Washroom monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299872-B2
Application number	US-201816958254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2018
Priority date	Dec 29, 2017
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for a monitoring system including a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, where each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device; a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device, determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement and determine a water flow fault of the one of the water source devices based on the first and second times.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, wherein each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device;
a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and
a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device, determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement, and determine a water flow fault of the one of the water source devices based on a comparison of the first time and the second time.

2. A monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, wherein each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device;
a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and
a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device and determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement, and
wherein associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispenser cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement comprises comparing the first time to the second time.

3. The monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of dispensers comprises at least one of a bath tissue dispenser, a paper towel dispenser, and a soap dispenser.

4. The monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the water source devices comprise a faucet, a urinal and a toilet.

5. The monitoring system of claim 2 comprising determining whether the first and second times are within a specified time range.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 comprising in response to determining the first and second times are within the specified time range, determining that the water source device associated with the one of the dispensers was activated.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6 comprising monitoring the water flow for a time period after the first and second times and determining that there is a water flow fault in response to a water flow irregularity during the time period, wherein the water flow fault is with the activated water source device.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the water flow fault comprise a water leak.

9. The monitoring system of claim 7 comprising a secondary water measurement device configured to measure water flow from the water source devices.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to receive a secondary water flow measurement from the secondary water flow measurement device and determine a secondary water flow fault in response to determining a low or no water flow condition from the activated water source device.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Mahaffey Cleary E
• Becker Stephen

Classifications

• A47K5/06 Primary

  Dispensers for soap · CPC title

• E03B7/072

  Arrangement of flowmeters · CPC title

• A47K5/1209

  with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube · CPC title

• A47K2010/3668

  Detection of the presence of a user · CPC title

• G06Q50/10

  Services · CPC title