FR2847141A1 - Bed side furniture for hospital, has storage unit with bin/compartment that is pivoted around vertical axis and linked to panel wall whose size and shape provides profile/aspect similar to draw for bin/compartment - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture has a storage unit (6) with a bin/compartment (63) that is pivoted around a vertical axis and linked to a panel wall (60). Shape and size of the panel wall gives the bin/compartment a profile/aspect similar to a draw. The bin/compartment is completely arranged inside a cabinet (5) during the position of non usage and is pulled out of the cabinet after pivoting with respect to a pivot during position of use.

Description

The present invention relates to a bedside cabinet, in particular to

hospital use.

  By the latter expression, it is meant that the piece of furniture is intended to equip a room in which a person is received who is being treated, whether medical or comfort. This furniture is therefore likely to equip a hospital room, retirement or rest home, etc. Bedside cabinets are traditionally provided with at least one sliding drawer or storage bin which allows the patient who occupies the room

  correspondent to store personal belongings.

  The furniture, most often fitted with casters, is placed as close as possible to the bed, in a position that allows the patient to have easy access to the

drawer or storage bin.

  But when the patient is particularly weak, the only maneuver

  removing the drawer or bin can become problematic.

  Document NL-A-9200509 describes a kitchen cabinet which, when closed, gives the visual impression of being provided with a series of drawers. These are in fact storage elements comprising a container pivoting about a vertical axis, associated with a front panel, this container being capable of occupying at least a first so-called non-use position, in which it is completely housed in said box while the front panel, whose shape and dimensions give it a similar appearance to that of a drawer, is in alignment with the front of said piece of furniture, and a second position known as of use, in which it is extracted from said box following its pivoting relative to the axis, the

  front panel then being housed in said box.

  It is easy to understand that such a technical solution is particularly useful for a bedside cabinet, since it suffices for the patient to push or pull lightly, for example thanks to a handle provided for this purpose on the front of the corresponding tray to make him undergo at least a partial rotational movement around the axis, and thus, extract it at least in part and allow

  to have access to the personal effects contained therein.

  -ç In the embodiment described in the aforementioned document, the axis of rotation is common to two superimposed tanks. It is supported, on the one hand on the ground and,

  on the other hand on the underside of the worktop of the furniture.

  It crosses each of the tanks at the level of the flat wall which connects it to the facade panel. To do this, the wall is provided with a projection in an arc of a circle,

directed towards the inside of the tank.

  Such an assembly is perfectly suitable when the entire height

  furniture is equipped with such bins.

  However, this is not the case with bedside furniture which, most often

  has a drawer in the upper part, and other elements in the lower part.

  In addition, bedside cabinets are regularly disassembled for full cleaning. However, the technical solution proposed in the

  Dutch document does not lend itself to such disassembly.

  Finally, in this document, the axis of rotation is massive and occupies a significant place in the internal space of the tank. However, in bedside furniture, the space is somehow counted, so that the above solution is incompatible. The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a bedside cabinet of simple structure, convenient and easy to

use.

  It is therefore a bedside cabinet, especially for hospital use.

  It is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one box in which is integrated at least one storage element comprising a container pivoting about a vertical axis, associated with a front panel, this container being capable of occupying the least a first so-called non-use position, in which it is completely housed in said box, while the front panel, whose shape and dimensions give it an appearance similar to that of a drawer, is in alignment with the front of said piece of furniture, and a second so-called use position, in which it is extracted from said box following its pivoting with respect to the axis, the front panel then being housed in said box, that this box has a lower horizontal wall from which extends said axis, and that the latter being non-traversing and housed in a reservation in the front panel provided for this purpose. Thus, the storage bin can be easily reached by the patient by simply pivoting the front panel around the axis of rotation. As the latter is not through, the extraction of the storage element from the box is made easier, which is particularly advantageous during full cleaning. Finally, the fact that the axis is integrated into the thickness of the facade panel

  allows you to waste no space for storing effects.

  According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention: - said box has two facades opposite one another and it contains two storage elements, each being capable of being extracted by one of the corresponding facades; - Said box has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped; - Said box has a removable upper and horizontal wall, its extraction giving direct access to said element; - Said container has, seen from above, the shape of a semicircle; - said front panel consists of two independent parts, one of them integrating the reservation of said axis; said storage bin comprises means for hanging from the internal wall of the front panel; - Said internal wall is provided with at least two studs projecting and that said suspension means consist of legs capable of coming

  cap said nipples with a generally vertical and descending movement.

  - the upper edge of said panel has a middle part

  concave, of suitable dimensions to allow the passage of the fingers of one hand.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on

  reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

  This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in

  which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bedside cabinet according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view also of the furniture of Figure 1, storage bins being shown partially extracted from its upper and lower boxes; - Figure 3 is still a perspective view of the furniture of Figure 1, from a different angle of view, and on which are visible the transport legs of said furniture; - Figure 4 is also a perspective view of a bedside cabinet, the upper box is provided with an extra shelf, while its lower box is equipped with a door; - Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the upper box of the cabinet of Figure l; - Figure 6 is a top view of the box of Figure 5, its "pivoting drawers" being shown in the retracted position; - Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the box of Figure 6, along the plane VII-VII of this figure; - Figures 8 and 9 are exploded perspective views, in two directions opposite to each other, of a "pivoting drawer"; - Figure 10 is a perspective view, cut along a median and longitudinal plane, of the "drawer" of Figures 8 and 9; - Figure l l is a sectional side view of the drawer of Figures 8 and 9; - Figure 12 is a detail view of the part of Figure 12 delimited by a circle in broken lines; - Figure 13 is a front view of the upper box of the cabinet of Figure 4, its shelf being shown in the deployed position; - Figures 14 and 15 are views from above and in perspective respectively of the box of Figure 13; - Figure 16 is a diagram intended to illustrate how the transport of the bedside cabinet is carried out by means of a hospital bed; - Figure 17 is a perspective view of the lower box of the cabinet of Figure 3; - Figures 18 and 19 are perspective views, in different directions, of the box of Figure 17, some elements it integrates being intentionally absent to show the structure and the means of fixing the legs to said box; - Figure 20 is a partial view, in vertical section, of the upper part of the box of the lower bedside cabinet, intended to explain how the transport tabs are covered by a panel or cover hood; The bedside cabinet shown in Figures 1 to 3 essentially comprises a lower storage box 3, as well as a

  upper storage 5, separated by a vertical column 4.

  The lower box 3 is a high box, substantially shaped

  parallelepiped, which rests on a massive base which bears the reference 2.

  This base fits substantially into a square whose sides are

  larger which those which delimit the base of the box.

  Its angles are rounded to form "ears" 21. Similarly, the zones 22 which separate them are curved, with convexity facing outwards,

  to form peripheral beads.

  Preferably, this base is covered with a flexible and thick material such as a plastic material, the function of which will be explained below. The base rests, at these four "ears" 21, on

castors 23 with integrated brake.

  In an embodiment not shown, these rollers can

  be replaced by rollers or skids.

  The fact that the base has dimensions greater than those of the box 3 will make that if the furniture comes to accidentally abut against a wall

  or another object, it is the base that will absorb the shock and not the box.

  In addition, this shock will be absorbed by the flexible material which lines the base. Similarly, if an operator hits a foot against

  the base, this shock will be of no consequence since it will have been absorbed by said material.

  As said above, the lower box 3 has a parallelepiped shape. We referenced by 30 its side walls, 32 its front wall and 32 'its

  rear wall. They are separated two by two by corner posts 31.

  It is a reversible piece of furniture, so that it has two facades opposite one another, namely an F1 facade, in which the wall is contained.

  front 32 and a front F2 in which the rear wall 32 'is contained.

  As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the front wall 32 consists of a front panel 33 which is made integral with an assembly

  sliding with storage bins 320.

  Preferably, this tank is designed to slide either on the side of the wall 32 or on the side of the opposite wall 32 ', which makes this piece of furniture completely

reversible, as said above.

  In the embodiment presented here, the front panel 33 is provided with a handle in an arc 34 arranged in its upper part. It will be noted that the upper edge of the panel has, in its middle part, a concave region 35, so that it is possible to introduce the fingers of the hand into it. Therefore, it is possible to slide the assembly 320 either by pulling on the handle 34, or by inserting the hand through the opening delimited by said concave zone 35

  and grabbing the front panel 33.

  The upper face of the lower casing 3 is coated with a panel or cover cap 36, for example of smooth plastic material, the periphery and angles of which are provided with reliefs 37. This provides a central space on the panel on which can be placed objects, without risk that they fall to the ground, the peripheral reliefs 37 preventing them. As will be seen below, this covering panel is of

preferably removable.

  Said panel has, of course, an opening for passage

  column 4 which separates the lower box 3 from the upper box 5.

  As shown in Figures 1 to 3, this column is offset in the center of the cabinet. More precisely, it is oriented towards the side of a side wall 30 of the lower box, substantially in its middle part. A large storage space E is thus provided. The panel or cover 36 preferably rests on a non-plate

  visible which forms part of the rest of the box.

  The upper box 5 is not very thick compared to the lower box. However, it has the same peripheral dimensions, so that seen

  from above, they have identical dimensions.

  In the embodiments presented here, the box 5 is provided partially removable. We will therefore refer to Figure 5 to understand more

precisely its structure.

  This box comprises a lower plate 50 of substantially square shape, the angles of which are rounded and softened, to recall the shape of the "ears"

which equip the base 2.

  In these angles are provided small vertical nipples 500, of small

  length, which protrude upward.

  Along two longitudinal sides of the tray, and between the nipples

  500 extend from the walls 53 and 54 which materialize the side walls of the box 5.

  It also includes a cover panel or cover 51, which

  has a shape identical or similar to that of the panel 36 of the lower box.

  From its angles extend downward and vertically, lugs 52, the base of which is hollowed out so as to engage, in particular by elastic deformation, on

  the pins 500 previously described.

  The lower part of Figure 5 shows that from the plate 50 extend vertically upwards two small axes 9. They are placed in part

  median of the wall, close to its edges.

  As shown in this figure, as well as in Figures 1 and 3, the box receives, in this embodiment, two storage elements 6. Each element comprises a tray 63, for example in material

  plastic, associated with a facade panel 60.

  Of course, their respective dimensions are such that they can

  be engaged in the interior space of the box, including the front panel 60.

  This time we can refer to Figures 6 to 12 for better

  understand the structure of these storage elements.

  The tray 63 has a semicircle shape. It includes a 630 flat background,

  a flat vertical wall 632, as well as a vertical wall in an arc 631.

  The vertical wall 632 extends at right angles outward to form a edge 635 (horizontal in the figures). From the underside of this

  edge extend from small vertical stiffening ribs 636.

  The number of these ribs is even and between each pair extends, in their upper part, a tab 633, the base of which has a notch in an arc of

circle 634.

  We will explain later in the description the interest of such a

  structure. The facade panel 60 here consists of two shells in material

  molded plastic 600 and 601 intended to be assembled by a series of screws 64.

  In an alternative embodiment, the shell 601 can be made of chipboard.

  In the shell 601 are provided openings for the reception of complementary assembly parts forming pins 65 and 66, the

  positioning corresponds to those of the legs 633 described above.

  Thus, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11, the container 63 is made integral with the front panel 60, by suspending the container by hooking the tabs 633 against the pins 65 and 66, this in a movement

  generally vertical and descending.

  In FIG. 10, it can be seen that the axis 9 comprises a generally cylindrical rod 91, which is extended downwards by a base 90,

  also cylindrical, but with a larger radius.

  The reservation 602 is for its part provided in the half-shell 601 and its dimensions are such that it can receive the rod 91 of the axis 9, while

  allowing a rotational movement around it.

  During this movement, the lower part of the shell 601 takes

  support on the peripheral edge of the base 90.

  It is therefore understood, that by a simple movement of rotation of the storage element around the axis 9, we will be able, as desired, to make the storage bin accessible (right and upper part of Figure 2) or on the contrary the

  make it inaccessible, the front panel 60 then being only visible.

  The visible impression which is then given is that of a conventional drawer. By abuse of language, the elements 6 can be described as "pivoting drawers". Of course, the respective dimensions of the elements 6 shown here are calculated so as not only to be able to enter the storage box

and not to hinder each other.

  Other embodiments than those presented here are possible. Thus the tank 63 could have a wall 631 made up of several

  facets forming an obtuse angle between them.

  The embodiment of the cabinet of Figure 4 differs from the previous ones by the fact that the lower box does not have a sliding storage bin, but a traditional door 33 which gives access to

storage shelves 321.

  The side walls 30 and 53 of the lower 3 and upper 5 boxes are each provided with a profile 300, respectively 530, which allows the attachment of additional equipment, such as a magazine rack or the like. Finally, in this embodiment on which storage elements 6 are not visible, the upper box 5 comprises a shelf

booster 8.

  This auxiliary shelf 8 is able to occupy at least a first storage position in which it does not exceed or practically not the volume occupied by the box 5. This is the position shown in phantom in the

figure 14.

  It is also likely to occupy a second position called

  extraction, in which it exceeds the volume of the box.

  This is the position shown in Figures 13 to 15 in solid lines.

  This shelf is provided with a vertical pivot axis 80 materialized by a cylindrical button 81, to which is fixed a non-visible rod which

  cooperates with the underside 501 of the lower horizontal wall 50 of the box.

  It is therefore understood that by pivoting the shelf 8 around the axis, it can be brought from the storage position to the extraction position and vice versa. In the embodiment shown here, the tablet comprises at least one operating member 85. In this case, we are dealing here with two members

  operating in the form of a spherical button, positioned under the shelf.

  These operating members are distributed in such a way that, when the tablet 8 occupies one or the other of the first and second positions mentioned above, they

  are located in the vicinity of two opposite vertical walls of the box.

  As shown in Figure 3, the cabinet is equipped with lugs

transport 7.

  Before describing the structure, we will return to the method traditionally used to move a bedside cabinet at the same time

  than a bed, with reference to Figure 16.

  In this figure has been represented symbolically a medical bed L. The frame C of this bed comprises at least one pair of parallel beams N between which extend not shown crosspieces. This set is integral with

  telescopic columns M which themselves rest on a base B with casters.

  The frame C receives a non-visible articulated bed base, on which a mattress S. is disposed. A footboard panel P is fixed to the frame. A similar panel is normally attached to the headboard. However, this has been previously dismantled to allow access between the side rails N. To provide this access, the bed base has been previously actuated so as to bring the

  part which supports the patient's bust in a position close to the vertical.

  When the access is clear, the furniture is positioned there, so that

  that the legs 7 are located on the side of the side members.

  By actuating the frame C so as to cause the elevation of the columns M (arrows f), the longitudinal members N come into contact with the tabs 7 and

  raise, through them, the bedside cabinet.

  In Figure 17 is visible only the lower box 3 of the bedside cabinet, with a tab 7 shown protruding towards its facade FI. A

  similar pass protrudes towards facade F2.

  These tabs are provided sliding with respect to the box 3, so as to be able to occupy a first storage position in which they are integrated in this box and do not protrude or practically not out of it, and a working position, in which they are at least partially

  extracted from the box and authorize the transport of said piece of furniture.

  As shown more particularly, the tabs 7 consist of a plate 70, preferably metallic, in which are cut two longitudinal slots 71, in alignment with one another. These lights are crossed by screw fixing means 72, made integral with the underside of a plate 38 on which the panel rests

or cover 36.

  This assembly allows each tab 7 to slide relative to the

plate 38.

  The free end of the legs 7 comprises a central wing 74, folded down 900 upwards, framed by two additional wings, folded down 90 times. The cover hood 36 is provided removable, so that by lifting it and sliding the legs towards the bedside cabinet, the central wing 74 of the legs 7 abuts against the edge of the plate 38 (Figure 20 ). The dimensions and the strength of the cover 38 are such that after it has been

  replaced on the plate 38, it covers the legs.

  Under these conditions, during periods of non-use, the legs are invisible. As a result, the aesthetics of the furniture is not affected and the risk of seeing

  unauthorized persons handling these legs is greatly reduced.

  When you want to release the legs 7 to transport the furniture, it

  just lift the cover 38 and slide it outwards.

  The wings 73 have the function of constituting stops for the

  lateral locking of the N profiles of the bed.

Claims (9)

  1. Bedside cabinet, in particular for hospital use, characterized in that it comprises at least one box (5) in which is integrated at least one storage element (6) comprising a tray (63) pivoting around a vertical axis (9), associated with a front panel (60), this tank being capable of occupying at least a first so-called non-use position, in which it is completely housed in said box (5) while the panel facade (60), the shape and dimensions of which give it a similar appearance to that of a drawer, is in alignment with the facade (FI; F2) of said piece of furniture, and a second so-called use position, in which it is extracted from said box (5) following its pivoting with respect to the axis (9), the front panel (60) then being housed in said box (5), that this box (5) has a lower horizontal wall (50) from which extends said axis (9), and that the latter is non-traversing and housed in a reservation   (602) of the front panel (60) provided for this purpose.   2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said box (5) has two opposite facades (Fi; F2) to each other and that it contains two storage elements (6), each being suitable to be extracted by one of the facades corresponding (FI; F2).   3. Furniture according to claim l or 2, characterized in that   said box (5) has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.   4. Furniture according to one of claims i to 3, characterized by   the fact that said box (5) has an upper and horizontal wall (51)   removable, its extraction giving direct access to said element (6).   5. Furniture according to one of claims l to 4, characterized by   fact that said tray (63) has, seen from above, the shape of a semicircle.   6. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the   the fact that said front panel (60) consists of two independent parts   (600, 601), one of them integrating the reservation (602) of said axis (9).   7. Furniture according to one of claims i to 6, characterized by   the fact that said storage bin (63) comprises suspension means (65, 66   633) to the internal wall of the front panel (60).   8. Furniture according to claim 7, characterized in that said internal wall is provided with at least two studs projecting (65, 66) and that said suspension means consist of legs capable (633) to come to cap   said pins (65, 66) by a generally vertical and descending movement.   9. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the   fact that the upper edge of said panel (60) has a concave middle portion, of dimensions adapted to allow the passage of the fingers of one hand.