US-20260125090-A1 - TREATMENT CART WITH PASS THROUGH TRAY

US20260125090A1US 20260125090 A1US20260125090 A1US 20260125090A1US-20260125090-A1

Abstract

A cart for tending to a patient includes a base, a tabletop, a body, a drawer, and a tray. The base has a plurality of wheels. The body vertically extends from the base to the tabletop and supports the tabletop thereon. The drawer is supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a first closed position toward a first open position. The tray is movably supported by the body such that the tray is configured to selectively move from a stowed position toward a first lateral position and from the stowed position toward a second lateral position. The tray in the stowed position is vertically below the tabletop. The tray in the first and second lateral positions projects from the body such that at least a portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and thus exposed for access.

Inventors

Brian L. Stachler
Darin G. Whittington

Assignees

MIDMARK CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251231

Claims (20)

1 . A cart for tending to a patient, comprising: (a) a base including a plurality of wheels; (b) a tabletop; (c) a body vertically extending from the base to the tabletop and supporting the tabletop thereon; (d) a first drawer supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a first closed position toward a first open position; and (e) a tray movably supported by the body such that the tray is configured to selectively move from a stowed position toward a first lateral position and from the stowed position toward a second lateral position, wherein the tray in the stowed position is vertically below the tabletop, wherein the tray in the first lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a first portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and thus exposed for access, and wherein the tray in the second lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a second portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and thus exposed for access.
2 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tray remains vertically below the tabletop in each of the stowed, first lateral, and second lateral positions.
3 . The cart of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the tray remains directly vertically below the tabletop in each of the stowed, first lateral, and second lateral positions.
4 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein the tray in the stowed position is directly vertically below the tabletop.
5 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a right handle and a laterally opposing second handle, wherein the second and first handles respectively project laterally from the body in the stowed position for access.
6 . The cart of claim 5 , wherein the first handle is positioned vertically below the tabletop with the tray in the second lateral position and inward of the body, and wherein the second handle is positioned vertically below the tabletop with the tray in the first lateral position and inward of the body.
7 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein the tabletop defines an outer lateral envelope, and wherein the tray in the stowed position is within the outer lateral envelope below the tabletop.
8 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein the tray is positioned vertically between the first drawer and the tabletop.
9 . The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a second drawer supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a second closed position toward a second open position, wherein the second drawer is locked in the second closed position when the first drawer is not in the first closed position, and wherein the first drawer is locked in the first closed position when the second drawer is not in the second closed position.
10 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels projects laterally outward relative to the body for enhanced stability.
11 . The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a rack supported by the body and configured to receive a medical supply thereon.
12 . The cart of claim 11 , further comprising a lateral side panel extending from the base toward the tabletop, wherein the rack is positioned on the lateral side panel.
13 . The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a rack assembly supported by the body and extending upward from the body such that at least a portion of the rack assembly is vertically higher than the tabletop, wherein the rack assembly is configured to receive a medical supply thereon.
14 . The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a cart handle supported by the body.
15 . The cart of claim 14 , further comprising a lateral side panel extending from the base toward the tabletop, wherein the cart handle is positioned on the lateral side panel.
16 . The cart of claim 15 , wherein the tray in at least one of the second or first lateral positions is positioned vertically offset from the cart handle.
17 . The cart of claim 15 , wherein the tray in at least one of the second or first lateral positions is positioned vertically above the cart handle.
18 . The cart of claim 1 , wherein the tabletop includes a rim surrounding a recess.
19 . A cart for tending to a patient, comprising: (a) a base including a plurality of wheels; (b) a tabletop; (c) a body extending in a vertical direction from the base to the tabletop and supporting the tabletop thereon; (d) a first drawer supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a first closed position toward a first open position; (e) a second drawer supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a second closed position toward a second open position; (f) a locking mechanism operatively connected to the first and second drawers, wherein the second drawer is locked by the locking mechanism in the second closed position when the first drawer is not in the first closed position, and wherein the first drawer is locked by the locking mechanism in the first closed position when the second drawer is not in the second closed position; (g) a slot laterally extending perpendicular to the vertical direction through the body; and (h) a tray movably supported by the body within the slot such that the tray is configured to selectively move from a stowed position toward a first lateral position and from the stowed position toward a second lateral position, wherein the tray in the stowed position is vertically below the tabletop, wherein the tray in the first lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a first portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and thus exposed for access, and wherein the tray in the second lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a second portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and thus exposed for access.
20 . A cart for tending to a patient, comprising: (a) a base including a plurality of wheels; (b) a tabletop; (c) a body vertically extending from the base to the tabletop and supporting the tabletop thereon, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels projects laterally outward relative to the body for enhanced stability; (d) a rack assembly supported by the body and extending upward from the body such that at least a portion of the rack assembly is vertically higher than the tabletop, wherein the rack assembly is configured to receive a medical supply thereon; (e) a cart handle supported by the body; (f) a lateral side panel extending from the base toward the tabletop, wherein the cart handle is positioned on the lateral side panel. (g) a first drawer supported by the body and configured to selectively move from a first closed position toward a first open position; and (h) a tray movably supported by the body such that the tray is configured to selectively move from a stowed position toward a first lateral position and from the stowed position toward a second lateral position, wherein the tray in the stowed position is vertically below the tabletop, wherein the tray in the first lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a first portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and exposed for access, and wherein the tray in the second lateral position projects laterally from the body such that at least a second portion of the tray is not vertically below the tabletop and exposed for access, wherein at least a portion of the tray remains vertically below the tabletop in each of the stowed, first lateral, and second lateral positions, wherein the tray includes a first handle and a laterally opposing second handle, wherein the second and first handles respectively project laterally from the body in the stowed position for access, wherein the tray is positioned vertically between the first drawer and the tabletop, and wherein the tray in at least one of the second or first lateral positions is positioned vertically offset from the cart handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to U.S. Pat. App. No. 63/311,748, entitled “Treatment Cart with Pass Through Tray,” filed February 18, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND Conventional carts for storing and transporting medical supplies are generally well known and used to aid in the treatment of patients. Such conventional carts may provide interior and/or exterior storage capacity for medical supplies as desired by a user, such as a doctor, nurse, technician, or other medical care provider. While conventional carts may store and transport medical supplies, many conventional carts become overwhelmed by the weight, number, and variety of medical supplies desired in a given healthcare facility. For example, the distribution of such supplies may shift during use such that movement of the cart from patient to patient may increase the risk of tipping over during use, potentially harming the user or patient. Movable locations for storage of these medical supplies during use may exacerbate this risk of tipping and harm. Furthermore, many medical supplies require manipulation and preparation during treatment such that available surface area on which to place these medical supplies may be desirable. This surface area may be crowded, blocked, or otherwise inaccessible due to these medical supplies being placed as otherwise desired by the user. Such inaccessibility may increase after placing medical supplies to address one patient’s needs followed by differing needs of patients thereafter. There is need for a cart and related methods for tending to a patient in a healthcare facility, particularly for storing and transporting medical supplies, that addresses present challenges and characteristics such as those discussed above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which: FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of an exemplary treatment cart including a plurality of drawers and a tray configured to move through a plurality of positions; FIG. 2 depicts a rear perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 depicts a front elevational view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 depicts a rear elevational view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 depicts a right-side elevational view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 depicts a left-side elevational view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 depicts a front perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with one of the plurality of drawers moved from a closed position to an open position; FIG. 8 depicts a front perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with the plurality of drawers hidden for additional clarity; FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1; FIG. 10 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with the tray in a stowed position of the plurality of positions; FIG. 11 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with the tray in a right lateral position of the plurality of positions; FIG. 12 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with the tray in a left lateral position of the plurality of positions; FIG. 13 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the treatment cart of FIG. 1 with the tray and various features hidden for additional clarity; FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the tray of FIG. 1; FIG. 15 depicts a bottom view of the tray of FIG. 1; and FIG. 16 depicts a bottom perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1. The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptio