Compartment configured for presentation of stored articles

• US 9,884,695 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pattison, William B., Thompson, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Castellano, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/852,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20140290189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 220832, 220524, 220212
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

Storage units are described for storing articles. The storage units include a number of compartments, and the compartments include a receptacle, a lid, and a holding member. The receptacle receives the article via an opening, and the lid may move into and out of engagement with the opening so as to define an open position and a closed position. The holding member may be disposed on the lid and may be configured to releasably secure the article to the lid. Thus, in the closed position, the holding member and an article secured to the lid via the holding member may be received within the receptacle, whereas in the open position the article may be at least partially removed from the receptacle. Thus, when the lid is opened, the article is automatically presented to the user for dispensing the article from the compartment.

Claims

1. A medication storage unit for dispensing medication comprising a plurality of compartments, at least one of the compartments comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive a medical article and defining an opening via which the medical article is received;

a lid configured to move into and out of engagement with the opening of the receptacle so as to define an open position in which the lid is out of engagement with the opening of the receptacle and a closed position in which the lid is in engagement with the opening of the receptacle, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to a rear sidewall of the respective compartment such that, in the open position, the lid is configured to rest on a closed lid of an adjacent compartment; and

a holding member disposed on the lid, wherein the holding member comprises a first arm and a second arm, and wherein each of the first and second arms extends outwardly and away from an inner surface of the lid to form a C-shape, wherein the first and second arms are biased toward each other and are configured to receive at least a portion of the medical article therebetween to releasably secure the medical article to the lid,

wherein, in the closed position, the holding member and a medical article secured to the lid via the holding member are received within the receptacle, and

wherein, in the open position, the medical article secured to the lid via the holding member is at least partially removed from the receptacle so as to be presented to a user for dispensing from a respective compartment.

2. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein at least some of the compartments are oriented with respect to the storage unit such that the respective lid and holding member support a side of the medical article in the open position.

3. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the medical article comprises at least one article selected from the group consisting of a vial, an ampoule, a single dose syringe, or a tube.

4. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is arranged within a drawer of the medication storage unit, and wherein the drawer is configured to be slidingly received within the medication storage unit.

5. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the holding member is integral to the lid.

6. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the lid is connected to the receptacle via a hinge.

7. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the lid is biased toward the closed position.

8. The medication storage unit of claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to provide dual-direction biasing.