Abstract:
A device to encourage hand washing compliance in a facility such as a restroom includes a housing configured for detachably mounting on a support surface. An ambient light sensor is disposed relative to the housing to detect ambient light within the room. An audio device within the housing contains at least one audible hand washing compliance message track that is played over a speaker within the housing. A controller is in operable communication with the ambient light sensor and the audio device, and activates the device upon determining whether a threshold amount of ambient light is present in the room.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of devices or systems that automatically play a recorded message upon occurrence of a detected event, and particularly to devices that automatically encourage users to wash their hands.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The importance of washing ones hands after using a restroom, particularly public restrooms, is well understood and appreciated by medical and food handling industries, and the general public as a whole, for preventing the spread of illness and maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness. Many diseases have been found to be transmittable due to non-compliance with proper hand washing techniques after using public toilet facilities. In the food service sector, it is required by law in many states that employees wash their hands prior to returning to work after use of a toilet facility.  
         [0003]     For these reasons, the use of signs and placards containing written notices and messages to encourage persons to wash their hands is widespread. Unfortunately, such signs have become so commonplace that their existence is barely noticed and they are relatively ineffective in encouraging people to actually wash their hands. These signs go generally unheeded by the public.  
         [0004]     Efforts have been made at devising more aggressive systems to encourage people to wash their hands. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,461 describes a system wherein the user of a toilet is automatically marked with a washable substance such as a dye, paint, or chalk, upon flushing the toilet. The person must then thoroughly wash their hands to remove the substance. This type of system will irritate many individuals and would be prone to vandalism in public restrooms.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,870,015 and 6,028,520 describe different audible message systems that are automatically actuated by sensing operation of the toilet. The systems require sensors of one type or another to be configured with each individual toilet, such sensors being in communication with a controller that plays a prerecorded message upon, for example, sensing that the toilet has been flushed. These type of systems are relatively complex in that each toilet must be configured with at least one sensor and the controller must be sophisticated enough to receive and process signals from numerous sources. Also, the sensors are generally visible to the person using the toilet and, thus, prone to abuse.  
         [0006]     Other systems require the user to wear an indicator or badge that is activated if the person has not washed their hands at a required location. The badge gives an outwardly visible indication that the person has not complied with required hand washing techniques. Reference is made for example to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,812,059 and 5,610,589. Such systems are obviously not suitable for general public restroom facilities.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,144 describes an audible or visible message system that is actuated upon opening a door to a restroom facility. The system may also be configured to lock the restroom door to prevent the person from leaving the facility until they have complied, or to issue a warning signal to a remote location.  
         [0008]     There is still need in the industry for a relatively simple, inexpensive, and non-obtrusive device to encourage users of public restroom facilities to wash their hands.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.  
         [0010]     The present invention relates to a device intended to encourage persons entering a room or facility to wash their hands. The device has particular use in public restrooms, but is in no way limited to such use. The device may be located in any room or facility wherein persons should wash their hands or perform some other desired or required function after or before performing an activity. For example, the device may be used in medical facilities, research labs, clean room manufacturing facilities, and so forth.  
         [0011]     The device includes a housing having any manner of aesthetically pleasing shape and that is configured for detachably mounting on a support surface such as a wall, counter, cabinet, and so forth. Any number of mechanical or adhesive mounting devices may be used in this regard. The housing may include a base and a cover, the cover being removable from the base to provide access to internal components of the device and a battery compartment (if provided).  
         [0012]     The device includes a sensor for detecting the amount of ambient light within the room where the device is located. This sensor may include, for example, an array of one or more photodiodes. The photodiodes may be calibrated to react to only a threshold amount of ambient light within the room. In this regard, it may be desired to locate the photodiodes relative to the housing such that their sensing direction is relatively unaffected by persons or events in the room. For example, the sensor may be disposed to “look” through a lens in a top portion of the housing towards the ceiling of the room. The ambient light sensor may also be located remote from the housing. In a particular embodiment, the photodiode generates an input signal to a control circuit, for example as an input to a microprocessor, to initiate playback of a message upon sufficient ambient light being detected. The ambient light sensor may also be used to initiate a reduced power mode for the internal control circuitry in the absence of a threshold level of ambient light in order to prolong battery life.  
         [0013]     An audio storage/playback device within the housing contains one or more pre-recorded audible hand washing compliance message tracks. The storage device may be any conventional device, such as a tape device, CD player, an electronic storage or “voice” chip, such as a permanently programmed ROM chip or programmable RAM chip. Various such devices are well known in the art, and the present device is not limited to any particular type of storage or playback device. A speaker within the housing is in operable communication with the audio device for playback of the message track.  
         [0014]     The audio device may be programmable by a maintenance technician or other individual for customized voice messages. For example, an internal microphone may be incorporated to allow direct input of a voice message. Other means to customize the messages include, for example, RF devices, hard wire input hook-ups, text-to-voice via a computer, hand held devices that mate with the device, and so forth. In an alternative embodiment, the message may be permanently preprogrammed onto a storage medium in the device.  
         [0015]     A control circuit activates the audio device upon sufficient ambient light being detected in the room. The control circuit may include a programmable microprocessor for controlling the various functions of the device, or in a less complicated embodiment, the control circuit may be a hard wired integrated circuit board type of controller. The control circuit may be configured to simply play the message track according to a timed sequence so long as a signal from the photodiode indicates that sufficient ambient light is present. For example, the circuit may include an internal timing loop such that the message(s) are repeated with a desired “dwell” time between each message (i.e., a 30 second dwell time). In an alternate embodiment, an adjustment switch may be provided to vary the dwell time.  
         [0016]     The device may also include a master switch that de-energizes the control circuit regardless of the amount of ambient light within the room. This switch is preferably conspicuously located on or within the housing, or requires a special tool to access or position the switch.  
         [0017]     The device may be portable and battery powered, wherein a battery compartment is provided within the housing and is accessible by removing a cover from the housing. In an alternate embodiment, the device may be powered by an existing AC system and include an appropriate transformer. With this embodiment, the device may be permanently mounted and hard-wired into the facilitiy&#39;s AC power system. In still an alternate embodiment, the device may be configured for both AC and battery DC power. A switch may be provided to select between power sources, or the control circuit may be configured to detect whether AC power is available and automatically switch to AC power. Various power schemes may be used in this regard, and the present invention is not limited to any particular type of power distribution scheme.  
         [0018]     The message tracks may be widely varied. In a relatively simple embodiment, a single message track is stored in the audio device and contains a single message that is repeated (with or without an appreciable dwell time) so long as sufficient ambient light is detected by the ambient light sensor. In an alternative embodiment, the message track may contain multiple messages that are played back in sequence. For example, the track may contain the message but in different languages. Alternately, the message track may contain messages of different content in the same or different languages.  
         [0019]     In a particularly versatile embodiment, multiple message tracks are stored in the audio device and a selector switch is provided to select between the different message tracks. For example, one message track may contain one or more messages particularly suited for a female restroom, and a separate message track may contain one or more messages particularly suited for a male restroom. In another embodiment, one message track may contain one or more messages that politely remind users to wash their hands, and a separate message track may contain messages of a more aggressive or forceful nature. It should be appreciated that the content and intent of different message tracks may be widely varied within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0020]     As mentioned, in a more sophisticated embodiment, the control circuit may include a microprocessor that performs various control functions. For example, the microprocessor may include an internal clock and be programmed to sample and process the ambient light signal from the photodiode at a certain frequency determined by the clock. The ambient light signal is compared to a stored threshold value and the device is actuated by the microprocessor if the actual ambient light exceeds the threshold value. The microprocessor may be programmable so that various functions and the message tracks can be changed. The microprocessor may be programmed to switch between different message tracks, or messages within an individual track, according to a programmed sequence or at random. It should be appreciated that a microprocessor will allow for a great number of control features that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0021]     It may also be desirable to include any number of shutdown or hibernation features with the device. For example, even if a threshold amount of ambient light is present, it may not be desired for the device to play continuously. A “rest” period may be programmed into the controls so that the device plays for a certain period of time and is deactivated for a period of time.  
         [0022]     The invention will be described in greater detail below by reference to one or more embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary restroom facility utilizing an device according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 2  with the cover removed;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary control circuit board that may be used with the device of the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an exemplary control circuit for use with the device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used with another embodiment, to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.  
         [0029]     An embodiment of a device according to the invention for encouraging persons entering a room or facility to wash their hands is depicted generally as reference numeral  10  in the figures. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  is particularly useful in public restroom facilities  12  wherein hand washing stations including basins  14  and soap dispensers  16  are provided for persons to wash their hands after using the facilities. The device  10  is mounted at a suitable location on a support surface  18 , such as a wall, counter, cabinet, and so forth. The device may be mounted by any conventional means, such as an adhesive, mechanical attaching devices, and so forth. Desirably, the device  10  is strategically mounted at a location within the facility  12  so as to be heard by persons using the facility. It may be desired to locate the device  10  at a height and location within the room  12  to deter vandalism. This may be accomplished simply by mounting the device  10  near the ceiling of the room  12 .  
         [0030]     The device  10  includes a housing, generally  20 , that may have any aesthetically pleasing shape and configuration, and may be made of any combination of conventional materials. Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  20  may include a base member  22  and a removable cover member  24 . The base member  22  may include mounting holes  26 , or any other suitable device or mechanism for mounting the housing  20  to the support surface, such as the wall  18  within the facility  12 . The cover  24  is preferably removable from the base  22  in order to provide access to the internal components of the device  10 . The cover  24  may be detachedly secured to the base  22  by any conventional means, including a latch mechanism, friction fit, detent mechanism, and so forth.  
         [0031]     The cover  24  may include an array of holes  28  defined in an aesthetically pleasing pattern. The array  28  is located so that an audible message from a speaker  62  may be conveyed into the room  12  through the cover  24 . In an alternate embodiment, a separate screen, wire grid, or other type of suitable speaker cover may be incorporated into the removable cover  24 .  
         [0032]     The device  10  includes a sensor for detecting the level of ambient light within the room or facility  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the ambient light sensor is at least on photodiode  40  (and may include an array of the photodiodes  40 ) disposed within the housing  20 . The photodiode  40  detects ambient light through a lens  38  fitted into an opening  44  in the housing cover  24 . Desirably, the photodiode  40  and associated lens  38  are positioned to detect the level of ambient light within the room  12  that is unaffected by persons or activity occurring within the room  12 . For example, it would be undesirable for the amount of ambient light detected by the sensor  40  to vary by the number of persons or position of such persons within the room  12 . Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the detector  40  is oriented so as to “look” through the top portion of the removable cover  24  towards the ceiling of the facility  12 .  
         [0033]     The use of photodiodes in sensor systems to detect ambient light is well known by those skilled in the art and a detailed explanation of such devices is not necessary for purposes of the present description.  
         [0034]     In an alternative embodiment not illustrated in the figures, the ambient light sensor may be a remotely located sensor. For example, one or an array of photodiodes may be remotely located with respect to the housing and in communication with control circuitry of the device  10  for conveying an ambient light signal to the circuitry. For example, the photodiode may be a plug-in component to the control circuitry board.  
         [0035]     The photodiode  40  may be calibrated to react only to a threshold amount of ambient light within the room  12 . In an alternate embodiment, the photodiode may transmit a signal indicative of any amount of ambient light detected within the room  12 , this signal being compared by the control circuitry to a predetermined threshold value and, if the threshold value is exceeded the control circuitry will initiate playback of the stored audio message.  
         [0036]     An audio storage/playback device is contained within the housing for storing one or more prerecorded audible hand washing compliance message tracks. The device  10  is not limited by any particular type of audio device. For example, such device may be a conventional tape device, CD player/recorder, and the like. In a particularly desirable embodiment, the audio device comprises an electronic storage “voice” chip  56  ( FIG. 5 ). Any one or combination of hand washing messages are encoded in the chip  56  and are transmitted to a speaker  62  (with associated speaker driver) for subsequent delivery as an audible hand washing compliance message to persons within the facility  12 . Such messages will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0037]     In a particular embodiment, the voice chip  56  may be a ROM version that is pre-programmed at the point of manufacture of the device  10  with the desired message track(s). With this embodiment, the messages are permanently stored and cannot be altered. In an alternative embodiment, the voice chip  56  may be a RAM version and the control circuitry  52  ( FIG. 5 ) may include a microphone  58  for customization and programmability of the RAM voice chip  56 . Suitable voice chip audio devices include the ISD1020A device commercially available from Information Storage Devices, Inc. With this embodiment, the customization or recording of any number of voice messages is accomplished by the end user recording a personalized message via the microphone  58  and under the control of a microprocessor  54 . The microphone  58  may be mounted within the housing  20  so as to be operationally accessible through the speaker hole array  28  in the cover  24 . This message customization feature provides distinct advantages for enhancing the versatility and functionality of the device  10 .  
         [0038]     The device  10  also includes a control circuit for initiating and controlling playback of the stored message or messages. The control circuit components may be mounted to a circuit board  34  contained in the housing  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit board  34  is mounted to the base  22  by way of mounting posts  36 . In one embodiment, the control circuit need not include a microprocessor, but may include a hard wired integrated circuit wherein the control functions are executed by conventional logic circuits and chip devices. For example, such a control circuit may include an audio circuit incorporated as a single chip voice record/playback device, such as an ISD2560S device, or the VP1000 Quick Voice Device manufactured by Eletech Electronics, Inc. The audio device is actuated upon receipt of a control signal from the ambient light sensor (after appropriate filtering, amplification, and so forth).  
         [0039]     In a particularly functional embodiment, the control circuitry  52  ( FIG. 5 ) includes a programmable microprocessor  54 . This microprocessor  54  may be, for example, a Microchip PIC16C505 device or PIC165C56 device commercially available from Microchip Technology, Inc. The microprocessor  54  responds directly to electrical or mechanical switch inputs from the various devices, as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and explained in greater detail below. The microprocessor  54  can directly drive outputs, such as the voice chip  56  and speaker/speaker drive combination  62 . A power amplifier may be added to enhance of the output functions of the microprocessor  54 .  
         [0040]     The microprocessor  54  includes any number of programmable I/O pins for additional functionality. For example, these pins may be used to provide selectability between various message tracks, as indicated by the message select switch  46  in  FIG. 5 . The microprocessor  54  may allow for manual adjustment of the dwell time between messages, as provided by the dwell time adjust mechanism  50 . Similarly, a volume control device  48  may provide an input to the microprocessor  54  for adjusting the volume of the audio message.  
         [0041]     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the device  10  may include a master switch  42  that is accessible through an opening  41  in the housing cover  24 . This switch may be conveniently located so that a maintenance technician can de-energize the device  10  regardless of the amount of ambient light within the room. The switch  42  may desirably be conspicuously located within the housing  20  so as to be unnoticeable or generally inaccessible by the public. For example, the switch  42  may be recessed within the housing and accessible via a special tool or other device inserted through the opening  41  in the housing cover  24 . This configuration prevents unauthorized deactivation of the device.  
         [0042]     The device  10  may be powered by any configuration of AC or DC power supply. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the device  10  is generally portable and includes an internal battery compartment  30  in which batteries  32  are housed. The batteries  32  provide the power supply to the control circuitry, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In an alternative embodiment, the device  10  may be supplied by a facility&#39;s existing AC system. For example, the device  10  may be hardwired to the AC system and include an internal or external transformer to provide the necessary DC voltage for the control circuitry  52 . In still an alternative embodiment, the device  10  may be configured to be supplied with DC power from an internal DC power source, such as the batteries  32 , or via external AC power. A switch (not illustrated) may be provided to select between the desired power source.  
         [0043]     A voltage detection circuit  60  may also be desired for detecting and providing an indication of low battery power. For example, the circuit may illuminate a visible LED in the event that battery power falls below a given voltage level.  
         [0044]     As mentioned, the stored message tracks may vary considerably within the scope and spirit of the invention. The voice message can be of an animated character, a celebrity, in different languages, and so forth. The messages may be played by the microprocessor  54  according to a preprogrammed sequence, by random selection, and so forth. In this regard, the voice chip  56  has sufficient ROM or RAM memory for multiple messages, such messages being preprogrammed into a ROM memory or customized to a RAM memory. In a relatively simple embodiment of the invention, a single message track is stored on the voice chip  56  and is continuously repeated (with a selected dwell time between each message) so long as sufficient ambient light is detected by the photodiode  40 . In an alternate embodiment, the message track may contain multiple messages that are played back in an alternating sequence. For example, a single message track may contain the same message in different languages. Alternately, a single message track may contain messages of different content in the same or different languages.  
         [0045]     As mentioned, in a particularly versatile embodiment of the invention, multiple message tracks are stored on the voice chip  56  and accessible by the microprocessor  54 . As mentioned, the message select switch  46  is provided so that a maintenance technician can select between desired message tracks. For example, one message track may contain one or more messages particularly suited for a female restroom, and a separate message track may contain one or more messages particularly suited for a male restroom. One message track may contain one or more messages that politely remind users to wash their hands, while a separate message track may contain one or more messages of a more aggressive or forceful nature. It should be appreciated that the content and intent of different message tracks may be widely varied within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0046]     It may be desired that the control circuitry  52  include an internal clock that may be utilized for various control functions. For example, the microprocessor  54  may sample the ambient light signal from the photodiode  40  at a frequency determined by the internal clock. The light signal may be compared to a stored threshold value and the device  10  being activated by the microprocessor  54  so long as the sampled ambient light signal exceeds the stored threshold value. This threshold value may be permanently programmed or stored in the microprocessor  54 , or may be variable by a maintenance technician via an input to the microprocessor  54 .  
         [0047]     The message select switch  46  may also be configured to provide additional functionality to the sequence, number, and combination of messages stored in the voice chip  56 . For example, the microprocessor may be programmed or programmable to switch between different message tracks, or messages within an individual message track, according to a programmed sequence, or in a random sequence. It should be appreciated that the microprocessor  54  allows for any combination of desirable functionalities within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0048]     The internal clock function described above may also be used to program a shutdown or hibernation feature for the device. For example, it may not be desired for the device  10  to continuously play a message in all situations where ambient light is present. In this regard, a “rest” period may be programmed into the circuitry  52  so that the device plays for a certain period of time and is deactivated for a remaining period of time. This may be the case, for example, wherein the device  10  is situated in a room or facility wherein ambient light is always present, but where it is not anticipated that users will be in the facility during certain times of the day.  
         [0049]     It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the device described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the invention include these and other modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.