Family Zone Modules for Hospital Walls

Abstract

A modular wall system is provided for use in a healthcare facility to divide the available floor space into rooms and to support hospital equipment modules. The system includes a plurality of frame units configured to rest on the floor and extend vertically upwardly. The frame units form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having a predetermined height and a predetermined width. A plurality of family zone modules is configured to be positioned in the spaces to form a wall of the healthcare facility.

1 . A modular wall system for use in a healthcare facility, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of frame units arranged in a side-by-side relationship, and    a plurality of family zone modules coupled to the frame units to form a wall of the healthcare facility.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frame units form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having a predetermined height and a predetermined width, the plurality of family zone modules are configured to be positioned in the wall spaces to form the wall.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the plurality of family zone modules have a width substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined width of the wall spaces and have a height substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined height of the wall spaces.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each frame unit has a plurality of connection points spaced apart from each other by a predetermined height and a predetermined width to form a grid, the plurality of family zone modules are coupled to the frame units at the connection points to form the wall.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least some of the plurality of family zone modules have a width substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined width and have a height substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined height.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , comprising a plurality of supporting members configured to be detachably coupled to the frame units at the connection points, wherein the supporting members extend generally horizontally away from the frame units in a cantilevered fashion, and the plurality of family zone modules is configured to be coupled to the supporting members to form the wall.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each module includes at least one pair of oppositely disposed guide tracks sized and positioned to receive an associated pair of oppositely disposed supporting members.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the family zone modules include any one or more of the following: a hideaway bed module, a microwave module, a refrigerator module, a cabinet module, a drawer module, a fold-down seat module, a reading lamp module, a television module, a fold-down worksurface module, a shelving module, a wardrobe module, a decorative panel module, a whiteboard module, a tacksurface module and a mood panel module.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the hideaway bed module includes a deck coupled to an enclosure to move between a lowered use position where the deck extends generally horizontally from the enclosure and a raised storage position.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein, when the deck is in the storage position, the outwardly facing underside of the deck provides a surface usable to create a pleasing appearance.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising a mattress resting on an upwardly facing surface of the deck.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mattress is secured to the deck to hold it in place when the deck is raised to the storage position.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mattress is an air mattress.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hideaway bed module includes a foot panel coupled to the deck to move between a lowered use position where the foot panel rests on a floor to support the deck and a raised storage position.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hideaway bed module includes a reading light near the head end of the deck.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hideaway bed module includes a gas spring to assist in the movement of the deck between the storage and use positions.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fold-down seat module includes a seat panel movable between a lowered use position and a raised storage position.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fold-down seat module includes a brace to support the seat panel in the lowered use position.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fold-down seat module includes a cushion resting on an upwardly facing surface of the seat panel.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the cushion is secured to the seat panel to hold it in place when the seat panel is raised to the storage position.