MEDICAL PRODUCTS STORAGE DEVICE WITH VIEWING WINDOW HAVING VARIABLE OPACITY

• US 20140265759A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helmer Scientific LLC (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Helmer, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: CLOYD, Stephen T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,574,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/209
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 67/02 Cabinets for shaving tackle, medicines, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices

Abstract

A medical products storage device, such as a refrigerator, includes a door having a viewing window. The window has a variable opacity so that the viewing window may be transparent or opaque, depending on conditions of the medical products storage device. Light emitting diodes embedded in the viewing window are used to indicate an alarm condition.

Claims

1. A medical products storage device comprising

a refrigeration system,

a cabinet defining a storage space, and

a door coupled to the cabinet, the door movable between a first position allowing access to the storage space and a second position, the door including a window having a glass comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, the glass being opaque when the liquid crystal molecules are deenergized and transparent when the liquid crystal molecules are energized.

2. The medical products storage device of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to the glass, the light emitting diodes operable to vary between an energized state in which the light emitting diodes emit light and a deenergized state in which the light emitting diodes to not emit light.

3. The medical products storage device of claim 2, wherein the light emitting diodes are selectively energized to indicate, a status of the operation of the medical products storage device.

4. The medical products storage device of claim 3, wherein the medical products storage device further comprises a controller, the controller operable to selectively energize the liquid crystal molecules in the glass.

5. The medical products storage device of claim 4, wherein the controller is operable to selectively energize the light emitting diodes.

6. The medical products storage device of claim 5, wherein the medical products storage device further comprises a user interface, the user interface operable to determine an authorization level of the user.

7. The medical products storage device of claim 6, wherein the controller is operable to energized the liquid crystal molecules in the glass if the authorization level of a user qualifies the user to view the products in the storage space.

8. The medical products storage device of claim 5, wherein the controller illuminates at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes in response to an alarm condition detected by the controller.

9. The medical products storage device of claim 8, wherein the controller illuminates a plurality of light emitting diodes in response to an alarm condition detected by the controller.

10. The medical products storage device of claim 1, wherein the medical products storage device further comprises a user interface, the user interface operable to determine an authorization level of the user.

11. The medical products storage device of claim 10, wherein the liquid crystal molecules in the glass are energized if the authorization level of a user qualifies the user to view the products in the storage space.