Patent Application Titled “Systems And Methods For Maintaining Healthy Environments” Published Online (USPTO 20230316208): Patent Application

2023 OCT 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventor Mancillas, Anthony (Los Angeles, CA, US), filed on March 29, 2023, was made available online on October 5, 2023.

No assignee for this patent application has been made.

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Presently, in the interest of promoting health and hygiene in the workplace and public spaces, automatic dispensing devices are used to dispense a variety of liquids, such as hand sanitizer and hand soap. Despite having such devices available, some workplace facilities do not have such devices readily available for use. Meanwhile, in the workplace facilities that do have such devices readily available to use, there is a general lack of compliance with simple practices of hand washing and sanitizing. Additionally, while some employees take sick leave, many employees choose to go into work even while sick, further spreading illness throughout the workplace facilities. Due to poor health and hygiene, employers incur significant associated costs for worker illnesses. There remains a need to improve compliance and usage of such automatic dispensing devices. The present disclosure provides for a novel system and methods for maintaining healthy environments that address the above noted problems in efforts to promote workforce health and facility safety, improve compliance, reduce absenteeism due to illness and spread of infections and diseases, reduce sick leave costs, obtain better rates for group health insurance coverage, overall sustainability, and the like.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent application: “The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for maintaining healthy environments, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

“In some implementations, the monitoring system for use with an automatic dispensing device includes at least one sensor, and a computing device, wherein the computing device includes a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a hardware processor executing the executable code to receive an input from the at least one sensor, the input including a vibration information, determine an occurrence of an event, and update a station profile based on a signal that includes a station information.

“In some implementations, the monitoring system further includes a fluid reservoir storing a fluid for dispensing and a fluid dispensing mechanism fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir, the automatic dispensing device configured to dispense a user portion of the fluid when operated by a user, wherein the user portion of the fluid is a calibrated volume.

“In some implementations of the monitoring system, the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a radiofrequency sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, an air quality sensor, a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, and an image sensor.

“In some implementations of the monitoring system, the station profile includes at least one of a refill identifier, a refill volume, a fill level information, a viscosity information, a date of last refill, a number of operations since last refill, a frequency of use information, a user counter, a battery level, and an air quality information.

“In some implementations of the monitoring system, the non-transitory memory additionally stores a database including a plurality of user profiles and the monitoring system further comprises a scanner device configured to receive an identification signal from the scanner device and update a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the identification signal.

“In some implementations of the monitoring system, the user profile includes at least one of an individual identification, a time tracking information, a temperature reading, and a usage counter.

“In some implementations, the monitoring system is further configured to determine a compliance and formulate a strategy based on the determination of the compliance, wherein the strategy is implementing at least one of a training plan, a marketing plan, an incentive plan, and an advertisement program.

“In some implementations, the monitoring system is at least one of a battery-powered and a solar-powered.

“In some implementations, the monitoring system further includes an ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizer for sanitizing a personal object.

“In some implementations of the monitoring system, the event is one of an operation of the automatic dispensing device and an individual walking past the automatic dispensing device.

“In another implementation, a method for use with a monitoring system includes a non-transitory memory and a hardware processor, wherein the method includes receiving, using the hardware processor, an input from at least one sensor, the input including a vibration information, determining, using the hardware processor, an occurrence of an event, and updating, using the hardware processor, a station profile based on a signal that includes a station information.

“In some implementations of the method, the monitoring system monitors an automatic dispensing device having a fluid reservoir that stores a fluid for dispensing and a fluid dispensing mechanism fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir, wherein the automatic dispensing device is configured to dispense a user portion of the fluid, wherein the user portion of the fluid is a calibrated volume, and wherein the method further comprises dispensing a user portion when operated by a user.

“In some implementations of the method, the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a radiofrequency sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, an air quality sensor, a VOC sensor, and an image sensor.

“In some implementations of the method, the station profile includes at least one of a refill identifier, a refill volume, a fill level information, a viscosity information, a date of last refill, a number of operations since last refill, a frequency of use information, a user counter, a battery level, and an air quality information.

“In some implementations of the method, the non-transitory memory additionally stores a database including a plurality of user profiles wherein the method further comprises receiving an identification signal from a scanner device and updating a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the identification signal.

“In some implementations of the method, the user profile includes at least one of an individual identification, a time tracking information, a temperature reading, and a usage counter.

“In some implementations of the method, the method further comprises determining a compliance and formulating a strategy based on the determination of the compliance, wherein the strategy is implementing at least one of a training plan, a marketing plan, an incentive plan, and an advertisement program.

“In some implementations of the method, the monitoring system is at least one of a battery-powered and a solar-powered.

“In some implementations of the method, the monitoring system further includes an ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizer for sanitizing a personal object.

“In some implementations of the method, the event is one of an operation of an automatic dispensing device and an individual walking past the automatic dispensing device.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A monitoring system for use with an automatic dispensing device comprising: at least one sensor; a computing device, wherein the computing device includes a non-transitory memory storing an executable code; and a hardware processor executing the executable code to: receive an input from the at least one sensor, the input including a vibration information; determine an occurrence of an event; and update a station profile based on a signal that includes a station information.

“2. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid reservoir storing a fluid for dispensing; and a fluid dispensing mechanism fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir, the automatic dispensing device configured to dispense a user portion of the fluid when operated by a user, wherein the user portion of the fluid is a calibrated volume.

“3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a radiofrequency sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, an air quality sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, and an image sensor.

“4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the station profile includes at least one of a refill identifier, a refill volume, a fill level information, a viscosity information, a date of last refill, a number of operations since last refill, a frequency of use information, a user counter, a battery level, and an air quality information.

“5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory memory additionally stores a database including a plurality of user profiles and the monitoring system further comprises a scanner device, wherein the hardware processor further executes the executable code to: receive an identification signal from the scanner device; and update a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the identification signal.

“6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the first user profile includes at least one of an individual identification, a time tracking information, a temperature reading, and a usage counter.

“7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the monitoring system is further configured to: determine a compliance; and formulate a strategy based on determining the compliance, wherein the strategy is implementing at least one of a training plan, a marketing plan, an incentive plan, and an advertisement program.

“8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is at least one of a battery-powered and a solar-powered.

“9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system further includes an ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizer for sanitizing a personal object.

“10. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the event is one of an operation of the automatic dispensing device and an individual walking past the automatic dispensing device.

“11. A method for use with a monitoring system including a non-transitory memory and a hardware processor, the method comprising: receiving, using the hardware processor, an input from at least one sensor, the input including a vibration information; determining, using the hardware processor, an occurrence of an event; and updating, using the hardware processor, a station profile based on a signal that includes a station information.

“12. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring system monitors an automatic dispensing device having a fluid reservoir that stores a fluid for dispensing and a fluid dispensing mechanism fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir, wherein the automatic dispensing device is configured to dispense a user portion of the fluid, wherein the user portion of the fluid is a calibrated volume, and wherein the method further comprises: dispensing a user portion when operated by a user.

“13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a radiofrequency sensor, a vibration sensor, a motion sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, an air quality sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, and an image sensor.

“14. The method of claim 11, wherein the station profile includes at least one of a refill identifier, a refill volume, a fill level information, a viscosity information, a date of last refill, a number of operations since last refill, a frequency of use information, a user counter, a battery level, and an air quality information.

“15. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory memory additionally stores a database including a plurality of user profiles wherein the method further comprises: receiving an identification signal from a scanner device; and updating a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the identification signal.

“16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first user profile includes at least one of an individual identification, a time tracking information, a temperature reading, and a usage counter.

“17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises: determining a compliance; and formulating a strategy, based on determining the compliance, wherein the strategy is implementing at least one of a training plan, a marketing plan, an incentive plan, and an advertisement program.

“18. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring system is at least one of a battery-powered and a solar-powered.

“19. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring system further includes an ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizer for sanitizing a personal object.

“20. The method of claim 11, wherein the event is one of an operation of an automatic dispensing device and an individual walking past the automatic dispensing device.”

For more information, see this patent application: Mancillas, Anthony. Systems And Methods For Maintaining Healthy Environments. U.S. Patent Application Number 20230316208, filed March 29, 2023 and posted October 5, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(20230316208)&db=US-PGPUB&type=ids

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)