Medical cart, medication module, height adjustment mechanism, and method of medication transport

• US 8,215,650 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capsa Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Arceta, Radmond Vincent, Rogers, Craig Kevin, Fitzpatrick, Kevin Thomas, Ritchie, Bryan Scott, Philpott, Marin John, Fortner, Christina Louise
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/187,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20110272902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.34, 280/47.35, 280/79.11, 280/79.2, 280/33.991, 280/33.992, 280/638, 280/651, 108/147.19, 108/147.21, 235/431
• US Class Current: 280/47.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2206/06 adjustable in height
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1476 the main load support being a platform

Abstract

A medical cart includes a work platform having a work surface and at least one compartment, a base, and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the work platform relative to the base. A medication module includes a plurality of compartments. The medical cart can be joined with a medication module. In addition, a plurality of medication modules can be joined to form a train. The medical cart and medication module can be used collectively and individually in a variety of methods for transferring medicine.

Claims

1. A cart comprising:

a work platform including a work surface and at least one compartment for containing an item within the compartment, wherein the work surface is disposed above a top of the at least one compartment;

a base configured to be movable in at least a rearward direction; and

a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the work platform relative to the base, wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configured to releasably position the work platform at a plurality of heights, the height adjustment mechanism comprising;

a driver configured to releasably position the work platform; and

an actuator for controlling the driver,

wherein the base includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in a forward direction that is substantially opposite to the rearward direction,

wherein the work platform includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in the forward direction, wherein the compartment is disposed in the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction, and the compartment is configured to permit a user facing in the rearward direction to access the item within the compartment,

wherein the actuator is disposed above the compartment and on the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction, and

wherein the work surface is movable relative to a remainder of the work platform from an extended position to a non-extended position.

2. The cart of claim 1, wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a first telescoping portion connected to the base, and a second telescoping portion connected to the work platform and configured to move relative to the first telescoping portion, and wherein the driver is configured to releasably position the second telescoping portion relative to the first telescoping portion.

3. The cart of claim 2, wherein the first telescoping portion is a stationary outer casing, and the second telescoping portion is a movable inner casing.

4. The cart of claim 1, wherein the work portion includes a handle on the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction, wherein the actuator is disposed on the handle.

5. The cart of claim 1, wherein the actuator is disposed at a spaced vertical distance above the compartment.

6. The cart of claim 1, wherein the work platform further comprises a movable platform configured to move in at least one of the forward direction and the rearward direction.

7. The cart of claim 1, wherein the work surface is configured to move in at least one of a leftward direction and a rightward direction along an arcuate path that faces the forward direction.

8. The cart of claim 1, wherein the driver includes a piston that, in response to the user'"'"'s actuation of the actuator, permits gas to flow out of the piston during lowering of the height of the work platform, and that, in response to the user'"'"'s actuation of the actuator, permits gas to flow into the piston during increasing of the height of the work platform.

9. A cart comprising:

a work platform including a movable platform, a work surface movable relative to the movable platform, and at least one compartment for containing an item, wherein the movable platform and the work surface are disposed above a to of the at least one compartment;

a base configured to be movable in at least a rearward direction; and

a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the work platform relative to the base,

wherein the base includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in a forward direction that is substantially opposite to the rearward direction,

wherein the work platform includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in the forward direction, the at least one compartment is disposed in the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction, and the at least one compartment is configured to permit a user facing in the rearward direction to access the item within the at least one compartment,

wherein the movable platform can be moved in at least one of the forward and rearward directions,

wherein the work surface can be moved in at least one of a leftward direction and a rightward direction relative to the movable platform, and

wherein the work surface is configured to move in the at least one of the leftward direction and rightward direction through a slot in a side of the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction.

10. The cart of claim 9, wherein the work surface is configured to move in the at least one of the leftward and rightward directions along an arcuate path that faces the forward direction.

11. The cart of claim 9, wherein the work surface is configured to move in both the leftward direction through the slot and the rightward direction through another slot along an arcuate path that faces the forward direction.

12. The cart of claim 9, wherein the work platform is configured such that the work surface can be disposed below the movable platform.

13. The cart of claim 9, wherein the work platform is configured such that the movable platform can be moved in the at least one of the forward and rearward directions without moving the work surface.

14. The cart of claim 9, wherein the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments.

15. The cart of claim 9, wherein the movable platform is a laptop platform.

16. A cart comprising:

a work platform including a movable platform, a work surface movable relative to the movable platform, and at least one compartment for containing an item;

a base configured to be movable in at least a rearward direction; and

a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the work platform relative to the base,

wherein the base includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in a forward direction that is substantially opposite to the rearward direction,

wherein the work platform includes a portion projecting, relative to the height adjustment mechanism, in the forward direction, wherein the at least one compartment is disposed in the portion of the work platform projecting in the forward direction, and the at least one compartment is configured to permit a user facing in the rearward direction to access the item within the at least one compartment,

wherein the movable platform can be moved in at least one of the forward and rearward directions, and

wherein the work surface can be moved in at least one of a leftward direction and a rightward direction relative to the movable platform,

wherein the work platform includes a secondary work surface, and the work platform is configured such that both the secondary work surface and the movable platform are exposed when the movable platform moves in the at least one of the forward and rearward directions, and

wherein the secondary work surface and the movable platform are positioned above a top of the at least one compartment.

17. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work surface is configured to move in the at least one of the leftward direction and the rightward direction along an arcuate path that faces the forward direction.

18. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work surface is configured to move in both the leftward direction and the rightward direction.

19. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work platform is configured such that the work surface can be disposed below the movable platform.

20. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work platform is configured such that the movable platform can be moved in the at least one of the forward and rearward directions without moving the work surface.

21. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work platform is configured such that the secondary work surface can be positioned in vertical alignment with the movable platform.

22. The cart of claim 16, wherein the work platform is configured such that the secondary work surface can be disposed beneath the movable platform.

23. The cart of claim 16, wherein the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments.

24. The cart of claim 16, wherein the movable platform is a laptop platform.