Medical supply cabinet with lighting features

• US 8,746,908 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BANNAN, JULIE A
• Application Number:
  US13/015,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20110266929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 362 92- 94, 362/133, 362/125, 312/109, 312/138.1, 312/321.5, 312/326, 312236-237
• US Class Current: 362/94
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/525 Arrangement for multi-colour printing, not covered by group B41J2/21, e.g. applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking process
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/301 for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A medical supply cabinet having improved features for user access, user control, and illumination is provided. The supply cabinet is provided with a selectively controllable illumination source, such as light-emitting diodes, that provide the operator with visual information regarding access to individual compartments of the supply cabinet.

Claims

1. A cabinet, configured for electronic and manual access control, the cabinet comprising:

a plurality of compartments, each compartment including a door which pivots about a first axis to open and close, and wherein access to each compartment is independently controlled;

each compartment including a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged within each compartment along at least a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis providing illumination to an interior of each compartment, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes in two adjacent compartments of the plurality of compartments forms at least one array of light-emitting diodes that extends through both of the two adjacent compartments; and

an electronic control configured to operate the light-emitting diodes of the two adjacent compartments at a first illumination level in response to a first operating condition, and operate the light-emitting diodes of the two adjacent compartments at a second illumination level in response to a second operating condition, wherein the electronic control is configured to control the illumination level of the light-emitting diodes of each of the two adjacent compartments independent of the illumination level in the other of the two adjacent compartments.

2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein each compartment includes a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall and a shelf extending between the first and second lateral sidewalls;

wherein both of the two adjacent compartments are in a vertical arrangement;

wherein the at least one array of light-emitting diodes comprises a first array of light-emitting diodes and a second array of light-emitting diodes;

wherein the first array of light-emitting diodes is positioned vertically along the first lateral sidewall of the compartment and the second array of light-emitting diodes is positioned vertically along the second lateral sidewall of the compartment;

wherein the first array of light-emitting diodes is recessed relative to an inner surface of the first lateral sidewall and the second array of light-emitting diodes is recessed relative to an inner surface of the second lateral sidewall;

wherein the first array of light-emitting diodes is positioned along the first lateral sidewall between a front edge and a rear edge of the shelf and above the shelf;

wherein the second array of light-emitting diodes is positioned along the second lateral sidewall between the front edge and the rear edge of the shelf and above the shelf;

wherein the light-emitting diodes within each compartment are independently controlled by the electronic controller so that illumination of each compartment is controlled independent of illumination of adjacent compartments.

3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein light-emitting diodes in a compartment are operated at the first illumination level when the compartment door is open, and operated at the second illumination level when the compartment door is closed.

4. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein one or more doors are transparent, and the light-emitting diodes in a first compartment are operated at the first illumination level when the door to the first compartment is unlocked, and operated at the second illumination level when the door to the first compartment is locked.

5. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein the illumination level in each of the plurality of compartments is variably controlled by pulse width modulation.

20. The cabinet of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of locks, each lock configured to control access to one of the compartments, wherein each lock includes a key hole configured to removably receive a key; and

a user interface;

wherein the electronic control is in communication with the plurality of locks, the electronic control configured to selectively unlock one or more compartment doors in response to a user request received at the user interface.

6. A supply cabinet system comprising:

a cabinet, the cabinet having a plurality of compartments, a bottom wall, a top wall and a sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall;

a plurality of electronic locks, each lock operatively configured to control access to one of the plurality of compartments;

an electronic control in communication with the plurality of electronic locks, the electronic control configured to unlock one or more compartment doors in response to a user request; and

a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged within each compartment along the sidewall and along an axis perpendicular to the top wall and to the bottom wall positioned to provide illumination to each compartment, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes form at least one array of light-emitting diodes and wherein at least one of the arrays of light-emitting diodes extends through at least two of the plurality of compartments;

the electronic control configured to operate the light-emitting diodes of each compartment at a first illumination level in response to a first operating condition, and operate the light-emitting diodes of each compartment at a second illumination level in response to a second operating condition, wherein the electronic control is configured to control the illumination level of the light-emitting diodes of each compartment independent of the illumination level in an adjacent compartment.

7. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the electronic control is mounted within the cabinet.

8. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the electronic control is external to the cabinet.

9. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the electronic control is configured to selectively control an external locking mechanism.

10. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the cabinet includes a ventilation fan.

11. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the compartments includes an internal power plug.

12. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the first operating condition is an unlocked compartment, and the second operating condition is a locked compartment.

13. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the first operating condition is a user interaction, and the second operating condition is a stand-by condition.

21. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the at least one array is positioned vertically along the sidewall of the compartment.

22. The supply cabinet system of claim 21, wherein the at least one array is recessed relative to an inner surface of the sidewall and further comprising a panel between the at least one array and the interior of the compartment, the panel formed from a translucent or transparent material, wherein the at least one array is positioned along the sidewall between a front edge and a rear edge of the bottom wall and above the bottom wall.

23. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the at least one array of the plurality of light-emitting diodes includes a first array positioned vertically along the sidewall of the compartment and a second array positioned vertically along a second sidewall of the compartment, the second sidewall opposing and parallel to the first sidewall.

24. The supply cabinet system of claim 6, wherein the first illumination level is a modulated illumination level and the first operating condition is an unlocked compartment.

25. The supply cabinet of claim 6, wherein the electronic control is configured to operate the light-emitting diodes of one of the compartments at the first illumination level while operating the light-emitting diodes of the other compartments at the second illumination level.

26. The supply cabinet of claim 6 wherein the second illumination level is lower than the first illumination level, and the first and second operating conditions are times of day.

14. A supply cabinet system, the system comprising:

a plurality of cabinets stacked in an adjacent relationship, each cabinet having a plurality of compartments and each cabinet being affixed to an adjacent cabinet;

a plurality of electronic locks, each lock operatively configured to control access to one of the plurality of compartments;

an electronic control in communication with the plurality of electronic locks, the electronic control configured to selectively unlock one or more electronic locks in response to a user request; and

a plurality of light-emitting diodes located within each of the plurality of cabinets, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes of each cabinet are arranged vertically to form at least one path of light-emitting diodes and wherein at least one of the paths of light-emitting diodes extends from a first compartment to a second compartment of the plurality of compartments of each cabinet;

the electronic control configured to operate the light-emitting diodes at a first illumination level in response to a first operating condition, and operate the light-emitting diodes at a second illumination level in response to a second operating condition, wherein the light-emitting diodes in each compartment are operated separately from light-emitting diodes in other compartments.

15. The supply cabinet system of claim 14, wherein the electronic control is mounted within at least one of the plurality of cabinets and each cabinet includes at least one door wherein each door is locked by one of the plurality of electronic locks.

16. The supply cabinet system of claim 14, wherein the electronic control is external to the plurality of cabinets.

17. The supply cabinet system of claim 14, wherein the electronic control is configured to selectively control an external locking mechanism.

18. The supply cabinet system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of cabinets includes a ventilation fan.

19. The supply cabinet system of claim 14, wherein the first operating condition is an unlocked compartment, and the second operating condition is a locked compartment.