Automatic hand washing system

Abstract

The present invention provides an automatic hand washing system for original and retrofit residential and commercial installation and use. The automatic hand washing system dispenses a predetermined amount of soap and water to effectively clean the hands of a user in a short, predetermined amount of time, ensuring that sanitary protocols are followed while conserving natural resources. In this respect, the automatic hand washing system represents an automatic hand washing protocol compliance control system. Advantageously, the automatic hand washing system isolates the soap delivery path from the water delivery path until each is delivered to the hands of the user, preventing self-contamination, allowing the proper viscosity and flow of each to be maintained, eliminating the need for inefficient internal mixing mechanisms, etc. Advantageously, the automatic hand washing system also identifies and certifies the soap source being utilized, such that the integrity of the hand washing process is ensured and a revenue stream for the manufacturer of the automatic hand washing system and / or the provider of the soap source is maintained.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]The present non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 981,561 (Danny F. LINCOLN and Joseph M. AMLEY), filed on Oct. 22, 2007, and entitled “AUTOMATIC HAND WASHING SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTIAL USE,” the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an automatic hand washing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic hand washing system for original and retrofit residential and commercial installation and use. The automatic hand washing system dispenses a predetermined amount of soap and water to effectively clean the hands of a user in a short, predetermined amount of time, ensuring that sanitary protocols are followed while conserving natural resources. In this respect, the automatic hand washing system represents an automatic hand washing protocol complianc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides an automatic hand washing system for original and retrofit residential and commercial installation and use. The automatic hand washing system dispenses a predetermined amount of soap and water to effectively clean the hands of a user in a short, predetermined amount of time, ensuring that sanitary protocols are followed while conserving natural resources. In this respect, the automatic hand washing system represents an automatic hand washing protocol compliance control system. Advantageously, the automatic hand washing system isolates the soap delivery path from the water delivery path until each is delivered to the hands of the user, preventing self-contamination, allowing the proper viscosity and flow of each to be maintained, eliminating the need for inefficient internal mixing mechanisms, etc. Advantageously, the automatic hand washing system also identifies and certifies the soap source being utilized, such that the integrity of the hand washing process is ensured and a revenue stream for the manufacturer of the automatic hand washing system and / or the provider of the soap source is maintained.

[0008]In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing an automatic hand washing system includes: providing at least one water inlet connected to a water supply and at least one soap inlet connected to a soap supply; providing a faucet assembly connected to the at least one water inlet via at least one water outlet and the at least one soap inlet via at least one soap outlet, wherein a water flow path is isolated from a soap flow path until an end of a nozzle termination is reached by the flow paths; providing one or more controllers operable for controlling the amount of and time during which both water and soap are dispensed through the faucet assembly; and providing one or more nozzles associated with the nozzle termination operable for dispensing water and soap from the faucet assembly to an object to be washed. The water flow path and the soap flow path are isolated, at least in part, by a dual-lumen fluid supply line. The method for providing the automatic hand washing system also includes providing a proximity sensor associated with the faucet assembly operable for detecting the presence of the object to be washed and initiating the dispensing of the water and soap from the faucet assembly to the object to be washed. The method for providing the automatic hand washing system further includes providing a soap supply including an identification and certification mechanism. The method for providing the automatic hand washing system still further includes providing a soap supply identification and certification system operable for identifying and certifying the identification and certification mechanism of the soap supply. Optionally, the soap supply identification and certification system is one of radio frequency identification (RFID) and bar code-based, or based on an as-of-yet undetermined identification system. Optionally, the method for providing the automatic hand washing system still further includes providing a record keeping system operable for identifying and recording the identity of the object being washed each time it is washed. The nozzle termination includes an inner annular wall concentrically disposed within an outer annular wall, the inner annular wall and the outer annular wall collectively defining an inner soap flow lumen and an outer water flow lumen, wherein the inner soap flow lumen is in fluid communication with the soap flow path and the outer water flow lumen is in fluid communication with the water flow path. The nozzle termination also includes a termination wall defining at least one opening substantially adjacent to the inner soap flow lumen and at least one opening substantially adjacent to the water flow lumen.

Problems solved by technology

The process of turning on a faucet, wetting one's hands, applying soap, lathering, and rinsing one's hands, however, can be ineffective, time consuming, and wasteful.

Quite simply, when the timing specified by most protocols is followed, manual hand washing also wastes water, with the water typically running for the duration of the process.

Most, however, are still prone to self and secondary contamination problems, most are still too bulky and cumbersome, most are still not well suited for retrofit applications, most are still too expensive, and most still fail to provide revenue streams for their manufacturers, eventually being taken off the market.

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