HYGIENE DOLL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PRACTICING HYGIENE THEREOF

Abstract

A hygiene doll apparatus and system for practicing hygiene and the related methods for training or practicing hygiene on a doll apparatus. The doll apparatus comprises a microprocessor and memory, along with multiple sensors, and may comprise audio and/or video capabilities for instructing the user and tracking the use of the doll apparatus for the practice of, or training for, hygiene techniques, mostly for young children or those with mental or physical handicaps, i.e., students.

Claims

1. A hygiene doll apparatus for teaching and practicing proper hygiene, comprising: a. a doll apparatus, said doll apparatus having limbs a torso and a head; b. a microprocessor and a memory, said memory capable of storing a hygiene doll computer program, said hygiene doll computer program comprising steps for teaching proper hygiene, said microprocessor capable of performing the steps of the hygiene doll computer program; c. at least one sensor, said at least one sensor located in one of said limbs, torso or head; d. at least one peripheral device, said at least one peripheral device being located in said doll apparatus; and e. a transmitter/receiver, said transmitter/receiver being located in said doll apparatus and configured to send and receive information pertaining to the practice of proper hygiene on the doll apparatus; wherein when said hygiene doll microprocessor performs the steps of the hygiene doll computer program, a child will be taught to perform proper hygiene on said doll apparatus and when said child performs the required steps, said at least one sensor can determine if said child performed the steps properly, and that information can be transmitted from said doll apparatus through said transmitter/receiver, and wherein the child can be informed about the proper or improper performance through the at least one peripheral device.

2. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 1, wherein said steps for teaching proper hygiene include the steps for washing up, brushing teeth, washing hands after using the bathroom, washing body parts, and bathing.

3. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 1, wherein said steps for teaching proper hygiene include the steps for the proper use of a mask on a face, the proper use of gloves on a hand.

4. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes a contact sensor or a temperature sensors.

5. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device include an input or an output device.

6. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 5, wherein said input device includes a camera, a video camera or a microphone.

7. The hygiene doll apparatus of claim 5, wherein said output device includes a speaker.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a hygiene doll apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a hygiene doll apparatus and system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram for a hygiene doll system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] As stated above, the objective of the present invention is to allow a student or child to perform the steps or lessons for proper hygiene by using a doll apparatus (or multiple dolls) comprising one or more microprocessors, memories, sensors and various other I/O devices, such as microphones and speakers, all connected to a hygiene doll system as described below. The hygiene doll apparatus is configured to interact with the child or student via voice and other signaling prompts to encourage positive feedback and directions. The sessions can be tracked, monitored and recorded in real time or as a playback, to insure proper cleaning and hygiene techniques. The monitoring can be through wired or wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other connectivity.

[0028] For ease of reference in this specification, the term user will refer to the child or student that the present disclosure is intended to teach the hygiene procedures and lessons. Additionally, the term teacher will refer to the parent, guardian or teacher, who is intended to assist the user in learning the proper hygiene procedures, and/or who can access the information recorded, stored and tracked by the hygiene system during use.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a hygiene doll apparatus 10 that allows a child or an adult with mental or physical limitations or handicaps, to practice and train for proper hygiene procedures using the lessons and methods described herein. The hygiene doll apparatus 10 can be made from numerous materials including plastic, rubber and other materials that can be molded or extruded, and may include PET and PVC. The material must allow for installing and securing various solid state and other devices, such as microprocessors, memory devices and sensors.

[0030] Again, although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure combines all of the procedures into a single hygiene doll apparatus, multiple dolls can be used to teach the different hygiene processes. For example, one doll may be used to teach a student or child how to brush one's teeth (and floss and clean the tongue), while another doll may be used to teach how to wash one's face. Each of the dolls can be coupled or connected to the hygiene system as described above, and can be purchased separately and later added to the system for that particular user.

[0031] The lessons to be taught through the use of the hygiene doll apparatus 10 can be through repetitive teaching, storytelling and/or singing songs, and include the proper hygiene upon waking up in the morning (washing up and brushing teeth); prior to eating a meal (washing hands); after eating a meal (brushing teeth); after using the bathroom (washing hands); preparing to go to bed at night (washing body, bathing, brushing teeth), and the proper use of masks (placing on face) and gloves (on and off hands without spreading germs) for protection to prevent the transmission of germs to or from the wearer if they or someone near them sneezes or coughs, among other lessons. Each of these hygiene lessons prepares the child for performing these same procedures on the child him or herself.

[0032] Additionally, the repetitive procedures, stories and/or songs can be personalized to incorporate hygiene procedures as those referenced above, including stories and songs about how far germs travel when sneezing, coughing, singing or just talking, and keeping ones hands and fingers away from the face and certain surfaces. Also, why it is important to keep wounds, scrapes, burns and cuts clean and covered so as to not let them become infected. Along those lines, an explanation of how infections can harm you.

[0033] Using songs and stories the user can learn why it is good to wash your hands before eating and generally keeping your hands out of your mouth. Also, songs and stories can be used to explain why it is good to bath after being outside, and that you should not sit on your bed after being outside in the same clothes.

[0034] The hygiene doll apparatus 10 can be used to explain in a playful way how hygiene can be fun and how one can use different types of soap for example to be creative in the hygiene procedures. And how cleaning one's toys can also help protect yourself and your friends. Additional creativity can be incorporated to explain that the user or child is a personal germ fighting superhero responsible for smashing the germs into smithereens and thereby protecting the planet and ourselves. Finally, the user can be taught how good we look and smell when we are clean.

[0035] The doll apparatus 10 includes at least one and possibly multiple microprocessor(s) 12 and at least one memory 14 to hold various software modules. The doll apparatus 10 further comprises hand sensors 16, foot sensors 18, mouth sensors 20, ear sensors 22, and other sensors as needed for teaching various lessons. The doll apparatus 10 may also comprise a video camera 24 (located in the eyes), a microphone 26 and a speaker 28. Among other elements, the doll apparatus 10 may comprise a transmitter and receiver 30, which allows the doll apparatus to send and receive software, signals and/or data pertaining to the use of the hygiene doll apparatus 10 and other signals and data, and other information as necessary to perform the steps of the present invention and receive and transfer that information either through a wired connection or wirelessly, as described below.

[0036] To the extent a particular doll apparatus 10 only incorporates a few of the functions or procedures, many of the sensors and other components may not be necessary for those procedures, thereby reducing the cost of each doll apparatus 10.

[0037] Separate items such as masks 32 and gloves 34 can be incorporated into the system to teach the user or child about proper placement and location of the mask 32 on the face, and that the gloves 34 are worn properly and importantly, removed without transferring any germs that are on the gloves 34 onto the user's hands. These items 32, 34 and others can also be used in conjunction with the hand sensors 16 and mouth sensors 20 to ensure that the gloves 34 and mask 32, respectively are properly utilized.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the doll apparatus 10 connected to a computer 40 or a cellular telephone 42 (or both) to implement the steps of the present invention. The hygiene doll apparatus 10 can be connected through a cable 44 to the computer 40, or the doll 10 can send and receive Bluetooth or other wireless signals 46 to or from a cell phone 42 or the computer 40 or other similar access point, such as a Wi-Fi receiver/transmitter. The doll apparatus 10 can send information to the computer 40 or cell phone 42 so that the teacher or parent can monitor the child as the steps are performed for each lesson by using the sensors 16, 18, 20, 22, the video camera 24 and/or the microphone 26. The doll apparatus 10 can receive signals and information from different access points in order to be updated to the latest software versions or to provide communications, for example through the speakers 28. All of these transmissions are performed through the transmitter/receiver 30 located on the hygiene doll apparatus 10.

[0039] For example, if the lesson to be performed includes brushing the doll's 10 teeth (not shown), when the child properly brushes the back of the teeth (molars), the mouth sensors 20 will register the proper procedure and send a signal 46 to the teacher, possibly through the cell phone application. If instead, the child does not properly brush the back teeth, the signal will not be sent and the teacher can then instruct the child to “try again, this time brush the back teeth.” The instruction can come from the teacher standing there, or the instruction can be administered verbally through the speaker 28. Further, if the teacher or parent is not standing next to the child performing the lesson, the video camera(s) 24 can record the child's actions for viewing concurrently therewith or at a later time.

[0040] As described above, temperature sensors can also be included so that the hygiene doll will respond if the temperature is too cold by shivering, or too warm by crying or stating that the water is too warm. Other sensors can be located throughout the body of the doll for numerous lessons, such as cleaning the neck, armpits and proper wiping techniques (front to back) for when one has a bowel movement or urinates, or cleaning in those areas (private areas). In situations where time is important, for example, taking twenty seconds or longer to wash hands, music or a song can play during that time so that the child can take that much time to wash the hands, etc.

[0041] The numerous sensors 16, 18, 20, 22, and others, located in the proper places will allow the system to be able to determine when the proper steps are being performed. The peripheral I/O devices 24, 26, 28 allow real time viewing and interaction with the child as the lessons are performed, or a recording of the lesson for monitoring, reporting and replaying later.

[0042] For example, during the bedtime lesson, if the child forgets to clean behind the ears. The sensor placed behind the ears 22 can determine that the child attempting to practice proper hygiene forgot to wash behind the ears. Later, the parent can review the video with the child and explain the steps that were missed. Other sensors can be located throughout the doll apparatus for various lessons.

[0043] Additionally, the behind the ears sensors 22 may also be used to ensure that the mask 32 is properly placed on the face and properly behind the ears. As such, sensors can be used for multiple functions and can be used in conjunction with other sensors depending on the procedure to be taught or learned.

[0044] As described, these devices 10 allow the teacher or parent to listen using the microphone 26 and watch using the camera 24, or track the child during the process, and instruct the child using the speakers 28 when the procedures are not done properly, or congratulate the child when the correct procedures are followed. This correction/congratulations can also be done automatically using the microprocessor 12 and software code.

[0045] As described herein, the doll apparatus 10 can be connected to a hygiene doll system 60, either through a cable 44 or wirelessly 46, which can monitor and track the training steps for review, or allow a teacher or parent to watch or monitor the child for accuracy as the student performs the hygiene lessons. The hygiene doll system 60 may also be connected to the Internet 52 through a connection 48 from the computer 40, or through a cellular network (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC or another wireless connection protocol) 44 that also can connect the cell phone 42 or other devices. The Internet 52 can then collected data from the various uses and lessons and compare that data to other hygiene doll 10 usage by that same user or from other users.

[0046] Other techniques can be incorporated into the hygiene doll apparatus 10, including the use of RFID tags, QR codes, and other system components as understood by one having ordinary skill in the art.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary hygiene doll system 60 functional block diagram or network architecture that may be used to implement the system and methods according to the present invention. The structural elements of the system, as described below, may be an integral part of the hygiene doll apparatus 10 as described above, including the microprocessor 12, memory 14, sensors 16, 18, 20, 22, camera 24, microphone 26, speakers 28 and transmitter/receiver 30. Alternatively, the hygiene doll system 60 described below may be incorporated as a separate component connected to the hygiene doll apparatus 10, either wired or wirelessly through one or more of the many different communication channels described herein. If the hygiene doll system 60 incorporates separate components, the hygiene doll apparatus 10 may not need all of the various elements described herein, as they may be duplicative of the same elements located in the separate component. For reference purposes and to ease understanding, the hygiene doll system 60 is described with different numerals for some of the same elements.

[0048] One or more hygiene doll systems 60 may carry out the methods presented herein as computer code allowing the hygiene doll apparatus 10 to interact with the child or student via voice prompts or other signaling prompts. One or more processors, such as processor 62, which may be different from the microprocessor 12 in the hygiene doll apparatus 10, may be a special purpose or a general-purpose processor and is connected to a bus 64. As shown in FIG. 3, bus 62 connects the processor 60 to various other components of the hygiene doll system 60, but it is contemplated bus 64 may connect processor 62 to components (not shown), such as sensors and servomechanisms. It is also contemplated that bus 64 connects the processor 62 to other hygiene doll systems. The processor 62 can receive computer code including updates using the bus 64. The term “computer code” includes, for example, programs, instructions, signals and/or data. The processor 62 can execute the computer code and may further send the computer code via the bus 64.

[0049] The hygiene doll system 60 may include one or more memories, such as a first memory 66 and second memory 68. It is contemplated that the first memory 66, secondary memory 68, or a combination thereof, function as a computer usable storage

Medium, to store and/or access the computer code. The first memory 66 and second memory 68 may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or any combination thereof.

[0050] As also shown in FIG. 3, one embodiment of second memory 68 is a mass storage device 70, although it is contemplated that first memory 66 may be the mass storage device. The mass storage device 70 comprises a storage drive 72 and a storage media 74. It is contemplated that the storage media 74 may or may not be removable from the storage drive 72. Mass storage devices 70 with storage media 74 that are removable, otherwise referred to as removable storage media 74, allow computer code to be transferred to and/or from the hygiene doll system 60.

[0051] A mass storage device 70 may include, for example, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (“CDROM”), ZIP storage device, tape storage device, magnetic storage device, optical storage device, Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”), nanotechnological storage device, floppy storage device, or a hard disk device, among others, or a combination of these devices. Mass storage device 70 also includes program cartridges and cartridge interfaces (such as that found in video game devices), removable memory chips (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and associated sockets.

[0052] The hygiene doll system 60 may further or alternatively include other means for computer code to be loaded into or removed from the hygiene doll system 60, for example, Input/output (“I/O”) interface 76 and/or communications interface 78. Both the I/O interface 76 and the communications interface 78 allow computer code to be transferred between the hygiene doll system 60 and external devices including other hygiene doll systems 60. As with the other transfers, this transfer may be bi-directional or omni-directional to or from the hygiene doll system 60.

[0053] Computer code transferred by the I/O interface 76 and the communications interface 78 are typically in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being sent and/or received by the interfaces 76, 78. These signals may be transmitted via a variety of modes including, but not limited to, wire or cable, fiber optics, phone line, a cellular phone link, infrared (“IR”), and radio frequency (“RF”) links.

[0054] The I/O interface 76 may be any connection, wired or wireless, that allows the transfer of computer code. An I/O interface 76 includes, for example, an analog or digital audio connection, digital video interface (“DVI”), video graphics adapter (“VGA”), musical instrument digital interface (“MIDI”), HDMI, parallel connection, PS/2 connection, serial connection, universal serial bus connection (“USB”), IEEE1394 connection, PCMCIA slot and card. In certain embodiments, the I/O interface 76 connects to an I/O unit 80, such as a user interface, monitor, speaker, printer, touch screen display, among others.

[0055] The communications interface 78 is also any connection that allows the transfer of computer code. Communication interfaces 78 include, but are not limited to, a modem, network interface (such as an Ethernet card), wired or wireless systems (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR), local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, among others.

[0056] The invention is also directed to computer products, otherwise referred to as computer program products, to provide software that includes computer code to the hygiene doll system 60. Processor 62 executes the computer code in order to implement the methods of the present invention. As an example, the methods according to the present invention may be implemented using software that includes the computer code, wherein the software is loaded into the hygiene doll system 60 using a memory 66, 68 such as the mass storage drive 70, or through an I/O interface 76, communications interface 78, or any other interface with the hygiene doll system 60.

[0057] The computer code in conjunction with the hygiene doll system 60 described herein may perform any one of, or any combination of, the steps of any of the methods presented herein. It is also contemplated that the methods according to the present invention may be performed automatically, or may be invoked by some form of manual intervention.

[0058] The network architecture or functional block diagram of FIG. 3 of the hygiene doll system 60 is provided only for purposes of illustration, such that the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment. It is appreciated that a person skilled in the relevant art knows how to program and implement the invention using any hygiene doll system 60 or network architecture.

[0059] The disclosure embodies a hygiene doll apparatus 10 that allows for a child or adult with mental or physical limitations to practice proper hygiene. As a non-limiting example, if an adult doll apparatus 10 was used instead of the child doll 10 shown, the disclosure would still apply and the scope of the disclosure would cover that alternative.

[0060] As such, while the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have herein been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined herein.