Non-applicable.
The present invention relates generally to a clothes hamper having a sensor and more specifically to a clothes hamper having a motion sensor.
In recent society, there has been a trend toward increased sanitization of everyday objects and surfaces one tends to come in contact with. This trend is evidenced by a quick trip to one's local store where one will find the shelves lined with antibacterial soap, hand lotion sanitizer, anti-bacterial surface cleaner, HEPA air filtration systems and the like.
At the same time, pandemics such as COVID-19 have made us aware that viruses can remain alive on items and surfaces waiting to infect us with just a simple touch. Such precautions are especially warranted in location such as hospitals, nursing homes, and hotels where people are present for long periods of times. Linens such as bed sheets, towels, dirty clothes, and the like must be collected and washed. Such items are collected in stored in multi-compartment hampers with individual lids. As such lids are accessed and opened, they form one more common surface which can harbor germs, bacteria, and viruses such as COVID-19 which is then passed on to others who use the hamper or to other linens that should brush up against the lid. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the commonly touched surface of a hamper lid can be eliminated as a possible contagion transfer surface. The development of the segmented hamper with motion activated lids fulfills this need.
To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for a segmented hamper, having, a frame having a plurality of containers, a lid disposed on an upper top edge of each of the containers, a rear of each of the lids include a hinge pivot upon which an electrically operated closure mechanism is mounted and the lid is lifted upward along a travel path, and each of the containers having one of the electrically operated closure mechanisms, a plurality of casters supporting the frame to allow for mobility in a location, a control panel adapted to be mounted on an upper front of the frame to provide visual access to an approaching user, a user-replaceable battery disposed within the control panel, and a microcontroller routing the electrical power from the user-replaceable battery. the user-replaceable battery electrically powering the segmented hamper.
The frame may be made of steel. The frame may be made of heavy-duty impact rated plastic. The containers may include 4 containers. The containers may be a plurality of textile-based bags. The container may be color-coded to indicate its functionality to eliminate touching the lid. The control panel may be activated, the electrically operated closure mechanism may move the lids along the travel path. The control panel may include an open switch, a close switch, a battery compartment, and a proximity detector. The open switch and the close switch may be a pushbutton. The proximity detector may result in opening the lids as the approaching user approaches the segmented hamper. The proximity detector, the user-replaceable battery, the microcontroller, the open switch, and the close switch may be disposed on the control panel. The proximity detector, the open switch, and the close switch may input a plurality of signals to the microcontroller. The open switch and the close switch may override the proximity detector when the proximity detector does not properly detect the approaching user or close the lids to override the predetermined time delay by the microcontroller. The approaching user may remain in front of the segmented hamper as long as the approaching user remains in front of the segmented hamper and the lids will remain open. The lids may close after a predetermined time delay when the approaching user walks away from the segmented hamper. The predetermined time delay may be 10 seconds. The proximity detector may be selected from the group consisting of an infrared proximity detector, an ultrasonic proximity detector, a capacitive proximity detector, or an optical proximity detector. The segmented hamper also may have a plurality of wiring run from each of the electrically operated closure mechanism to the control panel. The microcontroller may be selected from the group consisting of a single board computer microcontroller, an Arduino microcontroller, or a Raspberry Pi microcontroller. The microcontroller and its output may be directed to a series of bi-directional motors that allow a polarity to be revered by the microcontroller to allow for selective opening or closing through the electrically operated closure mechanism.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the hamper 10 would be constructed in general accordance with
After procurement and prior to utilization, the hamper 10 would be prepared in the following manner: a battery 80 would be placed within the battery compartment 55, the multiple containers 20 would be installed in the frame 15; color-coded as necessary; and the hamper 10 placed in an appropriate location such as a hallway, laundry room, utility space or the like. At this point in time, the hamper 10 is ready for use.
During utilization of the hamper 10, the following procedure would be initiated: the user would approach the hamper 10 with a load of soiled linens, laundry, clothing, trash, or similar materials; the proximity detector 60 would detect the approaching user and send the appropriate signal to the microcontroller 85; the microcontroller 85 in turns sends an output signal to the multiple bi-directional motors 90 in the closure mechanism 70, thus opening any and all lids 25; the user then deposits the trash or soiled items. The user would then walk away. After the proximity detector 60 no longer produces an input signal for the microcontroller 85, the microcontroller 85 will initiate a time delay; at the conclusion of the time delay, the microcontroller 85 will issue a reverse polarity signal to the bi-directional motors 90, enabling them to close. The open switch 45 and the close switch 50 may be activated at any time to initiate opening or closing of the lids 25 regardless of the operation of the proximity detector 60 or the time delay.
After use of the hamper 10, it is ready for repeated use as aforementioned described or emptying of the contained soiled items or trash in a repeating and cyclical manner.
The features of the hamper 10 provides the following advantages over conventional hamper systems: it is touchless, durable, easy to move, convenient, time saving, and reduces the tendency to transfer germs, bacteria, viruses, and other contagions.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
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WO-9216414 | Oct 1992 | WO |