Abstract:
A user-activated, dispenser of pre-moistened, antiseptic towelettes appropriate for hand cleansing use in such contexts as food service, health care, long-term care, child care, educational settings, industry, military, and public restrooms. The dispenser contains two compartments. One is used for towelette-dispensing and the other can be optionally used for housing hand drying means or for storing a reserve supply of towelettes. Each compartment is configured according to operant and classical conditioning strategies that motivate sustained positive changes in both the frequency and effectiveness of hand washing behavior. Optionally, the present invention dispenser can also comprise towelette warming means, a retractable handle, and a sanitary towelette or paper towel disposal assembly. A sensor on the dispenser, triggered by badge proximity to the dispenser housing can provide data for performance feedback and reinforcement/accountability strategies, the performance feedback being documented by research as essential for sustained changes in hand cleansing behavior. Alternative mounting means provide versatility in secure dispenser placement on counter/desks; under cabinets; on pedestals; and on either front, left or right facing walls in a bathroom stall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/187,493, filed Nov. 6, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,424, which is included herein by reference. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/187,493 has the effective filing date of a provisional application 60/064,810, filed Nov. 7, 1997. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     NOT APPLICABLE 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     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 invention 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. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death, world-wide, and the third leading cause of death in the United States. 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. 
     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. 
     Particularly during the last two decades, the United States has been confronted with the following on-going conditions: (1) growing numbers of emergent and re-emergent pathogens which are attacking with greater “stealth” force, and with an unprecedented unpredictability; (2) increasing numbers of multi-drug resistant pathogens; (3) swelling populations of vulnerable immuno-compromised patients; (4) indiscriminate use of antibiotics, contributing to their growing impotence; (5) high-load pathogen sites which defy familial 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. 
     Numerous commercial establishments are required either by law, civil liability, or a sense of moral obligation to make certain that their workers are washing their hands, resulting in the need for a means by which employers are able to monitor their workers to ensure that proper hand washing takes place. 
     Many inventions that have attempted to address the above-stated problems through facilitated hand washing have lacked the necessary portability that would allow it to change human behavior and implement the level of hand washing required to reverse and diminish the spread of infectious diseases. 
     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 pre-moistened with an antiseptic lotion, nor does it disclose a sensor that records data. 
     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 records data. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,318 to Arabian et al. discloses a towel dispenser that records acts of use and adapts flexibility 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 relating to particular users. 
     No invention is known for facilitating an increase in the frequency of hand washing as a means for preventing the spread of infectious disease, that provides all of the advantages disclosed in and exhibited by the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus for pre-moistened antiseptic towelettes stored in sheets or in web form that renders frequent hand cleansing feasible, and motivates positive 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 hand-washing is required, including but not limited to, nursing homes, food preparation facilities, and medical establishments. It is also and object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus that allows monitoring of its usage by different individuals, so that a behavior modification program can be implemented when recorded activity demonstrates such a need. 
     Most vital among its multiple uses, the dispensing system 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 responsible for the spread of infectious diseases. In the case of eating, hand transmitted pathogens easily become “food-borne” pathogens. In this common situation, we literally “self-inoculate”. 
     One of the paramount obstacles to frequent hand washing, using traditional methods, has been that the traditional methods are time and labor intensive. Consequently, many people neglect to wash their hands at all. In addition, it is common for traditional hand washing methods to be responsible for incomplete hand de-contamination, as well as virtually instantaneous hand recontamination, for example, during exit from a bathroom when newly washed hands come in contact with door handle hardware on a bathroom door. 
     The present invention system provides a compact, durable, safe, reliable, portable, and multi-purpose 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 cleansing of skin on hands, and face, as well as on many other parts of the human anatomy. In addition to dispensing pre-moistened, perforated towelettes, the present invention system optionally may include a hand drying assembly, a sanitary disposal compartment for used towelettes, and a sensor adapted for interaction with badges that permit verification of system use for those wearing such badges. The apparatus is of a size and shape that permits it to be mounted in any of a number of different orientations and any convenient mounting structure can be employed to secure the housing in any of these orientations. 
     The present invention system differs from traditional hand-washing methods in many significant ways, including the following: (1) Hand cleansing is completed significantly faster with the present invention; (2) The present invention provides all necessary “ingredients” for antiseptic, moisturizing, healing hand washing in the form of a conveniently available in a compact, self-contained unit; (3) During use of the present invention hand cleansing evolves from being a burden, into an easy, pleasurable, and habitual experience; (4) When the present invention includes a means of sanitary disposal for used towelettes, the present invention also prevents unwitting contamination of other sites or persons; (5) Cost in human energy usage regarding the cleansing of self and hands of children is greatly reduced using the present invention; (6) Children can more reliably be taught autonomy in disease prevention for self/wellness because the present invention is easy to use and feels good, providing a positive reinforcement effect; (7) Children and adults are repeatedly influenced by the present invention to remain aware that their personal hygiene can have a most serious impact on their own well-being as well as the well-being of others; (9) Through use of the present invention human suffering and needless loss of lives can be significantly diminished, and a great deal of the enormous costs associated with the spread of infectious diseases attributed to incomplete hand washing can be put to far more constructive use; and (10) Through use of the present invention a system is provided that easily adapts to different cultures for global use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the most preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of the dispensing apparatus in a pedestal mount. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the dispensing apparatus in an under cabinet mount. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A dispenser system  2  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 on a spindle  112 , a towelette dispensing assembly  106  is situated within housing  104  and configured for dispensing the towelettes one-by-one to users on demand, and a verification assembly  108  is positioned through housing  104  and configured for sensing system usage, to include data recording means, allowing employers to monitor how often their employees use dispenser system  2 . 
     Housing  104  is of a size and shape that permits mounting in any number of different positions, such as on a table top  30  (as shown in FIG.  1 ), under a counter  34  (as shown in FIG.  3 ), on a pedestal  32  (as shown in FIG.  2 ), or on a wall (not shown), and it is contemplated for any conventional mounting structure to be employed to secure housing  104  in any of these orientations. For example, in FIG. 1, a rectangular housing  104  is shown, and in FIGS. 2 and 3 arcuate housings  104  are shown. In the most preferred embodiment, housing  104  is formed of a synthetic resin material or the like, and generally includes a panel  110 , connected by means of a hinge  116  to housing  104 , that may be opened to allow access to the interior of housing  104  and the various components supported therein, such as the web  12  of pre-moistened towelettes and spindle  112 . Preferably, panel  110  is latched shut, and the latch  118  used (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is child-proof to prevent young children from tampering with dispensing system  2 . The bottom wall  120  of housing  104  defines a base dispensing system  2 , and includes a plurality of feet  102  on which housing  104  can rest when set upon a support surface, such as table top  30  in FIG.  1 . Preferably, rubber shoes (not shown) are fitted on feet  102  to stabilize housing  104  during use, however, it is contemplated that other mounting means would also be suitable. The rubber shoes, and other mounting means, allow a variety of options for secure placement of housing  104 . The different placement options include: on counter/desk (or the likes), as shown in FIG. 1; under cabinet, as shown in FIG. 3; on a pedestal, as shown in FIG. 2; on either front, left or right facing wall (not shown) in a bathroom stall. 
     The front wall  122  of housing  104 , shown in FIG. 1, has an opening  24  through which the pre-moistened towelettes are dispensed. In addition, one or more apertures may be formed in front wall  122  and/or adjacent portions of side walls (not readily visible in FIG. 1) for receipt of one or more hand dryer vents, such as inlet vent  62  and outflow vent  64 , as described below. Although not shown in FIGS. 1-3, front wall  122  can be imprinted with the words “Power of Prevention is in Our Hands”, as well as very specific instructions for most effective use of the individual pre-moistened towelettes separated from web  12  and preferred hand drying methods to be used therewith. Optionally, the front wall of housing  104  can contain other motivational information and messages. In addition, housing  104  can be made to display plastic sheets (not shown) with specific instructions for effective hand decontamination when using, a sink and running water, along with other educational/motivational matter. Although not shown, it is contemplated for sturdy adhesive to be used for secure placement of plastic instruction sheets against housing  104 , particularly when dispenser system  2  is mounted above a bathroom sink (not shown). 
     Although not shown, a handle can optionally be provided on the top of housing  104  for facilitating transport of dispenser system  2  between use locations. Preferably, the handle would be retractable from a recess formed in the top wall of housing,  104  such that the handle does not protrude from the recess until it is deliberately extended for use. 
     The pre-moistened towelettes are either provided in stack or wound on 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 may also include several other ingredients for preventing and treating dry skin. Although several conventional antiseptic agents are available for use in the moistening composition, many exhibit one or more limitations such as host toxicity, inactivation by organic matter, narrow spectrum of anti-microbial action, poor residual activity or, most critically, drying and irritation 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. 
     Preferably, the active ingredients used in the towelettes of the present invention include Triclosan, which reliably lyses bacterial membranes. In addition, the composition includes an array of known botanical compounds which, in addition to anti-microbial properties, demonstrate anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-protozoan, and anti-larval activity without host toxicity. Botanical antiseptic compounds are preferred as they show enhanced anti-microbial activity in the presence of organic matter. Chemicals derived from plants also tend to act synergistically, thereby adding efficiency without adding cost. 
     The towelette-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 and 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 moistening composition of the present invention 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 moistening composition includes a select group of broadly germicidal, soothing, healing, and moisturizing botanical ingredients. In addition, the moistening 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 influences mood, selection of the scent for the towelette-moistening composition is also important and it should provide a positive reinforcement to the towelette user. The aromatic qualities of the moisturizing composition used in the towelettes should be chosen to provide a soothing, refreshing and revitalizing sense to the towelette user, so as to encourage repeated use. 
     The towelette support compartment  100  of the apparatus preferably fills substantially the entire interior space of housing  104 , but may be made smaller by providing a plurality of walls that enclose compartment  100  as in the most preferred embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG.  1 . The towelettes in dispenser system  2  are stored as a perforated web  12 , and a spindle  112  or the like is provided in compartment  100  for support of web  12 . It is contemplated for housing  104  to have a hinged panel  110  through one of the walls of housing  104  such that the interior of towelette support compartment  100  is accessible through panel  110  for loading of a fresh web  12  of towelettes into compartment  100  through panel  110 . 
     The towelette dispensing assembly  106  functions to restrict manual removal of towelettes from web  12  and through 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 web  12  from towelette storage compartment  100  in incremental lengths greater than one towelette at a time. If desired, assembly  106  may also include a coin-operated lock (not shown) that requires the depositing of coins before removal of towelettes from web  12  will be permitted. 
     Housing  104  also includes a second compartment  60  separate from the towelette storage compartment  100 , and second compartment  60  can be used either as an additional storage area for towelettes prior to use, or as a location for a hand drying assembly  58 . If the hand drying assembly  58  is employed, it is powered by the electrical circuitry used for operation of verification assembly  108 , and an on/off switch (not shown) would be provided through housing  104  to activate assembly  58  for hand drying operation. As a further hand drying option, second compartment  60  could also be used to store paper towels. 
     Hand drying assembly  58  includes an inlet vent  62 , an outlet vent  64 , a passage  66  connecting inlet vent  62  to outlet vent  64 , a fan  68  configured and adapted for drawing air into inlet vent  62  and forcing it from outlet vent  64 , and a heating element  70  for warming the air as it travels through passage  66 . A filter  72  is also provided for filtering the air before it is discharged from outlet vent  64 . Grills and/or louvers are provided on inlet vent  62  and outlet vent  64  for safety and for permitting warm air to be discharged in any direction, and two or more outlet vents  64  can be connected to passage  66  to optionally allow multi-directional air discharge. If second compartment  60  is not used for receipt of hand drying assembly  58 , a hinged panel door, such as hinged panel door  110 , is fitted over the exterior opening in housing  104  otherwise usable to accommodate inlet vent  62  to outlet vent  64  to provide access to second compartment  60  so that a reserve supply of towelettes can be sanitarily stored and protected therein until needed for use. 
     As an alternative option for providing paper towels  78  for hand drying subsequent to hand cleansing with the pre-moistened towelettes from web  12  or other drying purposes, a paper towel support assembly  74  may also be provided on or in proximity to housing  104  at any desired location. The construction of paper towel support assembly  74  is preferably the same as that used for support of web  12 . Likewise, a sanitary disposal assembly  82  may be mounted on or in proximity to housing  104 , for permitting disposal of used towelettes. 
     In order for users to operate dispenser system  2 , he or she would manually pull on the leading edge of the end-most towelette protruding from dispensing opening  24 . As the towelette is removed, the travel limiting mechanism of assembly  106  is activated such that only a single towelette can be removed from housing  104  before web  12  is braked in a conventional fashion. As such, it is not possible to pull two or more pre-moistened towelettes from dispensing opening  24  in a single pull. Preferably, a timing mechanism (not shown) is also provided as part of assembly  106  for resetting the travel limiting mechanism so that after a predetermined time delay a subsequent pre-moistened towelette can be withdrawn. 
     The pre-moistened towelettes can be used to cleanse the user&#39;s hands, face, and other parts of the user&#39;s body, and is discarded after use. Thereafter, the user would dry his or her hands by activating hand drying assembly  58 , when provided, or employing a paper towel  78  taken from paper towel support assembly  74 , if provided. 
     Dispenser system  2  can be constructed so that it includes a towelette warming assembly as described above. Also, housing  104  can be constructed such that it is used to dispense towelettes that are stored dry, and pre-moistened for use as they are dispensed. In accordance with this embodiment, a wetting assembly  114 , shown in FIG. 1, is provided in housing  104  which includes a wetting mechanism and a reservoir (not shown) for storing the moistening composition. The wetting mechanism included in wetting assembly  114  can also comprise mechanically or electronically actuated rollers, sprayers or the like, and be connected to a reservoir such that moistening liquid in the reservoir is transferred to the end-most towelette only as it is conveyed toward dispensing opening  24 . 
     Verification assembly  108  is a means for sensing usage of dispenser system  2  so that an employer can monitor how often employees use it. Although not shown, in order to achieve such monitoring, badges must be worn by the employees, and a sensor that is part of verification assembly  108  must be mounted on or near housing  104  which is capable of detecting the presence of any associated badge when it is in the vicinity of housing  104  at the time of dispensing. Preferably, a switch is provided in association with the travelling mechanism such that each time a towelette is withdrawn from dispensing opening  24 , a signal is generated that activates the sensor to detect the presence of a badge in proximity thereto. By identifying which badge is present 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 employees exhibiting responsible hand cleansing, and to encourage infrequent users to improve their habits. Likewise, it can be used to design and implement behavior modification programs directed to the goal of sustained high frequency hand cleansing, as well as enable employers and those with hand washing facilities available to the public to cooperate with public health agencies in the common good of promoting public safety. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, 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 as being a part of verification assembly  108  was electronically activated by user badges, the sensor could also be a motion detector that would activate dispenser system  2 .