Granted Patent B2

US 12,251,342 · App. 18/541,348 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Inventors: Thomas J. Larkner (Noblesville, IN); David A. Ferrer (Westfield, IN); Jesse M. Smith (Noblesville, IN); Dennis H. Smith (Carmel, IN); Adam A. Cloud (Noblesville, IN); Mark D. Lockwood (Dubuque, IA); Mark G. Loeffelholz (Dubuque, IA); James R. Edwards (Bellevue, IA)

Assignee: HELMER SCIENTIFIC, LLC

A61G12/00A47B81/00B60B33/00E05B47/0012E05B51/00E05B65/00G06Q10/087G07C9/28G07F9/105G07F11/165G07F11/62G07F17/0064G07F17/0071G07F17/0092E05B2047/0037E05B2047/0072

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A storage device for medical products, the storage device comprising:

a cabinet defining an enclosure having a plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of compartments including a stop;

a plurality of storage containers, each storage container including a hook formed on a bottom side of the storage container, and each storage container configured to be inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments so that withdrawal of a storage container from the corresponding one of the plurality of compartments is configured to engage the hook of the storage container with the stop of the corresponding one of the plurality of compartments to restrict further withdrawal of the storage container;

an actuation assembly including:

a plurality of arms that are configured to engage the plurality of storage containers so as to secure the plurality of storage containers in the plurality of compartments; and

a plurality of actuators positioned in the cabinet, each of the plurality of actuators being configured to actuate one of the plurality of arms independent of a remaining portion of the plurality of arms; and

a release mechanism that is configured to simultaneously actuate each of the plurality of arms to release the plurality of storage containers from the plurality of compartments.

2. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of actuators is configured to be electrically actuated.

3. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism is manually operable.

4. The storage device of claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism includes a security device that is configured to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated.

5. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the security device is a key-operated lock.

6. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly includes a plurality of detectors that are each configured to detect a position of a corresponding one of the plurality of arms.

7. The storage device of claim 1 ,

wherein for each storage container of the plurality of storage containers, the storage container includes:

one or more protrusions positioned along a top side of the storage container, and

wherein, for each storage container, the one or more protrusions are opposed to an upper surface in the corresponding compartment to prevent rotation of the storage container to disengage the hook from the stop.

8. A storage device for medical products, the storage device comprising:

a cabinet defining an enclosure;

a first compartment positioned in the enclosure that is configured to receive a first storage container therein, the first compartment including a first stop and the first storage container including a first hook on a bottom side of the first storage container, the first hook configured to engage the first stop to restrict a withdrawal of the first storage container from the first compartment;

a second compartment positioned in the enclosure that is configured to receive a second storage container therein, the second compartment including a second stop and the second storage container including a second hook on a bottom side of the second storage container, the second hook configured to engage the second stop to restrict a withdrawal of the second storage container from the second compartment;

an actuation assembly including:

a first arm that is configured to engage a back end of the first storage container to secure the first storage container in the first compartment; and

a second arm that is configured to engage a back end of the second storage container to secure the second storage container in the second compartment; and

a release mechanism that is configured to simultaneously:

disengage the first arm from the first storage container to release first storage container from the first compartment; and

disengage the second arm from the second storage container to release the second storage container from the second compartment.

9. The storage device of claim 8 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises:

a first actuator that is configured to actuate the first arm independently of the second arm; and

a second actuator that is configured to actuate the second arm independently of the first arm.

10. The storage device of claim 9 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are laterally adjacent one another within the cabinet.

11. The storage device of claim 10 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator both comprise solenoid actuated plungers.

12. The storage device of claim 11 , wherein the release mechanism is manually operable.

13. The storage device of claim 11 , wherein the release mechanism includes a security device that is configured to prevent the release mechanism from being actuated.

14. The storage device of claim 13 , wherein the security device is a key-operated lock.

15. The storage device of claim 8 ,

wherein the first storage container includes:

one or more protrusions positioned along a top side of the first storage container, and

wherein the one or more protrusions are opposed to an upper surface in the first compartment to prevent rotation of the first storage container to disengage the hook from the stop.

16. A method comprising:

inserting a first storage container into a first compartment defined in a cabinet;

inserting a second storage container into a second compartment defined in the cabinet;

engaging a back end of the first storage container with a first arm to secure the first storage container in the first compartment;

engaging a back end of the second storage container with a second arm to secure the second storage container in the second compartment;

actuating a first actuator to disengage the first arm from the first storage container without disengaging the second arm from the second storage container; and

simultaneously disengaging the first arm from the first storage container and the second arm from the second storage container by use of a release mechanism; and

withdrawing the first storage container from the first compartment so as to engage a hook on a bottom side of the first storage container with a stop defined in the first compartment to prevent further withdrawal of the first storage container from the first compartment.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising actuating a second actuator to disengage the second arm from the second storage container.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first actuator includes a solenoid actuated plunger.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising actuating a security device to allow actuation of the release mechanism.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising preventing disengagement of the hook from the stop with one or more protrusions positioned along a top side of the first storage container that are to oppose an upper surface in the first compartment.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (176)