Mobile safety compliance apparatus

• US 20010052681A1
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sector 10 Holding, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sector 10 Holding, Inc.
• Inventors: Deavila, Pericles
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/47.19
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 1/02 Portable toilet tables; Wash cabinets or stands for automobiles B60R; for railway cars B61D; for ships B63B; for aircraft B64D; connected to waste pipe E03C
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/10 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape

Abstract

A mobile safety compliance apparatus comprising a shell with a plurality of open compartments closed by doors, a self-contained water supply system and a waste water collection system. The water supply system provides drinking water, tepid hand washing water, and water for a stowable eyewash hingedly attached to the shell. The waste water collection system collects water from the eyewash and a sink mounted in a recessed area of the shell. Doors are removable and have features to facilitate alternative uses such as a stretcher or a freestanding table. A stowable seat and table are hingedly attached to the shell. The apparatus includes an electrical system with battery backup for powering lights, water heating and refrigeration devices, and electronic communication equipment that may be mounted on the shell. The apparatus includes wheels to facilitate its movement and anchor points to secure it to the ground.

Claims

1. A mobile safety compliance apparatus comprising:

a shell having a base, a top, a plurality of substantially vertical walls between the base and the top, and a plurality of substantially horizontal walls connected to the vertical walls to form a plurality of open compartments;

a plurality of doors hingedly attached to the shell, the doors being arranged to close the compartments when closed and to provide access to the compartments when open;

a water supply system including at least one water supply tank removably stored in one of the compartments and apparatus connected to the water supply tank to dispense water contained therein; and

a waste water collection system including at least one waste water collection tank stored in one of the compartments and tubing connected to the water collection tank to convey waste water to it.

2. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the shell is made of plastic material and the vertical and horizontal walls are integrally molded as a single apparatus.

3. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the compartments have removable dividers.

4. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the doors have window portions.

5. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a pair of ground-engaging wheels attached to the shell at the base in spaced parallel arrangement to one side of the shell, the pair of wheels allowing the apparatus to be tipped onto the wheels to facilitate moving it.

6. The apparatus of

claim 5

, wherein the base of the shell includes at least one ground-engaging flange at a side of the base opposite the pair of ground engaging wheels, the flange having an aperture which allows for securing the flange to the ground.

7. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a spaced pair of ground-engaging casters disposed below the base of the shell and approximately centered under the shell so that the apparatus is slightly elevated above the ground when it is balanced on the casters, thereby facilitating moving the apparatus along the ground on the casters.

8. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a lifting provision at the top of the shell for attaching a lifting device to lift the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the lifting provision includes a suspension rod extending through the top and the base, a support member disposed underneath the base and engaging the rod, and an eyelet engaging the rod at the top such that when the apparatus is lifted by eyelet, weight of the apparatus is supported by support member.

10. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein one of the vertical walls has an outer surface with a transparent sheet removably attached to a portion of it such that printed material can be displayed on the outer surface and the transparent sheet provides a weather resistant cover for the printed material.

11. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a substantially flat table portion pivotally attached to the shell such that the table portion has a stowed position against the shell and a deployed position whereat it is pivoted away from the shell to a substantially horizontal position.

12. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a seat portion pivotally attached to the shell such that the seat has a stowed position against the shell and a deployed position whereat it is pivoted away from the shell to a substantially horizontal position.

13. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein at least one door is removable and has a plurality of handles attached and positioned such that the door can be used as a stretcher to carry a sick or injured person.

14. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein at least one door is removable and has provisions for connecting support legs to it so that the door can be used as a table.

15. The apparatus of

claim 14

, wherein the door includes a movable portion that is deployed to increase area when the door is used as a table.

16. The apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein the movable portion is hingedly attached to the door, and the door further includes a plurality of extensible slats that are stored in the door and are partially extended to support the movable portion.

17. The apparatus of

claim 14

, further comprising a plurality of removable support legs attached to the door when it is removed, thereby supporting the door in a generally horizontal position for use as a table.

18. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising an eyewash attached to the shell, the eyewash receiving water from the water supply system, dispensing the water, collecting the water dispensed and directing it to the waste water collection system.

19. The apparatus of

claim 18

, wherein the eyewash is pivotable between a stowed position against the shell and a deployed position extending outward from shell.

20. The apparatus of

claim 18

, wherein the eyewash is positioned lower than its source of water and water flows to the eyewash by force of gravity.

21. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a heating device to heat a portion of water contained in the water supply system.

22. The apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein the water supply system includes a washing supply tank that supplies water for hand washing, and the heating device is installed in the washing supply tank.

23. The apparatus of

claim 21

wherein the heating device receives water from the water supply system, heats it to produce heated water at a first temperature, then mixes it with unheated water from the water supply system to provide heated water at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

24. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the shell has a first recessed area with a sink for collecting waste water, the sink being in fluid communication with the tubing of the waste water collection system to convey water collected by the sink into the waste water system.

25. The apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the water supply system includes a washing supply tank that supplies water for hand washing, the washing supply tank being lower than the sink, and further comprising a water dispensing tube located above the sink and a water pump disposed between the washing supply tank and the water dispensing tube, the water pump being in fluid communication with the washing supply tank to pump water from it when activated.

26. The apparatus of

claim 25

, wherein the water pump is mounted in the base of the shell.

27. The apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the water supply system includes a drinking water supply tank and a drinking water spigot.

28. The apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein the drinking water supply tank is positioned higher than the drinking water spigot so that drinking water flows to the spigot by force of gravity.

29. The apparatus of

claim 28

, further comprising a refrigeration unit disposed between the drinking water supply tank and the drinking water spigot to chill drinking water.

30. The apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a soap dispenser, a cup dispenser, an eyeglass cleaner dispenser, and a tissue dispenser all attached to the shell in the recessed area.

31. The apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the shell has a second recessed area disposed below the first recessed area, the second recessed area containing a waste collection container.

32. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising an electrical system including a power supply that can be connected to an external power source, and a storage battery for supplying temporary power to the electrical system.

33. The apparatus of

claim 32

, wherein the electrical system includes at least one light for lighting an area around the apparatus.

34. The apparatus of

claim 32

, wherein the electrical system includes a warning light to attract attention.

35. The apparatus of

claim 32

, further comprising electronic communications equipment mounted on the shell and connected to the electrical system.

36. The apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a first aid kit mounted to the shell in one of the compartments.

37. A mobile safety compliance apparatus comprising:

a shell having a base, a top, a plurality of substantially vertical walls between the base and the top, and a plurality of substantially horizontal walls connected to the vertical walls to form a plurality of open compartments;

a plurality of doors hingedly attached to the shell, the doors being arranged to close the compartments when closed and to provide access to the compartments when open;

ground-engaging wheels attached to the shell at the base;

a lifting provision at the top of the shell for attaching a lifting device to lift the apparatus;

a water supply system including at least one water supply tank in one of the compartments and apparatus connected to the water supply tank to dispense water contained therein;

a waste water collection system including at least one waste water collection tank in one of the compartments and tubing connected to the water collection tank to convey waste water to it; and

a sink connected to the shell, the sink being in fluid communication with the tubing of the waste water collection system to convey water collected by the sink into the waste water system.

38. A mobile safety compliance apparatus comprising:

a plastic shell having a plurality of substantially vertical walls and substantially horizontal walls integrally molded to form a plurality of open compartments;

a plurality of doors hingedly attached to the shell, the doors being arranged to close the compartments when closed and to provide access to the compartments when open, at least one door being removable with provisions for alternative uses;

a water supply system including at least one water supply tank removably stored in one of the compartments and apparatus connected to the water supply tank to dispense water contained therein; and

a waste water collection system including at least one waste water collection tank stored in one of the compartments and tubing connected to the water collection tank to convey waste water to it; and

an eyewash attached to the shell, the eyewash receiving water from the water supply system, dispensing the water, collecting the water dispensed and directing it to the waste water collection system.

39. A mobile safety compliance apparatus comprising:

a shell having a plurality of open compartments;

a plurality of doors hingedly attached to the shell, the doors being arranged to close the compartments when closed and to provide access to the compartments when open;

a water supply system connected to the shell and including at least one water storage tank and apparatus to dispense water contained therein;

a waste water collection system including at least one waste water collection tank and tubing connected to the waste water collection tank to convey waste water to it;

an eyewash attached to the shell, the eyewash receiving water from the water supply system;

a sink connected to the shell, the sink being in fluid communication with the tubing of the waste water collection system to convey water collected by the sink into the waste water system;

a heating device to heat a portion of water in the water supply system; and

electric lights attached to the shell for lighting an area around the shell.

40. A method of supplying equipment and materials to meet regulatory requirements for safety and health, comprising the steps of:

producing a mobile apparatus having closeable compartments, a self-contained water supply system, and a waste water collection system; and

storing equipment and materials required to meet the regulatory requirements on or in the apparatus.

41. The method of

claim 40

, further comprising the steps of:

putting water in the water supply system; and

heating at least a portion of the water in the water supply system.