Soap dispenser hand wash interval timer

• US 6,832,916 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CDC Investments LLLP
• Original Assignee: Venture Management Alliance LLC
• Inventors: Collopy, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/957,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/238, 273/445, 273/446, 403/60, 283/56, 283/117, 283/900, 222/638, 222/644, 222/192, 222/321.1, 222/321.7, 222/321.9
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0076 Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying

Abstract

A hand washing device and method encouraging hand washing includes a display panel, a message “WASH UP with Soap and Water. Get rid of germs in only 15 seconds.” and may have one of a variety of timing means to time the wash cycle or the user may use an ordinary clock. Germ illustrations indicate consequences. The panel is on personal and public use soap dispensers and return springs are used as the timing device.

Claims

1. A soap dispenser, comprising:

a. a container,

b. a hand wash soap in said container,

c. a soap dispenser element, wherein displacement of a reciprocal means from a first position to a second position dispenses said hand wash soap from said container;

d. a return element coupled to said reciprocal means to return said reciprocal means from said second position to said first position in a time interval; and

e. a time interval control element coupled to said reciprocal means which allows adjustment of said time interval to a selected hand wash time interval.

2. A soap dispenser as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal means comprises a plunger.

3. A soap dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said time interval control element coupled to said reciprocal means comprises a drag means.

4. A soap dispenser as described in claim 3, wherein said drag means comprises a set screw adjusted to engage said plunger.

5. A soap dispenser as described in claim 3, wherein said drag means comprises a squeeze clamp damn adjusted to engage said plunger.

6. A soap dispenser as described in claim 3, wherein said drag means comprises a series of axially spaced circumferential protrusions coupled to said plunger which slidely engage a surface of said container.

7. A soap dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said time interval control element coupled to said reciprocal means comprises a weight.

8. A soap disnenser as described in claim 2, wherein said return element comprises a spring, and wherein said time interval control element comprises an amount of tension in said spring adjusted to return said reciprocal means from said second position to said first position in said selected hand wash time interval.

9. A soap dispenser as described in claim 2, further comprising an indicia coupled to said plunger which becomes visible when said plunger returns to said first position.

10. A soap dispenser as described in claim 2, wherein said indicia is selected from the group consisting of a happy face, a mark, and a symbol.

11. A soap dispenser as described in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal means comprises a dispenser lever.

12. A soap dispenser as described in claim 1, 3, 11, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9, wherein said selected hand wash time interval comprises a duration of time between about 10 seconds and about 20 seconds.