Abstract:
A storage/dispenser cabinet comprised of at least two parts: a casing ( 1 ) and a holding member ( 15 ). The casing ( 1 ), preferably made of a plastic material, houses supplies and equipment while the holding member ( 15 ) holds containers ( 4 ) having supplies therein, such as bandages, antiseptic wipes and the like, against the casing in a suspended fashion. The storage/dispenser cabinet may also have a cover member ( 2 ), preferably made of a plastic material and transparent, to function both as a cover to shelter the supplies and as a first aid station table. In addition, the storage/dispenser cabinet could also include a closure member ( 3 ) which would function as a safety door to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the supplies located within the storage/dispenser cabinet. Also, recesses ( 7 ) could be located on the casing ( 1 ) to hold additional medical equipment/supplies, such as a scissors ( 10 ) or a first aid manual ( 11 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to storage/dispenser cabinets, and more particularly, a storage/dispenser cabinet that allows a user to quickly and conveniently access sundry medical supplies and information.  
         [0002]     Many people keep various first aid items on hand, such as bandages, adhesive tape, gauze, antiseptic wipes and the like, in order to assist a person when he or she is injured. Although most people who stock their homes or offices with these supplies have the best of intentions, often times when a person is actually injured, the first aid supplies cannot be found. Either the supplies are shoved into a box which is somehow misplaced or stored in a drawer which, over time, becomes so accumulated with other objects that the first aid items are no longer easily accessible or visible. Thus, when the first aid items are actually needed, they are nowhere to be found.  
         [0003]     Currently there are first aid kits which are used to store first aid items. However, these first aid kits have significant drawbacks. For instance, the kits themselves often times become misplaced because they are usually stored in a cabinet. Additionally, the items in the first aid kit often become expired due to lack of use. Also, because the kits simply hold the supplies only, a work area must be created by the user in order to tend the wound, which may be difficult when working in a small area. In addition, access to first aid supplies is unlimited, meaning that small children may access the kits when unsupervised and thereby harm themselves.  
         [0004]     Thus, the need exists for a device which holds various medical supplies, is easy to locate, readily shows expiration dates, has a work station feature and is safe.  
         [0005]     The relevant prior art includes the following patents:  
                                                       Patent No.                   (U.S. unless stated otherwise)   Inventor   Issue Date                           3,504,787   Brockway   Apr. 7, 1970           2,357,555   Seaton   May 1, 1940           3,167,370   Mancini   Jan. 26, 1965           2,999,583   Mancini   Sep. 21, 1961           4,420,678   Kalb   Dec. 13, 1983           2,396,393   Seaton   Mar. 12, 1946           2,370,941   Dawson   Mar. 6, 1945           3,085,844   Mancini   Apr. 16, 1963           2003/0227236   Brooks   Dec. 11, 2003           900,373   Hunter et al.   Oct. 6, 1908           FR 2589340   Passot   May 7, 1987           FR 2644681   Perrin   Sep 28, 1990                      
 
         [0006]     Although the above patents teach first aid kits with compartments for storing first aid items and could be wall-mounted, none teach a storage/dispenser cabinet wherein dispenser containers lock into the storage/dispenser cabinet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which houses various medical supplies and equipment.  
         [0008]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which provides a convenient area for the administration of first aid needs.  
         [0009]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which promotes the sterility of medical supplies and equipment.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which organizes medical supplies and equipment.  
         [0011]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which can be locked to prevent unauthorized users from accessing medical supplies and equipment.  
         [0012]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage/dispenser cabinet which is easy to locate.  
         [0013]     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a storage/dispenser cabinet comprised of at least two parts: a casing and a holding member. The casing, preferably made of a plastic material, houses the supplies and equipment while the holding member holds containers having supplies therein, such as bandages, antiseptic wipes and the like, against the casing in a suspended fashion. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include the storage/dispenser cabinet having a cover member, preferably made of a plastic material and transparent, to function both as a cover to shelter the supplies and as a first aid station table. In addition, the present invention could also include a closure member which would function as a safety door to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the supplies located within the storage/dispenser cabinet. Also, recesses could be located on the casing to hold additional medical equipment/supplies, such as a scissors or a first aid manual.  
         [0014]     To use the present invention, a user would first install the storage/dispenser cabinet on a substantially flat surface, such as a wall, by using fasteners, such as screws. Then, the user would install the containers holding the desired medical supplies to be used. The user would select a container, open the top and fold the container top along a fold line to expose a cut-out shape located on the container top. Then, the user would simply insert the folded container top into a gap area located in between the holding member and the casing. Once the corresponding cut-out shape located on the holding member matches the cut-out shape located on the container top, flanges located on the back of the holding member catch the container top so as to lock the container top, and thus container, into place.  
         [0015]     To use the present invention as a first aid station, the user would simply pull down on a tab located on the cover member, thereby opening the cover. Once open, the cover lies substantially parallel to the ground, giving the user an area to use when first aid needs to be administered.  
         [0016]     To use the closure member of the present invention, the user would simply insert a key which would unlock the closure member. Once unlocked, the user simply opens the closure member to expose the contents of the storage/dispenser cabinet.  
         [0017]     To refill the containers, the user simply presses the exposed container flap located just below the holding member. When this is done, the container top unlocks from the flanges on the holding member to allow the user to remove the container.  
         [0018]     Additional storage space may also be provided in the storage/dispenser cabinet by providing a base wall in which refill containers may be rest upon.  
         [0019]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention with containers;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with an open cover member;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  without a cover member, closure member or holding member;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a rear partial perspective view of a holding member of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a container used in the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  holding a container;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  without containers;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a cover member of the present invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a closure member of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
         1 . casing  19 . ledge      2 . cover member  20 . side wall      3 . closure member  21 . rear wall tabs      4 . container  22 . rear wall ribs      5 . lock  23 . base wall      6 . front face  24 . storage wall      7 . recess  25 . flanges      8 . cover member tab  26 . cut out      9 . apertures  27 . supplies information      10 . scissors  28 . donut      11 . first aid manual  29 . hole      12 . cupped portion of  30 . raised portion of     cover member cover member      13 . pivot point  31 . window      14 . rear wall  32 . closure member tab      15 . holding member  33 . window ledge      16 . container flap  34 . container top      17 . adhesive tape  35 . fold line     dispenser  36 . container opening      18 . screws        
 
         [0053]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention with containers  4  inserted therein is shown. The storage/dispenser cabinet has a casing  1 , preferably made of a plastics material, which is adapted to be mounted on a vertically extending surface, such as a wall, by inserting fasteners, such as screws  18 , into the apertures  9  located on the casing  1 . The first embodiment of the storage/dispenser cabinet comprises a generally flat rear wall  14 , a cover member  2  and a closure member  3 . The cover member  2  is preferably transparent so as to allow users to view the contents of the containers  4  in the cabinet. The cover member  2  also has a cover member tab  8  to allow a user to easily open the cover member for use as a table for tending medical needs. The closure member  3 , preferably made of metal, has a lock  5  to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the supplies and is pivotally attached to the casing  1 . The front face  6  of the closure member  3  may have instructions printed or placed thereon for the user and may have a window  31  to allow a user to view supplies information  27 , such as a reorder number of the supplies or the expiration date. The first embodiment of the storage/dispenser cabinet also includes a storage wall  24  wherein recesses  7  are located to hold additional first aid supplies, such as scissors  10  or a first aid manual  11 .  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 2 , a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the cover member  2  open is shown. When a user pulls the cover member tab  8 , the cover member  2  opens along its pivot point  13  and lies flat to allow a user to utilize the cover member  2  as a table to tend medical needs. When the cover member  2  is open, the user can access other medical supplies, such as an adhesive tape dispenser  17 . The containers  4  are held in a holding member  15 , which is preferably made ofinetal. The containers  4  lock into place in the holding member  15  and can be released by pressing down on the container flap  16 .  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  without containers  4 , a cover member  2  or a closure member  3  is shown. The first embodiment of the storage/dispenser cabinet has a generally flat rear wall  14  so as to lay flat against a vertical surface, such as a wall. The casing has side walls  20  to create depth in the storage/dispenser cabinet for the holding of medical supplies. A base wall  23  allows for storing extra supplies, such as additional containers, while a ledge  19  is provided to allow an adhesive tape dispenser  17  to rest thereon. The rear wall  14  has rear wall ribs  22  and rear wall tabs  21 .  
         [0056]     In  FIG. 4 , a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is shown. The back of the casing  1  shows how the rear wall tabs  21  lie in a plane with the rear wall  14  while the cut out  26  on the holding member  15  and the holding member  15  itself lies in a different plane. Flanges  25  are located on the back of the holding member  15  for the securing of containers  4 .  
         [0057]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a rear partial perspective view of a holding member  15  of the present invention is shown. The cut-out shape, in this case a cross and square, are located on the holding member  15  and have flanges  25  located on the back thereon. The purpose of the flanges  25  is to lock the container tops  34 , and thus containers  4 , in place when they are inserted in between the holding member  15  and the rear wall tabs  21  and rear wall ribs  22 .  
         [0058]     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a container  4  is shown. To prepare the container  4  for insertion into a holding member  15 , a user opens the container top  34  and folds the container top  34  at the fold line  35  so the container flap  16  is slightly above the container opening  36 . The cut-out shape located on the container top  34  is now visible and matches the cut-out shape located on the holding member  15 .  
         [0059]     In  FIG. 7 , a partial perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  holding a container  4  is shown. A cut out  26  on the holding member is provided to allow a person to press down on a container flap  16  to release the container  4  from the holding member  15 .  
         [0060]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a casing  1 , preferably made of a plastics material, and a cover member  2 , which is preferably transparent. The second embodiment also has apertures  9  for fastening the storage/dispenser cabinet to a flat surface and recesses  7  for the acceptance of other first aid supplies, such as scissors  10  or a first aid manual  11 .  
         [0061]     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a upwardly looking view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  without containers  4  is shown. Extending from the rear wall  14  are the rear wall ribs  22 . Connected to the rear wall ribs  22  is the holding member  15 . Because the rear wall ribs  22  protrude away from the rear wall  14  in an incremental fashion, the holding member  15  is also raised, thus creating a gap for the acceptance of containers  4 .  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 10 , a side view of a cover member  2  of the present invention is shown. The cover member  2  cupped portion  12  to allow users to utilize the space as a workstation for tending to medical needs. The cover member  2  also has a raised portion  30  and a tab  8 . To secure the cover member  2  to the casing  1 , a donut  28  having a hole  29  is provided wherein a fastener, such as a screw  18 , can be inserted to create a pivot point  13  for when the cover member  2  is opened.  
         [0063]     With reference to  FIG. 11 , a perspective view of a closure member  3  of the present invention is shown. The closure member  3 , which is preferably made of metal, has a lock  5  which prevents unauthorized users from accessing the contents of the cabinet without a key. The closure member  3  also has a window  31  which allows users to view the information located on each individual container  4 . A window ledge  33  is located above the front face  6  of the closure member  3 . The closure member  3  is pivotally attached to the casing  1  by securing a fastener through a hole  29  located on the closure member tab  32 . When the closure member  3  is opened, more information relating to the use of the product or medical emergency information can be affixed to the inside surface of the closure member  2 .  
         [0064]     To add containers  4  to the present invention, a user simply opens the container  4  and folds the container top  34  at the fold line  35  so the container flap  16  is slightly above container opening  36 . The user then inserts the container top  34  into the gap located between the holding member  15  and the rear wall  15 . The user continues to insert the container top  34  into the invention until the container  4  cannot go any further. Because the container top  34  has predetermined cut-out shapes that correspond with the cut-out shapes located on the holding member  15 , in this case a cross, when the container top  34  slightly unfolds, the cut-out shapes on the container top  34  hooks onto the flanges  25  on the holding member  15  to lock the container  4  in place.  
         [0065]     To remove containers  4  from the present invention, a user simply presses the container flap  16  to release the container  4  from the holding member  15 . When this is done, the user may then gently pull down on the container  4  to remove it from the holding member  15 .  
         [0066]     To use the cover member  2  as a first aid workstation, a user simply pulls down on the cover member tab  8 . When he or she does so, the cover member  8  opens about its pivot point  13  and lies substantially parallel to the ground. When the cover member  2  is opened, a user can also access other medical supplies, such as an adhesive tape dispenser  17 .  
         [0067]     To use an embodiment of the invention with the closure member  3 , a user must first insert a key into the lock  5  located on the front of the closure member  3 . After unlocking, the user then opens the closure member  3  to access the contents within the invention. The closure member  3  can be opened or closed without regard as to the position of the cover member  2 . Further stocking of the first aid supplies can be achieved by resting the supplies on the base wall  23 .  
         [0068]     Various embodiments of the present invention allow for the reception of various numbers of containers  4 . In addition, the containers  4  may be square or rectangular cardboard boxes, or other shapes capable of holding articles such as first aid requisites, such as adhesive plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes and so forth. Also, the cut-out shapes may be in different formations, such as squares, circles, triangles, etc.  
         [0069]     Further embodiments of the present invention includes recesses  7  of various depths and sizes for the accommodation of various sized first aid utensils. In addition, a closure member  3  may have one, several or no windows  31  at all for the viewing of supplies information  27 .  
         [0070]     Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are included as part of this invention.