Hand washing station

1 . A hand washing station comprising:

a support structure configured for mounting in a place of use;

a water heater comprising a water tank and a heating element configured to heat water contained in the water tank, the water tank having an inlet conduit connected to a water source and an outlet conduit, wherein the water heater is engaged with the support structure;

a plurality of water outlets connected to the outlet conduit and configured to receive the water from the water heater through the outlet conduit, wherein the plurality of water outlets are supported by the support structure; and

a plurality of valves in fluid communication with the water heater and connected to the outlet conduit, wherein the plurality of valves are configured and positioned to selectively permit the water to pass from the water tank and through one or more of the plurality of water outlets to dispense the water.

2 . The hand washing station of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators corresponding to one of the plurality of water outlets, wherein the plurality of actuators are in operably connected to the plurality of valves such that activation of each of the plurality of actuators is configured to actuate one or more of the plurality of valves to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the one of the plurality of water outlets corresponding to the actuator.

3 . The hand washing station of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of actuators comprise a first actuator corresponding to a first water outlet of the plurality of water outlets, the first water outlet being in fluid communication with the outlet conduit by a first branch conduit having a first valve of the plurality of valves, wherein the first actuator is configured to actuate the plurality of valves to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the first water outlet by opening the first valve.

4 . The hand washing station of claim 2 , wherein the water heater is configured to heat the water in the water tank to a desired temperature after receiving an activation indication based on actuation of at least one of the plurality of actuators, and wherein the water heater is configured to maintain the water in the water tank at a set temperature below the desired temperature and to heat the water from the set temperature to the desired temperature after receiving the activation indication and before the water is dispensed.

5 . The hand washing station of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of actuators comprise a first actuator corresponding to a first water outlet of the plurality of water outlets, wherein the first actuator is configured to actuate the plurality of valves to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the first water outlet by closing one or more of the plurality of valves to prevent water flow through other water outlets of the plurality of water outlets.

6 . The hand washing station of claim 2 , further comprising an inlet valve located on the inlet conduit, wherein the activation of each of the plurality of actuators is configured to open the inlet valve to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the one of the plurality of water outlets corresponding to the actuator.

7 . The hand washing station of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a lower shelf supporting one or more basins, an upper shelf supporting the plurality of water outlets above the one or more basins, and a base connected to the lower shelf and the upper shelf, wherein the water tank is located within the base.

8 . The hand washing station of claim 7 , further comprising a soap dispenser and a hand dryer engaged with the support structure.

9 . The hand washing station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a computer device connected to the water heater, the computer device programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of the computer device to perform:

monitoring a temperature of the water in the water tank;

determining a conductivity of the water in the water tank; and

controlling the water heater to maintain the temperature of the water in the water tank based on the conductivity of the water.

10 . The hand washing station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a computer device connected to the water heater, the computer device programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of the computer device to perform:

monitoring a temperature of the water in the water tank;

calculating a set temperature that is below a desired temperature of the water in the water tank, such that the water can be heated from the set temperature to the desired temperature in a threshold time period; and

controlling the water heater to maintain the temperature of the water in the water tank at the set temperature and to heat the temperature of the water to the desired temperature prior to dispensing of the water from one or more of the plurality of water outlets.

11 . A hand washing station comprising:

a water heater comprising a water tank and a heating element configured to heat water contained in the water tank, the water tank having an inlet conduit connected to a water source and an outlet conduit;

a plurality of water outlets connected to the outlet conduit and configured to receive the water from the water heater through the outlet conduit;

a plurality of valves in fluid communication with the water heater and connected to the outlet conduit, wherein the plurality of valves are configured and positioned to selectively permit the water to pass from the water tank and through one or more of the plurality of water outlets to dispense the water;

a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators corresponding to one of the plurality of water outlets, wherein each of the plurality of actuators is configured for receiving user input and for generating an activation indication in response to the user input; and

a computer device connected to the plurality of valves, the computer device programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of the computer device to perform:

receiving the activation indication from a first actuator of the plurality of actuators, the first actuator corresponding to a first water outlet of the plurality of water outlets; and

actuating one or more of the plurality of valves, in response to receiving the activation indication, to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the first water outlet.

12 . The hand washing station of claim 11 , wherein the computer device is configured for keeping the plurality of valves closed until the activation indication is received, and opening a first valve of the plurality of valves associated with the first water outlet in response to receiving the activation indication, to permit the water to pass from the water tank through the first water outlet.

13 . The hand washing station of claim 11 , wherein the computer device is configured for keeping the plurality of valves open until the activation indication is received, and, in response to receiving the activation indication, leaving open a first valve of the plurality of valves associated with the first water outlet, to permit the water from the water tank to pass through the first water outlet, and closing at least some of the plurality of valves other than the first valve as necessary to avoid the water from being forced through other water outlets of the plurality of water outlets.

14 . A hand washing station comprising:

a water heater comprising a water tank and a heating element configured to heat water contained in the water tank, the water tank having an inlet conduit connected to a water source and an outlet conduit;

a water outlet connected to the outlet conduit and configured to receive the water from the water heater through the outlet conduit;

a valve in fluid communication with the water heater and configured to selectively permit the water to pass from the water tank and through the water outlet to dispense the water; and

a hand dryer configured for blowing heated air through a dryer output, the hand dryer having a heat exchanger engaged with a portion of the hand dryer and the inlet conduit, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat from the hand dryer and to deliver the heat to the inlet conduit to heat water in the inlet conduit.

15 . The hand washing station of claim 14 , further comprising a support structure having a lower shelf supporting a basin, an upper shelf supporting the water outlet and the hand dryer output above the basin, and a base connected to the upper shelf and the lower shelf, wherein the heat exchanger and the portion of the hand dryer are at least partially contained within the base.

16 . The hand washing station of claim 15 , wherein the water heater and the hand dryer are at least partially contained within the base.

17 . The hand washing station of claim 14 , wherein the hand dryer further comprises a blower motor and an air conduit extending from the blower motor to the dryer output and configured to transport the heated air from the blower motor to the dryer output, and wherein the heat exchanger is engaged with the air conduit to absorb the heat from the heated air in the air conduit.

18 . The hand washing station of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the inlet conduit runs through the air conduit to form the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that the water in the inlet conduit passes through the portion of the inlet conduit to absorb the heat from the heated air in the air conduit.

19 . The hand washing station of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coil that runs around a periphery of the air conduit, wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that the water in the inlet conduit passes through the coil to absorb the heat from the heated air in the air conduit.

20 . The hand washing station of claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream from the valve and upstream from the water heater.