Stairway apparatus for use with endoscope cabinets

A stairway apparatus for use with an endoscope storage cabinet includes a slidable door to open or close the cabinet's interior compartment. The stairway apparatus includes a base member disposed on a ground and placed against the cabinet, the base member having a first step with a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, and a top face connecting the front and rear faces, the front face having a lip coupled thereto and positioned to remain flush with the top face of the first step. The front face of the first step contacts front edges of the cabinet. The lip extends into the interior compartment of the cabinet when open and contacts side walls of the cabinet, thereby preventing lateral movement of the base member.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to cabinets for storing medical equipment.

Medical equipment such as endoscopes are generally stored in cabinets when not in use. In order to prevent a contamination of the equipment, special safety and handling measures are taken by users to prevent each endoscope from coiling, touching another endoscope or unsanitary surface when hung inside of the cabinet. This protects the endoscope from contamination and enhances the lifetime of the equipment.

Since endoscopes are hung upright within the cabinet, it is not uncommon for the cabinet to have a height of at least 100 inches. This height makes it difficult for users to maneuver the endoscopes within the cabinet, which increases the chance of mishandling the equipment. Users sometimes place stools within the cabinets to help increase their reach height. However, the stool in this configuration promotes the transfer of germs and/or bacteria to the cabinet and creates a tripping hazard.

Several step devices for cabinets exist as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,266 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2015/0001005. However, these step devices are undesirable because a significant portion of each device is inserted within the cabinet. This reduces cabinet storage space and is problematic in cabinets used for storing medical equipment. In particular, the insertion of a significant portion of the device within the cabinet increases the likelihood the device and/or user contacts the stored medical equipment. This greatly increases the risk of contaminating the medical equipment.

As such, there is a need in the industry for a stairway apparatus for use with endoscope storing cabinets that addresses the limitations of the prior art, which improves the user's ability to maneuver any endoscopes within the cabinet while reducing the likelihood of contamination to the medical equipment.

SUMMARY

A stairway apparatus for use with a cabinet that stores a plurality of endoscopes is provided. The cabinet comprises a slidable door to open or close an interior compartment of the cabinet. The stairway apparatus is configured to aid a user in maneuvering the endoscopes within the cabinet while reducing a contamination risk by minimizing inadvertent contact between each endoscope and another object. The stairway apparatus comprises a base member disposed on a ground and placed against the cabinet, the base member comprising a first step, the first step comprising a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, and a top face connecting the front and rear faces, the front face comprising a lip coupled thereto and positioned to remain flush with the top face of the first step, wherein the front face of the first step is configured to contact front edges of the cabinet, wherein the lip is configured to extend into the interior compartment of the cabinet when open and contact side walls of the cabinet, thereby preventing lateral movement of the base member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted inFIGS. 1-3, stairway apparatus18is configured for use with cabinet10, which is configured to store a plurality of endoscopes (not shown). Cabinet10generally comprises slidable door12, handle14, and latch16. Slidable door12preferably is a tambour door that can slidably adjust to a closed position as shown inFIG. 1or an open position as shown inFIG. 2. Once slidable door12is in the open position, the interior compartment of cabinet10is exposed, which comprises hooks30and separator shelf22. Each hook30is configured to secure an endoscope (not shown). In certain embodiments, separator shelf22may comprises slots (not shown) to receive the stored endoscopes and prevent them from contacting each other.

Stairway apparatus18generally comprises a plurality of steps and may be made from various materials known in the field including, but not limited to, wood, stainless steel, other metals, or the like. In one embodiment, stairway apparatus18comprises an upper step and a lower step. However, it shall be appreciated that stairway apparatus18may comprise any alternative number of steps to accommodate different sized cabinets.

In certain embodiments, stair covering20is coupled to the upper and lower steps of stairway apparatus18to enhance grip when a user (not shown) is positioned on either step. Stair covering20is preferably made from plastic, but may include other materials such as fabric, rubber, other materials, and the like. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of wheels (not shown) may be secured to the bottom of stairway apparatus18to permit a user to easily transport the apparatus from one location to another.

As depicted inFIG. 8, foam pad32is coupled to the front face of stairway apparatus18by an adhesive. However, alternative fastening components may be used instead. Foam pad32is a compressible and resilient member that prevents endoscopes stored within cabinet10from becoming damaged upon contact with foam pad32.

The upper step of stairway apparatus18comprises lip34, which extends out from the front face of stairway apparatus18. In a preferred embodiment, lip34is coupled to a central portion of the top edge of the front face of stairway apparatus18. Lip34remains flush with the top face of the upper step of stairway apparatus18.

In operation, stairway apparatus18is disposed on the ground and positioned against the front side of cabinet10as shown inFIGS. 1-2 and 6. In this position, the front face of stairway apparatus18contacts front edges of cabinet10. Lip34extends into the interior compartment of cabinet10and contacts side walls of the cabinet. This contact between lip34and the side walls of cabinet10prevents lateral movement of stairway apparatus18. Ultimately, this enhances the stability of stairway apparatus18when in use. The user (not shown) can climb onto stairway apparatus10to maneuver any endoscopes24within cabinet10.

Since the majority of stairway apparatus18resides outside of cabinet10with the exception of lip34, space within the interior compartment of cabinet10is not significantly reduced. The likelihood that any endoscope24contacts stairway apparatus18is greatly reduced, which minimizes the chance the medical equipment becomes contaminated.

In the closed position depicted inFIGS. 1 and 6, slidable door12of cabinet10rests on lip34. In the open position depicted inFIGS. 2 and 7, the interior compartment of cabinet10is exposed. In certain embodiments of the invention, slidable door12is configured to lock with stairway apparatus18. In particular, lip34of stairway apparatus18comprises opening28. In a preferred embodiment, strike plate26is coupled to opening28as depicted inFIGS. 4-5. Latch16of slidable door12is configured to communicate with opening28when disposed on lip34. Latch16is preferably a rotatable hook member that may be adjusted by a tool such as a key. As depicted inFIG. 4, latch16may be adjusted to rotate the hook member to engage with strike plate26in the locked position. In this locked position, the hook member of latch16prevents slidable door12from opening. As depicted inFIG. 5, latch16may be adjusted to rotate the hook member to disengage with strike plate26to the unlocked position. In the unlocked position, slidable door12is free to open.

It shall be appreciated that the components of stairway apparatus18described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of stairway apparatus18described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.