Abstract:
A non-automatic dispenser of towelettes that is appropriate for use in such contexts as food service, health care, long-term care, child care, educational settings, industry, military and public restrooms. A photo sensor, triggered by badge provides data for performance feedback and reinforcement/accountability strategies, documented by research as essential for sustained changes in hand cleansing behavior. Mounting shoes provide for versatility of secure placement on counter/desks; under cabinet; on either front, left or right facing wall, in bathroom stall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/187,493, filed Nov. 6, 1998, which is included herein by reference. application Ser. No. 09/187,493 has the effective filing date of a provisional application 60/064,810 Nov. 7, 1997.  
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
         [0002]    NOT APPLICABLE  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    (1) Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/187,493, filed Nov. 6, 1998, which is included herein by reference. The present application relates generally to sheet or web dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser apparatus for use in dispensing antiseptic, pre-moistened towelettes that are stored in either web or sheet form.  
           [0005]    (2) Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death, world-wide, and the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Voluminous authoritative research conducted during the last 150 years, by an array of pertinent disciplines, agencies and industries concur that frequent hand washing is the single-most reliable means for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.  
           [0007]    Unfortunately, voluminous authoritative research also continues to reveal an abhorrent failure in compliance with this seemingly benign edict. Among the most intensely studied contexts—the health care, child care, elder-care, and food services industries, workers have been found to wash their hands in approximately 30% of required instances. Further, studies indicate that 30% of all food poisoning incidents recorded occur in the home, and at least 70% of these are hand transmitted, person-to-person, fecal-to-oral incidents.  
           [0008]    Particularly during the last two decades, the U.S. has been confronted with the following, ongoing conditions: (1) growing numbers of emergent and re-emergent pathogens which are attacking with greater “stealth” force, and with unprecedented unpredictability; (2) increasing numbers of multi-drug resistant pathogens; (3) swelling populations of vulnerable immuno-comprised patients; (4) indiscriminate use of antibiotics, contributing to their growing impotence; (5) high-load pathogen sites which defy familiar socioeconomic boundaries; (6) an estimated 70% of transmission of pathogenic microbes via hand-transmission, primarily person-to-person, fecal-to-oral route; (7) the dissolution of our own health care infrastructure, such that it is an acknowledged contributor to the emergence and re-emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens; and (8) globalization of infectious diseases previously limited by geographic boundaries.  
           [0009]    Numerous commercial environments are required either by law, civil liability, or a sense of moral obligation to make sure that their workers are washing their hands. Therefore, there is a need for an ability of employers to be able to monitor their workers, to make sure that they are properly washing their hands.  
           [0010]    Many inventions that have attempted to address this problem by facilitating hand washing have lacked the necessary portability so that this behavior could be addressed in any environment, and have failed to provide active encouragement so that human behavior can be changed to encourage hand washing.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,262 to Hartman et al. discloses an electronic towel dispenser with a sensor that dispenses towels caused by the movement of the towel by the user, however, the device of Hartman does not disclose towels that are premoistened with an antiseptic lotion, nor does it disclose a sensor that records data.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,898 to Byrd et al. also discloses a paper towel dispenser that is activated by a variable resistance photo sensor. However, the sensor disclosed in Byrd also does not record data.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,318 to Arabian et al. discloses a towel dispenser that records the acts of use and adapts flexibly to external circumstances. However, the microprocessor records use patterns for preventing used towels from being dispensed, preventing dispensing when it is not queried, and the microprocessor does not record specific data according to particular users.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus that renders frequent hand cleansing feasible, and that motivates sustained changes in hand washing behavior via integral operant and classical conditioning strategies built into actual products. It is also an object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus that is adaptable to the numerous commercial environments in which frequent handwashing is required, including but not limited to, nursing homes, food preparation industries, and the medical industry. It is also an object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus that allows monitoring of its use by different individuals, so that a behavior modification program can be implemented.  
           [0015]    Most vital among its multiple uses, the dispensing apparatus of the present invention makes frequent and effective hand washing realistic and practical. In this capacity, the inventive apparatus provides the tools for strategic intervention to “break the chain of contagion” of hand-transmitted infectious diseases. This means, for example, that many food-borne pathogens, which we carry on our own contaminated hands, will be killed before exposure to the vulnerable mucosal membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes. Hand transmission is one of the major forms of contagion of infectious diseases. In the case of eating, hand transmitted pathogens easily become “food-borne” pathogens. In this common situation, we literally “self-inoculate.”  
           [0016]    One of the paramount obstacles to frequent hand washing, using traditional methods, is that they are time and labor intensive. Consequently, hands are far too seldom washed, at all. In addition, incomplete de-contamination, or virtually instantaneous re-contamination, for example, by touching bathroom door hardware while exiting, are common using traditional hand washing methods.  
           [0017]    The inventive apparatus is a compact, durable, safe, reliable, portable, multipurpose anti-microbial weapon. It dispenses, either at room temperature or warmed, individual, broadly germicidal, biodegradable, sturdy yet soft, soothing, moisturizing and healing, flushable pre-moistened towelettes for sanitary/antiseptic cleaning of skin on hands, face and other parts of the human anatomy as needed. In addition to dispensing pre-moistened, perforated towelettes, the inventive apparatus optionally includes a hand drying assembly, a sanitary disposal compartment for used towelettes and a sensor adopted for use with badges for permitting verification of use of the apparatus by users wearing such badges. The apparatus is of a size and shape that permits it to be mounted in any of different positions and any conventional mounting structure can be employed to secure the housing in any of these orientations.  
           [0018]    The inventive dispensing apparatus differs from traditional hand-washing methods in many significant wants, including the following: (1) Hand cleaning is completed significantly faster; (2) All necessary “ingredients” for antiseptic, moisturizing, healing hand washing are conveniently available in a compact, self-contained unit; (3) Hand cleansing evolves from being a burden, to being easy and pleasurable and habitual; (4) An inclusive system of sanitary disposal of used towelettes prevents unwitting contamination of other sites or persons; (5) Cost in human energy usage regarding self and hand cleansing of children is greatly reduced; (6) Children can more reliably be taught autonomy in disease prevention for self/wellness because the apparatus is easy to use and feels good, providing a positive reinforcement effect; (7) Children and adults are repeatedly influenced to remain aware that their personal hygiene can have a most serious impact on the well-being of others; (9) A great deal of the enormous costs of infectious diseases can be put to far more constructive use, while human suffering and needless loss of lives can be significantly diminished; and (10) An apparatus is provided that is adaptable for use globally.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing, wherein:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a view of the dispensing apparatus in a pedestal mount.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a view of the dispensing apparatus in an under cabinet mount.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    A dispenser apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, and broadly includes a housing  104  in which a web  12  of pre-moistened towelettes is supported, a towelette dispensing assembly  106  for dispensing the towelettes one-by-one to a user upon demand, and a verification assembly  108  for sensing usage of the apparatus, and recording data so that an employer can monitor how often employees use the apparatus.  
         [0024]    The housing  104  is of a size and shape that permits the apparatus to be mounted in any of a number of different positions, such as on a table top, under a counter, or on a wall, and any conventional mounting structure can be employed to secure the housing in any of these orientations. For example, in FIG. 1, a rectangular housing is shown, and in FIGS.  2 , and  3  a circular housing is shown. The housing is formed of a synthetic resin material or the like, and generally includes a bottom wall, four side walls, and a top wall, and at least one of the walls is provided with a hinged panel  110  that may be opened to expose the interior of the housing to allow access to the various components supported therein. Preferably, the panel  110  is latched shut, and the latch used is child-proof to to prevent young children from tampering with the apparatus.  
         [0025]    The bottom wall of the housing defines a base of the apparatus, and includes a plurality of feet on which the apparatus rests when set on a support surface. Preferable rubber shoes are fitted on the feet to stabilize the apparatus during use, however any mounting means of the like is suitable. The rubber shoes, or other mounting means allow Versatility of secure placement options. The different placement options include: on counter/desk (or the like); under cabinet; on either front, left or right facing wall, in bathroom stall.  
         [0026]    The front wall of the dispensing apparatus has an opening  24  through which the pre-moistened towelettes are dispensed, and one or more apertures may be formed in the front and/or side walls for receipt of one or more hand dryer vents, as described below. Not shown on the figures, but on the front wall is imprinted both “Power of Prevention is in Our Hands”, and very specific instructions for use of towelettes and hand drying (optionally with other motivational phrases). In addition, included in packaging is very specific, plastic instructions sheets for effective decontamination of hands when using sink and running water, along with other educational/motivational matter. Sturdy adhesive allows secure placement, particularly above bathroom sink.  
         [0027]    A handle can be provided on the top of the housing for facilitating transport of the apparatus between use locations. Preferably, the handle is retractable from a recess formed in the top wall such that the handle does not protrude from the recess unless retracted for use.  
         [0028]    The pre-moistened towelettes are either provided in stack or wound in a roll, and include a substrate impregnated with a suitable moistening composition. The substrate is formed of a fibrous material such as paper fiber, cotton fiber or the like, and is composed as a recyclable or biodegradable product that is sturdy, soft, absorbent, and flushable. The moistening composition is preferably a lotion including an antiseptic solution and any of several other ingredients for preventing and treating dryness of the user&#39;s skin. Although several conventional antiseptic agents are available for use in the moistening composition, many experience limitations such as host toxicity, inactivation by organic matter, narrow spectrum of anti-microbial action, poor residual activity or, most critically, drying and irritations of the skin with frequent use. This last limitation is a major impediment to frequent hand cleansing, particularly in high-use settings such as in the health care field.  
         [0029]    Preferably, the active ingredients used in the towelette of the present invention includes Triclosan, which reliably lyses bacterial membranes. In addition, the composition includes an array of known botanical compounds which demonstrate, in addition to anti-bacterial properties, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-protozoan, and anti-larval activity without host toxicity. Botanical antiseptic compounds show enhanced anti-microbial activity in the presence of organic matter. Plant chemical also tends to act synergistically, thereby adding efficiency without adding cost.  
         [0030]    The moistening compound also preferably includes various known herbs and essential oils which enhance skin integrity, health and appearance. For example, the composition may include vitamins, minerals and proteins that nourish skin cells, act as an anti-oxidant, stimulate circulation, fuel cellular regeneration, and soften, sooth and moisturize the skin, preventing and treating dryness, irritation, chapping, and cracked or infected skin. Such herbs and oils also may be selected for use in the composition to function as an astringent agent which aids the healing process by contracting tissue and limiting fluid loss, or to promote healing as they soothe and soften. Thus, the antiseptic cleansing lotion that makes up the composition includes a select group of broadly germicidal, soothing, healing and moisturizing botanical ingredients. In addition, the composition should be chosen to dry quickly, without residue, so that it leaves the skin refreshed, hydrated, nourished and protected, regardless of the frequency of use. Because aroma also influences mood, providing a positive reinforcement to the user of the towelettes dispensed by the apparatus, the aromatic qualities of the moisturizing composition used in the towelettes are also important, and are chosen to provide a soothing, refreshing and revitalizing sense to the user of the towelettes, encouraging repeated use.  
         [0031]    The towelette support compartment of the apparatus preferably fills substantially the entire interior space of the housing, but may be made smaller by providing a plurality of walls that enclose the compartment as in the embodiment described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the towelettes are stored as a perforated web, and a spindle  112  or the like is provided in the compartment for supporting the towelette roll. One of the walls  110  of the compartment is defined by the hinged panels  110  of the housing such that the compartment is accessible for loading of a fresh roll of towelettes through the panel.  
         [0032]    The towelette dispensing assembly  106  functions to restrict manual removal of the web of towelettes from the roll to the dispensing opening  24  at a rate faster than one towelette at a time, and broadly includes a travel limiting mechanism for limiting removal of the web from the storage compartment in incremental lengths greater than one towelette at a time. If desired, the assembly  106  may also include a coin-operated lock that requires coins to be deposited before permitting the removal of towelettes from the apparatus.  
         [0033]    The housing  104  includes a second compartment separate from the storage compartment, and the second compartment can be used either as an additional storage compartment for towelettes prior to use, or as a housing for a hand drying assembly  60 . If the hand drying assembly is employed, it is powered by the electrical circuit of the apparatus, and an on/off switch is provided on the housing which activates the assembly for a hand drying operation.  
         [0034]    The assembly  106  includes an inlet vent  62 , an outlet vent  64 , a passage  66  connecting the inlet and outlet vents together, a fan  68  for drawing air in the inlet and forcing it from the outlet, and a heating element  70  for warming the air as it travels through the passage. A filter  72  is also provided for filtering the air before it is discharged from the outlet vent. Grills and/or louvers are provided on the vents for safety and for permitting warm air to be discharged in any selected direction, and two or more outlet vents can be connected to the passage to allow multi-directional air discharge, if desired. If the second compartment is not used for receipt of the hand drying assembly, a hinged panel door is fitted over the exterior opening by the compartment in the housing. This door provides access to the second compartment so that towelettes can be stored therein until needed.  
         [0035]    A paper towel support assembly  74  may also be provided on or in proximity to the housing at any desired location to provide ready access to the user of paper towels that can be used to dry the user&#39;s hands after the user has used one of the pre-moistened towelettes. The construction of the paper towel holder is preferably the same as in the previous embodiment. Likewise, a sanitary disposal assembly  82  may be mounted on the housing, or provided separately for permitting disposal of used towelettes.  
         [0036]    In order for the user to operate the apparatus, he or she manually pulls on the leading edge of the end-most towelette protruding from the dispensing opening of the apparatus. Removal of the towelette actuates the travel limiting mechanism of assembly  106  such that only a single towelette can be removed from the dispenser before the web is braked in a conventional fashion. As such, it is not possible to pull two or more towelettes from the apparatus in a single pull. Preferably, a timing mechanism is provided in the housing for resetting the travel limiting mechanism after a predetermined delay such that a subsequent towelette can be withdrawn subsequent to the delay.  
         [0037]    The towelette is used to cleanse the hands, face, etc. of the user, and is discarded. Thereafter, the user activates the hand drying assembly or takes a paper towel from the roll, if provided, and dries his or her hands.  
         [0038]    The apparatus can be constructed such that it includes a towelette warming assembly as described above. Also, the apparatus can be constructed such that it is used to dispense towelettes that are stored dry, and are pre-moistened when they are dispensed. In accordance with this embodiment, a wetting assembly  114 , shown in broken line in FIG. 1, is provided in the housing which includes a wetting mechanism and a reservoir for storing the moistening composition. The wetting mechanism can include mechanically or electronically actuated rollers, sprayers or the like, and is connected to a reservoir such that moistening liquid is transferred to the end-most towelette as the towelette is conveyed toward the aperture.  
         [0039]    The verification assembly  108  is a means for sensing usage of the apparatus so that an employer can monitor how often employees use the apparatus. In order to achieve such monitoring, badges are provided which are worn by the employees, and a sensor  100  is mounted on or near the apparatus which is capable of detecting the presence of the badge in the vicinity of the apparatus at the time of dispensing. Preferably, a switch is provided in association with the travel limiting mechanism such that each time a towelette is withdrawn from the apparatus, a signal is generated that activates the sensor  100  to sense for a badge in proximity thereto. By sensing for a badge each time a towelette is withdrawn, and by recording or saving such information in a conventional manner, it is possible to monitor how often a person wearing a particular badge has activated the apparatus. Such information can be used to reward responsible hand cleansing, and to encourage infrequent users to improve their habits. Likewise, it can be used to implement programs of behavior modification for sustaining a high frequency of hand cleansing, and to enable cooperation with public health agencies to insure public safety.  
         [0040]    Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing, it is noted that substitutions may be made and equivalents employed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, although the sensor discussed was electronically activated by the badge of the user, the sensor could also be a motion detector, that detected motion, and then activating the dispenser.