Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02674654 2009-08-11
DOOR CONTROLLING HAND DISINFECTANT SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an automated door controlling hand
disinfectant
system, and, more particularly, to an automated door controlling hand
disinfectant system that
reminds and forces a person to wash/disinfect their hands before permitting
entry to or exit from such
a facility, thereby reducing the spread of germs and contagions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many diseases, such as hepatitis, have been found to be transmittable due to a
failure of
people to wash their hands. In fact, certain public health laws require those
in, for example, the food
distribution field to wash their hands each time they exit these facilities
before they resume their
duties. In areas such as hospitals or labs, the spread of germs and contagions
is a serious health
concern. For this reason, many such facilities post visual signs which are
intended to remind a person
to wash their hands before entry/exit, but such signs can be easily ignored,
and thus stronger warning
systems are required if such spread of disease is to be checked or inhibited.
While signs may be
innocuous means of warning the public of the need to wash their hands, with a
view to reducing the
spread of germs and contagions, stronger warning means that provide audible or
visual alerts should
be used in certain public facilities to provide these reminders, such as for
employees of a restaurant,
hospitals, food processing or research facilities, or the like.
Accordingly, there is need for an automated door controlling hand disinfectant
system that
utilizes a soap/disinfectant dispenser, and which can provide audible or
visual alerts for use in a
facility, such as restaurants, hospitals, food processing or research
facilities, or the like, such as on
any building that features an automatic/ electric door opener or door held
shut with a magnetic lock
or similar locking device, for ensuring that persons entering or leaving such
a facility must disinfect
their hands. There is also a need for an automated door controlling hand
disinfectant system that only
permits entry/exit into these facilities once the soap/disinfectant dispenser
has been activated, with
a view to reducing the spread of germs and contagions. To this end, the
present invention effectively
addresses this need.
CA 02674654 2009-08-11
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A general object and advantage of the present invention is to provide an
improved automated
door controlling hand disinfectant system that utilizes a soap/disinfectant
dispenser, and which can
provide audible or visual alerts for use in a facility, such as restaurants,
hospitals, food processing
or research facilities, or the like, or any building that features an
automatic/ electric door opener or
door held shut with a magnetic lock or similar locking device, for ensuring
that persons entering or
leaving such a facility must disinfect their hands.
A still further object and advantage of the present invention is to provide an
improved
automated door controlling hand disinfectant system that only permits
unalarmed entry/exit into
these facilities once the soap/disinfectant dispenser has been activated and
utilized, with a view to
reducing the spread of germs and contagions.
A still further object and advantage of the present invention is to provide an
improved
automated door controlling hand disinfectant system that issues an audio
message when the supply
of soap/disinfectant in the soap/disinfectant dispenser is running low, or
when when a battery
powered power source is utilized and power is low.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
automated door
controlling hand disinfectant system for controlling access through a doorway
comprising a housing
being mounted near to a doorway; a motion/presence detector being mounted on
the housing and
being adapted for detecting an approach of a visitor to the doorway; a door
lock mechanism for
locking and unlocking a door permitting entry or exit through the doorway; a
processor being
mounted in the housing and being electrically coupled to the motion/presence
detector; and message
conveying means being mounted on the housing and being electrically coupled to
the processor;
product dispensing means having at least one product dispensing signal emitter
integrated therewith
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in electronic communication with the microprocessor; wherein when the product
dispensing means
are utilized, the at least one product dispensing signal emitter transmits a
signal to the
microprocessor, whereupon, the microprocessor transmits an unlocking signal to
the door lock
mechanism to unlock the door to permit entry or exit by the user.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
automated door
controlling hand disinfectant system comprising a housing being mounted
proximate a doorway; a
motion/presence detector being mounted on the housing and being adapted for
detecting an approach
of a visitor to the doorway; a door lock mechanism for locking and unlocking a
door permitting entry
or exit through the doorway; a processor being mounted in the housing and
being electrically coupled
to the motion/presence detector; message conveying means being mounted on the
housing and being
electrically coupled to the processor; product dispensing means having at
least one product
dispensing signal emitter integrated therewith in electronic communication
with the microprocessor;
a power source constructed and arranged for connection to components of the
system; and a data
storage device mounted in the housing and being electrically coupled to the
processor, and providing
an access allowed audio tone when a person has utilized the product dispensing
means and issuing
an access denied audio tone when a person has not utilized the product
dispensing means, said
processor being adapted for playing either the access allowed audio tone or
the access denied audio
tone on the message conveying means instantaneously, and wherein when the
product dispensing
means are utilized, the at least one product dispensing signal emitter
transmits a signal to the
microprocessor, whereupon, the microprocessor transmits an unlocking signal to
the door lock
mechanism to unlock the door to permit entry or exit by the user.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
automated door
controlling hand disinfectant system comprising a motion/presence detector
adapted for detecting
an approach of a visitor to a doorway; a self-contained door constructed and
arranged for integration
with the doorway comprising thereon: (a) a microprocessor, the microprocessor
being in electronic
communication with the motion/presence detector; (b) message conveying means
in electronic
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communication with the microprocessor for providing an audio/visual reminder
to the visitor to wash
their hands before entering or exiting through the doorway; (c) a data storage
device in electronic
communication with the microprocessor for recordal of low supply warnings/low
battery warnings,
settings and events for the door; (d) a web enabled circuit in electronic
communication with the data
storage device and internet, whereby the low supply warnings/low battery
warnings, settings and
events for the door can be retrieved from the data storage device and observed
or changed on site or
via the internet by a remote attendant; (e) a door lock mechanism for locking
and unlocking the door
and permitting entry or exit through the doorway; and product dispensing means
having at least one
product dispensing signal emitter integrated therewith in electronic
communication with the
microprocessor; wherein when the product dispensing means are utilized, the at
least one product
dispensing signal emitter transmits a signal to the microprocessor, whereupon,
the microprocessor
transmits an unlocking signal to the door lock mechanism to unlock the door to
permit entry or exit
by the visitor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the automated door controlling hand
disinfectant system
of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates the housing of the automated door controlling hand
disinfectant system
of the present invention; and
Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the automated door
controlling hand
disinfectant system of the present invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention relates to an automated door controlling hand
disinfectant system,
whereby a door will not be unlocked to to permit entry until a
soap/disinfectant dispenser has
dispensed a pre-set amount of disinfectant. If the soap/disinfectant dispenser
is not utilized, the door
shall remain shut, restricting passage until the soap/disinfectant dispenser
is used. With reference now
to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the automated door
controlling hand disinfectant
system of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral
1, will now be
described. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention can be
electrically coupled to a
primary power supply (not shown), preferably by hardwiring an electrical
supply to components of
the system. In an alternative embodiment an alternate power source, such as,
for example, a battery
source or through electrical wiring, or through other means, could also be
utilized as would be
apparent to one skilled in the art.
The automated door controlling hand disinfectant system 1 generally comprises
a housing 3
that is mounted proximate to a door 12 of an entranceway (or doorway) 2 to a
facility, such as
restaurants, hospitals, food processing or research facilities, or the like.
In the preferred embodiment,
the housing 3 is mounted on a wall above the entranceway 2, though it will be
readily understood that
variations as to the placement of the housing 3 are possible, as would be
readily understood by one
skilled in the art. For example, the housing 3 could be placed adjacent the
door 12 of the entranceway
2, or mounted on another component in close proximity thereto.
A motion/presence detector 5 is mounted on the housing 3 and is adapted for
detecting an
approach of a visitor to the door 12 of the entranceway 2, it being understood
that the
motion/presence detector 5 can be conventional in nature, and can also be a
proximity detector. In
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a preferred embodiment, a processor 7 is housed within (or on) the housing 3
it being understood that
the processor 7 is electrically coupled to other components of the system, as
hereinafter described.
It will, of course, be understood that the location of the processor 7 or the
motion/presence detector
5 could be varied, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. In an
alternative embodiment, the
processor 7 can be housed in, or around the proximity of, the door 12 of the
entranceway 2, but
alternatively may be located in a nearby location, or at a remote location
from the door 12 or the
entranceway 2.
A data storage device (not shown) is mounted in the housing 3, and preferably
has recorded
thereon a message indicating warnings such as a low supply warnings received
from soap/disinfectant
dispenser 9, it being understood that variations to the type of information
collected and stored by the
data storage device are possible. Examples of such information that could be
collected and stored
in the data storage device could include number of people entering and exiting
the building, the
number of people and/or percentage of people who used the soap/disinfectant
dispenser 9, and
malfunction alerts. In an alternative embodiment, the data storage device can
also store a "low
battery" warning, that can be issued through the message conveying apparatus
25, when a battery
powered power source is utilized and power is low.
It will be understood that the message conveying apparatus 25 is arranged to
be mounted near
to (or upon) any of the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9, door 12 or entranceway
2. It will also be
understood that soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 is, preferably, arranged to be
mounted on the outside
or inside of a building, near an exterior doorway, or located inside the
building's vestibule, and that
a second, or indeed a plurality of soap/disinfectant dispensers may be
utilized to compel hand
sanitization prior to exit or entry.
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In operation, when approaching the door 12 of the entranceway 2 to a facility,
in a preferred
embodiment, the visitor must first utilize soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 to
gain unalarmed entry to or
exit from the facility through the door 12 of the entranceway 2, it being
understood that the door 12
is normally in a locked position, the door being kept in a locked position by
a door lock mechanism
(not shown), such as a magnetic lock or other similar device, for locking and
unlocking the door 12
permitting entry or exit. When the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 is utilized
by the visitor before
approaching the door 12 to the entranceway 2, the signal emitter (not shown)
from the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a signal to a processor 7, which then
deactivates temporarily
the motion/presence detector 5 scanning an area immediately adjacent or close
to the door 12 and the
entranceway 2. At the same time, the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a
signal to the processor
7, whereupon the processor 7 will issue an unlocking signal to the door lock
mechanism of the door
12 to unlock the door to permit entry or exit for the visitor. At the same
time, processor 7
simultaneously activates access allowed emitter 11 to provide a visual
indication to the visitor that
passage is permitted, and, simultaneously also activates the access allowed
audio tone to be played
through message conveying apparatus 25.
However, it will be understood that if the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 has
not been utilized,
and no signal from the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 has been transmitted to
the processor 7, it is to
be understood that the processor 7 will only issue the unlocking signal to the
door lock mechanism
of the door 12 to unlock the door if a signal has been received from the
soap/disinfectant dispenser
9. In this scenario, if the visitor approaches the door 12 to the entranceway
2 without utilizing the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9, the processor 7 will retain the door lock
mechanism of the door 12
in a locked position to prevent passage through the door 12 until hand washing
has occurred, and the
processor 7 then issues the access denied audio tone to be played through
message conveying
apparatus 25, and, simultaneously also activates the access denied emitter 13
to provide a visual
indication to the visitor that passage is not permitted. In one embodiment,
the visual indication that
is given to the visitor to indicate that passage is permitted can be a "green"
light, and the visual
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indication that is given to the visitor to indicate that passage is not
permitted is a "red light", though
it will, of course, be understood that numerous variations as to this can be
effected.
To gain entry, as noted above, the visitor utilizes the soap/disinfectant
dispenser 9 before
approaching the door 12 to the entranceway 2, and the signal emitter (not
shown) from the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a signal to a processor 7, which then
deactivates temporarily
the motion/presence detector 5 scanning an area immediately adjacent or close
to the door 12 to the
entranceway 2, and thus permits entry or exit for the visitor. At the same
time, processor 7 activates
access allowed emitter 11 to provide a visual indication to the visitor that
passage is permitted, and,
simultaneously also activates the access allowed audio tone to be played
through message conveying
apparatus 25. As seen in Figure 1, the visitor could utilize handle 4 on the
door to gain entry or exit.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the processor 7 is,
preferably, in electronic
radio communication with the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 and other
components of the system
through electro magnetic signals, or a combination thereof, as is
conventionally known. It will also
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the electro magnetic signals
can include infra-red, RF,
or any other electro magnetic signal, as are well known in the art.
Alternatively, the connection
between these components could also be hard wired. Preferably the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 is
mounted near or proximate to the entranceway 2, though it will be understood
that variations to the
positioning of this are possible.
In a further embodiment, the processor 7 may also issue an audible message to
individuals
who are attempting to enter (or exit) the door 12 to the entranceway 2, and
who have not utilized the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9, through the playing of a recorded audio message
or reminder (such as,
"Soap and Rinse your hands" or "please sanitize your hands to gain entry to
this building") through
the message conveying apparatus 25, it being understood that variations as to
the type of message
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conveyed are possible. In this embodiment, the audible message is activated
when the visitor has
attempted to gain entry/exit by passing through the door 12 to the entranceway
2, and the processor
7 recognizes that no signal from the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 has been
transmitted to the
processor 7, at which point the processor 7 issues a signal to the message
conveying apparatus 25
to issue the recorded access denied audio tone to the visitor. It will, of
course, be understood that
multiple such reminders could be effected, if the processor is so programmed.
It will also be understood that such reminder messages can also be conveyed in
the form of
a visual reminder, such as through use of an LED sign (not shown), or other
types of sounds that are
emitted for the user to hear, it being understood that variations to these
conveyed messages are
possible, such as MP3's for example.
In a still further embodiment, when supplies are low in the soap/disinfectant
dispenser 9, the
signal emitter (not shown) from the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a
signal to the processor
7 to activate the low supply (or low soap) warning to be played or conveyed
(either through an audio
ofvisual reminder) through message conveying apparatus 25. In much the same
manner, when battery
power for the system is low, the processor 7 activates the low battery warning
to be played through
message conveying apparatus 25 when this occurs.
In a still further embodiment, an electronic counter and/or electric eye (not
shown) component
could be utilized to physically count the number of people entering/exiting
the building versus the
number of signals received by the processor 7 from soap/disinfectant dispenser
9. If, for example,
three people are counted by the electronic counter and/or electric eye but the
processor 7 has noted
that only two people have utilized soap/disinfectant dispenser 9, then an
alarm could sound, and/or
the playing of a recorded audio message or reminder (such as, "Soap and Rinse
your hands" or
"please sanitize your hands to gain entry to this building") could be relayed
through message
conveying apparatus 25.
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In a further embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to Figure
3, the
components of the system can be self-contained within the door, and the door
12 will be web enabled,
by way of web enabled circuit 6, either physically or wirelessly, through
conventional means (such
as wireless connection) commonly known and readily available in the art. In
this manner, actions,
settings and events for the restroom can be observed or changed manually on
site or remotely such
as via the internet by a remote operator. Preferably, in effecting this
embodiment, web enabled circuit
6 will have access to information stored in the data storage device 8 by means
of processor 7, whereby
events and information regarding the restroom contained in data storage device
8 can be accessed via
the internet, through the web enabled circuit, by an operator.
Further, by way of web enabled circuit 6, actions, settings or overview of the
door can
be observed or changed via the internet by a remote operator. It will also be
understood that these can
also be changed manually on site by the operator. Preferably, the door itself
will have its own web
address, through which an operator will have security access to access any
collected data from the
data storage device 8, or voice recording changes, through conventional means
(such as wireless
connection) commonly known and readily available in the art.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, when approaching the door 12
of the
entranceway 2 to a facility the visitor must first utilize soap/disinfectant
dispenser 9 to gain unalarmed
entry to or exit from the facility through the door 12 of the entranceway 2,
it being understood that
the door 12 is normally in a locked position, the door being kept in a locked
position by a door lock
mechanism (not shown), such as a magnetic lock or other similar device, for
locking and unlocking
the door 12 permitting entry or exit. When the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9
is utilized by the visitor
before approaching the door 12 to the entranceway 2, the signal emitter (not
shown) from the
soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a signal to a processor 7, which then
deactivates temporarily
the motion/presence detector 5 scanning an area immediately adjacent or close
to the door 12 and the
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entranceway 2. At the same time, the soap/disinfectant dispenser 9 transmits a
signal to the processor
7, whereupon the processor 7 which transmits a signal to the Automatic
Operator 29 to open the door,
the Automatic Operator 29 being a door opener of the type commonly known and
readily available
in the art for automated operation of a door. As illustrated in Figure 3, the
Automatic Operator 29
is preferably mounted within an upper portion or header for a door 12.
In a preferred embodiment, in the event of either a power failure, or fire,
the door will unlock
automatically, and/or all sensors associated with the system will become
deactivated. Further, with
respect to the embodiment of the door being web enabled, since numerous
components of the system
can be contained within the door itself, an existing door installation can be
inexpensively retrofitted
to include the components of the present invention. In essence, by virtue of
the components of the
system being self-contained within the door, installation of the automated
door controlling hand
disinfectant system of the present invention can be easily effected. In
placing the automated door
controlling hand disinfectant system of the present invention into an existing
doorway, as a means
of retrofitting it, the door (having the components therein) is placed on
hinges, then wired to power
and the Internet, so that the system is ready for operation in a prompt and
efficient manner.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and modifications
can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described
herein.
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