Modular sanitation tray systems

• US 9,364,088 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Abene
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Abene
• Inventors: Abene, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RODDEN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US12/945,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 211/85.13, 211/126.1, 211/126.2, 211/126.3, 211/126.4, 211/182, 211/186, 211/188, 211/189, 211/190, 211/191, 211/194, 211/85.31, 211/90.03, 211/106, 211/133.2, 108/147.13, 108/147.15, 108/147.17, 312/140, 312/205, 312/228.1, 3122651-2654, 312/348.3, 526/551
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0091 Modular arrangements of similar assemblies of elements for elements or assemblies mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/047, sectional furniture A47B87/00, stackable furniture A47B87/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0253 Shelves stackable by means of vertical parts integrated or already fixed to the shelves, the parts not being frames or made of tubes or wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3007 Stackable casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/34 Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A sanitation tray system for medical, laboratory, and industrial equipment. This system is modular, stackable, and user customizable. It may be assembled in any number of horizontal or vertical configurations depending on the user'"'"'s needs and is capable of permitting instruments of varying heights, lengths and widths to be sanitized simultaneously. It is easily assemblable and disassemblable and includes a rack, corners, sides, and dowels. It is lightweight, easy to manufacture, easy to ship, and economical. It is designed to use the least amount of surface area to allow for maximum permeation of sterilants and minimizes the opportunity for pooling of sterilants or retention of particulate matter while decreasing drying time.

Claims

1. A modular, assemblable sanitation tray system comprising:

a plurality of dowels;

a rack comprising a framework;

a corner receiver; and

a side receiver;

wherein said corner receiver further comprises a groove, a male coupler, a female coupler, and a plurality of apertures;

wherein said side receiver further comprises a groove, a male coupler, a female coupler, and a plurality of apertures; and

wherein said plurality of apertures of each of the corner receiver and the side receiver form a plurality of cavities for removably receiving one of said plurality of dowels in each one of the cavities,

wherein the groove of each of the corner receiver and the side receiver is configured for supporting the rack,

wherein the male coupler and the female coupler of the corner receiver have complementary dimensions such that the male and female couplers are configured to engage female or male couplers, respectively, of another corner receiver, to enable vertical stacking with the another corner receiver, and

wherein the male coupler and the female coupler of the side receiver have complementary dimensions such that the male and female couplers are configured to engage female or male couplers, respectively, of another side receiver, to enable vertical stacking with the another side receiver.

2. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 wherein said groove of each of the side receiver and the corner receiver removably receives said rack.

3. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 wherein said corner receiver is removably attached horizontally to another corner receiver via said plurality of dowels removably received by said plurality of apertures to form a tray.

4. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 3 wherein said tray is capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally.

5. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 wherein said corner receiver is removably attached horizontally to said side receiver via said plurality of dowels removably received by said plurality of apertures to form a tray.

6. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 5 wherein said tray is capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally.

7. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 wherein said side receiver is removably attached horizontally to another side receiver via said plurality of dowels removably received by said plurality of apertures to form a tray.

8. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 7 wherein said tray is capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally.

9. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1, further comprising the another corner receiver, wherein said corner receiver is removably attached vertically to the male coupler or the female coupler of the another corner receiver via said female coupler or said male coupler, respectively.

10. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1, further comprising the another side receiver, wherein said side receiver is removably attached vertically to the male coupler or the female coupler of the another side receiver via said female coupler or said male coupler, respectively.

11. The modular, assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 further comprising at least one handle.

12. The modular assemblable sanitation tray system of claim 1 further comprising at least one instrument holder.

13. A kit comprising the modular, assemblable sanitation tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the kit includes a plurality of corner receivers including the corner receiver, a plurality of side receivers including the side receiver;

the plurality of dowels, the rack, a handle, and an instrument holder.

14. A modular assemblable sanitation tray system comprising:

a plurality of dowels;

a rack comprising a framework;

a corner receiver;

a side receiver; and

at least one instrument holder,

wherein said corner receiver further comprises a groove, a male coupler, a female coupler, and a plurality of apertures;

wherein said side receiver further comprises a groove, a male coupler, a female coupler, and a plurality of apertures; and

wherein said plurality of apertures of each of the corner receiver and the side receiver form a plurality of cavities for removably receiving one of said plurality of dowels in each one of the cavities,

wherein the groove of each of the corner receiver and the side receiver is configured for supporting the rack,

wherein said at least one instrument holder secures surgical instruments within the modular sanitation tray system.

15. A sanitation tray system comprising:

a plurality of corner receivers;

a plurality of side receivers;

a rack; and

a plurality of dowels;

wherein each said corner receiver further comprises a male coupling element, a female coupling element, a plurality of apertures and a groove;

wherein each said side receiver further comprises a male coupling element, a female coupling element, a plurality of apertures and a groove;

wherein each of said plurality of dowels is configured to be inserted into one of said plurality of apertures of each said side receiver;

wherein each of said plurality of dowels is configured to be inserted into one of said plurality of apertures of each said corner receiver

wherein said rack fits into said groove of each of said side receivers;

wherein said rack fits into said groove of each of said corner receivers;

wherein the system is configured such that said rack, said plurality of dowels, and said plurality of corner receivers can be assembled to form a first rectangular tray;

wherein the system is further configured such that said rack, said plurality of dowels, said plurality of side receivers, and said plurality of corner receivers can be assembled to form a second rectangular tray having a different shape from the first rectangular tray;

wherein said male coupler of side receiver is configured to join with another female coupler of another side receiver for vertical stacking; and

wherein said male coupler of corner receiver is configured to join with another female coupler of another corner receiver for vertical stacking.

16. A rectangular sanitation tray having four corners and four sides, comprising:

four corner receivers forming the four corners of the tray, each of the corner receivers having a top side and a bottom side, and each of the corner receivers having a male coupler positioned on one of the top and bottom sides and a female coupler positioned on the other of the top and bottom sides;

a plurality of side receivers, including at least a first side receiver positioned along a first side of the four sides of the tray and a second side receiver positioned along a second side of the four sides of the tray opposite the first side, each of the side receivers having a top side and a bottom side, and each of the side receivers having a male coupler positioned on one of the top and bottom sides and a female coupler positioned on the other of the top and bottom sides;

a rack supported by the corner receivers and the side receivers to form a supporting surface of the tray, configured to support an instrument; and

a plurality of dowels connected to the corner receivers and the side receivers and extending between the corner receivers and the side receivers to further define the four sides of the tray,

wherein the tray is configured for vertical stacking with another identical tray, wherein the male coupler and the female coupler of each corner receiver have complementary dimensions such that the male and female couplers of each corner receiver are configured to engage female or male couplers, respectively, of another corner receiver of the another identical tray, to enable vertical stacking with the another corner receiver, and

wherein the male coupler and the female coupler of each side receiver have complementary dimensions such that the male and female couplers of each side receiver are configured to engage female or male couplers, respectively, of another side receiver of the another identical tray, to enable vertical stacking with the another side receiver.

17. The sanitation tray of claim 16, wherein each of the corner receivers and the side receivers has a groove that receives a portion of the rack therein to support the rack.

18. A rectangular sanitation tray having four corners and four sides, comprising:

four corner receivers forming the four corners of the tray, each of the corner receivers having a top side and a bottom side, and each of the corner receivers having a male coupler positioned on one of the top and bottom sides and a female coupler positioned on the other of the top and bottom sides;

a rack supported by the corner receivers to form a supporting surface of the tray, configured to support an instrument; and

a plurality of dowels connected to the corner receivers and extending between the corner receivers to define the four sides of the tray,

wherein the tray is configured for vertical stacking with another identical tray, wherein the male coupler and the female coupler of each corner receiver have complementary dimensions such that the male and female couplers of each corner receiver are configured to engage female or male couplers, respectively, of another corner receiver of the another identical tray, to enable vertical stacking with the another corner receiver.

19. The sanitation tray of claim 18, wherein each of the corner receivers has a groove that receives a portion of the rack therein to support the rack.