Medical supply cabinet with lighting features

• US 9,291,341 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Inventors: Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bannan, Julie
• Application Number:
  US14/257,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 customizable cabinet for securely storing medical products comprising:

a base;

a top panel;

a first side wall including a first plurality of slots;

a second side wall including a second plurality of slots;

an interior defined by the first side wall, the second side wall, the base, and the top panel;

a shelf including a first support structure and a second support structure, the first support structure engaged with at least one of the first plurality of slots and the second support structure engaged with at least one of the second plurality of slots such that the shelf is supported from the first and second side walls and divides the interior of the cabinet into a first compartment and a second compartment;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in an array embedded flush in a portion of the first side wall extending in a direction from the first compartment toward the second compartment; and

an electronic control unit configured to control the plurality of light-emitting diodes so that illumination of a first portion of the array of light-emitting diodes within the first compartment is controlled independent of illumination of a second portion of the array of light-emitting diodes within the second compartment.

2. The customizable cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a second shelf, wherein the first side wall comprises an inner surface and the second side wall comprises an inner surface and the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls define the interior, wherein the first plurality of slots are arranged along the inner surface of the first side wall and the second plurality of slots are arranged along the inner surface of the second side wall, wherein the second shelf is engaged with at least one slot of the first plurality of slots and with at least one slot of the second plurality of slots such that the second shelf is supported from the first and second side walls at a position below the shelf.

3. The customizable cabinet of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of doors and a plurality of hinge assemblies configured to couple the plurality of doors to either the first side wall or the second side wall.

4. The customizable cabinet of claim 3 wherein the plurality of doors are opaque so that the user cannot see through the plurality of doors when the plurality of doors are in closed positions.

5. The customizable cabinet of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit comprises at least one of a screen and a keyboard to receive input from a user.

6. The customizable cabinet of claim 5 wherein the shelf is supported at a first height out of a plurality of possible heights at which the shelf is engageable with the first and second pluralities of slots in the interior of the cabinet, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to allow a user to control the illumination of the first portion of the array of light-emitting diodes within the first compartment independently of the illumination of the second portion of the array of light-emitting diodes within the second compartment.

21. The customizable cabinet of claim 1 wherein the first side wall has a cutout portion, wherein the cutout portion is the portion of the first side wall into which the array of light-emitting-diodes is embedded.

22. The customizable cabinet of claim 21 further comprising a panel covering the array of light-emitting-diodes embedded in the cutout portion of the first side wall.

23. The customizable cabinet of claim 22 wherein the panel forms a flat surface with the first side wall when the panel covers the array of light-emitting-diodes embedded in the cutout portion of the first side wall.

24. The customizable cabinet of claim 22 wherein the panel is transparent.

25. The customizable cabinet of claim 22 wherein the panel is translucent.

7. A customizable cabinet for securely storing medical products comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

a first side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls;

a second side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall;

a plurality of doors coupled to the first side wall via a plurality of hinge assemblies;

a plurality of compartments wherein each door of the plurality of doors provides access to one of the plurality of compartments;

a divider extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and separating two of the plurality of compartments;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes embedded flush in an interior surface of the cabinet forming an array extending past the divider through at least the two of the plurality of compartments adjacent the divider such that the plurality of light-emitting diodes illuminate at least the two of the plurality of compartments; and

an electronic control unit configured to control illumination of a first set of the plurality of light-emitting diodes independent of illumination of a second set of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

8. The customizable cabinet of claim 7 wherein the divider is a shelf extending horizontally between opposing portions of the first side wall and the second side wall.

9. The customizable cabinet of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of additional dividers located between vertically adjoining compartments.

10. The customizable cabinet of claim 7 configured so that a user may sub-divide a first compartment of the plurality of compartments into an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to individually control the illumination of the upper and lower portions of the compartment provided by the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

11. The customizable cabinet of claim 7 wherein a first door of the plurality of doors may be rigidly coupled to a vertically adjacent second door of the plurality of doors such that both the first door and the second door pivot together about their respective hinge assemblies.

12. A customizable cabinet for securely storing medical products comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

a first side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls;

a second side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall;

a plurality of doors coupled to the first side wall via a plurality of hinge assemblies, wherein a first door of the plurality of doors may be rigidly coupled to a vertically adjacent second door of the plurality of doors such that both the first door and the second door pivot together about their respective hinge assemblies;

a plurality of compartments wherein each door of the plurality of doors provides access to one of the plurality of compartments;

a divider extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and separating two of the plurality of compartments;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged along an interior surface of the cabinet forming an array extending past the divider through at least the two of the plurality of compartments adjacent the divider such that the plurality of light-emitting diodes illuminate at least the two of the plurality of compartments;

an electronic control unit configured to control illumination of a first set of the plurality of light-emitting diodes independent of illumination of a second set of the plurality of light-emitting diodes; and

a plurality of indicator lights wherein each of the plurality of doors corresponds to one of the plurality of indicator lights and wherein the indicator light corresponding to the vertically adjacent second door is turned off by the electronic control unit when the first door is rigidly coupled to the vertically adjacent second door.

13. A customizable cabinet system for securely storing medical products comprising:

a first top panel;

a second top panel;

a first floor;

a second floor;

a right side wall coupled to the second top panel and the second floor;

a left side wall coupled to the first top panel and the first floor;

a first center wall extending vertically from the first top panel to the first floor opposite the left side wall, forming a first tower of the cabinet system, the first tower having an interior;

a second center wall extending vertically from the second top panel to the second floor opposite the right side wall, forming a second tower of the cabinet system the second tower having an interior;

a first plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the left side wall to the first center wall dividing the first tower into a first plurality of compartments;

a second plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the second center wall to the right side wall dividing the second tower into a second plurality of compartments;

a first array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes embedded flush with respect to the interior of the first tower and extending through the first plurality of compartments providing illumination to the first plurality of compartments;

a second array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes embedded flush with respect to the interior of the second tower and extending through the second plurality of compartments providing illumination to the second plurality of compartments; and

an electronic control unit configured to control the first array and the second array to individually control illumination of each of the compartments in the first and second towers.

14. The customizable cabinet system of claim 13 comprising a plurality of doors blocking entrances to the plurality of compartments in the first and second towers.

15. The customizable cabinet system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of doors each comprise an electronic lock controlled by the electronic control unit.

18. The customizable cabinet system of claim 13 wherein the first plurality of compartments are in a first configuration and the second plurality of compartments are in a second configuration, and wherein the first configuration is different than the second configuration.

19. The customizable cabinet system of claim 14 wherein a first door of the plurality of doors are configured to be coupled to a vertically adjacent second door of the plurality of doors.

26. The customizable cabinet of claim 13 wherein the first center wall is coupled to the second center wall.

16. A customizable cabinet system for securely storing medical products comprising:

a first top panel;

a second top panel;

a first floor;

a second floor;

a right side wall coupled to the second top panel and the second floor;

a left side wall coupled to the first top panel and the first floor;

a first center wall extending vertically from the first top panel to the first floor opposite the left side wall, forming a first tower of the cabinet system;

a second center wall extending vertically from the second top panel to the second floor opposite the right side wall, forming a second tower of the cabinet system;

a first plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the left side wall to the first center wall dividing the first tower into a first plurality of compartments;

a second plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the second center wall to the right side wall dividing the second tower into a second plurality of compartments;

a first array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes extending through the first plurality of compartments providing illumination to the first plurality of compartments;

a second array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes extending through the second plurality of compartments providing illumination to the second plurality of compartments;

an electronic control unit configured to control the first array and the second array to individually control illumination of each of the compartments in the first and second towers;

a plurality of doors blocking entrances to the plurality of compartments in the first and second towers; and

a plurality of indicator lights controlled by the electronic control unit, wherein the plurality of doors are opaque and each of the plurality of doors corresponds to one of the plurality of indicator lights.

17. The customizable cabinet system of claim 16 wherein each of the indicator lights corresponding to the plurality of doors is located on the exterior surface of the corresponding door.

20. A customizable cabinet system for securely storing medical products comprising:

a first top panel;

a second top panel;

a first floor;

a second floor;

a right side wall coupled to the second top panel and the second floor;

a left side wall coupled to the first top panel and the first floor;

a first center wall extending vertically from the first top panel to the first floor opposite the left side wall, forming a first tower of the cabinet system;

a second center wall extending vertically from the second top panel to the second floor opposite the right side wall, forming a second tower of the cabinet system;

a first plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the left side wall to the first center wall dividing the first tower into a first plurality of compartments in a first configuration;

a second plurality of dividers extending horizontally from the second center wall to the right side wall dividing the second tower into a second plurality of compartments in a second configuration different from the first configuration;

a first array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes extending through the first plurality of compartments providing illumination to the first plurality of compartments;

a second array of a plurality of light-emitting diodes extending through the second plurality of compartments providing illumination to the second plurality of compartments;

an electronic control unit configured to control the first array and the second array to individually control illumination of each of the compartments in the first and second towers;

a plurality of doors blocking entrances to the plurality of compartments in the first and second towers, wherein a first door of the plurality of doors is configured to be coupled to a vertically adjacent second door of the plurality of doors; and

a plurality of indicator lights, wherein each of the plurality of doors corresponds to one of the plurality of indicator lights, and wherein the indicator light corresponding to the vertically adjacent second door is turned off by the electronic control unit when the first door is coupled to the vertically adjacent second door.