Dispenser dosing based on hand size

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10219656-B2
Application number	US-201615080810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

Exemplary methods and systems for dispensing soap sanitizer or lotion as a function of hand size are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion includes a housing, a processor in the housing, a reservoir for holding fluid, a pump for pumping the fluid and a sensor for sensing a parameter that is indicative of the hand size. The exemplary dispenser also includes circuitry for determining a dose volume of fluid to be dispensed as a function of the sensed parameter that is indicative of a hand size and circuitry for causing the pump to dispense the dose volume.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion, the dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a processor in the housing;
a reservoir for holding fluid;
a pump for pumping the fluid;
a sensor assembly comprising at least two sensors for sensing a parameter that is indicative of a user's hand size;
wherein, after the at least two sensors sense the parameter that is indicative of the user's hand size, the sensor assembly sends a signal to the processor that includes the sensed parameter;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a width of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter of the at least two sensors;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined width of the user's hand;
wherein the processor causes the pump to dispense the dose volume.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dose volume of fluid to be dispensed is selected from a group of dose volumes and wherein the group contains at least two different dose volumes.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a length of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter of the at least two sensors, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of the fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined length of the user's hand.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors comprises an image capturing sensor.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors comprise a first sensor for measuring a first distance from the first sensor to a first portion of the user's hand and a second sensor for measuring a second distance from the second sensor to a second portion of the user's hand.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors comprises at least two emitters and an array of receivers.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors comprises at least two emitters and at least two receivers.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors comprises one of an infrared emitter, a laser, an electric field and a magnetic field.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors comprises at least one reflective member for reflecting a light source toward a receiver.

10. A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion, the dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a processor in the housing;
a reservoir for holding fluid;
a pump for pumping the fluid;
a sensor assembly comprising at least two emitters and an array of receivers for sensing a parameter that is indicative of a user's hand size;
wherein, after the sensor assembly senses the parameter that is indicative of the user's hand size, the sensor assembly sends a signal to the processor that includes the sensed parameter by the at least two emitters and the array of receivers;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a width of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter by the at least two emitters and the array of receivers;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a width of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter by the at least two emitters and the array of receivers;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined width of the user's hand;
wherein the processor causes the pump to dispense the dose volume.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the dose volume of fluid to be dispensed is selected from a group of dose volumes and wherein the group contains at least two different dose volumes.

12. The dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a length of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter of the sensor assembly, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of the fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined length of the user's hand.

13. A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion, the dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a processor in the housing;
a reservoir for holding fluid;
a pump for pumping the fluid;
a sensor assembly comprising at least one reflective member configured to reflect a light source toward a receiver, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to sense a parameter that is indicative of a user's hand size;
wherein, after the sensory assembly senses the parameter that is indicative of a user's hand size, the sensor assembly sends a signal to the processor that includes the sensed parameter by the sensory assembly;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a width of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter by the sensor assembly;
wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined width of the user's hand;
wherein the processor causes the pump to dispense the dose volume.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the dose volume of fluid to be dispensed is selected from a group of dose volumes and wherein the group contains at least two different dose volumes.

15. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a length of the user's hand based on the sensed parameter of the at least two sensors, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a dose volume of the fluid to be dispensed as a function of the determined length of the user's hand.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pelfrey Keith Allen
• Ciavarella Nick E
• Bullock Mark A
• Moore Mark W
• Wegelin Jackson W

Classifications

• B05B11/027

  inverted during outflow of content · CPC title

• A47K5/1202

  dispensing dosed volume (A47K5/1201 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05D7/0676

  by action on flow sources (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• B05B12/122

  responsive to presence or shape of target (B05B12/124 takes precedence) · CPC title