GB2355178A

GB2355178A - Surgical cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2355178A
Application number: GB0025064A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Maurice Hatton; Howard Simler
Original assignee: Daniels & Co Ltd A C
Current assignee: Daniels & Co Ltd A C
Priority date: 1999-10-12
Filing date: 2000-10-12
Publication date: 2001-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-12
Also published as: GB0025064D0; GB2355178B; GB2355176A; GB9924184D0

Abstract

A surgical cabinet for storing disposable items, such as gloves, overshoes, masks and aprons, is described comprising a front panel 2 pivotally attached to an inner assembly 12. The inner assembly 12 includes compartments in which packs of the disposable items are located. The front panel 2 includes apertures 5, 6, 7, 9 through which the disposable items located in the compartments 13, 14, 15, and 16 can be pulled when the front panel 2 is closed in position over the inner assembly 12.

Description

2355178 A SURGICAL CABINET The invention relates to a surgical cabinet.

Such a cabinet may be used in the storage of protective articles such as protective clothing, cleaners and the like in a hospital environment.

Protective clothing is being used more and more in hospitals to reduce the risk of cross-infection by making the clothing more readily and easily available for use.

Typically such protective clothing includes disposable, single use items such as gloves, masks, overshoes and aprons. Cleaners such as hand rubs are also widely used to protect against infection. Batches of disposable protective clothing are often supplied in boxes or cartons. These cartons tend to be stacked in a comer or to one end of a ward and the clothing removed and used as and when required. Protective and cleaning solutions are supplied in individual dispensers that are wall mounted, usually near to a sink or other washing station. A problem with this is that the cartons tend to be stacked one upon another. Cartons become damaged and clothing can fall on the floor. Plainly, such poor storage and handling is unsatisfactory and unhygenic.

The invention addresses this and related problems and disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a surgical cabinet comprising a plurality of compartments each for storing multiple units of a respective protective article, with each compartment being accessible via a respective restricted access hole, whereby a plurality of different protective articles may be stored at and dispensed from a single location.

The above and further features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and together with advantages thereof will become clearer from consideration of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a surgical cabinet embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of compartments within the cabinet; Figure 3 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of compartments within the cabinet; and Figure 4 is a side view of the surgical cabinet showing the alternative embodiment of compartments as shown in Figure 3.

Turning now to Figure I of the accompanying drawings there is shown a surgical cabinet I embodying the invention. The cabinet I comprises a front cover 2 which is pivotally mounted at its rearmost lower edge 3 to an inner assembly (shown in Figure 2). The front cover 2 comprises an upper front face 4 in which are defined three vertical apertures 5, 6 and 7, and a lower front face 8 in which is defined a horizontal aperture 9. A handle 10, which may be lockable, may be provided at the top of the front cover 2 to facilitate access to the inner assembly.

As is shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, the inner assembly 12 is divided into four compartments 13, 14, 15 and 16. When the front cover 2 is placed over the inner assembly 12, the vertical apertures 5, 6 and 7 are disposed over the compartments 13, 14 and 15 respectively, and the horizontal aperture 9 is disposed over the compartment 16. Each of the compartments 13 to 16 is of a size suitable to receive a pack of multiple items of disposable surgical clothing, such as gloves, masks overshoes and aprons. The packs may be held in place in the compartments simply by the placing of the front cover over the inner assembly. Alternatively or additionally suitable retainers, such as elasticated straps (not shown) may be provided.

In typical use the compartments 13, 14 and 15 will contain packs of disposable gloves, masks and overshoes which are accessed when required through the apertures 3 5, 6 and 7. Likewise the compartment 16 will contain a roll of plastic disposable aprons which are dispensed through the aperture 9. Of course the compartments may be used to store any combination of pack of clothing. For example, three different sizes of gloves could be provided in the compartments 13, 14 and 15.

A tab 17 is provided at one side of the inner assembly 12 to enable other items to be mounted thereto. Conveniently a dispenser of hand disinfecting lotion or other cleanser (not shown) may be mounted to the tab 16.

The cabinet I is intended to be secured in use to a wall at a suitable location in a hospital ward or theatre for example. Holes 18 may be provided in the inner assembly for this purpose. Alternatively, a separate mounting panel (not shown) may be provided for fixing to a wall to provide a mounting for the inner assembly 12.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of inner assembly 12 where the compartments 13, 14, 15 and 16 comprise trays 20 and 2 1. The tray 20 will hold packs or boxes (not shown) of gloves, overshoes or masks as described above. The packs or boxes are located in the tray 20 such that when the front panel 2 is placed over the inner assembly 19, the vertical apertures 5, 6 and 7 are disposed over the packs or boxes held in the tray 20.

Similarly, the tray 21 will hold a roll of plastic aprons as described above. The aprons are located in the tray 21 such that the horizontal aperture 9 located in the front panel 2 is disposed over the roll of aprons in the tray 21 when the front panel 2 is closed over the inner assembly 19.

In order to retain the packs or boxes in a suitable position on the tray 20, spring clips 22, 23, 24 are provided. The spring clips 22, 23, 24 hold the packs or boxes in a forward position on the tray 20 such that they are retained close to the front 4 panel 2 for ease of removal of the items within through the apertures 5, 6, and 7 when the ftont panel 2 is closed over the inner assembly 19.

The inner assembly 19 is additionally provided with support blocks 25, to align and support the front panel 2 when it is being closed into position over the inner assembly 19.

Spring loaded clips 26 are provided on the inner assembly 19, to lock and locate the front panel 2 to the inner assembly 19 when in the closed position.

Figure 4 shows the inner assembly 19 in used, with the front panel 2 pivotally mounted to the inner assembly 19 by suitable hinge means. Although the front panel 2 may be supported on the inner assembly 19 by way of the hinges (not shown) alone, additional support is provided by way of support straps 27 located between the inner assembly 19 and the front panel 2.

These support straps 27 are preferably formed from a flexible material such as a strip of plastic or a chain. However, any suitable form of support strap may be used.

The front cover 2 and the inner assembly 12 may be manufactured from any suitable material. High density styrene is a convenient material in this regard. The spring clips 22, 23, 24 are preferably metal spring clips. However, any suitable clips may be used. Similarly, the clips 26 are preferably spring loaded plastic clips.

However, any suitable form of clip may be used.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the cabinet facilitates the storing and handling of items used to assist in the elimination of cross-infection.

The cabinet combines storage of gloves, masks, overshoes and aprons together with a chemicals dispenser to make all items readily accessible at a single location.

Having thus described the present invention by reference to a preferred embodiment it is to be well understood that the embodiment in question is exemplary only and that modifications and variations such as will occur to those possessed of appropriate knowledge and skills may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

6

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A surgical cabinet comprising a plurality of compartments each for storing multiple units of a respective protective article, with each compartment being accessible via a respective restricted access hole, whereby a plurality of different protective articles may be stored at and dispensed from a single location.

2. A surgical cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plural compartments are defined in an inner assembly and the access holes are defined as apertures in a front cover dimensioned to fit over the inner assembly.

3. A surgical cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front panel is pivotally mounted to the inner assembly to facilitate access to within the compartments.

4. A surgical cabinet as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a tab for mounting a fluid dispenser to the cabinet.

5. A surgical cabinet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner assembly is integrally formed.

6. A surgical cabinet substantially as descnibed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.