Point-of-care hygiene compliance module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10045667-B2
Application number	US-201615386087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A point-of-care hygiene compliance module includes a housing that is adapted to be attached to a dispensing container that dispenses material through a dispensing nozzle when actuated. The housing includes a pivoting actuation arm that is configured so as to be placed in operative contact with the dispensing nozzle. Thus, when the actuation arm is actuated, material is dispensed from the dispensing container, and a switch in operative contact with the actuation arm is actuated. The triggering of the switch updates a count value that is maintained by a controller, which may then be displayed or acquired by a remote computer to assess the amount of usage of the dispensing container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hygiene compliance module for a dispensing container that dispenses material through a dispensing nozzle when actuated, the hygiene compliance module comprising:
a housing having a receiving cavity for receiving a portion of the dispensing container therein;
an actuation arm pivotably carried by the housing, the actuation arm having a contact surface that is adapted to operatively contact the dispensing nozzle, the actuation arm comprising a first guide and a second guide attached to the contact surface, the first guide and the second guide spaced apart so as to receive the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing container, the dispensing nozzle disposed on a first side of the contact surface;
a switch carried by the housing and disposed on the first side of the contact surface, the switch in operative contact with the actuation arm, such that the switch is actuated when the actuation arm is actuated;
a controller coupled to the switch;
a memory unit coupled to the controller, the memory unit configured to store a count value that is updated when the switch is actuated; and
a communication interface coupled to the controller to communicate the count value to a remote computing device;
wherein when the actuation arm is actuated, the actuation arm actuates the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing container to dispense material therefrom, and actuates the switch to update the count value.

2. The hygiene compliance module of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface comprises a wired connection.

3. The hygiene compliance module of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless connection.

4. The hygiene compliance module of claim 1 , wherein the first guide extends parallel to the second guide.

5. The hygiene compliance module of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first retention arm and a second retention arm, the first retention arm and the second retention arm spaced apart to define the receiving cavity so as to receive the portion of the dispensing container therein.

6. A hygiene compliance module for a dispensing container that dispenses material through a dispensing nozzle when actuated, the hygiene compliance module comprising:
a housing having a receiving cavity for receiving a portion of the dispensing container therein, the housing defining a switch aperture;
an actuation arm attached to the housing, the actuation arm adapted to operatively contact the dispensing nozzle when the actuation arm is actuated;
a contact arm attached to the actuation arm, the contact arm received within the switch aperture when the actuation arm is actuated; and
a monitoring device comprising a switch disposed within the housing;
wherein when the actuation arm is actuated:
the actuation arm actuates the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing container to dispense material therefrom; and
the contact arm is received within the switch aperture and actuates the switch, the monitoring device configured to track a count value that is updated when the switch is actuated.

7. The hygiene compliance module of claim 6 , wherein the actuation arm has a contact surface that is adapted to operatively contact the dispensing nozzle when the actuation arm is actuated.

8. The hygiene compliance module of claim 7 , wherein the contact arm is attached to the contact surface.

9. The hygiene compliance module of claim 6 , wherein the actuation arm is pivotably attached to the housing.

10. The hygiene compliance module of claim 6 , wherein:
when the actuation arm is actuated and in a first position, the contact arm is in contact with the switch; and
when the actuation arm is not actuated and in a second position, the contact arm is not in contact with the switch.

11. The hygiene compliance module of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a first retention arm and a second retention arm, the first retention arm and the second retention arm spaced apart to define the receiving cavity so as to receive the portion of the dispensing container therein.

12. The hygiene compliance module of claim 11 , the first retention arm and the second retention arm spaced a distance apart from the actuation arm.

13. A hygiene compliance module for a dispensing container that dispenses material through a dispensing nozzle when actuated, the hygiene compliance module comprising:
a housing having a receiving cavity for receiving a portion of the dispensing container therein;
an actuation arm attached to the housing, the actuation arm adapted to operatively contact the dispensing nozzle; and
a monitoring device comprising:
a switch disposed within the housing, the switch in operative contact with the actuation arm, such that the switch is actuated when the actuation arm is actuated;
a controller coupled to the switch; and
a memory unit coupled to the controller, the memory unit configured to store a count value that is updated when the switch is actuated;

wherein when the actuation arm is actuated, the actuation arm actuates the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing container to dispense material therefrom and actuates the switch to update the count value.

14. The hygiene compliance module of claim 13 , wherein the housing defines an interior within which the monitoring device is received.

15. The hygiene compliance module of claim 13 , wherein:
when the actuation arm is actuated and in a first position, the actuation arm is in contact with the switch; and
when the actuation arm is not actuated and in a second position, the actuation arm is not in contact with the switch.

16. The hygiene compliance module of claim 13 , wherein the actuation arm has a contact surface that is adapted to operatively contact the dispensing nozzle when the actuation arm is actuated.

17. The hygiene compliance module of claim 16 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is disposed on a first side of the contact surface.

18. The hygiene compliance module of claim 17 , wherein the switch is disposed on the first side of the contact surface.

19. The hygiene compliance module of claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a first retention arm and a second retention arm, the first retention arm and the second retention arm spaced apart to define the receiving cavity so as to receive the portion of the dispensing container therein.

20. The hygiene compliance module of claim 13 , wherein the communication interface comprises at least one of a wired connection or a wireless connection.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Wegelin Jackson W
• Archer Matthew J

Classifications

• A47K5/1205

  Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston · CPC title

• G16H20/13

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G16H40/20

  for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms · CPC title

• G08B21/245

  Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands · CPC title

• A47K5/1211

  using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston (A47K5/1201 takes precedence; using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/122) · CPC title