# US 11,299,872 B2 · Washroom monitoring system

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- Number: US 11,299,872 B2
- Document ID: US11299872B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/958,254
- Filed: 2018-12-28
- Published: 2020-10-22
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-29
- Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Inventors: Cleary E. Mahaffey; Stephen Becker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299872B2

## CPC

- E03B 7/003: {Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits}
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- E03B 7/072: {Arrangement of flowmeters}
- G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply
- A47K 2010/3668: {Detection of the presence of a user}
- E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES

## Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for a monitoring system including a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, where each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device; a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device, determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement and determine a water flow fault of the one of the water source devices based on the first and second times.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, wherein each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device;
a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and
a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device, determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement, and determine a water flow fault of the one of the water source devices based on a comparison of the first time and the second time.

### Claim 2

A monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of dispensers each configured to be located in a washroom and dispense a respective consumable hygiene product through a dispense cycle, wherein each of the dispensers is associated with a water source device;
a water flow measurement device configured to measure water flow to the water source devices; and
a data processing apparatus configured to receive indications of dispense cycles from the dispensers, to receive a water flow measurement from the water flow measurement device and determine which water source device was active by associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispense cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement, and
wherein associating one of the water source devices with one of the dispensers based on a first time of the dispenser cycle of the one of the dispensers and a second time of the water flow measurement comprises comparing the first time to the second time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of dispensers comprises at least one of a bath tissue dispenser, a paper towel dispenser, and a soap dispenser.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the water source devices comprise a faucet, a urinal and a toilet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The monitoring system of claim 2 comprising determining whether the first and second times are within a specified time range.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The monitoring system of claim 5 comprising in response to determining the first and second times are within the specified time range, determining that the water source device associated with the one of the dispensers was activated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The monitoring system of claim 6 comprising monitoring the water flow for a time period after the first and second times and determining that there is a water flow fault in response to a water flow irregularity during the time period, wherein the water flow fault is with the activated water source device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the water flow fault comprise a water leak.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The monitoring system of claim 7 comprising a secondary water measurement device configured to measure water flow from the water source devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to receive a secondary water flow measurement from the secondary water flow measurement device and determine a secondary water flow fault in response to determining a low or no water flow condition from the activated water source device.