Abstract:
The invention provides an apparatus for diarizing the performance of janitorial services that includes an electronic display unit for indicating when a service was last completed and an input device for signalling when the display is to be updated. The apparatus can include a chassis mountable on a wall of a facility being maintained by a janitorial service, and at least one electronic display framed by a window on said chassis, said chassis for displaying a time when said facility was last maintained. The apparatus can also include a central processing unit connected to said display and for updating the display based on a user-input received from an input device that is mounted to said chassis and connected to the central processing unit. The input device is actuated at a time that is substantially coterminous when said facility was last maintained.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Canadian Application No. 2,429,223, filed May 21, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to janitorial services, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for the diarizing the performance of janitorial services. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Janitorial services need to be provided in virtually all public facilities, particularly where there are public restroom facilities. Cleanliness and sanitation are important for the health and comfort of patrons. Accordingly, it is well known to provide regular, scheduled cleaning of such public facilities. The task of scheduling can be relatively straightforward or exceedingly complex, depending on the size of the facilities, the number of patrons who use the facilities, and the frequency with which the facilities are used. Thus, the proverbial small bistro with a single restrooms may only need one or two cleanings a day, whereas a major international airport will have dozens of restrooms with multiple toilets and sinks that may need require scheduled cleanings several times a day, and over fairly regular intervals over any given twenty-four hour period. A further complication with large facilities is the management of the several hundred cleaning staff that are responsible for all of the scheduled cleanings. Still further complexity is added when those cleaning staff are not directly employed by the facility, but are employed by a cleaning services company that is contracted to provide such services to the facility. 
         [0004]    The diarizing of the performance of janitorial services is also an important aspect of the provision of such services. While a cleaning schedule may be established and various cleaning staff assigned, such a schedule will be meaningless if it is not actually performed, and it is therefore also known to diarize the actual performance of cleaning services. Again, where such services are performed by a cleaning services company under contract, then the facility will typically require a diary or record proving that the services are actually being performed. Furthermore, by prominently posting such records as the services are being performed, patrons can be assured that the facility they are using is receiving regular attention. Additionally, such diaries may be relevant in any lawsuit involving allegations that a facility&#39;s lack of cleanliness lead to personal injury—e.g. a slip and fall on a puddle of water. A diary that demonstrate regular cleaning services were being provided may mitigate damages or serve as a defence to a negligence claim against the facility and the cleaning services company. 
         [0005]    Typically, the diarizing is done using pen and paper. It is very common to provide an sheet of paper, perhaps removably mounted behind a plexiglass frame, which in itself is mounted to the wall. The sheet of paper is updated by a cleaner once a particular facility or area of that facility has been cleaned. The cleaner will typically remove the sheet, and write in the time, date when the facility was cleaned. There is often space of the cleaner to initial or sign the sheet beside the time and date entry, and may also include room for other information. 
         [0006]    This manual system presents a number of disadvantages. First, the cleaner must take additional time out of their cleaning schedule to complete the form. Further, there is typically no convenient surface in the facility to complete the form, which may therefore force the cleaner to carry a clipboard with him or her, thereby further burdening the cleaner with extra equipment. Additionally, once the sheet is completely filled, the cleaner may have to carry their own blank sheets. Still a further disadvantage is the need for someone to collect the sheets on a periodic basis and, if reports are to be provided, the data on each sheet needs to be tabulated and entered into a computer, leading to extra labour and a delay between the time the service was performed and the availability of a report to the facility verifying that such services were performed. An additional disadvantage is that the cleaner&#39;s handwriting may not be legible, or the spaces provided on the sheet to small, so patrons do not get the benefit of seeing when the facility was last cleaned in a convenient manner. Furthermore, it is often the case that cleaning staff&#39;s may represent a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and first languages, making the explanation of how the sheets are to be completed a difficult task. Still further disadvantages to the current diarizing system will occur to those of skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus for diarizing janitorial services that obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-identified disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0008]    An aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services including a chassis mountable on a wall of a facility that is being maintained by a janitorial service. The apparatus includes at least one electronic display framed by a window on the chassis. The display is for displaying a time when the facility was last maintained. The apparatus also includes a central processing unit and a clock connected to the display and for updating the display based on a user-input received from an input device connected to the central processing unit. The user-input is received at a time substantially coterminous with a time when the facility was last maintained. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    Embodiments of the invention will now be discussed, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  mounted beside a door at the exit of a facility that is being cleaned and for which such cleaning is being diarized by the appparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the electrical components within the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  shown in conjunction with a computing device that is connectable to the apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a partial view of an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a partial view of an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and, 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a partial view of an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  30 . Apparatus  30  is located in any area of a facility where cleaning services are performed. As seen in  FIG. 2 , a typical place for mounting apparatus  30  is at the door where patrons exit a washroom, such as a public washroom located in an airport or the like. 
         [0018]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , apparatus  30  comprises a chassis  34  that in a present embodiment is a substantially rectangular shaped box. Chassis  34  can be made from any desired material, but is preferably made from a durable, rugged material such as metal or a very resilient plastic. In general, the materials chosen to fabricate chassis  34  are rugged and capable of withstanding a drop from a distance of five feet or greater, and capable of protecting the contents of chassis  34  during the drop, and also being lightweight and relatively simple to manufacture. 
         [0019]    The front face  38  of chassis  34  includes a plurality of windows  42 ,  44  and  46 . In turn, windows  42 ,  44  and  46  each frame a display  52 ,  54  and  56  respectively. Displays  52 ,  54  and  56  are based on liquid crystal display (“LCD”) technology in the present embodiment, but can be based on other display technologies such as organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) or thin film electroluminescent (“TFEL”). It is also presently preferred that displays  52 ,  54  and  56  are optimized for reduced power consumption, so that apparatus  30  can have a self-contained battery that needs infrequent changes, but this is not a requirement as the power supply for apparatus  30  can also be hardwired into the facility where apparatus  30  is mounted. One suitable LCD based type of display with lower power consumption characteristics includes the Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (“CLD”) Technology available from Kent Displays, Inc., 343 Portage Blvd., Kent, Ohio 44240. Such CLDs only use power when they are refreshed, thus making them suitable for the present application. Other types of displays will occur to those of skill in the art. 
         [0020]    In the present embodiment, display  52  is operable to display any general information that may be desired. One type of general information that can be displayed is the trademarks of the facility where apparatus  30  is located and/or the trademarks of the cleaning services company which provides the cleaning services. The trademarks can be accompanied by a “Welcome” message or the like. Additional general information can include advertisements, news, weather information, sports scores or the like. Where apparatus  30  is located in an airport, then display  52  can be operable to display flight departure and arrival information. Similarly, if apparatus  30  is located in a bus terminal then display  52  can be operable to display bus departure and arrival information. Other types of general information can also be displayed on display  52  as desired. 
         [0021]    Display  54  is a simple segmented display for displaying the time of day. In  FIG. 1 , the time of day is expressed in twenty-four hour format, but other formats can be chosen as well. Similarly, display  56  is a simple segmented display for displaying the date. In  FIG. 1 , the date is presented in the Day/Month/Year format, but other formats can be used as well. In the space between window  52  and windows  54 , and  56  is a message  62  indicating the relevance of the time and date indicated on displays  54  and  56  respectively. In the present embodiment, message  62  reads “This Washroom Was Last Cleaned At”, however message  62  could also indicate other locations where apparatus  32  may be mounted, and/or may be expressed one or more languages that reflect the language of at least the majority of the patrons who will view apparatus  30 . Similarly, message  62  could also be included as a static message on display  52 , as desired. 
         [0022]    Apparatus  30  also includes a user-input device in the form a lock-switch  66 . Lock-switch  66  can be actuated with a key  70  that corresponds with lock-switch  66 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , lock-switch  66  is connected to a central processing unit (CPU)  74 , that in turn interconnects a power supply  78 , a memory unit  82 , a clock  86 , a modem-radio unit  90 , a serial connector  94  and displays  52 ,  54 , and  56 . Upon receipt of a signal at CPU  66  that lock-switch  66  has been actuated, CPU  66  reads the current time and date from clock  86 , and then send a refresh signal to displays  54  and  56  respectively, so that displays  54  and  56  will display the time and date when lock-switch  66  was actuated. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, a cleaner assigned to clean the facility where apparatus  30  is located will be provided with a copy of key  70 , and instructed to use key  70  to activate lock-switch  66  once the cleaner has finished cleaning that facility. Apparatus  30  will then update the time and date displayed on displays  54  and  56  respectively, thereby indicating to patrons and other interested parties when the facility was last cleaned. 
         [0024]    Apparatus  30  is further operable to store in memory unit  82  records representing the time and date when lock-switch  66  was activated, for later download. 
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , apparatus  30  includes an antenna  98  connected to modem-radio unit  90 , which in turn is connected to CPU  74 . Modem-radio unit  90  can be based on any wireless protocol, such as wireless LAN protocols like, 802.11, blue-tooth or can be based on cellular telephone protocols such as CDMA, GSM, TDMA etc. Depending on the protocol, modem-radio  90  is thus configured to communicate over a wireless channel  102  to a wireless base station  106 , which in turn connects to a computing device  110 . In the present embodiment, computing device  106  is a desktop computer, however, any type of computing device can be used. Furthermore, computing device  110  in  FIG. 1  is shown connected directly to base station  106 , but it is to be understood that computing device  110  can be connected to base station  106  via a local area network or wide area network, such as the Internet. Computing device  110  contains software that allows device  110  to communicate with apparatus  30 . Computing device  110  is thus operable to update clock  86 , update messages to be displayed on display  52 , and/or download records from memory unit  82  a plurality of records over a given period that indicate various dates and times when lock-switch  66  was activated. In this latter situation, such downloaded records can used for a variety of purposes, such as to be compiled into a report for delivery to the management of the facility where apparatus  30  is located so that the management can verify that the facility is being cleaned according to any set schedule. Where computing device  110  is connected to the Internet, such reports can be made available by web-page or the like to any party with Internet access. Any number of known security features can also be applied to such Internet access as desired. 
         [0026]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , apparatus  30  also includes serial connector  94  that is connected to CPU  74 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , serial connector  94  can be used to connect a computing device  114  to apparatus  30 . Computing device  114  can be any number of types of computers, such as a laptop, personal digital assistant (PDA), desktop computer or the like. In the present embodiment, computing device  114  is a PDA. Computing device  114  is thus operable to perform substantially the same functions as computing device  110 , except that where records stored in memory unit  82  are collected by computing device  114 , then such collected records will in turn be downloaded into another computing device, such as computer device  110 , in order to make the data collected therein available over the Internet, where such functionality is to be offered. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 , a sectional view of an apparatus  30   a  is shown. Apparatus  30   a  is substantially the same as apparatus  30 , except that serial connector  94  is omitted and lock-switch  66  is substituted for a card-reader  66   a . Card-reader  66   a  is activated by a corresponding magnetic-striped card  70   a . Thusly, magnetic-striped card  70   a  and card-reader  66   a  can be used in substantially the same manner as key  70  and lock-switch  66 . However, in contrast to apparatus  30 , a plurality of different magnetic-striped cards  70   a  can be issued to each cleaner, which identifies the cleaner. Thus, when card  70   a  is swiped through reader  66   a , the identity of the cleaner will also be captured, at the same time that the time and date are recorded in apparatus  30   a  and displayed thereon. Optionally, the identity of cleaner  70   a  can also be displayed on apparatus  30   a .  FIG. 6  shows still a further variation, where apparatus  30   b  is shown having an RF-tag receptor  66   b  which responds to an RF-tag  70   b  when the RF-tag  70   b  is proximal to RF-tab receptor  66   b . RF-tag receptor  66   b  and RF-tag  70   b  thus operate substantially the same way as card-reader  66   a  and magnetic-striped card  70   a . Other types of input devices for use with the apparatus, and corresponding means for activating those input devices will now occur to those of skill in the art. 
         [0028]    Another embodiment of the invention in shown in  FIG. 7 , which shows an apparatus  30   c  that is substantially the same as apparatus  30 , but which includes a solar panel  125 , which is used to provide a self-contained power supply for apparatus  30   c . The solar panel  125  can be configured to be the sole power supply for apparatus  30   c , or as a supplement to some other power supply used to power apparatus  30   c . Apparatus  30   c  can also be modified to include an antenna, such as antenna  98 , but located in a different location than shown on apparatus  30 . 
         [0029]    While only specific combinations of the various features and components of the present invention have been discussed herein, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that desired subsets of the disclosed features and components and/or alternative combinations of these features and components can be utilized, as desired. For example, while apparatus  30  includes three display screens, fewer or additional display screens can be used, as desired. Where one screen is used, then all information is typically shown on the single screen. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment of apparatus  30 , modem-radio unit  90 , serial connector  94 , antenna  98  and display  52  are omitted. In this variation, apparatus  30  simply displays an updated date and time each time lock-switch  66  is actuated, thereby indicating when the facility was last cleaned. In other embodiments, various. other components can be added and/or omitted. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, while the embodiments discussed herein relate primarily to cleaning services, it is to be understood that these embodiments and the invention can be applicable to other types of janitorial and/or maintenance services or the like. 
         [0032]    Also, while apparatus  30  is shown with a serial connector  94 , other types of data connectors can be used, such as USB, Ethernet, infrared etc. 
         [0033]    The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.