Methods and apparatus for promoting hygiene

• US 6,278,372 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Velasco, Pastor Jr., Outlaw, Tina O.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/585,489
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/309.15, 340/331, 340/332, 340/691.4, 340/691.5
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A badge emits light to signal that the person wearing the badge has clean hands. The light is discontinued after a period of time to indicate that the person should proceed to wash his/her hands. The badge may emit light in a distinct manner (or generate sound) during a time period in which the person is supposed to be washing his/her hands. This distinct signal would be generated in response to user input, which should be entered only when the person wearing the button is beginning to wash his/her hands.

Claims

1. A method of encouraging a person to practice hygiene, comprising the steps of:

providing a badge adapted to be worn by the person;

providing a light emitting element on the badge;

activating the light emitting element;

providing a timer on the badge to deactivate the light emitting element only after a pre-programmed interval of time has elapsed; and

encouraging the person to wash his/her hands upon deactivation of the light emitting element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of encouraging the person to wear the badge.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a switch on the badge to allow the person to contemporaneously start the timer and activate the light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element is deactivated only after the pre-programmed interval of time has elapsed since the switch was last operated.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of encouraging the person to operate the switch in anticipation of washing his/her hands.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a sound emitting element on the badge;

and activating the sound emitting element upon deactivation of the light emitting element.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sound emitting element emits sound for approximately two seconds upon deactivation of the light emitting element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sound emitting element emits a first sound upon operation of the switch, and the sound emitting element emits a second sound after a relatively shorter, second pre-programmed interval of time has elapsed since the switch was last operated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting element emits pulses of red light during the pre-programmed interval of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting element emits light in a first way during a first portion of the pre-programmed interval of time, and the light emitting element emits light in a second way during a second portion of the pre-programmed interval of time, and the person is encouraged to wash his/her hands throughout the first portion of the pre-programmed interval of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the pre-programmed interval of time is twenty seconds, and the second portion of the pre-programmed interval of time is sixty minutes.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the light emitting element emits pulses of light during the first portion of the pre-programmed interval of time, and the light emitting element emits uninterrupted light during the second portion of the pre-programmed interval of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the pre-programmed interval of time is less than one minute, and the second portion of the pre-programmed interval of time is at least thirty minutes.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the badge is provided with graphics directed toward consumers who interact with the person wearing the button.

14. A method of supervising a person to encourage practice of good hygiene, comprising the steps of:

providing a badge adapted to be worn by the person;

providing a light emitting element on the badge;

providing a switch on the badge to allow the person to selectively activate the light emitting element;

operating the light emitting element in a first mode for a first preprogrammed time interval;

operating the light emitting element in a second, visibly discrete mode for a subsequent, second pre-programmed time interval;

providing a tiner on the badge to deactivate the light emitting element upon termination of the second pre-programmed time interval; and

encouraging the person to wear the badge;

approach a wash area upon deactivation of the light emitting element;

operate the switch to activate the light emitting element; and

wash his/her hands throughout the first pre-programmed time interval, whereby the first mode should be visible only in the wash area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first pre-programmed time interval is less than one minute, and the second pre-programmed time interval is at least thirty minutes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first pre-programmed time interval is twenty seconds, and the second pre-programmed time interval is sixty minutes.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the light emitting element emits pulses of red light in the second mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the light emitting element emits pulses of green light in the first mode.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the light emitting element emits pulses of green light in the first mode.

20. A badge, comprising:

a base;

a power source on the base;

a light emitting element on the base;

a switch on the base;

a controller on the base, wherein the controller causes the light emitting element to illuminate in a first way for a first prescribed period of time which is at least thirty minutes, and then to appear unlit until the switch is operated, and then to illuminate in a second way for a second prescribed period of time which is less than one minute.