US 11,443,253 B2 · System and method for managing product usage from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in a plurality of service areas, the plurality of service areas each having a plurality of product dispensers, the method comprising:

for each product dispenser, detecting a product level or amount condition of product in the product dispenser with a sensor configured with the product dispenser and a control system in communication with the sensor;
and
aggregating and comparing information from the sensors to generate and transmit a visual or audio message to a patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or different service area.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/999,206Filed 21 Aug 2020 · continuation

Published

US 2020/0380430 A13 Dec 2020

Granted

13 Sep 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06Q 10/06
Administration; Management: resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation…
A47K 10/34
Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper: dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
A47K 10/3625
The cutting devices being motor driven: with electronic control means
G06Q 10/20
Administration; Management: administration of product repair or maintenance

Family

PCT/US2016/039777Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jun 2016

US 2020/0380430 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Dec 2020

Application16/309,984Parent of this continuation

US 10,762,451 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2019/0147375 A1Published application

US 11,443,253 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

System and method for managing product usage from dispensers

Life of this patent

System and method for managing product usage from dispensers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15