Health care kiosk with handicapped accessible seat

• US 6,428,124 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computerized Screening Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Computerized Screening Incorporated
• Inventors: Bryan, Raymond G., Bluth, James, Bluth, Charles, Lovell, Jim C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHI Q
• Application Number:
  US09/549,972
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/217.2, 297/143, 312/194, 312/235.3, 312/235.2, 312/235.9, 312/294, 312/223.1, 312/223.3, 312/7.2, 312/211, 312/234
• US Class Current: 312/194
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02208 using the Korotkoff method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices

Abstract

A health care test kiosk includes a carrel body that supports a console housing and has a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing. The carrel body includes a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space. A physiological test interface is connected to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel. A retractable seat is movably connected to the support side panel of the carrel body for selective positioning in a location ranging from withdrawn into the knee-space beneath the console housing to extended completely from the knee-space.

Claims

1. A health care test kiosk comprising:

a carrel body supporting a console housing and having a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing, the carrel body including a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space;

a physiological test interface coupled to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel; and

a retractable seat that is movably coupled to the support side panel of the carrel body for selective positioning in a location ranging from withdrawn into the knee-space beneath the console housing to extended completely from the knee-space.

2. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a seat track coupled to the support side panel and extending along a horizontal line from an inner end in the knee-space beneath the console housing to an outer end extended out from the knee-space.

3. A health care kiosk according to claim 2 wherein:

the seat track is an elongated bar having a C-shaped cross-sectional form, the seat including one or more elements having a T-shaped cross-sectional form that fits and is restrainable within the C-shaped cross-sectional form of the seat track.

4. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a seat lock coupled to and positioned at a locking location on the support side panel; and

a lock handle coupled to the seat, the lock handle for actuation by a user to engage and disengage with the seat lock.

5. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the physiological test interface is moveable and positionable to permit acquisition of physiological data from different sized users.

6. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the physiological test interface includes a blood pressure test cuff and is movably and positionably attached to the support side panel at a pivot point to permit acquisition of physiological data from different sized users.

7. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein the seat includes:

a top seat panel supported on a support side by a moveable connection to a seat track coupled to the support side panel, and supported on an entry side by a fixedly attached seat support.

8. A health care kiosk according to claim 7 wherein:

the top seat panel is a planar panel in a generally rectangular form except with corners rounded on the entry side.

9. A health care kiosk according to claim 7 wherein:

the top seat panel has a contoured top surface.

10. A health care kiosk according to claim 7 wherein the seat support includes:

a side seat support; and

a front seat support, the front and side seat supports being fixedly attached at an angle that supports the top seat panel in two dimensions, the top surfaces of the seat support adjoining in a single plane and being fastened to the top seat panel.

11. A health care kiosk according to claim 7 wherein:

the seat is removably and retractably attached to the support side panel of the carrel body by a moveable connector that is affixed to the top seat panel and movably connects to the seat track.

12. A health care kiosk according to claim 7 wherein:

the seat is a size that fits completely within the cavity beneath the console housing when the seat is in a withdrawn position.

13. A retractable seat assembly for use in a health care test kiosk that includes a carrel body supporting a console housing and having a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing, the carrel body including a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space, the health care test kiosk further including a physiological test interface coupled to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel, the retractable seat assembly comprising:

a retractable seat; and

a connector fixedly coupled to the retractable seat and capable of moveable coupling to the support side panel of the carrel body for selective positioning in a location ranging from withdrawn into the knee-space beneath the console housing to extended completely from the knee-space.

14. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 13 wherein:

the connector is capable of moveable coupling to a seat track coupled to the support side panel and extending along a horizontal line from an inner end in the knee-space beneath the console housing to an outer end extended out from the knee-space;

the seat track is an elongated bar having a C-shaped cross-sectional form; and

the retractable seat includes one or more elements having a T-shaped cross-sectional form that fits and is restrainable within the C-shaped cross-sectional form of the seat track.

15. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 13 wherein the carrel body further includes a seat lock coupled to and positioned at a locking location on the support side panel, the retractable seat assembly further comprising:

a lock handle coupled to the seat, the lock handle for actuation by a user to engage and disengage with the seat lock.

16. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 13 wherein the retractable seat includes:

a top seat panel supported on a support side by a moveable connection to a seat track coupled to the support side panel, and supported on an entry side by a fixedly attached seat support.

17. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 16 wherein:

the top seat panel is a planar panel in a generally rectangular form except with corners rounded on the entry side.

18. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 16 wherein:

the top seat panel has a contoured top surface.

19. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 16 wherein the seat support includes:

a side seat support; and

a front seat support, the front and side seat supports being fixedly attached at an angle that supports the top seat panel in two dimensions, the top surfaces of the seat support adjoining in a single plane and being fastened to the top seat panel.

20. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 16 wherein:

the seat is removably and retractably attached to the support side panel of the carrel body by a moveable connector that is affixed to the top seat panel and movably connects to the seat track.

21. A retractable seat assembly according to claim 16 wherein:

the seat is a size that fits completely within the cavity beneath the console housing when the seat is in a withdrawn position.

22. A method of fabricating a health care test kiosk comprising:

forming a carrel body supporting a console housing and having a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing;

attaching a support side panel as a side of the carrel body, the support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space;

attaching a physiological test interface to the carrel body on the support side panel; and

movably coupling a retractable seat to the support side panel of the carrel body for selective positioning in a location ranging from withdrawn into the knee-space beneath the console housing to extended completely from the knee-space.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

fixedly attaching a seat track to the support side panel and extending along a horizontal line from an inner end in the knee-space beneath the console housing to an outer end extended out from the knee-space, the seat track being an elongated bar having a C-shaped cross-sectional form;

fixedly attaching one or more elements having a T-shaped cross-sectional form to the seat; and

inserting and restraining the one or more elements into the C-shaped cross-sectional form of the seat track.

24. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

positioning a seat lock at a locking location on the support side panel;

attaching the seat lock to the support side panel at the position;

attaching a lock handle to the seat; and

actuating the lock handle to engage and disengage with the seat lock.

25. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

movably and positionably attaching the physiological test interface to the support side panel at a pivot point; and

pivoting the physiological test interface to permit acquisition of physiological data from different sized users.

26. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

fixedly attaching a seat support to a top seat panel;

movably connecting the top seat panel to a seat track coupled to the support side panel; and

supporting the top seat panel by the moveable connection to the seat track and by the seat support.