Abstract:
A protective cover assembly for a cart and it&#39;s contents of the type used in hospitals and like medical facilities for the temporary storage and delivery of a plurality of items which should be maintained in a substantially sterile environment. The cover assembly comprises an enclosure formed from a flexible, preferably hypo-allergenic material dimensioned to receive substantially the entire cart therein. A plurality of reinforced portions are secured to the enclosure and are structured to prevent rupture or other physical damage thereto. A storage assembly comprises one or more compartments including at least one interior pocket disposed and structured to isolate the contents thereof.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
   The present application is based on and a claim to priority is made under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to provisional patent application currently pending in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office having Ser. No. 60/237,493 and a filing date of Oct. 4, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a protective cover assembly primarily designed to enclosed a mobile delivery cart of the type used for the distribution of a variety of items, at least some of which should be maintained in an at least partially sterile environment, such as items used in hospitals or like medical facilities. The cover assembly includes an enclosure formed of flexible, preferably hypo-allergenic material which, when expanded into an operative position, substantially surrounds and encloses the cart as well as its contents, thereby facilitating the maintenance of the preferred sterile environment. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Manually powered or propelled carts, hand trucks, bins, and the like are widely known and used in a variety of both commercial and domestic applications and typically involve the temporary storage and transport of a variety of items from one location to another in the same physical facility. Carts of the type referred to may take a variety of structural designs and configurations depending upon their intended use and/or the items which they are intended to contain. Such structural variations include carts designed to carry open top bins that are primarily designed to contain a plurality of loosely stored items. Examples may include grocery carts and carts used in hotels that carry a number of bins holding soap bars, containers of shampoo, etc. More structurally complex carts exist, however, which include a plurality of shelves, open or closed compartments and/or segregated areas, and are therefore, designed to contain a plurality of products or items of the same kind or class, in at least a minimally segregated manner. The size of such carts, bins, hand trucks, etc. can also vary from relatively small push carts, of the type found in grocery stores and like retail establishments, to much larger carts, which often times approximate the size of the person propelling the cart and which are primarily used in industrial or other commercial environments. 
   One area in which mobile delivery carts are used extensively is in the medical field, wherein such carts are used to deliver a large variety of items throughout hospitals or other medical and patient care facilities. Such items include, but are not limited to, surgical gowns, scrub apparel, sheets and pillow cases as well as like bedding materials, surgical masks, shoe covers, hair covers, and any of a large variety of other medical products or devices necessary for proper patient care. In the hospital setting especially, it is important that at least some of these products be sterile and totally free of germs. Thus, certain ones of these products are pre-packaged in a hermetically sealed or otherwise sterile wrapping. Still others of these products, however, are not pre-packaged, but should still be maintained in a substantially sterile environment. Preferably, a substantially sterile environment should also be maintained for all of these items as they are transported from a supply station to their respective destinations within a hospital or similar patient care facility. During the distribution and/or delivery process, items of the type set forth above are typically stored on mobile delivery carts as they are transported along a predetermined delivery route within and distributed throughout the physical facilities of the hospital or like institution. 
   During the time it takes to deliver the variety of items or products contained on such delivery carts, it is desirable to maintain, at least as much as practical, a substantially sterile environment for the storage of such items as they travel along the aforementioned delivery route. This is particularly true in hospitals and the like where some germs, bacteria and infectious diseases may be carried in and transmitted by contact ith the air. In that delivery carts of the type used in hospitals normally are “open”, to the extent that one or more sides of the cart comprise a plurality of openings to facilitate ready access to the products being delivered, there is a recognized need for some type of cover dimensioned and configured to somewhat protect the delivery cart as well as the contents therein. It would be beneficial if a cover were developed that could effectively isolate the contents of the cart and, as much as possible, to maintain a substantially sterile environment on the interior thereof, regardless of whether the contents of the cart are pre-packaged or not. In addition, it would be highly beneficial if a cover were developed that were adequately structured or reinforced to the extent of significantly reducing the possibility that such a cover will be torn or ruptured which is quite possible as deliveries are made, and which would, thereby compromise the sterile environment under the cover, i.e., the interior portions of the cart and its contents. It would also be highly beneficial if a cover of the type referred to above were developed that could further aid in the maintenance of a substantially sterile environment by being formed of a flexible, strong, hypo-allergenic material which, in addition, is capable of being selectively oriented in either a collapsed, stored position or an extended, operative position wherein the operative position includes a hollow interior dimensioned to substantially cover the top and exposed sides or faces of the cart. Of course, any such cover should enable a person to easily access the contents of the cart, albeit in somewhat of a restricted manner, so as to reduce exposure of the interior portions of the cart under the cover, as well as its contents to the surrounding environment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is intended to address these and other needs which remain in the art, and is directed towards a cover assembly of the type designed to overlie and substantially enclose a delivery cart or like structure, such that the art and the contents thereof are enclosed and protected. The cover assembly of the present invention is made from a flexible, yet relatively strong and substantially protective material and in one embodiment, to be described in greater detailed hereinafter, is made from a hypo-allergenic material so as to maintain an at least partially sterile environment on the interior of the enclosure in which the cart is positioned. The hypo-allergenic material from which the enclosure of the cart assembly of the present invention is formed may be of the type commercially available under the trademark STAPH-CHEK,™ registered in the U.S. Patent and Tradmark Office, namely, Reg. No. 802,786, and manufactured by Herculite Products, Inc., a corporation of New York with offices in New York City and possibly in Newark, N.J., as well. Naturally, equivalent hypo-allergenic materials can be utilized and are applicable for forming the enclosure of the subject cover assembly, particularly when the delivery cart of the type referred to is used in hospitals or like medical facilities for the delivery of a plurality of different products or items, at least some of which are intended to be maintained in an at least partially sterile environment. However, it is emphasized that the cover assembly of the present invention does not have to be formed of a hypo-allergenic material, as such an embodiment would still be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   As set forth above, in hospitals or other patient care facilities, a variety of items including but not limited to, patient gowns, patient bedding, surgical gowns and other scrub apparel including hair covers, surgical masks, shoe covers, etc. are all maintained in a sterile condition until such items are delivered to their point of use, un-packaged and applied as intended. This is particularly true with surgical gowns or like surgical and scrub apparel used in operating rooms, intensive care units, isolation wards, etc. The present invention facilitates the maintenance of these and other such medical items or products in an at least partially or substantially sterile environment during their delivery, by providing a cover assembly comprising an enclosure, which is dimensioned and configured to substantially surround and enclose the delivery cart when the enclosure is in its expanded, operative position. 
   More specifically, the enclosure comprises a top disposed in overlying relation to an upper portion of the cart and a sidewall structure secured to the top and depending downwardly therefrom into overlying, covering relation to the various sides of the cart and in substantially surrounding relation thereto. 
   The sidewall structure includes at least one access opening that is structured and disposed to substantially correspond in dimension and configuration to one side of the cart and/or to an area of the cart so as to provide access to the contents thereof. The cover assembly additionally comprises in the preferred embodiment, a closure structure that is structured for selective positioning between an open position and a closed position relative to the access opening, in order that the cart may be almost entirely covered on the interior of the enclosure, thereby facilitating the maintenance of the aforementioned, desired sterile environment. The closure structure preferably comprises a drape of flexible material connected to the sidewall structure and, in one embodiment, secured to extend downwardly from either the top of the enclosure or an upper portion of the sidewall structure in overlying, covering relation to the access opening and to the area of the cart which is designed to provide access to the contents thereof. The access opening is preferably dimensioned to provide access to all of the various items or contents of the cart by selectively positioning the closure structure in the open position. Also, as the closure structure is preferably formed from a flexible material, the closure structure can be selectively positioned in a partially open position which allows exposure of only certain portions of the cart and access sufficient to only one of the contents of the cart, as required. 
   The cover assembly of the present invention preferably includes a reinforcement assembly. More specifically, the reinforcement assembly comprises a plurality of reinforced portions mounted on various portions of the enclosure. The reinforced portions are disposed in spaced apart, strategically located positions on the enclosure so as to provide protection against physical damage, including tearing or rupture, such as when the enclosure inadvertently engages wall surfaces, doors, or the like. The various reinforced portions are also disposed on the enclosure to prevent similar damage when the enclosure is being manipulated during mounting on the cart and/or when the closure structure is being moved to provide access to the interior of the cart. The reinforced portions may be generally defined as thickened material portions, ideally comprising multi-layered structures of material, which provide resistance to physical damage to the enclosure, as set forth above. Such reinforced portions may include, but are not limited to, surrounding peripheral seams located at the junction of the top and sidewall structure of the enclosure, as well as a plurality of corner pads strategically located so as to reinforce certain areas of the enclosure of the cover assembly which undergo stress or unusual forces when the enclosure is positioned in its operative position. 
   The cover assembly of the present invention preferably also comprises a storage assembly, including one or more pockets, located at predetermined positions, ideally located both on the exterior and interior of the cart and which are specifically structured for the containment of various items. More specifically, the storage assembly of the present invention includes at least a first pocket or compartment disposed within the hollow interior of the enclosure in a location which is readily accessible. This first pocket or compartment is also preferably formed of a hypo-allergenic material, as discussed above, and is dimensioned and configured to removably contain predetermined items or specific contents, which are best maintained in as sterile an environment as possible, during the delivery procedure. Accordingly, this first pocket or compartment serves to isolate its contents from the cart, also disposed on the interior of the enclosure, and from the exterior of the enclosure until it is delivered to its intended destination. The storage assembly may also include one or more additional pockets or compartments mounted on the exterior surface of the sidewall structure which are specifically structured to removably contain a variety of other products, items or contents, as desired. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear when the drawings, as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cover assembly according to the present invention disposed in overlying, covering relation to a mobile delivery cart or like structure. 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed view in partial cutaway of one portion of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view in partial cutaway of another portion of the structure of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view in partial cutaway showing interior portions of a preferred cover assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  2 . 
   

   Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates to a cover assembly such as that generally indicated as  10  in FIG.  1 . The cover assembly  10  includes an enclosure generally indicated as  12  comprising a sidewall  14  disposed in substantially surrounding relation so as to form a hollow interior of the enclosure  12 . Further, the enclosure  12  includes a top  16  secured to the sidewall  14  such that the sidewall  14  extends in a downwardly depending relation to the top  16 . The sidewall  14  may include a plurality of individual panels or sides or a alternatively, may include a continuous structure of sufficient dimension to overlie and cover substantially the entire outer portion or plurality of sides of a mobile cart generally indicated as  20 . 
   The enclosure  12  is preferably formed from a flexible and yet high strength protective material, which is ideally also waterproof, that is capable of being selectively disposed in either a collapsed, substantially folded position (not shown) or an outwardly expanded, operative position as shown in FIG.  1 . When in the operative position of  FIG. 1 , the enclosure  12  includes a hollow interior that is preferably dimensioned and configured to receive and entirely enclose the mobile cart  20 . In order to facilitate movement or travel of the cart  20 , the bottom of the enclosure  12 , more specifically defined by the bottom peripheral edge of the sidewall  14 , remains open as at  18 , so as to allow the wheel or castor assembly  22  secured to a base  20  of the cart to pass therethrough into movable supported engagement with the floor or like surface over which the cart travels. 
   The enclosure  12  of the cover assembly  10  further includes at least one access opening  26  formed in the sidewall  14  and disposed in overlying, accessible relation to the hollow interior of the enclosure  12 . Preferably, the cover assembly includes only one access opening disposed in corresponding alignment with at least one side of the cart  20 . More specifically, the access opening  26  is ideally dimensioned and configured to be substantially equivalent or at least to correspond to the dimension and configuration of one side of the cart  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , which facilitates access to various portions of the cart  20 , such as compartments or shelves  21 ,  23 ,  25  etc., as well as the contents therein. It should be noted that the size and overall configuration of the access opening  26  may vary dependent on the size and configuration of the cart  20 , and more particularly, on the arrangement or disposition of the various compartments  21 ,  23 ,  25 , etc. and/or other facilities included on the cart  20  and utilized to store and transport the various items or contents thereof. 
   As set forth above, one feature of the present invention is the at least partial isolation of the hollow interior of the enclosure  12  in order maintain a substantially sterile environment therein for the various items or contents separately stored on cart  20  as they are being delivered. Therefore, the cover assembly  10  of the present invention includes a closure structure, generally indicated as  30 , preferably in the form of a flexible material drape  32 , which may have a variety of configurations but which is specifically dimensioned and configured to be selectively disposed in covering relation to the access opening  26 . Preferably, the drape  32  is secured by a connecting seam or junction  34  to the top  16  or to the sidewall  14  and hangs downwardly therefrom into removably covering relation to the access opening  26 . In addition, due at least in part to the flexible material from which the drape  32  is formed, it may be easily positioned between completely closed position, defined by an overlying relation to an exposed face or portion of the cart  20 , or a partially open position as depicted in FIG.  1 . Therefore, an advantage of utilizing a drape  32  as the closure structure is that only a portion of the hollow interior within the enclosure  12  may be exposed for removal or insertion of various items or contents from or into the cart  20 , as required. It is, of course, to be noted that the drape  32  may be selectively positioned into an entirely open position order to expose the entire, correspondingly positioned face or side of the cart  20 , such as when the cart is being initially loaded for delivery or distribution of a plurality of different items. 
   In order to maintain the closure structure, such as drape  32 , in a closed overlying position relative to the correspondingly disposed face or side of the cart  20 , the cover assembly  10  preferably also comprises a connecting means. As shown in  FIG. 2  the connecting means can include a plurality of spaced apart connectors  34  and  34 ′ respectively secured to and along a peripheral edge of the sidewall  14  in immediately adjacent or contiguous relation to the periphery of the access opening  26 , as well as on a correspondingly positioned peripheral edge or portion on the interior surface  32 ′ of the drape  32 . Such cooperative connector portions  34  and  34 ′ may assume a variety of different structures including, but not limited to, hook and loop type fasteners, (i.e. Velcro™) snaps, zippers, etc. 
   The closure assembly  10  of the present invention preferably also comprises a reinforcing assembly, which may be, but does not have to be, mounted both on the exterior and interior surfaces of the enclosure  12 . The purpose of the reinforcing assembly is to provide protection against physical damage to various parts of the enclosure  12 ; such as when it inadvertently engages a wall, door, becomes entangled with another object, surface, etc. as the cart and closure assembly  10  travel along the intended delivery or distribution route. The reinforcing assembly include a plurality of reinforced portions such as, but not limited to, corner pads  40  formed on the top  16 . The corner pads  40  serve to protect the enclosure against stress or forces exerted on the cover assembly  10  in a downward direction as the top  16  is disposed in overlying, covering and at least partially engaging relation to an upper portion of the cart  20 . For example, the corner pads  40  may be positioned on the top  16  so as to overly the corners of a support frame of the cart, which serve to support the enclosure  12  in the intended overlying, surrounding relation to the cart. The reinforcement assembly may comprise alternatively or in addition, a plurality of reinforced portions  42  disposed at each of the corners of the enclosures such as at the lower end of the drape  32  so as to provide reinforcing protection as well as serve as additional “weights”, due to their structure. The additional weight facilitates the downwardly depending orientation of the preferred drape  32  in its intended position over the corresponding face of the cart  20  and into its closed position in covering relation to the access opening  26 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the reinforced portions  42  are preferably mounted on the interior surface  32 ′ of the drape  32  adjacent certain ones of the connector components  34 ′. The provision of the reinforced portions  42  further serve to add protection against the pulling force exerted on the drape as it is disconnected from correspondingly positioned connector members or components  34  mounted on the exterior of the sidewall  14 , as shown in FIG.  1  and discussed above. Correspondingly positioned reinforced portions  44  may also be mounted on the interior or exterior surface at the lower end of the exposed face of the sidewall  14 ′ in which the access opening  26  is formed. These correspondingly positioned reinforce portions  44  are also provided to resist the pulling forces exerted on the sidewall segment  14 ′, as the drape  30  is pulled into its open or at least partially open position as represented in FIG.  1 . 
   The reinforcing assembly further includes a “bumper” type structure which may be in the form of an enlarged peripheral seam  48  secured to the top  16  but more specifically disposed in adjacent or contiguous relation to the junction of the top  16  and the sidewall  14 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the protective peripheral seam  48  extends substantially continuously about the periphery of the top  16  at its junction with the sidewalls  14  and  14 ′ and is dimensioned to extend at least partially outward from the exterior surface of both the top  16  and top regions of sidewall  14 ,  14 ′ so as to protectably engage wall surfaces, doors, or any other object or surface with which the enclosure  12 , when mounted on the cart  20  in its operative position, may engage during travel and/or storage of the cart  20 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 through 4 ,  6  and  7 , each of the reinforced portions, including the peripheral seam  48  as well as the other reinforced portions  40  and  42 , are primarily defined by a thickened material portion, comprising at least on additional layer of material being affixed in overlying relation to a layer of material defining the corresponding portion of the enclosure  12 . For example, in the sectional views of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , one of the corner pads  40  is defined by a thickened material portion including a layer of material representing the corner pads  40  being disposed in secured relation over (or under) the layer of material defining the top  16 . Similarly in  FIG. 7 , the reinforced portion  42  is preferably disposed in fixed relation over the interior surface  32 ′ of the drape  32  immediately adjacent to certain ones of the connector components  34 ′. 
   The cover assembly  10  of the present invention preferably also comprises a storage assembly. The storage assembly includes at least a first compartment, generally indicated as  50  in  FIG. 5 , preferably secured to an interior surface  14 ″ of a portion of the sidewall and therefore disposed within the hollow interior of the enclosure  12 . The first compartment or pocket  50  may include a cover, as at  52 , and an outer side or wall portion  54  overlying and surrounding an interior of the pocket or compartment  50  (not shown). This first pocket  50  is disposed within the hollow interior of the enclosure  12  so as to maintain specialized or predetermined garments or items in a completely isolated location, and therefore more thoroughly sterile environment, relative to the remainder of the interior of the enclosure  12  and particularly, in isolated relation to the cart  20  and the contents thereof. Further, the storage assembly of the present invention may include at least a second compartment or pocket  56  mounted on the exterior surface of the sidewall  14  and including a window as at  58  being either open or formed at least in part from a transparent material which allows viewing of the content maintained on the interior of the second pocket  56 . Accordingly, documentation including, but not limited to, the intended delivery route or plurality of distribution locations of the contents of the cart for a particular day, etc. may be disposed within the interior of the second pocket  56 , such that the informative indicia on the documentation can be read through the window  58 . The storage assembly may further include a third pocket or compartment  60 , also mounted on the exterior of the sidewall  14  and being of sufficient dimension and configuration to hold used or rejected items on the interior thereof for delivery back to the proper site for cleaning or disposal. 
   Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
   Now that the invention has been described,