Patent Publication Number: US-8984919-B2

Title: Locking systems for drawer blocks of support systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Application No. 10 2011 086 423.7, filed on Nov. 15, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to locking systems for drawer blocks of support systems (e.g., to locking systems for drawer blocks that are mountable to support systems). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Drawer blocks may be mounted to support systems, such as support heads of medical care units. Such drawer blocks include one or more drawers. The drawers are either typically individually or commonly lockable in a fixed configuration by a central locking mechanism. Locking takes place by a mechanical lock and a key. The key must be available to open the one or more drawers. In order to limit unauthorized access to the one or more drawers, duplication of the key is typically minimized, but the key will still need to be provided to authorized persons. 
     Trolleys having several drawers may be used to store medicine and medical devices. A particular drawer can be unlocked by inputting a code via a keyboard. However, in some cases, the drawers are located in a single housing, and the arrangement of the drawers within the housing cannot be changed. Accordingly, rearrangement of such a support system is generally not possible, thereby preventing a desirable (e.g., ergonomic) arrangement of the drawers. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the invention, a locking system for a drawer block of a support system enables variable arrangement of drawer blocks on the support system, and the drawers can be opened (e.g., unlocked) by inputting a code. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a drawer block of a support system includes at least one drawer accommodation including a housing defining a receptacle, a drawer including a lock having an actuator and a mechanism configured to lock the drawer in the receptacle of the drawer accommodation, and a receiver assembly that is electrically connected to the actuator and configured to convert an opening signal to an opening instruction for the actuator. 
     In some embodiments, the drawer block further includes a fixing mechanism, by which the drawer block is mountable to the support system. 
     In certain embodiments, the fixing mechanism is mountable to the support system and removable from the support system without usage of a tool. 
     In some embodiments, the mechanism of the lock is a ratchet that is configured to engage with the locking mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock includes a biasing member that forces the ratchet to a position, where the ratchet engages with the locking mechanism so that the drawer is locked, when the opening instruction is not applied to the actuator. 
     In some embodiments, the lock includes a biasing member that forces the ratchet to a position, where the ratchet engages with the locking mechanism so that the drawer is locked, when electric power is not applied to the actuator. 
     In certain embodiments, the ratchet engages with the locking mechanism along a locking direction, and the ratchet includes a surface that extends at an acute angle along the locking direction so that while the drawer is being closed, the ratchet is pressed by the locking mechanism in a direction against the locking direction. 
     In some embodiments, the actuator includes a DC-motor having a gear mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, the lock includes a mechanical release mechanism to unlock the lock. 
     In some embodiments, the drawer block includes a battery, and the actuator and the receiver assembly are connected to the battery. 
     In certain embodiments, the drawer block includes solar cells, and the actuator and the receiver assembly are connected to the solar cells. 
     In some embodiments, the support system includes an electrical component, and the drawer accommodation includes a contact that is connected to the receiver assembly and formed such that an electrical connection between the receiver assembly and the electrical component of the support system can be established by the contact for supplying electrical power to and/or controlling the actuator. 
     In certain embodiments, the contact is integrated with a fixing mechanism by which the drawer block is mountable to the support system. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical component of the support system includes a bus system having a power supply. 
     In certain embodiments, the bus system includes a converting board and an emitter assembly, the converting board is configured to process input signals and to generate an output signal, and the emitter assembly is configured to receive the output signal and to transmit the opening signal. 
     In some embodiments, the emitter assembly includes a modulation device that is configured to modulate the opening signal and to transmit the opening signal to the receiver assembly via the bus system. 
     In certain embodiments, the drawer block further includes a code input device. 
     In some embodiments, the code input device is provided on the drawer block. 
     In certain embodiments, the drawer block further includes a memory unit and a code that is allocated to the drawer block or to the drawer and that is stored in the memory unit. 
     In some embodiments, the support system is a portion of a medical care unit. 
     In certain embodiments, the housing of the drawer accommodation includes two side walls, a rear wall, and a platform that cooperate to define the receptacle. 
     In some embodiments, the support system includes at least one columnar-shaped support member. 
     In certain embodiments, the support system is a portable cart. 
     The locking system of the drawer block can advantageously enable at least a variable arrangement of the drawer block on the support system via the receiver assembly of the drawer block and a fixing mechanism for the drawer accommodation. 
     Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support system including a drawer block. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of a portion of the drawer block of the support system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the drawer block of  FIG. 2 , shown along the section line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the drawer block of  FIG. 2 , shown along the section line B-B in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a mechanical block including a ratchet that engages with a locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a support system including a drawer block. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support system  1 , which is a support head of a medical care unit. A drawer block  2  is mounted to the support system  1 . The drawer block  2  includes a fixing mechanism  3 , by which the drawer block  2  is mounted to the support system  1 . The support system  1  further includes two longitudinal depressions  4  located on each side of the support system along respective longitudinal edges near corners of the support system  1 . The fixing mechanism  3  is coupled to two longitudinal depressions  4  located on one side of the support system  1 . Within the longitudinal depressions  4 , holding rails are provided to engage with the fixing mechanism  3 . The holding rails are formed such that the fixing mechanism  3  can either be mounted thereto at a particular (e.g., discrete) height along the longitudinal depressions  4  or, alternatively, mounted at any height along the longitudinal depressions  4  (e.g., mounted in a stepless manner). The fixing mechanism  3  and therefore the drawer block  2  can be mounted to any side of the support system  1 . 
     Current bars are located within the longitudinal depressions  4 . The current bars are components of a bus system. Electrical components (e.g., accessories) that are connected to the bus system are thereby supplied with energy and controlled. For this purpose, the current bars are connected to a power supply  22  and, in some cases, to a filter print acting as a power supply. The current bars provide an electrical mechanism of the support system  1 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the support system  1  further includes a converting board  23 . The converting board  23  is configured such that it can process several input signals. Additionally, the converting board  23  simulates an opening signal for an emitter assembly  24 . The emitter assembly  24  creates a modulated opening signal and transmits the opening signal to the bus system. 
     The support system  1  further includes a code input device  5 . The code input device  5  (e.g., a keypad) is connected to the converting board  23 . The code input device  5  provides an input that unlocks locks of the mounted drawer block  2 . The code input device  5  can also be used for additional control functions, such as controlling brakes. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of the drawer block  2  without a covering plate. The drawer block  2  includes a drawer accommodation  6  (e.g., a housing defining a cavity or a receptacle that receives a drawer  11 ). The drawer accommodation  6  includes two sidewalls  7 , a rear wall  8 , and a reinforcement  9 . The drawer accommodation  6  is covered at its top by a platform  10 . The sidewalls  7  and the rear wall  8  are arranged to provide horizontal legs  16  at a lower side of the drawer block  2 . In some cases, built-in components can be fixed to the horizontal legs  16 . At the lower side of the drawer accommodation  6 , a lower covering plate (not shown) can be provided at the horizontal legs  16 . In some embodiments, several drawer accommodations  6  can be mounted one below the other. 
     In some embodiments, the drawer accommodation  6  is formed within the support system  1 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the drawer accommodation  6  includes the drawer  11  that is mounted to the drawer accommodation  6  by a drawer mechanism. The drawer mechanism enables the drawer  11  to be retracted from the drawer accommodation  6  by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the drawer mechanism may provide additional functions, such as a self-retraction functionality of the drawer  11  or a push-to-open mechanism of the drawer  11 . 
     In some embodiments, the drawer accommodation  6  is sized such that several drawers  11  fit within the drawer accommodation  6 . In such embodiments, the drawers  11  can be arranged one below the other or adjacent to each other within the drawer accommodation  6 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the drawer block  2 , shown along the section line A-A in  FIG. 2 . The drawer  11  is provided with a locking mechanism  12 . The locking mechanism  12  is typically mounted to the rear side of the drawer  11 . However, in some embodiments, the locking mechanism  12  is positioned along a lateral surface of the drawer  11  or at a top or bottom surface of the drawer  11 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the locking mechanism  12  is an angled sheet that includes a rectangular recess. The locking mechanism  12  is configured such that a leg of the angled sheet, in which the rectangular recess is located, extends parallel to an extract direction of the drawer  11 . 
     The fixing mechanism  3 , located at the rear side of the drawer block  2 , is provided with hooks  13 , by which the drawer block  2  can be hooked to the longitudinal depressions  4  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) within the holding rails. The fixing mechanism  3  is further provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) that prevents unintended unhooking of the drawer block  2  from the longitudinal depressions  4 . Such locking mechanism can be manually operated so that the fixing mechanism  3  and therefore the drawer block  2  can be mounted to and removed from the support system  1  without using any tool. 
     In some embodiments, the fixing mechanism  3  can also be secured to the longitudinal depressions  4  by a screw rivet. In this manner, additional protection is provided against mechanical jarring of the drawer block  2  and unintended unlocking. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a contact mechanism  14  is provided at the fixing mechanism  3 . The contact mechanism  14  engages the fixing mechanism  3  at two locations. The contact mechanism  14  is connected within the drawer block  2  to an actuator, as will be described in detail below. The contact mechanism  14  is configured to automatically form a contact between an electrical component of the drawer block  2  and an electrical mechanism of the support system  1  while the drawer block  2  is being hooked into the support system  1 . 
     In some embodiments, the contact mechanism  14  is not integrated with the fixing mechanism  3 , but instead provided at another location. Furthermore, an automatic contact is not required, and thus, a contact can separately occur in an alternative manner. 
     The drawer block  2  further includes a receiver assembly  21 , as will be described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the drawer block  2 , shown along the section line B-B in  FIG. 2  (i.e., an internal view showing an inner side of the rear wall  8 . A lock  15  is fixed at the horizontal leg  16  of the rear wall  8 . 
     The lock  15  includes an actuator  17 . The actuator  17  is connected to the locking mechanism  12  by a ratchet  18 , in a manner such that the ratchet  18  can be moved by the actuator  17 . The ratchet  18  is connected to a biasing member  19 , such that the ratchet  18  can be forced to a right side by the biasing member  19  into an extracted position. In the extracted position, the ratchet  18  engages with the rectangular recess of the locking mechanism  12  so that the drawer  11  is locked. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the actuator  17  is provided as a DC-motor that has a gear mechanism. However, in some embodiments, the actuator  17  can be provided with another actuation mechanism (e.g., an electromagnet). In certain embodiments, the lock  15  can be configured to provide the ratchet  18  with at least two controllable positions as an alternative to the biasing member  19 . 
     In some embodiments, the actuator  17  is formed as an electric coil, and the lock  15  includes as a locking mechanism an electromagnet that is activated by the electric coil. The electromagnet cooperates with a corresponding counter-surface at the drawer  11  in order to lock the drawer  11 . 
     The lock  15  further includes a mechanical emergency unlock or release  20 , by which the ratchet  18  can be moved out of the extracted position. In this manner, the ratchet  18  can disengage from the locking mechanism  12 , and the drawer  11  can be opened. The emergency unlock  20  is accessible in the drawer block  2 , which opens at its bottom side. 
     In some embodiments, the drawer  11  is provided with a locking mechanism that includes the lock  15  and the actuator  17  for the drawer block  2  and the support system  1 , respectively. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a mechanical block that includes the ratchet  18 , which engages the locking mechanism  12 . The ratchet  18  includes a surface  26  that is located at a frontal end of the ratchet  18 . The ratchet  18  is moved towards a locking direction A into the extracted position by the biasing member  19 . The surface  26  forms an acute angle α with a lateral surface  25 , that is parallel to the locking direction A and that faces the rear wall  8  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Due to a shape of the ratchet  18 , the biased ratchet  18  is pressed towards the locking direction A during sliding in of the drawer  11  with the locking mechanism  12 . Since the ratchet  18  is biased by the biasing member  19 , the ratchet  18  is moved into the rectangular recess of the locking mechanism  12  once the drawer  11  closes. In this manner, the drawer  11  is automatically locked. 
     The receiver assembly  21  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) provided in the drawer block  2  is connected to the actuator  17  and the contact mechanism  14 . The receiver assembly  21  is connected to the bus system of the support system  1  via the contact mechanism  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , during operation, the drawer block  2  is mounted to the support system  1  at any suitable location by the fixing mechanism  3 . In an initial state, the drawer  11  is locked by the ratchet  18  of the lock  15 . At this time, the ratchet  18  engages with the rectangular recess of the locking mechanism  12  of the drawer  11 . 
     A pre-defined code is input into the code input device  5 , thereby releasing a locking of the drawer  11 . At this time, a signal of the code input device  5  is processed by the converting board  23  as the input signal, and the opening signal for the emitter assembly  24  is simulated. The emitter assembly  24  includes a modulator assembly that generates a modulated opening signal and transmits the opening signal to the receiver assembly  21  via the bus system and the contact mechanism  14 . The received opening signal is interpreted by the receiver assembly  21 , and the receiver assembly  21  transmits an opening instruction to the actuator  17  of the lock  15 . The actuator  17  retracts the ratchet  18  from the locking direction A so that the engagement of the ratchet  18  with the rectangular recess of the locking mechanism  12  is released. In this manner, the drawer  11  is unlocked and can be opened for as long as the opening signal is applied to the actuator  17 . Once the opening signal is no longer applied to the actuator  17 , the ratchet  18  is forced by the biasing member  19  to the extracted position. Closing the drawer  11  is permitted at any time, since the ratchet  18  is moved along the surface  26  from the locking mechanism  12  towards the locking direction A, and the ratchet  18  then engages with the rectangular recess of the locking mechanism  12  and thereby locks the drawer  11 . 
     When the drawer block  2  is removed from the support system  1 , the opening signal is then neither applied to the actuator  17 , nor is the actuator  17  supplied with electric current. Therefore, the ratchet  18  is forced by the biasing member  19  into the extracted position, and the drawer  11  is automatically locked. 
     The drawer block  2  can then be attached again to the support system  1  without using any tool and can be connected to the bus system at any other suitable location. The drawer  11  remains locked as long as the opening signal is not emitted from the emitter assembly  24 . 
     In some embodiments, a memory unit can be provided in the drawer block  2 . The memory unit stores a condition (e.g., locked or unlocked) of the drawer  11 . If the drawer block  2  is mounted again to the support system  1 , the condition can then be transmitted to and received by a control mechanism (e.g., the converting board  23 , the emitter assembly  24 , etc.). This condition information is stored even in a current-less condition of the drawer block  2 . In certain embodiments, the condition of the drawer  11  can also be displayed or transmitted as a signal. 
     The electrical mechanisms of the drawer block  11  (e.g., the receiver assembly  21  and the actuator  17 ) are provided by the bus system of the support system  1 . In some embodiments, a battery/accumulator or a solar cell may alternatively or additionally be provided in the drawer block  2 . 
     In certain embodiments, a code input device can be provided on the drawer block  2 , additionally or alternatively to the code input device  5  of the support system  1 . If several code input devices are present, the lock  15  of the drawer  11  can then be controlled by any code input device. 
     The code for a particular drawer is typically stored in the code input device. However, in some embodiments, the code can also be stored in a memory unit in the drawer  11  or in the drawer block  2 . Therefore, a code is then allocated to a drawer  11 , even when the drawer  11  is mounted to another support system. 
     While the support system  1  has been illustrated and described as a generally columnar-shaped support system (e.g., a support head of a medical care unit), in some embodiments, a support system can include multiple support members to which one or more drawer blocks or drawers are mountable. For example,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a support system  100 , which is a trolley (e.g., a portable cart) that includes three drawer blocks  120  mounted to two spaced apart support members  140  that form a carriage of the support system  100 . In some instances, the drawer blocks  120  of the support system  100  may be used to store medicine and medical devices. In addition to the support members  140  and the drawer blocks  120 , the support system  100  further includes a wheeled base  160 , from which the support members  140  extend vertically. 
     The drawer blocks  120  are substantially similar in construction and function to the drawer blocks  2 , with the exception that the drawer blocks  120  include a fixing mechanism that is configured to engage the support members  140 . The support members  140  can include longitudinal depressions that are substantially similar in construction and function to the longitudinal depressions  4  of the support system  1 , such that the drawer blocks  120  can be mounted to the support members  140  in a manner substantially similar to that which the drawer block  2  is mounted to the longitudinal depressions  4  of the support system  1 . For example, the drawer blocks  120  can be mounted to the support members  140  at particular (e.g., discrete) heights along the support members  140  or, alternatively, mounted at any height along the support members  140  (e.g., mounted in a stepless manner). 
     The support system  100  further includes the code input device  5  (not shown) disposed along one of the support members  140 , and the various electrical components of the support system  1  (e.g., the power supply  22 , the converting board  23 , and the emitter assembly  24 ) so that drawers of the drawer blocks  120  may be locked in a closed position and released from the closed position within the drawer blocks  120 . 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG. 6 , three drawer blocks  120  are disposed adjacent and one below the other, with a top platform having been removed from the two lower drawer blocks  120 . However, in some embodiments, a support system may include a different number of drawer blocks  120 . Additionally, the drawer blocks  120  may be spaced apart from one another such that all of the drawer blocks  120  may be installed with a top platform that covers the drawer blocks  120 . 
     A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.