Abstract:
A surgical case including a housing having a first portion and a second portion having a front and a back. There is at least one hinge coupling the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is rotatable to a position that elevates the back relative to the front.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention.  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a surgical case, and, more particularly, to a surgical case having a hinged lid.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art.  
         [0004]     Surgical instruments are frequently stored in cases. For example, surgical drill bits are conventionally stored in cases that lie flat and have a bit-holding member. Surgical instruments are placed in the cases for autoclaving, the cases often being stackable. The cases incorporate functions for storing, transporting, and presenting of reusable surgical instruments to the surgeon during surgery. A preparatory step to any surgical procedure is to have the surgical instruments and related components and accessories sterilized. This procedure involves subjecting the case and the instruments contained therein to an autoclaving operation wherein these objects are subjected to an elevated temperature of approximately 270° F. and an elevated pressure.  
         [0005]     One requirement for any autoclaving tray or instrument holder for these instruments and components is that it is able to withstand the elevated temperatures and pressure, and to do so for many cycles. Efficient use of the autoclave dictates a close placement of the surgical instruments in the case to maximize the capacity of the case. Outer surfaces of the cases are typically parallel to a plane in which the instruments lie so as to minimize wasted space. Even though it may be desirable to place the instruments as close together as possible, a competing requirement is related to ergonomic factors, in that the instruments must be spaced apart so as to be easily grasped and removed from the case.  
         [0006]     A problem with surgical cases is that the instruments stored therein are not presented in a fashion that is easy for surgical personnel to see and access.  
         [0007]     What is needed in the art is a simple, cost effective device and method for the presentation of surgical instruments to surgical personnel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention relates to a surgical case having a hinged lid that elevates the rear of the case.  
         [0009]     The present invention comprises, in one embodiment thereof, a surgical case including a housing having a first portion and a second portion having a front and a back. There is at least one hinge coupling the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is rotatable to a position that elevates the back relative to the front.  
         [0010]     An advantage of the present invention is that the lid serves to elevate the base in order to present the tools contained within the surgical case so that they can be more easily seen and grasped by the user.  
         [0011]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it elevates the back of the base by way of the position of the lid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a surgical case of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the surgical case of  FIG. 1  in an open position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the surgical case of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is another side view of the surgical case of  FIGS. 1-3  in an open position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a view of another embodiment of the surgical case of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the surgical case of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is another side view of the surgical case of  FIGS. 5 and 6  in a closed position; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the surgical case of  FIGS. 5-7  in an open position. 
     
    
       [0021]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-8 , there is shown a surgical case  10 , also known as a dental case  10  including a tray  12  and a housing  14 .  
         [0023]     Tray  12  includes holes  16  therethrough, which can accommodate grommets  18  and holders  20 . Grommets  18  and holders  20  assist in the holding of dental and/or surgical instruments placed therein.  
         [0024]     Housing  14  includes a lower portion  22 , an upper portion  24  and hinges  26 . Lower portion  22  includes a front  28  and a back  30 . When upper portion  24 , also known as a lid  24  is in a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  5  and  7 , front  28  and back  30  each are supported by a supporting surface thereunder. When lid  24  is open, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ,  6  and  8 , lower portion  22 , also known as base  22 , is lifted so as to elevate back  30  so that it is raised as compared to front  28 . Lid  24  may be fixed to lower portion  22  by way of hinges  26  or may be removable from lower portion  22 .  
         [0025]     A height  32  from the bottom of base  22  to hinge  26  is less than height  34  between hinge  26  and the top of lid  22 . The difference between height  32  and height  34  contributes directly to the amount of elevation  38  which back  30  is lifted above a supporting surface. As lid  24  is rotated about a pivot axis  36 , a portion of lid  24  contacts the supporting surface and a portion of lid  24  rotates beneath back  30  of base  22 . Additional aspects such as the geometries of the lid and base are also contemplated, such as the shape of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . Features on the lid, such as the curved surface of the back of lid  24  in  FIGS. 5-8 , serve to alter the elevation to which back  30  is elevated. Other features contemplated, but not shown in the figures, include protrusions along the back of lid  24 , which would contact the underlying surface and further elevate back  30 .  
         [0026]     Alternatively, a distance  38 , from hinge  26  to the back of lid  24  may be greater than height  40  from the bottom of base  22  to hinge  26 . The difference between distance  38  and height  40  contributes directly to the amount of elevation  42 , which back  30  is lifted above a supporting surface. As lid  24  is rotated about pivot axis  36 , a portion of lid  24  contacts the supporting surface and a portion of lid  24  rotates beneath back  30  of base  22 .  
         [0027]     If lid  24  is interior to base  22  as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a notch  40  is placed in lid  24  to allow lid  24  to rotate underneath base  22 . Alternatively to notch  40 , a groove or open area in base  22  can also be provided which allows an un-notched lid  24  to rotate into the position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Positioning lid  24  so that it is exterior to base  22  as shown in  FIGS. 5-8  allows lid  24  to rotate and causes base  22  to elevate similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The positioning of hinge point  26  alters heights  32  and  34 , which directly effects elevation  38  as lid  24  co-acts with the location of hinge  26  to elevate back  30  to a predetermined height.  
         [0028]     The present invention advantageously angles the plane in which the surgical instruments are presented when the lid is open so that the instruments themselves are more easily seen and accessed by surgical personnel. The stadium-like presentation of the instruments improves the ergonomics of the surgical case so that individual instruments can be more easily grasped and removed from the case.  
         [0029]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.