Dispenser dosing based on hand size

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309967-A1
Application number	US-201615080810-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 . A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
a housing; a processor in the housing; a reservoir for holding fluid; a pump for pumping the fluid; a sensor for sensing a parameter that is indicative of the hand size; 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.

2 . The dispenser of claim 2 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 2 wherein parameter that is indicative of the hand size is a hand width.

4 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein parameter that is indicative of the hand size is a hand length.

5 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises an image capturing sensor.

6 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises at least two sensors for measuring a distance from the at least two sensors to a portion of a hand.

7 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises at least two emitters and an array of receivers.

8 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises at least two emitters and at least two receivers.

9 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises one of an infrared emitter, a laser, an electric field and a magnetic field.

10 . The dispenser of claim 2 wherein sensor comprises at least one reflective member for reflecting a light source toward a receiver.

11 . A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
a housing; a processor in the housing; memory in circuit communication with the processor; a variable output pump; a sensor for sensing a parameter that is indicative of the hand size; logic 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 logic for causing the pump to dispense the discrete dose volume.

12 . The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a database that correlates two or more dose volume sizes stored in the memory to two or more values obtained from the sensed parameter indicative of hand size.

13 . The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the dose volume is one of a small dose, a medium dose and a large dose.

14 . A dispenser for dispensing a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
a housing; a processor in the housing; memory in circuit communication with the processor; a pump for pumping the fluid; a sensor for sensing a parameter that is indicative of a user's hand size; and circuitry for causing the pump to dispense a volume of fluid that is a function of the sensed parameter; wherein the volume of fluid is less for a small hand than it is for a large hand.

15 . The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the sensed parameter is one of a hand width, a hand length, a surface area of the hand, a palm width, a palm thickness, a finger length, a finger thickness, a finger width, and combinations thereof.

16 . The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the sensor comprises one of: a) an imaging device, a laser, b) two or more infrared emitter/receivers, c) a sonar emitter, d) a radar emitter, e) a radio frequency emitter, and f) a capacitance sensor.

17 . A method of dispensing soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
providing a dispenser having a housing, a fluid reservoir, a processor and a sensor; sensing a parameter indicative of a hand size of a first user; determining a first volume of fluid to be dispensed to the first user; dispensing the first volume of fluid to the first user; sensing a parameter indicative of a hand size of a second user; determining a second volume of fluid to be dispensed to the second user; and dispensing the second volume of fluid to the second user; wherein the determined first volume of fluid is different than the determined second volume of fluid.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
sensing a parameter indicative of a hand size of a third user;
determining a third volume of fluid to be dispensed to the third user; and
dispensing the third volume of fluid to the third user;
wherein the determined first volume of fluid is different than the determined second volume of fluid, which is different than the third volume of fluid.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the sensing a parameter indicative of a hand size of a first user comprises sensing at least one of a hand width, a hand length, a surface area of the hand, a palm width, a palm thickness, a finger length, a finger thickness and a finger width.

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

• A47K5/1215

  applied by a peristaltic action · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• G05D7/0676

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