Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-04-03
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C015S001000, C015S244400, C015S245000, C015S257072, C222S092000, C222S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211788
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to the field of maintaining sanitary areas, to a method and apparatus for helping to assure the washing of hands, and, more particularly, to doing so by marking a person's hands with an easily identifiable substance that requires washing of the person's hands to remove the substance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a variety of different fields and businesses, there is a need for assuring that persons who enter certain areas or exit certain areas have sanitized their hands prior to entry or exit. Obvious examples include food preparers and health care workers (although there are other potential examples too numerous to list). An example of a specific need for assuring sanitized hands is the restaurant industry. It has been known for many decades that food preparers, servers and so forth should clean and sanitize their hands prior to handling others' food. This need is self-evident after restaurant employees have been in restrooms/toilets. Bacteria (such as
E
-
coli
and fecal matter) in restrooms/toilets, are well known problems and without proper cleaning/sanitization of the hands of restaurant employees the problem can be transmitted to unknowing customers. There is also a need for sanitized hands in private residences. This is especially true of homes with children. Physicians have known for many years that washing one's hands frequently (and especially after use of the bathroom) is a very important factor in minimizing illness.
In the past, restaurants and parents have tried to address the problem by rules and regulations concerning hand washing. For instance, in many restaurants there are signs which state roughly “Employees must wash their hands before leaving.” Obviously, methods which require adherence to a rule or policy by human beings are insufficient to assure foolproof compliance. Thus, there is a strong need for a method of assuring that people have sanitized their hands, and, in particular, have done so before entry is allowed into certain areas.
Presently there are both patented and un-patented systems intended to address this problem. These systems are either not foolproof (i.e., require individual compliance with rules) or are complex and accordingly prohibitively expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,945, for example, discloses a complex system that has a sanitizing basin with moisture proof switches inside the sanitizing basin and proximity detectors. A person must insert both hands simultaneously into the sanitizing basin in order to initiate the desired output signal. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,666; 4,896,144; 3,967,478; 5,610,589; 4,688,585 and 5,199,188 all involve complex systems containing such things as electronics, sensors, pumps and so forth. Additionally, none of these systems effectively assure that an unintentional improper sanitizing of a worker's hands will be detected.
There is a need for a foolproof, simple and inexpensive method to assure that persons wash their hands before exiting unsanitary areas or entering sanitary areas. Especially desirable is a system that is simple and inexpensive enough to allow it to be retrofitted into existing bathrooms in commercial and residential locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for helping to assure the washing of hands that provide advantages over prior sanitization schemes.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for helping to assure washing of hands involves providing an easily identifiable substance which can be removed by washing with a sanitizing medium for a period of time sufficient to help assure sanitation of the hands. A marking mechanism is coupled to the easily identifiable substance, and a hand of a person is then marked with the easily identifiable substance when the marking mechanism is triggered by an event in where washing of the hands is desired. The marking mechanism may be incorporated into the actuating mechanism as an integral part thereof (e.g. the marking mechanism may be embedded into a door knob).
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for helping to assure washing of hands includes an easily identifiable substance which can be removed by washing. A marking mechanism is coupled to the easily identifiable substance, and the marking mechanism is operable to mark a hand of a person with the easily identifiable substance when the marking mechanism is triggered.
In one implementation, a flush mechanism of a toilet or urinal may be coupled to the marking mechanism, and the marking mechanism triggered when a person flushes the toilet or urinal. In another embodiment, a door handle may be coupled with the marking mechanism, and the marking mechanism triggered when a person uses the door handle.
In addition to door handle and toilet flush mechanisms the present invention may be used in any situation where it is desirable that a person washes their hands. Medical studies show that washing hands numerous times a day dramatically decreases illnesses. Accordingly the invention could be used in various entrances or apparatuses such as a home entrance or the entrance of a refrigerator.
It is a technical advantage of the present invention that it assures individuals wash their hands by marking their hands with an easily identifiable substance.
It is another technical advantage of the present invention that a relatively simple and inexpensive system and method are provided which may be retrofitted into existing commercial and residential restrooms and entrances to existing commercial and residential sanitary areas.
Other technical advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the drawings, specification and claims.
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Lynn Fiona Armstrong
Lynn John M.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Lee Benjamin C.
Lynn John M.
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