Wall unit having concealable service outlets

• US 8,458,962 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wittrock Enterprise, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, Dennis J., Lanci, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US13/541,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 52/364, 52/365, 52/38, 521/278, 522/207, 522/202, 522/381, 522/39, 522/431, 52/64, 52/69, 522/201, 522/205, 522/203, 160/194, 160/351, 160/196.1, 362/145, 362/147, 362/149, 362/219, 362/220, 362/226, 362/368, 362/432, 362/801, 362/277, 220/40.1, 220/40.2, 312/209, 312/297
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/74 Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge framed panels E04C2/38
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/08 Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons

Abstract

A modular patient room includes a plurality of modular wall panels or units having various configurations. Some wall units have a wall panel structure with a horizontally extending service cavity. A service structure is coupled to the wall panel structure for rotation about a horizontally extending first axis between a first position within the service cavity and a second position extending outwardly from the service cavity. A plurality of service outlets are carried by the service structure.

Claims

1. A wall unit for use in a room in a healthcare facility, the wall unit comprising

a wall panel structure having a horizontally extending service cavity provided therein,

a service structure coupled to the wall panel structure for rotation about a horizontally extending first axis between a first position in which the service structure substantially fills a space from a top of the service cavity to a bottom of the service cavity and a second position in which the service structure extends outwardly from the service cavity, and

a plurality of service outlets carried by the service structure for rotation therewith about the horizontally extending first axis, the service outlets being generally inaccessible and positioned within the service cavity when the service structure is in the first position and the service outlets being accessible for use and positioned outside the service cavity when the service structure is in the second position.

2. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the service structure extends outwardly from a top region of the service cavity when the service structure is in the second position.

3. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the first axis is located above the plurality of service outlets when the service structure is in the first position.

4. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the axis is located vertically above the plurality of service outlets when the service structure is in the first position.

5. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of service outlets comprise gas outlets.

6. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of service outlets comprise electrical outlets.

7. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of service outlets comprise gas outlets and electrical outlets.

8. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the wall panel structure has a first wall panel above the service cavity and a second wall panel below the service cavity, the first and second wall panels being vertically aligned.

9. The wall unit of claim 8, wherein first and second wall panels each have an outer surface and the service structure has a surface that is substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the first and second wall panels when the service structure is in the first position.

10. The wall unit of claim 9, wherein the surface of the service structure is substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces of the first and second wall panels when the service structure is in the second position.

11. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the wall panel structure has a pair of opposite side walls and the first service cavity extends horizontally from one of the pair of side walls to the other.

12. The wall unit of claim 1, wherein the wall panel structure further has a horizontally extending light cavity provided therein and a lighting structure coupled to the wall panel structure for rotation about a horizontally extending second axis between a storage position in which the lighting structure substantially fills a storage space from a top of the light cavity to a bottom of the light cavity and a second position in which the lighting structure extends outwardly from the light cavity.

13. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the lighting structure is approximately the same size and shape as the service structure.

14. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the light cavity is approximately the same size and shape as the service cavity.

15. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the light cavity is situated above the service cavity.

16. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the lighting structure extends outwardly from a top region of the light cavity when the lighting structure is in the second position.

17. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the lighting structure comprises a housing at least one electric light coupled to the housing.

18. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the second axis is located above the at least one electric light when the lighting structure is in the first position.

19. The wall unit of claim 12, wherein the wall panel structure has a first wall panel above the light cavity, a second wall panel situated between the light cavity and the service cavity, and a third wall panel below the service cavity, wherein the first, second, and third wall panels are vertically aligned, wherein the first, second and third wall panels each have an outer surface, and the light structure and service structure, each have a surface that is substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the first, second and third wall panels when the light structure and the service structure are in the respective first positions.