Storage device for health care facility

Abstract

A storage device ( 100 ′) is provided for controlling access to medical items. The storage device ( 100 ′) has a drawer ( 104 ′) with a plurality of rows ( 115 ′), and a cover ( 200 ′) over each row ( 115 ′) of the drawer ( 104 ′) to secure the medical items in the bins ( 116 ′) located in the individual rows ( 115 ′) of the drawer ( 104 ′). The storage device ( 104 ′) has an unlocking member ( 208 ′) that is moveable between a first position and a second position to engage a specific cover ( 200 ′) of the drawer ( 104 ′) and thereby allow one of the covers ( 200 ′) to be opened when the drawer ( 104 ′) is opened. A sensor ( 130 ′) detects the position of the drawer ( 104 ′) and, when access to the contents of a particular bin ( 116 ′) is authorized, a control mechanism ( 117 ′) disengages until the specific bin ( 116 ′) is exposed, as determined by the sensor ( 130 ′).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a cabinet, a drawer fitted within the cabinet, the drawer having a plurality of rows, wherein a plurality of the rows are separated into a plurality of bins, and a control mechanism engaging the drawer, the control mechanism allowing locked positioning of the drawer between an open drawer position and a closed drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising separate covers for a plurality of the rows, respectively, of the drawer, the covers being moveable from an open cover position to a closed cover position, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween, to allow controlled access to individual rows of the drawer and to the bins in each respective row.  
     
     
         3 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the covers are closedly secured to the drawer in the closed cover position, wherein each of the bins of a row are covered in the closed cover position preventing access to any of the bins of the row in the closed cover position, and wherein the covers are in sliding engagement with the drawer to allow opening of the covers.  
     
     
         4 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the covers are connected to the drawer in sliding engagement to sequentially expose the bins of one of the rows.  
     
     
         5 . The storage device of  claim 2 , further comprising a latch mounted to the drawer, the latch engaging one of the covers in the closed cover position to prevent the cover from being opened in the closed cover position, the latch being moveable to an open latch position to allow opening of the cover.  
     
     
         6 . The storage device of  claim 5 , further comprising a separate latch for a plurality of the covers.  
     
     
         7 . The storage device of  claim 5 , further comprising an unlocking member having a tab, the unlocking member being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the cover in the second position, and further wherein the tab engages the cover in the second position allowing the cover to be moved into the open cover position when the drawer is opened.  
     
     
         8 . The storage device of  claim 7 , wherein the cover is prevented from movement with the drawer when the tab of the unlocking member engages the cover.  
     
     
         9 . The storage device of  claim 6 , further comprising separate unlocking members for each of the plurality of covers, each of the unlocking members having a tab and being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the respective cover in the second position, and further wherein the tab engages the respective cover in the second position allowing the cover to be moved into the open cover position when the drawer is opened.  
     
     
         10 . The storage device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second drawer fitted within the cabinet, the second drawer having a plurality of rows, wherein a plurality of the rows of the second drawer are separated into a plurality of bins, and a separate control mechanism engaging the second drawer, the control mechanism allowing independent positioning of the second drawer between an open drawer position and a closed drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween, the second drawer also having individual covers for a plurality of the rows of the second drawer, the covers being moveable from an open cover position to a closed cover position, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween, to allow controlled access to the bins of the second drawer, the second drawer also having a latch mounted to the second drawer, the latch engaging one of the covers of the second drawer in the closed cover position to prevent the cover from being opened in the closed cover position, the latch being moveable to an open latch position to allow opening of the cover, wherein a second tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the cover of the second drawer when the unlocking member is in the second position.  
     
     
         11 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor connected to one of the drawer or the cabinet, the sensor providing a signal to the control mechanism of the position of the drawer.  
     
     
         12 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a ratchet member connected to the drawer, a latching mechanism releasably engaging the ratchet member, a sensor for determining a position of the drawer, and a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the latching mechanism, the controller receiving a position signal from the sensor, and the controller providing a control signal to the latching mechanism to manipulate engagement and disengagement of the ratchet member for allowing movement of the drawer.  
     
     
         13 . The storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the ratchet member comprises a linear ratcheting gear.  
     
     
         14 . The storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the ratchet member is configured to resist opening and allow closing of the drawer when engaged by the latching mechanism.  
     
     
         15 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a drawer, a plurality of dividers extending about a width of the drawer and separating the drawer into a plurality of bins, a drawer control mechanism engaging the drawer and adapted to provide locked positioning of the drawer between an open drawer position and a closed drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween, and a cover slidingly engaging the drawer and being moveable between an open cover position and a locked closed cover position, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween, to allow access to the bins when the drawer is in one of the opened drawer position and a progressively opened drawer position.    
     
     
         16 . The storage device of  claim 15 , further comprising a latch mounted to the drawer, the latch engaging the cover to prevent the cover from being opened in the closed cover position, the latch being moveable to an open latch position to allow opening of the cover.  
     
     
         17 . The storage device of  claim 16 , further comprising an unlocking member having a tab, the unlocking member being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the cover in the second position of the unlocking member, and wherein the tab engages the cover in the second position allowing the cover to be moved into the open cover position when the drawer is opened.  
     
     
         18 . The storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the cover is prevented from movement with the drawer when the tab of the unlocking member engages the cover.  
     
     
         19 . The storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the drawer is further divided into a plurality of rows that are separated into a plurality of bins with dividers, wherein the rows have individual covers, wherein each cover has a latch associated therewith, each latch engaging the respective cover to prevent the cover from being opened in the closed cover position, the latch being moveable to an open latch position to allow opening of the cover.  
     
     
         20 . The storage device of  claim 19 , further comprising an unlocking member for each row of the drawer.  
     
     
         21 . The storage device of  claim 15 , further comprising a second drawer adjacent the first drawer, the second drawer having a cover and a latch mounted to the second drawer and engaging the cover on the second drawer to prevent the cover from being opened in the closed cover position, and an unlocking member having a first tab and a second tab, and the unlocking member being moveable between a first position and a second position, in the second position the first tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the cover of the first drawer and the second tab of the unlocking member disengages the latch from the cover of the second drawer, and in the second position the first tab engages the cover of the first drawer and the second tab engages the cover of the second drawer allowing the cover of one of the first drawer or the second drawer to be moved into the open cover position when one of the first drawer or the second drawer is opened.  
     
     
         22 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a first drawer having a cover that is secured to the first drawer in the closed cover position;    a second drawer having a cover that is secured to the second drawer in the closed cover position; and,    an unlocking member having a first tab and a second tab, and being moveable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the unlocking member does not engage either of the covers, and in the second position the first tab of the unlocking member engages the cover of the first drawer and the second tab of the unlocking member engages the cover of the second drawer to allow the cover of one of the first or second drawer to be opened when one of the first or second drawers, respectively, is opened.    
     
     
         23 . The storage device of  claim 22 , further comprising a first control mechanism engaging the first drawer and providing positioning of the first drawer between an open drawer position and a closed drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions, and a second control mechanism engaging the second drawer and providing positioning of the second drawer between an open drawer position and a closed drawer position, also including progressively opened drawer positions, wherein only one of the first and second control mechanisms is operable at one time to open one of the first or second drawers, thereby maintaining the other of the first or second drawers in the closed drawer position at that time.  
     
     
         24 . The storage device of  claim 22 , wherein the covers for the first and second drawers slidingly engage their respective drawer.  
     
     
         25 . A storage device for medical items, comprising: 
 a cabinet, a drawer slidably retained in the cabinet, the drawer having a plurality of rows for holding medical items, the rows extending from a front portion of the drawer to a rear portion of the drawer, and a portion of a control mechanism located between two of the plurality of rows in the drawer.    
     
     
         26 . The storage device of  claim 25 , wherein each row of the drawer has a cover movable between a closed cover position and an open cover position, and wherein each cover has a latch removably locking the cover to the drawer in the closed cover position, the latch being moveable to an open position to allow opening of the cover.  
     
     
         27 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein the covers slide about the respective rows to sequentially expose a plurality of bins in each row.  
     
     
         28 . The storage device of  claim 25 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a ratcheting member with a plurality of one-way teeth, and a latching member engaging the ratcheting member in a plurality of positions to prevent the drawer from opening a controlled distance beyond the current position, while allowing the drawer to be closed at any time.  
     
     
         29 . The storage device of  claim 28 , further comprising a sensor in the drawer, the sensor providing a signal of the position of the drawer.  
     
     
         30 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a drawer within the cabinet, the drawer having a plurality of rows separated into a plurality of bins;    a control member engaging the drawer and allowing locked positioning of the drawer between a closed drawer position and an open drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween, to sequentially expose any open bins;    a sensor providing a signal of the location of the drawer relative to the cabinet to assist in determining a current position of the drawer relative to the plurality bins, the signal being transferred to a controller, wherein the controller controls engagement of the control mechanism to allow opening of the drawer;    individual covers over the rows in the drawer, the covers being moveable from an open cover position to a closed cover position as the drawer is progressively opened, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween to allow controlled access to the bins, wherein the covers are secured to the drawer in the closed cover position; and,    an unlocking member engaging the covers to selectively unlock the covers to allow the bins to be exposed as the drawer is opened.    
     
     
         31 . The storage device of  claim 30 , wherein the control member comprises a ratcheting member connected to the drawer, and a latching mechanism configured to engage the ratcheting member at any of a plurality of positions to prevent the drawer from opening a controlled distance beyond the current position, while allowing the drawer to be closed at any time.  
     
     
         32 . The storage device of  claim 31 , wherein the ratcheting member has a plurality of unidirectional teeth.  
     
     
         33 . The storage device of  claim 30 , wherein the unlocking member comprises a solenoid having an engaging member, the engaging member contacting the ratcheting member to prevent exterior movement of the drawer.  
     
     
         34 . The storage device of  claim 30 , wherein the unlocking member is moveable from a first position to a second position, and wherein at tab of the unlocking member engages the cover in the second position to secure the cover to the unlocking member.  
     
     
         35 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a cabinet, a drawer being moveable between a closed drawer position and an open drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween, a means for retaining the drawer in various positions, a cover engaging the drawer and being moveable between an open cover position and a closed cover position, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween, and a means for retaining the cover within the cabinet when the drawer is moved to an opened drawer position.    
     
     
         36 . The storage device of  claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of rows in the drawer, and a separate cover for each row.  
     
     
         37 . A storage device for controlling access to medical items, comprising: 
 a cabinet, a drawer having a plurality of bins, the drawer being moveable between a closed drawer position and an open drawer position, including progressively opened drawer positions therebetween, a means for retaining the drawer in various positions, a cover engaging the drawer and being moveable between an open cover position and a closed cover position, including progressively opened cover positions therebetween, and a means for exposing the bins of the drawer when the drawer is moved to an opened drawer position.    
     
     
         38 . A method of providing access to medical items in a drawer of a cabinet, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cabinet having a drawer, the drawer having a row divided into a plurality bins, and a cover over the row, the cover moveably engaging the drawer;    securing the cover in a rear portion of the cabinet;    allowing the drawer to be moved to an open position, wherein as the drawer is progressively opened, the drawer moves relative to the cover to sequentially expose and provide access to the bins of the drawer.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of rows in the draw, each row being divided into a plurality of bins, and each row having an individual cover moveably engaging the drawer;    securing one of the plurality of covers to a rear portion of the cabinet, the remaining covers of the drawer being secured to the drawer;    allowing the drawer to be moved into the open position, wherein as the drawer is progressively opened, the bins of the row having the cover secured to the rear portion of the cabinet become sequentially accessible, and wherein the bins of the remaining rows are covered and inaccessible.