Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION AND USE OF INVENTION
[001] This present invention, in general, relates to a hand sanitizing system. In particular, the invention relates to an automatic, compact, portable, non-contact hand sanitizing system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Due to its highly infectious nature and easy transmission mediums, many countries have been forced into lockdowns to control the spread of the disease. This has crippled life and economies as the COVID-19 virus could not be contained in normal scenarios. As such, protecting the healthcare and essential services professionals has become paramount importance in this fight against COVID-19 virus. Since expert epidemiologists all around the world and World Health Organization (WHO) have predicted that complete eradication of COVID- 19 virus is long haul, efforts have to be put in place to reduce the spread of the contagion to the maximum extent possible when normal life resumes after lockdown in many parts of the world.
[003] WHO has recommended the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to clean hands frequently and thoroughly to protect against COVID-19. As such, installation of such hand sanitizer dispensers in all public places like malls, transport system, factories etc. has become the need of the day. Installation of such dispensers on a large-scale poses many problems to the respective organizations, like their refill, controlled usage, reliability, monitoring etc. Moreover, all the containers/ bottles holding the sanitizing solution available in the market are designed to be operated manually and by using one's hands. Usage of hands for cleaning them itself poses a quandary in containment of pandemic. Since it is very difficult to manually monitor all such installations for economic usage, an automatic dispensing machine with controlled quantity of dispersal and operated without any contact of human hands whatsoever resolves these problems. The present invention addresses these needs with a compact, portable, non-contact, and automatic hand sanitizer dispensing system.
[004] Reynolds, U.S. Patent 12/561,392 discloses a dispenser with an automatic pump output detection system provides a pump with an adjustable output. The dispenser in the prior art comprises a controller that includes one or more previously-stored reference profiles that correspond to discrete pump output amount values that are compared with each generated operating profile, whereby the discrete pump output amounts associated with the matching reference profile is used to compute various usage data associated with the operation of the dispenser. The dispenser in the prior art also comprises an actuator to initiate the dispensing of the sanitizer by means of a button, as well as a proximity sensor, biometric sensor, or any other sensor suitable.
[005] Walters, U.S Patent 12/462,296 discloses a touchless dispenser is provided for a pressurized container including a valve member. The valve is electrically controlled to dispense a dosage of product from the container using battery power responsive to the sensor sensing presence of a user's hand proximate the discharge orifice. The dispenser comprises a housing mountable to the container.
[006] Previous works for hand sanitizer, mostly include manual actuation for dispensing of the disinfectant. The prior art U.S. Patent 12/561,392 mentioned in the background includes touchless dispensing, however not mentioned to be portable. The prior art U.S. Patent 12/462,296 mentioned in the background also includes touchless dispensing however it does not provide status of operation through a display or light indication. The present invention provides an automatic, compact, portable, non-contact hand sanitizing system powered by either a 230V AC power adaptor at 5V DC or a standalone battery at 12V DC.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[007] It is therefore, the principal objective of the present invention to provide an automatic non-contact hand sanitizing system.
[008] Another primary object of the present invention is to ensure that the entire assembly is extremely compact and portable for use in all locations even in public transports like buses, trains etc.
[009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a low-voltage, low-power solution which can be deployed anywhere around the world, even by using a battery wherever electric power is unavailable.
[0010] Further, another objective of the present invention is to conserve the usage of costly alcohol-based sanitizing solutions by automatically limiting the volume/quantity of liquid being dispensed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present subject matter relates to an automatic non-contact hand sanitizing system, comprising a first power supply input port and a second power supply input port, wherein only one of the first or second ports require a voltage supply input, a spray nozzle, a storage container to store sanitizing liquid, a low voltage pump, a set of indicating LEDs connected to exterior of the sanitizer system body, a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter and a receiver and a control circuit connected to the sensor assembly and the status LEDs. Further, upon activation of the power supply, the control circuit drives the pump to supply sanitizer liquid from the storage container via hoses to the spray nozzle after sensing presence of skin or hand or palm by means of the sensor assembly. The control circuit controls the LEDs to show states/status of operation.
[0012] In an aspect of the invention, the sensor assembly is place adjacent to the spray nozzle.
[0013] In an aspect of the invention, the control circuit (21) is further connected to the first power supply inputs port and the second power supply input port, and the low voltage pump power source input terminal to control the pump operation.
[0014] In an aspect of the invention, the storage container to store sanitizing liquid, is placed at the rear end of the sanitizing system.
[0015] In an aspect of the invention, the storage container comprises a refill cap for refilling the container.
[0016] In an aspect of the invention, the storage container is replaceable.
[0017] In an aspect of the invention, the first power supply input port is powered by a 230V AC power adaptor at 5V DC.
[0018] In an aspect of the invention, the second power supply input port is powered by a standalone battery outputting DC voltage, which can be connected to positive and negative ports.
[0019] In an aspect of the invention, the control circuit is powered by a 230V AC power adaptor at 5V DC, which can be connected to adaptor port, which is same as the first power supply input port.
[0020] In an aspect of the invention, the control circuit is powered by a standalone battery outputting DC voltage, which can be connected to positive and negative ports, which is same as the second power supply input port.
[0021] In an aspect of the invention, the second power supply input port is driven by a standalone battery is a 12 volt DC battery.
[0022] In an aspect of the invention, the control circuit is reprogrammable.
[0023] In an aspect of the invention, the system further comprise an external connection to a programming device to reprogram the control circuit to dispense different amount of sanitizing liquid as per application, wherein the programming device is a computer or a portable (mobile) computing device.
[0024] In an aspect of the invention, the system further comprises a mechanical or an electrical knob or button to manually change the quantity of sanitizing liquid to be dispensed, wherein the knob or the button is connected to the control circuit to reprogram the quantity of dispensing of the sanitizing liquid.
[0025] In an aspect, the control circuit starts the pump after sensing presence of hand or skin or palm and stop the pump after predetermined time of operation, to ensure volume of dispersal of the solution through the nozzle as per medical norms and also avoiding excess usage/misuse of sanitizing solution.
[0026] In an aspect, the set of indicating LEDs show the various states of system operation - ready, pump in operation, control circuit ready.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0027] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the description when read in conjunction with accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
[0028] Figure 1 illustrates a general schematic of the system with the compact body frame, dispensing nozzle and sensor system; and
[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a blowout drawing of the system in top view with body frames in open condition showing pump, control circuit and container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Present invention discloses an automatic non-contact hand sanitizing system.
[0031] The automatic non-contact hand sanitizing system comprises a first power supply input port (3) and a second power supply input port (4), wherein only one of the first or second ports require a voltage supply input. The system further comprises a spray nozzle (7), a storage container (14) to store sanitizing liquid, a low voltage pump (15) and a set of indicating LEDs (5, 11, 24) connected to exterior of the sanitizer system body. The system further comprises a sensor assembly (8) comprising a transmitter (26) and a receiver (27) and a control circuit (21) connected to the sensor assembly and the status LEDs.
[0032] Figure 1 illustrates the general schematic of the proposed system (100) with its various components. The system (100) comprises a body frame (1), which can be made out of thin stainless-steel plates. The container (14) is for storing the sanitizing solution and fixed towards the rear end of the frame (1). The frame (1) hugs the shape of the container inside and can be made from molded plastic (or other materials) to reduce manufacturing costs. However, a stainless-steel body frame (1) ensures durability and outdoor usages like in public transports. In an example, the frame (1) has dimensions of 110mm (W) x 180mm (L) x 250mm (H) making it very portable and compact. The stainless-steel sheets are formed into two inverse, right-angled U-shapes complementing each other to make up the frame (1). The inverse, right-angled U-shapes are held together by six screws on each side of the frame (1). The container comprises a refill cap (2) of the container. The refill cap is provided on the top surface of the frame (1). The cap (2) is of screw-type for easy access.
[0033] The frame (1) dimensions may be more optimized to make the system more portable and compact without limitation.
[0034] The first power supply input port is a female power adaptor port (3) which is provided on the side of the frame (1). The adaptor port (3) receives low voltage DC power (usually 5V DC) from a 230V AC/5V DC power supply adaptor and distributes it to a control circuit and pump inside the frame (1). However, the output DC voltage of the adaptor terminal may be in the range of 3V to 15V DC according to requirement of the system. Since the entire system is designed to be compact and portable, it can also be operated using a 12V DC batteries available in buses, cars etc. The second power supply input port (4) comprises a positive and a negative power ports (4) for connection to a battery, which may be preferably provided adjacent to the power adaptor port (3). However, placement of the power supply ports (3) and (4) may be designed suitable to a user application. The system works uniformly irrespective of the type of power supply provided.
[0035] The set of indicating LEDs connected to exterior of the sanitizer system body, wherein a glowing LED (5) shows the system ready status. Further, a top enclosure (6) at the front of the sanitizing system body provides cover to the spray nozzle (7) and the transmitter/receiver assembly of sensor (8). A bottom enclosure (9) serves as a protection for sensors from stray signals and also doubly functions as a drain (10) for the excess spray which is fed neatly to a disposal area nearby. The top and bottom enclosures (6, 9) also are indicative of the position for placing the hand or palm or skin. Another LED (11) shows the system under operation once the presence of hands is sensed and the pump starts working.
[0036] Figure 2 illustrates the blowout drawing of the system (200) in the top view with the body frames (1) in open condition. The body frame (1) comprises of two inverse, right-angled U-shapes complementing each other, a front-face frame (12) and back-support frame (13). The container (14) holding the sanitizing solution is fixed towards rear-end of the back-support frame (13). The refill cap (2) protrudes out of the frame (13) for easy refilling of solution. The low-power circulation pump (15) is mounted on the floor of the back-support frame (13). The inlet (16) to the pump is taken from the container (14) bottom via hoses (17). The storage container (14) can be replaceable. The outlet (18) from the pump is connected to the spray nozzle (7) through the dispenser outlet tube (19). The control circuit (20) board for the entire system is mounted on the front face frame (12). However, positioning of the control circuit board may be as per space management to make the sanitizer system more portable. The board (20) is insulated from the body frame (1) via insulators (21) for protection. The board (20) comprises of relay (22) for operation of the pump (15) and logic ICs (23). A status LED (24) shows the condition of operation of the board (20).
[0037] The transmitter (25) and receiver (26) sensors form the sensor assembly (8) which is responsible for sensing the presence of hands and operation of the dispensing system. They are strategically positioned on the front face frame (12) so that the circuit gets triggered appropriately irrespective of the contour and position of the hands. The system is powered on and the sensor assembly (8) is kept in ready mode. Once the hands are placed in the path of the sensor assembly (8), it triggers the control circuit (20). The circuit (20) switches on the pump (15) which starts dispensing the solution via the spray nozzle (7). The system automatically cuts off the pump (15) operation after predetermined time. The time interval of operation is so chosen according to nozzle design that the volume of liquid sprayed is approximately 3-4 ml as per medical norms.
[0038] The sanitizing system may preferably be used for dispensing alcohol-based (combination of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol or n-propanol) sanitizing solution which is an essential healthcare component effective in decreasing infectious agents on the hand or skin or palm, wherein the dispensing nozzle of the sanitizing system can be preferably designed to dispense the alcohol-based solution.
[0039] The cut off time t for the pump is reprogrammable according to quantity of sanitizer liquid to be dispensed. However, a mechanical or an electrical switch can also be provided to manually change the quantity of the sanitizer liquid to be dispensed apart from the medical norms according to use for a person.
[0040] The control circuit (21) is designed to be reprogrammable. For this, few more connection to external programing devices can also be provide e.g. USB, USART etc. on the body of the sanitizing system, connected to the control circuit. The external programing device can be a computer or a portable (mobile) computing device.
[0041] The system further may comprise a mechanical or an electrical knob or button to manually change the quantity of sanitizing liquid to be dispensed, wherein the knob or the button is connected to the control circuit (21) to reprogram the quantity of dispensing of the sanitizing liquid.
[0042] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0043] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.

Claims:We Claim:
1. An automatic non-contact hand sanitizing system (100), the system comprises:
a first power supply inputs port (3) and a second power supply input port (4), wherein only one of the first or second ports requires a voltage supply input;
a spray nozzle (7);
a storage container (14) to store sanitizing liquid;
a low voltage pump (15),
a set of indicating LEDs (5, 11, 24) connected to exterior of the sanitizer system body;
a sensor assembly (8) comprising a transmitter (26) and a receiver (27); and
a control circuit (21) connected to the sensor assembly and the status LEDs;
wherein upon activation of the power supply, the control circuit drives the pump to supply sanitizer liquid from the storage container (14) via hoses (17) to the spray nozzle (7) after sensing presence of skin or hand or palm by means of the sensor assembly (8) and controls the LEDs to show states/status of operation.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly (8) is place adjacent to the spray nozzle (7).
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (21) is further connected to the first power supply inputs port (3) and the second power supply input port (4), and the low voltage pump (15) power source input terminal to control the pump operation.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage container (14) to store sanitizing liquid, is placed at the rear end of the sanitizing system.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage container (14) comprises a refill cap (3) for refilling the container.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage container (14) is replaceable.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first power supply input port (3) is powered by a 230V AC power adaptor at 5V DC.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second power supply input port (4) is powered by a standalone battery outputting DC voltage, which can be connected to positive and negative ports (4).
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (21) is powered by a 230V AC power adaptor at 5V DC, which can be connected to adaptor port (3), which is same as the first power supply input port.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (21) is powered by a standalone battery outputting DC voltage, which can be connected to positive and negative ports (4), which is same as the second power supply input port.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second power supply input port (4) is driven by a standalone battery is a 12 volt DC battery.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (21) is reprogrammable.
13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprise an external connection to a programming device to reprogram the control circuit (21) to dispense different amount of sanitizing liquid as per application, wherein the programming device is a computer or a portable (mobile) computing device.
14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a mechanical or an electrical knob or button to manually change the quantity of sanitizing liquid to be dispensed, wherein the knob or the button is connected to the control circuit (21) to reprogram the quantity of dispensing of the sanitizing liquid.
15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (21) starts the pump after sensing presence of hand or skin or palm and stop the pump after predetermined time of operation, to ensure volume of dispersal of the solution through the nozzle as per medical norms and also avoiding excess usage/misuse of sanitizing solution.
16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of indicating LEDs (5, 11, 24) show the various states of system operation - ready, pump in operation, control circuit ready respectively.