Enhanced modular drawer structures, systems, and methods

• US 9,367,984 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GCX Corporation
• Original Assignee: GCX Corporation
• Inventors: Daugbjerg, Cristian J., Glaser, Robert Peter, Poppe, Carl Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/087,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 312/249.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/006 Medication carts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0023 Columnar component for computer, stand or trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0018 Buffers, stop blocks or latches for single drawer slides
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/046 C-shaped bed tables, e.g. foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/57 preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/90 Constructional details of drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/969 Drawers having means for organising or sorting the content
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/994 in the form of trays or inserts
• 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: A61G 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0027 Details of drawer or money-box
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A modular drawer structure comprises a housing having an interior volume defined therein, and a drawer comprising one or more compartments, wherein the drawer is slidably movable with respect to the interior volume of the housing between a first closed position, wherein the compartments are enclosed within the interior volume, and a second open position, wherein the compartments are at least partially accessible. The drawer structure further comprises a mechanism for controllably locking the drawer in the first closed position, an access pad, e.g. such as but not limited to a keypad and/or a card swipe pad, for entry of a passcode, and a processor for unlocking the drawer when an entered passcode matches a stored passcode value. Some embodiments of the drawer structure include a stored time threshold, wherein if the drawer is unlocked for a time that meets or exceeds the stored time threshold, the drawer is relocked.

Claims

1. A structure, comprising:

a base column that extends upward from a first end to a second end, the base column having an attachment channel defined therein that extends from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of spaced attachment points located along the attachment channel, the attachment points configured to receive and secure thereto a plurality of drawer housings;

at least one fastener component for each of the plurality of drawer housings;

the plurality of drawer housings, each drawer housing having a front end and a back end opposite the front end, wherein the back end of each drawer housing is fixedly attached to the base column through the attachment channel with the corresponding at least one fastener component, wherein a drawer opening extends inward from the front end to define an interior volume, and wherein each drawer housing further comprises a lock and a processor;

a plurality of drawers, each drawer comprising a front side, wherein one or more compartments are defined within each drawer, and wherein each drawer is slidably movable with respect to the interior volume of the corresponding drawer housing between

a first closed position, wherein the compartments are enclosed within the interior volume and wherein the front side of the drawer is accessible from the front end of the drawer housing, and

a second open position, wherein the compartments are at least partially accessible when the front side of the drawer is pulled open by a user;

a plurality of drawer catches for releasing the plurality of drawers from the plurality of drawer housings when the plurality of drawers are in the second open position, wherein the plurality of drawers are removable from the plurality of drawer housings; and

a plurality of access pads mounted to the plurality of drawer housings for entry of a passcode;

wherein each lock is configured to lock the corresponding drawer in the first closed position;

wherein each processor is configured to unlock the corresponding lock when an entered passcode matches a stored passcode value; and

wherein the at least one fastener component used by each drawer housing is hidden and inaccessible when the corresponding drawer is in the first closed position, for any of prevention of unwanted access or resistance to tampering.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each access pad comprises any of a keypad and a card reader.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein each drawer housing comprises a substantially planar upper surface.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein a periphery extends around the upper surface of each drawer housing, wherein a ridge extends upward from the upper surface around the periphery, and wherein the ridge is configured to retain any of medications, supplies, writing implements, spills, or small objects.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein each drawer housing further comprises a memory;

wherein the stored passcode value is stored in the memory.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein each drawer housing further comprises a data port connected to the processor.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein each processor is configured to receive information through the data port, wherein the received information comprises any of passcodes to be stored in the memory, or a time threshold to be stored in the memory.

8. The structure of claim 6, wherein each processor is configured to send information through the data port to an external computer.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the information to be sent through the data port comprises any of entered passcodes, drawer positions, timestamps, patient information, or medication information.

10. The structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of time thresholds, wherein each time threshold is associated with the lock of a different drawer housing, and wherein when a drawer is in an unlocked position, the corresponding lock is configured to lock if the corresponding time threshold is reached.

11. The structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is associated with at least one of the compartments of one of the plurality of drawers, and wherein each cover is configured to be openable to provide access to the corresponding compartment when the corresponding drawer is in the second open position.

12. The structure of claim 11, wherein each cover further comprises a mechanism for receiving a label.

13. The structure of claim 11, wherein each cover is any of translucent or clear, and wherein a user can determine if there are contents within the at least one compartment corresponding to each cover.

14. The structure of claim 1, wherein the base column is fixedly mounted to any of a mobile cart structure or a wall.

23. The structure of claim 1, wherein the drawer housing of each drawer structure comprises a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, wherein the lower surface and the upper surface comprise interlocking surfaces, such that the upper surface of a first drawer housing comprises a profile that corresponds to a generally mating profile of the lower surface of a second drawer housing, wherein the second drawer housing is configured to be stackably mountable upon the first drawer housing.

24. The structure of claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a material that is resistant to any of chemicals, cleaners, water, or elevated temperatures, and wherein the drawer is configured to be washable in any of a sink or a dishwasher.

15. A process, comprising the steps of:

providing a structure comprising

a base column, that extends upward from a first end to a second end, the base column having an attachment channel defined therein that extends from the first end to the second end,

a plurality of spaced attachment points located along the attachment channel, the attachment points configured to receive and secure thereto a plurality of drawer housings,

at least one fastener component for each of the plurality of drawer housings,

the plurality of drawer housings, each drawer housing having a front end and a back end opposite the front end, wherein the back end of each drawer housing is fixedly attached to the base column through the attachment channel with the corresponding at least one fastener component, wherein a drawer opening extends inward from the front end to define an interior volume, and wherein each drawer housing further comprises a lock, a processor, and a memory,

a plurality of drawers, each drawer comprising a front side, wherein one or more compartments are defined within each drawer, and wherein each drawer is slidably movable with respect to the interior volume of the corresponding drawer housing between

a first closed position, wherein the compartments are enclosed within the interior volume and wherein the front side of the drawer is accessible from the front end of the drawer housing, and

a second open position, wherein the compartments are at least partially accessible when the front side of the drawer is pulled open by a user,

a plurality of drawer catches for releasing the plurality of drawers from the plurality of drawer housings when the plurality of drawers are in the second open position, wherein the plurality of drawers are removable from the plurality of drawer housings, and

a plurality of access pads mounted to the plurality of drawer housings for entry of a passcode,

wherein each lock is configured to lock the corresponding drawer in the first closed position,

wherein each processor is configured to unlock the corresponding lock when an entered passcode matches a passcode value that is stored in the memory, and

wherein the at least one fastener component used by each drawer housing is hidden and inaccessible when the corresponding drawer is in the first closed position, for any of prevention of unwanted access or resistance to tampering;

fixably mounting the base column to any of a base or a wall;

receiving a passcode entered by a user through a particular access pad of a particular drawer housing;

determining whether the passcode matches the passcode value stored in the memory of the particular drawer housing; and

unlocking the lock corresponding to the particular drawer housing only if the passcode matches the stored passcode value.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein each access pad comprises any of a keypad and a card reader.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of time thresholds, wherein each time threshold is stored in the memory of one of the plurality of drawer housings, and wherein the process further comprises the steps of:

starting a timer when the step of unlocking the lock occurs; and

relocking the lock if the timer reaches the time threshold.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein each housing further comprises a data port connected to the processor, and wherein the process further comprises the steps of:

receiving one or more acceptable passcodes through the data port; and

storing the received acceptable passcodes in the memory.

19. The process of claim 15, wherein each housing further comprises a data port connected to the processor, and wherein the process further comprises the steps of:

connecting the data port to a computer; and

downloading information from the processor to the computer through the data port.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the downloaded information comprises any of time stamps that correspond to any of opening or closing of the drawer, entered passcodes, or relocking of the drawer based on meeting or exceeding a time threshold.

21. The process of claim 15, wherein the stored passcode value is one of a plurality of acceptable passcodes;

and

wherein each of the acceptable passcodes is unique to one of a plurality of users.

22. A mobile cart system, comprising:

a cart base;

at least three casters mounted to the cart base;

a base column fixedly mounted and extending upward from the cart base from a first end to a second end, the base column having an attachment channel defined therein that extends from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of spaced attachment points located along the attachment channel, each attachment point configured to receive and secure thereto a plurality of drawer structures;

at least one fastener component for each of the plurality of drawer structures; and

the plurality of drawer structures, each drawer structure fixedly mounted to the base column at one of the plurality of spaced attachment points, wherein each of the drawer structures comprise

a drawer housing having a front end and a back end opposite the front end, wherein the back end of the drawer housing is fixedly attached to the base column through the attachment channel with the at least one fastener component, wherein a drawer opening extends inward from the front end to define an interior volume, and wherein the drawer housing further comprises a lock and a processor,

a drawer comprising a front side, wherein one or more compartments are defined within the drawer, wherein the drawer is slidably movable with respect to the interior volume of the drawer housing between

a first closed position, wherein the compartments are enclosed within the interior volume and wherein the front side of the drawer is accessible from the front end of the drawer housing, and

a second open position, wherein the compartments are at least partially accessible when the front side of the drawer is pulled open by a user,

a drawer catch for releasing the drawer from the drawer housing when the drawer is in the second open position, wherein the drawer is removable from the drawer housing, and

an access pad mounted to the drawer housing for entry of a passcode;

wherein the lock is configured to lock the drawer in the first closed position;

wherein the processor is configured to unlock the lock when an entered passcode matches a stored passcode value; and

wherein the at least one fastener component is hidden and inaccessible when the drawer is in the first closed position, for any of prevention of unwanted access or resistance to tampering.