Bedside storage structure

Abstract

A bedside storage structure for use in hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes, and other medical care facilities wherein the storage structure includes a bottom storage unit or structure having one or more drawers or doors for permitting access thereto. Rotatively mounted on the bottom storage structure is a storage unit that includes a series of compartments that are disposed around the vertical axis. A top is fixedly secured over the rotating unit. A series of grab bars extend between the top and the bottom storage structure to assist individuals or patients in moving and maneuvering around the bedside storage structure.

1 . A bedside storage structure for use in hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes, and other medical care facilities, comprising: 
 a. a bottom storage structure having a top and an accessible interior area for storage;    b. a rotary support disposed over the top of the bottom storage structure, the rotary support including a first member fixably secured to the bottom storage structure and a second member rotatable relative to the first member and the bottom storage structure;    c. a rotary compartmentalized storage section rotatively mounted over the bottom storage structure for rotation about a vertical axis, the rotary compartmentalized storage section being mounted to the second member of the rotary support and including: 
 i. a bottom fixed to the second member of the rotary support such that the bottom can rotate with the second member and relative to the bottom support structure;  
 ii. an array of compartments disposed over the bottom and distributed around the compartmentalized storage section, one or more of the compartments being open from the side such that articles and objects can easily be placed in the compartments;  
 iii. a generally central opening formed in the rotary compartmentalized storage section, the central opening extending through the bottom and the array of compartments of the compartmentalized storage section;  
 iv. wherein the array of compartments are disposed outwardly of and around the central opening;  
   d. a fixed vertical support secured to the bottom storage structure and extending upwardly through the central opening of the compartmentalized storage section, the vertical support extending through the bottom and the array of compartments of the compartmentalized storage section;    e. the fixed vertical support including an upper end;    f. a top fixed to the upper end of the vertical support and extending over the compartmentalized storage section;    g. wherein the compartmentalized storage section is rotatively supported between the bottom storage structure and the fixed top, and wherein the compartmentalized storage section can rotate with the second member of the rotary support independently of the vertical support and independently of the top, and further the compartmentalized storage section can rotate around the vertical support; and    h. one or more grab bars extending between the top of the bottom storage structure and the top for assisting people in moving in the vicinity the bedside storage structure.    
   
   
       2 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the first and second members of the rotary support include two concentric rings that extend around an opening and wherein the vertical support extends through the opening defined by the two concentric rings.  
   
   
       3 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the array of compartments includes an inner wall structure that defines the central opening that extends through the compartmentalized storage section.  
   
   
       4 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the central opening formed in the compartmentalized storage section is elongated and generally rectangular or square in cross section.  
   
   
       5 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 4  wherein the vertical support includes an elongated structural member having at least two components disposed at generally 90° with respect to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the bottom storage structure and the top include corner areas and wherein there is provided at least two grab bars with each grab bar extending between aligned corner areas of the bottom storage structure and the top.  
   
   
       7 . The bedside storage structure of  claim 1  wherein the bottom storage structure includes one or more drawers.  
   
   
       8 . A storage structure comprising: 
 a. a bottom storage structure having a top and an accessible interior area for storage;    b. a rotary compartmentalized storage section rotatively mounted to the bottom storage structure;    c. the rotary compartmentalized storage section including an array of compartments disposed around the compartmentalized storage section;    d. a fixed top disposed over the rotary compartmentalized storage section, wherein the rotary compartmentalized storage section is rotatable with respect to both the bottom storage structure and the top; and    e. one or more supports extending upwardly from the bottom storage structure and connecting with the top so as to support the top over the rotary compartmentalized storage section; and    f. wherein the rotary compartmentalized storage section is sandwiched between the bottom storage structure and the fixed top, but is rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to both the bottom storage structure and the fixed top.    
   
   
       9 . The storage structure of  claim 8  wherein the supports for supporting the top include at least one grab bar that is connected between the bottom storage structure and the top and disposed outwardly of the rotating compartmentalized storage section.  
   
   
       10 . The storage structure of  claim 8  wherein the rotating compartmentalized storage section includes an elongated central vertical opening that extends through the rotating compartmentalized storage section; and wherein there is provided a central support structure that is secured to the bottom storage structure and extends upwardly therefrom through the central opening of the rotating compartmentalized storage section where an upper end portion thereof is secured to the top.  
   
   
       11 . The storage structure of  claim 8  wherein the bottom storage structure is provided with one or more drawers or doors that permit access to the interior storage area.  
   
   
       12 . The storage structure of  claim 10  wherein the array of compartments are disposed outwardly of the central opening and wherein the compartments are disposed substantially around the entirety of the central opening and wherein one or more of the compartments are open from the side to permit easy access thereto.  
   
   
       13 . The storage structure of  claim 8  including a rotary support interposed between the bottom storage structure and the rotating compartmentalized storage section, the rotary support including a first member fixed to the bottom storage structure and a second member rotatable with respect to the first member and connected to the compartmentalized storage section, permitting the compartmentalized storage section to rotate with respect to the bottom support structure.  
   
   
       14 . A storage structure, comprising: 
 a. a bottom storage structure having a top and an accessible interior area for storage;    b. the bottom storage structure including one or more drawers or doors for permitting access to the interior storage area;    c. a rotating storage unit supported on the bottom storage structure and rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the bottom storage structure; and    d. wherein the rotatable storage unit includes an array of storage compartments disposed around the rotating storage unit.    
   
   
       15 . The storage structure of  claim 14  wherein the rotating storage unit includes a central opening and wherein there is provided a vertical support structure that is supported by the bottom storage structure and extends upwardly through the central opening of the rotating storage unit and includes an upper end portion; a top fixed to the upper end portion of the vertical support and wherein the top overlies a substantial portion of the rotating storage unit; and 
 wherein the rotating storage unit rotates around the vertical support.    
   
   
       16 . The storage structure of  claim 15  including one or more grab bars that extend between the bottom storage structure and the top, wherein the grab bars assist individuals in moving in the vicinity of the storage structure.  
   
   
       17 . The storage structure of  claim 14  including a rotary support interposed between the bottom storage structure and the rotating storage unit, the rotary support including a pair of concentric rings, one ring being fixed to the bottom storage structure and the other ring being secured to the rotating storage unit; and wherein the vertical support extends upwardly through an opening defined interiorly of the two concentric rings.  
   
   
       18 . The storage structure of  claim 14  wherein the array of compartments are formed by a structure that includes an inner rectangular or square wall that defines a central opening through the rotating storage unit; and wherein there is provided a vertical support structure that is secured to the bottom storage structure and extends upwardly through the central opening and includes an upper end portion that attaches to a top that is fixed with respect to the rotating storage unit, the top extending substantially over the rotating storage unit.  
   
   
       19 . The storage unit of  claim 18  wherein a plurality of the compartments formed in the rotating storage unit are open from the side to permit easy access thereto.  
   
   
       20 . The storage structure of  claim 14  wherein the array of compartments is formed by a series of members that intersect at generally 90° angles to form compartments substantially around the vertical axis of the rotating storage unit, and wherein the structure forming the compartments also forms an inner wall that defines a rectangular or square central opening for receiving a vertical support that extends between the bottom support structure and a top, and wherein the vertical support structure supports the top in a fixed location with respect to the rotating storage unit.  
   
   
       21 . The storage structure of  claim 14  including a top disposed over the rotating unit and one or more grab bars extending between the top and the bottom support structure.