WO2021221739A1 - Cleancat: a dc- or ac-motion sensor activated voice device reminder to wash hands in private and public restrooms. - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device that uses motion sensor(s) to play pre-set audio messages that encourages people to wash their hands in residential and public restrooms and other locations where hand washing is desired such as but limited to food preparation factories and healthcare facilities. Aside from hand washing, the device may be customized to broadcast safety or warning messages in factories and hazardous places of work and conditions such as around heavy machinery. The device will either come with pre-set especially designed audio messages in different intervals that are produced to maximize listeners' attention by using neuroscience research to minimize habitation and the tuning out effect seen in repetitive messaging. The Device -- CleanCat -will play messages in most languages of the world base on where it will be sold and use the local languages, dialects and music to achieve maximum results. The device will be produced with a signature tune but in various sizes, colors, power sources, audio messages to meet residential and commercial needs.

Description

Title of Invention

CleanCat: A DC- or AC-Motion Sensor Activated Voice Device Reminder to Wash Hands in Private and

Public Restrooms.

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a novel way of using audio instructions to promote better hygiene for children and adults to combat the spread of viral infections, diseases and illnesses spread by dirty hands, including COVID- 19. Specifically, the invention relates to a motion/proximity sensor-activated audio device playing a variety of messages emphasizing the importance of handwashing.

Background

[0002] With the worldwide spread of COVID19 virus, it now became clear that handwashing is an essential and easy way to combat the spread of the virus. Washing hands is key to not only everyone's health; it also reduces downtime and massive economic losses caused by disease-related absenteeism. We intend to use technology to prompt and remind everyone to adhere to better hygiene, such as washing hands, to help reduce the impact of epidemics, tire common colds, the flu and other diseases transmitted due to poor hygiene.

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem [0003] Although hand-washing signs fill school restrooms across the US and much of the world, school aged children are germ magnets, which make teachers at a higher risk of getting sick. Teaching kids is one of the germiest jobs according to researchers. University of Arizona researchers led by microbiologist Charles Gerba, studied the desks, computers and phones from various professions, and found teachers wrecked the curve. "Kids' desktops are really bad, too," Gerba said. "Probably the dirtiest object in a classroom is a kid's desktop."

[0004] Children hand in tests and homework papers to their teachers, and during flu season, they often hand in cold and flu germs, as well, Gerba said. ¹

School infections not only disrupt children’s school attendance and academic performance but harm their teachers’ and parents’ health and increase their downtime. Kids make their classmates, teachers, and parents sick. ²

[0005] Clean hands or the lack thereof are particularly relevant to restaurants and other establishments where food is prepared and served. The US Department of Agriculture puts it simply, “Millions of Americans with Dirty Hands Are Spreading Dangerous Bacteria ³.”

Un-washed hands by both restaurants’ workers and customers contribute to the illness of millions of people in the United States alone. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year, roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

[0006] Dirty hands are direcdy connected to the spread of the common cold, which leads to approximately 75 to 100 million physician visits annually, according to a study by Allen Loyd V Jr. and published by the National Institute of Health. ⁴

[0007] The study estimates that 22 to 189 million school days are missed annually due to colds, which affects working parents with approximately 126 million workdays staying home to care for their children. Add this to the approximately 150 million workdays missed by employees suffering from colds, which accounts for approximately 40% of time lost from work in the U.S. This translates to hundreds of billion in lost economic productivity in the US alone.

[0008] There is currently no widespread practice for audio reminders to wash hands in private or public bathrooms. While government regulations require restaurants to display graphic signs instructing employees to wash hands before returning to work, none of these signs target patrons, who are just as important when it comes to curbing the spread of germ-borne diseases. [0009] Schools too use written instructions and graphics to encourage hand washing with limited effect.

Solution to Problem

[0010] This novel device, we will be calling Clean Cat, will play audio reminders to children and adults alike when they enter restrooms at homes, schools, universities, restaurants, malls, libraries, government buildings, gas stations, train stations, airports, planes, ships, amusement parks, places of worship and all other private and public restrooms. The pre-recorded audio messages and chimes are designed to more effectively prompt and remind people to wash their hands with soap in specific preset sequences and intervals using neuroscience research as long the sensor detects a motion.

[0011] There is ample research proving that audio prompts are much more effective in prompting behavior change and achieving the desired effect than simple written reminders.

[0012] Audio messages are more effective than visual instructions and scientist agree. Scientist Nina Kraus, Professor of Communication Sciences, Neurobiology, Otolaryngology; and Hugh Knowles Chair at Northwestern University wrote “The auditory system is the most computationally intensive neural network. This is particularly true in terms of timing.” In another word, audio instructions enhance our brains and memory, and motivate us to take action. ⁵

[0013] Brain research shows that sounds can enhance our memory and motivate people to take action. Sounds are widely used to improve effectiveness of advertising and marketing campaigns and they are critical to eliciting emotional and sense — based responses critical to behavior change, according to Cavanaugh & Song who wrote at (MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2014) and indicated that students preferred receiving audio feedback vs. written feedback.

[0014] The researchers concluded that humans are conditioned to respond to a sound on instinct to protect ourselves, and multiple studies show humans react to sound faster than to a visual cue. Human ears are wired directly into the action centers of our brain, while visuals go through layers of analysis before we react.

[0015] Victoria Summers, a prominent marketing strategist wrote a column on marketing health and highlighted the impact of sound on human behavior. “There is an intimate connection between sound and action. We are conditioned to respond to a sound on instinct to protect ourselves - studies show humans react to sound faster than to a visual cue. Our ears are wired directly into the action centers of our brain, while visuals go through layers of analysis before we react, she wrote. ⁶ [0016] She added “Sound marketing is not a new concept, but aside from radio, it has not been embraced by health brands at the same level as visual design. Yet, studies such as a Spotify Ad Recall Study in 2013 have shown that when sound is aligned to brand, ad recall increases by as much as 60%.” This explains who many remember many tunes and rhymes and can identify sons based on these tunes.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0017] According to the Center for Disease Control, (CDC), “regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.” ⁷

[0018] Children are the primary target of this device as they need to wash their hands more often and are at the prime age of healthy habit-building. Encouraging, teaching, promoting and reminding children about the importance of hand washing will have a major positive health impact, reduce absenteeism in school and improve academic performance. Achieving positive behavior change across these important audiences will have a multiplying and generational effect in all segments of society. CleanCat will positively shape the hygiene habits of future generations if it was widely used.

[00019] Restaurant workers, food preparers, healthcare providers, hair care professionals and everyone using public and private restrooms or needs to have washed hands for work are a target market for this device as improving their hygiene will have a multiplying effect on the general health of society.

[0020] This device will be made in various versions, sizes, colors, shapes and using various pre-recorded audio instructions and musical chimes and rhymes. The device will employ neuroscience in producing specially worded audio and musical messages.

[0021] There will be several home versions designed to use with home restrooms, and larger versions designed for schools and other restrooms. Because home restroom are substantially smaller and different than public restroom, this will require different device sizes, internal electronic circuits, sensors, speakers, audio messages, colors, designs and power source among other needed customizations. Later models will employee smart sensors to broadcast appropriate messages.

[0022] While many public restrooms post written messages encouraging hand washing, many studies have found that audio instructions are much more effective in instructing people to adopt a set behavior. [0023] Restaurants for example are required by local laws to post a written hand washing sign in their restrooms that says (Staff Must Wash Hands Before Returning to Work). These messages never address customers who use the restrooms. This device will not only target workers but everyone that enters restrooms regardless of age, occupation or gender.

[0024] Public restrooms are hot spots for the spread of foodbome illness and contagions. Food poisoning can come from both restaurant workers but also from customers with dirty hands.

Description of Embodiments

[0025] The device will be made of a plastic casing, designed specifically for each version of the device to achieve maximum results. The casing will hold a proprietary electronic circuit ran by software that will broadcast proprietary audio messages in proprietary intervals for maximum comprehension and persuasive effects.

[0026] The device is composed of a plastic casing designed by our company as seen in FIG.1 to hold an electronic circuit that will produce audio messages through a speaker (3) when the motion sensor (2) is activated.

[0027] The initial home versions of the device will run on alkaline AA, AAA or Volt batteries but future versions may ran on a rechargeable lithium battery or AC for public bathrooms.

[0028] The device can be hung from the wall by the keyhole in the back of the device as seen in F1G.2 or laid on the counter or desk.

[0029] The device may have Bluetooth and/or WIFI capabilities to allow for uploading various prerecorded audio messages and educational instructions from our company app, or those created by the end-user.

[0030] The preset audio messages are designed based on neuroscience research to maximize effective message response. The messages will play audio messages in pre-set male, female adults and children voices in addition to chimes and musical sounds to prompt children or adults to wash their hands.

[0031] The audio messages will pre-programmed to play in random fashion to eliminate or reduce brain tuning out repeated messages, known in psychology as habituation. [0032] Because this device is universally useful, the audio messages will be customized according to each country’s market. Based on the market, messages will be made in one or two languages or dialects including but not limited to English, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Indonesian, French, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Swadesh, German and any another world languages or dialects based on the targeted market.

[0033] Suitable musical chimes, will be chosen based on the cultural background of the market where the device is sold. CleanCat will carry its own signature tune in eveiy device.

Industrial Applicability

[0034] The device maybe used in industrial settings for such as in slaughterhouses, food companies, medical companies, cafeterias, factories, musical concerts, festivals, amusements parks and other gatherings. The messages may not be limited to hand washing but may extend to safety reminders and warnings. .

Claims

Claims:

Claim 1

It is an electronic device playing a variety of audio messages prompting restroom patrons to wash their hands.

Claim 2

The device mentioned above will include appropriate-sized speakers to emit the audio message.

Claim 3

The device mentioned above will include a proximity sensor that will activate the electronic board playing the message. Different sizes of sensors will be used based on the size of bathrooms where the device is used. Small restrooms will require smaller sensors, and larger restrooms require more powerful sensors.

Claim 4

The device will include a specially designed electronic board engineered by the team and the inventor playing pre-recorded verbal messages and musical chimes.

Claim 5

The device will include a set of verbal messages and musical chimes playing pre-recorded messages in different languages with culturally relevant cues.

Claim 6

The device will have different sizes, versions and colors with different power sources including batteries and adapters.