Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A multilevel hand cleaner (100) comprising:
sensors (104a-104c) configured to sense signals representing a presence and/or an absence of an object in a predefined proximity;
a dispenser (106) configured to dispense liquid handwash;
a water tap (108) configured to dispense water;
a hand drier (110) configured to blow warm air; and
a processing unit (114) coupled to the sensors (104a-104c), the dispenser (106), the water tap (108), and the hand drier (110), and configured to:
activate the dispenser (106) to dispense a first predefined volume of the liquid handwash when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from the first sensor (104a);
activate the water tap (108) to dispense a second predefined volume of the water when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from the second sensor (104b); and
activate the hand drier (110) to blow the warm air for a predefined time duration when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from the third sensor (104c).
2. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predefined volume is in a range from about 1 gram to about 5 grams.
3. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second predefined volume is in a range from about 250 milliliters (ml) to 1 liter.
4. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined time duration is in a range from about 5 seconds to 15 seconds.
5. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors (104a-104c) are selected from one of, an inductive proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an ultrasonic proximity sensor.
6. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a body (102) adapted to house the sensors (104a-104c), the dispenser (106), the water tap (108), the hand drier (110), and the processing unit (114).
7. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a water tank (112) configured to store water drained post hand wash.
8. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to activating the dispenser (106), the processing unit (114) is configured to process the sensed signals received from the first sensor (104a) to detect the presence of the object in the predefined proximity.
9. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to activating the water tap (108), the processing unit (114) is configured to process the sensed signals received from the second sensor (104b) to detect the presence of the object in the predefined proximity.
10. The multilevel hand cleaner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to activating the hand drier (110), the processing unit (114) is configured to process the sensed signals received from the third sensor (104c) to detect the presence of the object in the predefined proximity.
Date: 26 March 2022
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant
, Description:Field of the invention
[001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a hand cleaning apparatus and particularly to a multilevel hand cleaner.
Description of Related Art
[002] People roam outside and get into contact with many things such as germs and contaminations. And when the people enter into a house from outside, they can come into contact with water taps to wash hands which can lead to spread of harmful germs or viruses. Moreover, this can put families at risk of falling sick. Moreover, physical contact of such people with washrooms and the like in public places can further result in spread of multiple diseases.
[003] Traditionally, automatic handwash dispensers and hand driers are used to clean the hands. However, even if such automatic handwash dispensers and hand driers are automated, still a user has to get into contact with water tap to wash the hands.
[004] There is thus a need for an automated device that can enable users to wash the hands without being in direct contact with any equipment.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a multilevel hand cleaner. The multilevel hand cleaner includes sensors configured to sense signals representing a presence and/or an absence of an object in a predefined proximity. The multilevel hand cleaner further includes a dispenser configured to dispense liquid handwash. The multilevel hand cleaner further includes a water tap configured to dispense water. The multilevel hand cleaner further includes a hand drier configured to blow warm air. The multilevel hand cleaner further includes a processing unit coupled to the sensors, the dispenser, the water tap, and the hand drier, and configured to: activate the dispenser to dispense a first predefined volume of the liquid handwash when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from a first sensor of the sensors. The processing unit is further configured to activate the water tap to dispense a second predefined volume of the water when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from a second sensor of the sensors. The processing unit is further configured to activate the hand drier to blow warm air for a predefined time duration when the presence of the object in the predefined proximity is detected based on the sensed signals received from a third sensor of the sensors.
[006] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a multilevel hand cleaner that is completely automated and that works without physical contact or physical operating.
[007] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide an easy to carry, portable, and low-cost multilevel hand cleaner. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a multilevel hand cleaner that stores used water in a water tank beneath a device and the water can be drained out later or directly from the multilevel hand cleaner.
[008] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[009] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present disclosure and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a multilevel hand cleaner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a processing unit of the multilevel hand cleaner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating the multilevel hand cleaner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be clear from this description of the disclosure that the disclosure is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the disclosure also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.
[0016] "In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like."
[0017] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a multilevel hand cleaner 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The multilevel hand cleaner 100 may include a body 102 that may be designed to house components of the multilevel hand cleaner 100. In some embodiments, the body 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the body 102, including known, related, and later developed materials. Further, the body 102 may have a shape such as, but not limited to, cuboidal, cylindrical, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any shape of the body 102. The body 102 may include a front face 102a and a rear face 102b. The multilevel hand cleaner 100 may include sensors 104a-104c, a dispenser 106, a water tap 108, a hand drier 110, a water tank 112, and a processing unit 114. Specifically, the sensors 104a-104c, the dispenser 106, the water tap 108, and the hand drier 110 may be disposed on the front face 102a of the body 102. Further, the water tank 112 may be disposed on a bottom end of the body 102 to store water drained post hand wash.
[0019] The sensors 104a-104c may be configured to sense signals representing a presence and/or an absence of an object in a predefined proximity. Specifically, the object may be a hand of a user. In some embodiments, the sensors 104a-104c may be, but not limited to, an inductive proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the sensors 104a-104c, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0020] Specifically, the first sensor 104a may be installed near the dispenser 106 such that the first sensor 104a is configured to sense signals representing the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the dispenser 106. Similarly, the second sensor 104b may be installed near the water tap 108 such that the second sensor 104b is configured to sense signals representing the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the water tap 108. Similarly, the third sensor 104c may be installed near the hand drier 110 such that the third sensor 104c is configured to sense signals representing the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the hand drier 110.
[0021] The dispenser 106 that is installed on the front face 102a of the body 102 may be configured to dispense liquid handwash. The dispenser 106 may include a container (not shown) that may be adapted to store the liquid handwash. In some embodiments, the dispenser 106 may be electrically connected to the processing unit 114 such that upon receiving an input from the processing unit 114, the dispenser 106 may be configured to dispense a first predefined volume of the liquid handwash. The water tap 108 that is installed on the front face 102a of the body 102 may be configured to dispense a second predefined volume of the water. The water tap 108 may be electrically connected to the processing unit 114 such that upon receiving an input from the processing unit 114, the water tap 108 is configured to dispense the second predefined volume of water. Further, the water tap 108 may be connected to a water supply (not shown) that may be adapted to provide the water to the water tap 108. The hand drier 110 that is installed on the front face 102a of the body 102 may be configured to blow air for a predefined time duration. The hand drier 110 may be electrically connected to the processing unit 114 such that upon receiving an input from the processing unit 114, the hand drier 110 is configured to blow the air for the predefined time duration. Further, the hand drier 110 may be connected to a power supply (not shown) that may provide electrical energy for an operation of the hand drier 110.
[0022] The water tank 112 may be installed at a bottom end of the multilevel hand cleaner 100. Specifically, the water tank 112 may be installed at the bottom end near the drain of the water post hand wash such that the water tank 112 collects the drained water after every hand wash. In some embodiments, the water tank 112 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, hardened plastic, metal, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the water tank 112, including known, related, and later developed materials.
[0023] The processing unit 114 may be coupled to the sensors 104a-104c, the dispenser 106, the water tap 108, and the hand drier 110. Further, the processing unit 114 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the sensors 104a-104c and further generate activation signals to operate the dispenser 106, the water tap 108, and the hand drier 110, respectively. Examples of the processing unit 114 may include, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a development board, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 114, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the processing unit 114 of the multilevel hand cleaner 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The processing unit 114 may include a data collection module 200, a data processing module 202, and a device control module 204.
[0025] The data collection module 200 may be configured to receive signals from the sensors 104a-104c. Further, the data collection module 200 may be configured to temporarily store the received signals in a memory (not shown). Furthermore, the data collection module 200 may be configured to provide the received sensed signals to the data processing module 202.
[0026] The data processing module 202 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the sensors 104a-104c to detect the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the dispenser 106, the water tap 108, and the hand drier 110, respectively. Specifically, the data processing module 202 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the first sensor 104a to detect the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the dispenser 106. Similarly, the data processing module 202 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the second sensor 104b to detect the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the water tap 108. Similarly, the data processing module 202 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the third sensor 104c to detect the presence and/or the absence of the object in the predefined proximity of the hand drier 110. In an embodiment, when the data processing module 202 detects the presence of the object (i.e., a hand of the user) based on the sensed signal received from the first sensor 104a, the data processing module 202 generates a first activation signal. Similarly, when the data processing module 202 detects the presence of the object (i.e., the hand of the user) based on the sensed signal received from the second sensor 104b, the data processing module 202 generates a second activation signal. Similarly, when the data processing module 202 detects the presence of the object (i.e., the hand of the user) based on the sensed signal received from the third sensor 104c, the data processing module 202 generates a third activation signal. Further, the data processing module 202 may be configured to provide the activation signals to the device control module 204.
[0027] The first activation signal may enable the device control module 204 that may be configured to activate the dispenser 106 to dispense the first predefined volume of the liquid handwash. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first predefined volume of the liquid handwash may be in a range from about 1 gram to about 5 grams. Further, the second activation signal may enable the device control module 204 that may be configured to activate the water tap 108 to dispense the second predefined volume of the water. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second predefined volume of the water may be in a range from about 250 milliliters (ml) to 1 liter. Furthermore, the third activation signal may enable the device control module 204 that may be configured to activate the hand drier 110 to blow the air for the predefined time duration. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the predefined time duration may be in a range from about 5 seconds to 15 seconds.
[0028] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for operating the multilevel hand cleaner 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] At step 302, the multilevel hand cleaner 100 may detect the presence of the object (i.e., the hand of the user).
[0030] At step 304, the multilevel hand cleaner 100 may determine if the detected object is under the dispenser 106, the water tap 108, or the hand drier 110. When the multilevel hand cleaner 100 determines that the detected object is under the dispenser 106, the method 300 may proceed to a step 306. Similarly, when the multilevel hand cleaner 100 determines that the detected object is under the water tap 108, the method 300 may proceed to a step 308. Similarly, when the multilevel hand cleaner 100 determines that the detected object is under the hand drier 110, the method 300 may proceed to a step 310.
[0031] At the step 306, the multilevel hand cleaner 100 may activate the dispenser 106 to dispense the first predefined volume of the liquid handwash.
[0032] At the step 308, the multilevel hand cleaner 100 may activate the water tap 108 to dispense the second predefined volume of the water.
[0033] At the step 310, the multilevel hand cleaner 100 may activate the hand drier 110 to blow the air for the predefined time duration.
[0034] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined in the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.