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.

Description:
This continuation application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/957,345, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,916, filed Sep. 20, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/252,401, filed Nov. 20, 2000, each incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to devices and methods for encouraging persons to wash their hands with soap and for longer than the usual hand washing time intervals. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There is a high incidence of communicable diseases in the U.S. as well as throughout the entire world. The American Society of Microbiologists has indicated that adequate hand washing will greatly reduce the incidence of communicable diseases. There is special concern for such contacts as person to person, person to pets, persons to children, persons to home food, persons to public food, persons to money, persons coughing and sneezing, persons use of home bathrooms and persons use of public restrooms. Recent surveys have revealed that nearly 95 percent of the people claim to have washed their hands after use of public restrooms but actual observations reveal that this figure does not exceed 66 percent. 
     There is also a tendency to hurry up the hand washing process and do a cursory job for only several seconds and this is believed inadequate. Failure to wash hands adequately may result in the spreading of colds, diarrhea, and other infectious diseases such as meningitis, flu and other viruses. 
     Several prior patents relate to hand washing. 
     Gorra U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,910 discloses method and apparatus for monitoring and reporting hand washing. Allen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,942 discloses wash stations and method of operation which monitors hand washing and assists in hand washing. Stone U.S. Pat. No. 2,926,487 discloses a tooth brush holder and a timer for encouraging tooth brushing. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A hand washing display device and method preferably located adjacent a hand washing facility for encouraging hand washing which includes a display panel, a first message indicia on the display panel encouraging hand washing longer than a minimum time interval, preferably fifteen seconds, a second message indicia on the display panel depicting germs for indicating consequences for not washing according to the first message and timing means in the form of an hour glass or a digital clock indicating that time has exceeded the predetermined minimum time interval of the first message indicia. Soap dispensers are one way of supporting the panel and the springs are used as the timing devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numerals in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a display device embodying features of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a modified display device embodying features of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front fragmentary perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 3  with an adhesive added to the back and mounted to a flat support surface. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a display device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  on a personal soap dispenser with the down position for the soap dispensing plunger shown in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the display device shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  using a weighted plunger. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a modification of the display device shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing a set screw. 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the display device shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing a squeeze clamp. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the device shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a display device embodying features of the present invention on another form of soap dispenser. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 13  showing the internal coil spring for controlling the return time for the dispensing lever. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a display device  12  adapted to be located preferably at a hand washing facility which device  12  encourages hand washing. The device  12  shown includes a display panel  14  in the form of a poster board or backing sheet having a first message indicia encouraging persons to wash their hands with soap and water for at least fifteen seconds. The panel is of a rigid material to be free standing if required. The time period of 15 seconds is considerably longer than the usual hand washing time and is selected to take into account the human tendency to do less than instructed. While a time period of 10 seconds may be adequate dealing with most bacteria a 15 second message is preferred. Warm water is preferred. The message indicia  19  shown is: “WASH UP! with Soap and Water. Get rid of germs in only 15 seconds.” 
     The second message indicia  16  on the display panel depicts several germs in an illustrative form for indicating the consequences for not washing according to the first message indicia. A timer  18  shown as an hourglass indicates that the washing time has reached or exceeded the predetermined time interval indicated by the time indicia  21 , “15 seconds”. The hourglass  18  mounted on a central pivot  20  supported by the panel  14  that would be turned over to retime and indicates fifteen seconds has elapsed when the lower portion has filled with sand. While a timer or timing means is shown it is understood that the device may be effective with the user using an ordinary clock such as a wrist watch, household clock, etc. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  the second embodiment shows the same arrangement of display panel  14 , indicia  15  and indicia  16  but has a digital clock  22  displaying numbers instead of an hourglass to indicate a minimum time interval indicated by the timer indicia  23  of “15 seconds”. Clock  22  has a reset button  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  there is shown the display device  12  having the display panel  14  provided with an adhesive or adhesive layer  26  on the back surface that mounts and secures the panel  14  to a flat support surface  27 , typically a mirror above a private or public hand washing facility. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7  there is shown a display panel  14  on the front wall of a personal use soap dispenser  31 . The personal use soap dispenser  31  includes a container  32  having a neck  33  with a top opening  34  through which liquid hand soap can be poured to fill the container. The neck  33  has external threads  35 . A pump assembly  37  removable from the container  32  includes a hollow plunger  38  in the form of a tube with a hollow depressible top handle  39  extending out at right angles to the plunger tube  38 . The outer end of the handle  39  terminates in a discharge opening  41 . The plunger  38  fits in an outer tube  42  that extends down into the container and has an intake opening  43  in the bottom thereof through which soap will pass when pumped. A cap  44  with internal threads  45  telescopes over the tube at the top and is retained by a top collar  47 . The cap  44  has threads on the neck  33 . A coil spring  48  inside the outer tube  42  is compressed by the plunger  38  when the plunger is moved down and is returned to the up position by the action of the spring  46 . A reward symbol  49  in the form of a happy face is provided on the plunger that appears when the plunger has returned to the up position after 15 seconds. The indicia  15  is marked on the happy face to indicate the selected time interval. 
     The tension on the spring  48  is selected to return the plunger in 15 seconds. The tension in the spring may be weakened so the plunger will take a selected time to return. This then serves as a timing device for the hand washing cycle. An alternative to the weakened spring would be to provide a weight  51  in the plunger handle as shown in  FIG. 8  so that the plunger will return to the up position in the selected time interval of 15 seconds. 
     The time interval can be controlled by various types of drag means on the plunger  38  which would include a set screw  53  that threads into the collar  47  and is adjusted to engage the plunger  38  as is shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  the drag may be provided by using a squeeze clamp  55  mounted to the top of collar  47  which is contracted and expanded by means of a bolt  56  and nut  58  that grasp the plunger  38  to provide a selected drag. 
     Finally, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  that is provided a series of axially spaced circumferentially extending protrusions  59  on the periphery of the plunger  38  that bear against a protrusion  61  on flange  47  to provide a drag on the plunger. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14  there is shown a display panel on the front of another type of soap dispenser  71  frequently found in public places and herein referred to as a public use soap dispenser. Dispenser  71  has a dispenser outlet  72  together with a dispensing lever  73  which upon downward movement against the action of a coil spring  74  will cause the soap to be dispensed. The tension on the spring  74  is selected to return the lever in the selected time interval of 15 seconds. 
     It is generally agreed by numerous sources that washing with soap and water or an antibacterial liquid is a very effective measure for prevention of many diseases. The display devices of the present invention is attractive as well as encourages hand washing. The device makes a definite suggestion as to the time required for a truly effective hand wash. The device is simple and amusing and provides a means to time the hand washing procedure. It is believed that the display device would greatly increase the frequency of adequate hand washing in the home, public restrooms, restaurants, grocery stores and other work places. The display device is 1) a polite reminder to wash the hands with soap and water, 2) a highly illustrative drawing of germs which should be most unwelcome to anyone&#39;s hands, 3) a simple but amusing device to time the hand washing procedure with the time being considerably longer than the usual wash cycle plus it is believed to be psychologically effective in stressing that only fifteen seconds is needed, and 4) it is believed to allow for a simple procedure to encourage adequate hand washing and if followed will make great strides against the spread of germs. The term “germs” as used herein refers to all pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, Rickettsia, and the like. 
     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.