an approaching individual is detected, the unit issues a visual and/or audible reminder to disinfect. A second proximity detector senses the presence of an individual'"'"'s hands beneath a disinfectant ejection outlet, and the unit thereupon dispenses a predetermined amount of disinfectant. The invention may display compliance information including a compliance rate based on the ratio of alarms to actual dispensations of disinfectant, and may store historical compliance information for subsequent analysis.

Claims

1. Automated dispensing apparatus comprising:

a. a housing;

b. contained within the housing, a receptacle for liquid;

c. outlet means for conducting liquid from the receptacle to a dispensing location accessible to a user'"'"'s hands;

d. a first detector for producing an alarm-trigger signal in response to the presence of a user proximate to the housing;

e. alarm means for generating, in response to the alarm-trigger signal, a user perceivable alarm;

f. a second detector for producing a valve-actuation signal in response to the presence of a user'"'"'s hands in the dispensing location; and

g. a dispensing valve, interposed between the receptacle and the outlet means, for sending a predetermined volume of liquid through the outlet means in response to the valve-actuation signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises a visible signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises an audible signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing valve comprises:

a. a reservoir for accepting a volume of liquid from the receptacle;

b. means for moving the reservoir into a fill position whereby liquid from the receptacle fills the reservoir; and

c. means for moving the reservoir, in response to the valve-actuation signal, into a dispensing position whereby liquid from the reservoir passes through the outlet means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for moving the reservoir into the dispensing position comprises a solenoid, and the means for moving the reservoir into the fill position comprises a spring biased against the solenoid.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein both means for moving the reservoir comprise a single dual-action solenoid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing valve comprises a timer-operated flow valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. means for counting actuations of the alarm;

b. means for counting actuations of the dispensing valve; and

c. means for reporting a compliance rate based on the ratio of alarm actuations to dispensing-valve actuations.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising reset means for terminating the alarm in response to at least one of (i) expiration of a predetermined elapsed time following the alarm-trigger signal, and (ii) actuation of the dispensing valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a supply of antimicrobial disinfectant within the receptacle.

11. A method of controllably dispensing a liquid, the method comprising:

a. providing a receptacle containing a liquid and an outlet to the receptacle;

b. providing means for dispensing a predetermined amount of the liquid through the outlet;

c. sensing the proximity of a user to the receptacle and generating, in response thereto, a user-perceivable alarm; and

d. sensing the presence of a user'"'"'s hands proximate to the outlet and, in response thereto, dispensing the predetermined amount of the liquid through the outlet.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the liquid is an antimicrobial disinfectant.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the alarm comprises a visible signal.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the alarm comprises an audible signal.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

a. counting actuations of the alarm;

b. counting actuations of the dispensing valve; and

c. reporting a compliance rate based on the ratio of alarm actuations to dispensing-valve actuations.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of resetting the alarm in response to at least one of (i) persistence of the alarm for a predetermined time and (ii) dispensation of the predetermined amount of liquid through the outlet.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of storing storing a plurality of compliance rates in a memory circuit.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of transmitting the compliance rate to central location.