Patent Application
20170027347
This invention relates generally to disposable tray tables of the caddy or container type, and in particular to the use of compounds having anti-bacterial/bacteria detection properties on multiple peelable layers of a disposable tray fitted to a bedside/sofaside/chairborne table adapted to the tray and to the bed, as well as diverse accessories.
This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.
While sneezing and coughing are commonly imagined to be the leading causes of infection, in fact contact, direct and indirect, are enormous vectors for infection. Common activities like shaking hands, passing beverages or food containers, handing over a credit card or money, or touching a counter-top, table or piece of paper are all extremely common routes for disease transmission, or for that matter on any item which is transferred hand to hand and thus includes touching.
This type of spread of infection occurs in numerous settings: fast food restaurant trays, cafeteria trays, hospital bedside tables and trays (“overbed tables”), hospice and elder care facilities, home care settings and more.
There are at least some data points available in the healthcare industry setting. Approximately 3.7 million persons per year get an infection in the healthcare setting in the US, with approximately half a million deaths resulting, making it the third leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease. The 2011 treatment cost was estimated at over $70 Billion, and beginning in 2012 Medicare and Medicaid began to limit payments of healthcare costs associated with healthcare-system-acquired infections.
Obviously, the corresponding figures for other settings are very difficult to establish but given the efforts at hygiene made in the healthcare setting compared to the efforts elsewhere it seems likely that the true, unknowable, figures are much worse.
There are many efforts made to limit or slow the spread of disease, ranging from the trivial to the extremely efficient. Restaurants and cafeterias are expected to wipe down trays and countertops according to health regulations, hospitals sanitize equipment much more stringently. There are liquid solutions, UV sterilizers, occasional tests for the presence of micro-organisms and so forth. Many of these require enormous amounts of time-intensive labor, others have financial costs.
In the hospital setting, the places where a patient is most likely to stay, be treated, touch or otherwise impact are considered the highest priorities for cleaning. A partial list includes not just patient bedrooms but waiting rooms, operating rooms and so on. Within these rooms, the “high touch” areas fall under particular scrutiny since contact is the number one vector for transmission of disease, not air-borne routes. High touch areas include some places about which nothing can be done but frequent cleaning (television remote controls or bathroom surfaces) but do include some areas which could be handled in less labor intensive ways. In particular, the top, front, sides and rails of beds, head boards, and especially bed side tables, drawers, light switches and the like.
After cleaning, the cleaning person must remove their gloves and outer garments and the like and those must also be cleaned. After patient discharge additional items have to be cleaned.
Studies have shown that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile are strongly impacted by the type of surface they rest on and the location of the surface (how humans use the surface) is important as well. For example, cork is much more likely to harbor microorganic life than plastic, but any surface may become contaminated with the passage of too much time.
Cleaning protocols in use appear to be inadequate given the high prevalence found in hospital environments of not just the two pathogens above but multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR) and others. In one study, MDR could be found in over half the the rooms tested, AFTER they rooms had been cleaned. Once again, the prime suspects list for locations of contamination included parts of the bedside table, supply carts, and so on.
And these studies are in the hospital setting, where the fight against contamination is waged most energetically. It is rather frightening to consider the home or hotel environment where there are no trained personnel available to combat the spread of pathogens.
When one considers that hospital grade cleaning compounds must be inexpensive, easy to apply, and EPA approved disinfectants, and the enormous manual labor involved in cleaning, it becomes clear that better cleaning solutions are necessary.
It would be preferable to provide a clean, sterile surface without having to engage in constant cleaning. It would further be preferable to do so with very low labor cost and using lost cost equipment.
It would yet further be preferable to provide some system which could be used in a wide variety of settings, from the home to the hospital to the airline to restaurants and more.
It would yet further be preferable to provide a furniture system incorporating these elements for use with beds, chairs, couches, and trays regardless of the context of the use.
It would yet further be preferable to provide a furniture system having diverse accessories such as UV lights, electric power, data connections and so on in a hygienic and safe furniture system.
One example of peelable technology for sanitation is the peelable shower curtain shown in US Patent No. 2007/0215296 dated Nov. 1, 1994. However, this curtain is not for handling, it is not for support of food trays, canteens, containers, personal devices or the like, and it lacks any support structures such as a firm backing layer or a table structure, a base, etc. It also lacks any suggestion, or even any reason why a shower curtain might be combined with a bedside table.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,211 and US Patent Applications 2004/01748312, 2005/0022699, and 2005/0045788, and 2008/0006183 all show various types of arm arrangements for hospital rooms and the like, of various rather general natures.
Thus it would be further preferable to provide a method of using peelable technology combined with table/TV trays/night stands/end tables/coffee tables and tray furnishings, canteens, cups, containers of many types, personal devices and so on and so forth.
A compact environmentally transforming platform that connects to a cartridge/tray providing a peel-away controllable film surface eliminating and or detecting the presence of a threatening antibiotic resistant pathogen and or dangerous bacteria.
The present invention teaches a bedside table with a disposable hygienic tray which has thereon multiple layers of film. In embodiments, the tray may be designed to fit on a standard bedside table, however in the best mode now contemplated the tray fits onto a specially designed pair of tongs, prongs or forks projecting from a specially designed table. The fork can provide low voltage or data to the tray frame and to the film layers. UV lighting or the like may also be provided, as well as conventional reading light or night lights.
Each layer of film in has adhesive, or anti-bacterial compounds, or bacterial detection compounds, or combinations thereof. For example, in an embodiment in which static and/or suction cause the layers to cling to one another, each layer might have thereon a thin coating of a compound which kills bacteria or fungus or viruses or prions or other sources of infection. In another embodiment, there might be stripes or patterns of one material side by side with stripes or patterns of another, while in yet a third embodiment there might be alternating layers, or the adhesive may be combined with another compound, etc. In yet another embodiment, the film may have low voltage (and may have the proper conductivity characteristics therefor) flowing through it: this may activate the compounds of the film or the compounds between the films, or may have beneficial characteristics of its own. The compounds may be time release types as well as liquids and solids.
Films may have texturing or microchannels to enhance the flow of the anti-microbial compounds or even the microbes themselves.
In use, for example in a hospital, health care setting, home care setting or for home or many other contexts of use, each layer is removed in sequence, exposing a new layer underneath. The layers are provided with tabs which are not adhered to one another, or which even only partially overlap: the tabs are pulled and the peelable layer is pulled off with the tab. After a suitable period of usage, the new layer is in turn removed to expose yet another later. When the final layer is removed the disposable tray is removed from the bedside/couch/chair/framed platform table and replaced with a fresh tray.
In embodiments, the core bedside table unit may sit on the floor, mount to a wall rail, or may have a projection dimensioned and configured to pass between the bottom of a mattress and the top of a box spring.
The backing layer may be formed by vacuum molding, or by other methods. The disposable layers may be sprayed or screen printed onto the backing layer, or may be manufactured separately and adhered thereto.
It is therefore an aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray comprising:
a backing, the backing being made of a resilient material able to bear weight, the backing formed into a tray shape having an edge and having a top surface;
a plurality of hygienic layers, each hygienic layer comprising a film and a coating, each coating being one member selected from the group consisting of: anti-microbial coatings, anti-bacterial coatings, bacterial detection coatings, adhesives, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore an aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray further comprising: at least one depression, the depression defined by the backing and conformed to by the plurality of hygienic layers, the at least one depression dimensioned and configured to accept one edge of a personal electronic device.
It is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray further comprising: at least one depression, the depression having an opening defined by a void of the backing, with a bag-like pocket passing through the voice of the backing, the bag-like pocket defined by the plurality of hygienic layers.
It is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray wherein the backing and the hygienic layers are the same, the hygienic layers offering the tray structural support.
In addition to which it is an aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray for use with a liquid such as spilled beverages, bodily fluids or the like, wherein the tray has a lowest point, the lowest point being within one or more of the bag-like pockets,
the tray being dimensioned to allow such liquid to flow across at least a portion of the tray to the lowest point within one or more bag-like pockets,
whereby such liquid on the surface of the tray may be disposed of by peeling a single hygienic layer from the tray edge first, so that such liquid remains contained within one or more bag-like pockets while the single hygienic layer is removed from the tray.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray for use with a liquid such as spilled beverages, bodily fluids or the like, wherein:
at least a first one of the hygienic layers is perforated so as to allow such liquid to pass through, and at least a second one of the hygienic layers is directly underneath the first hygienic layer and is comprised of an absorbent material.
It is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray further comprising:
a first capillary layer perforated by capillary passages;
a second antimicrobial layer impregnated with an antimicrobial liquid, whereby the antimicrobial liquid may pass upward through the first capillary layer to the surface.
It is therefore yet one more aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray, wherein the film has antimicrobial properties and the coating is omitted.
It is therefore one more aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray wherein the film comprises a material which is one member selected from the group consisting of: polymer films, metallized polymer films, metal foils, paper, cloth and combinations thereof.
It is therefore one more aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray further comprising:
a second coating selected from the group consisting of: anti-microbial coatings, anti-bacterial coatings, microbial detection coatings, bacterial detection coatings, adhesives, and combinations thereof.
And it is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray wherein the anti-bacterial coating comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: antibiotic compounds, essential oils, copper, metals, disinfectants, sanitizers, bactericidal agents, bacteriostatic agents, antifungal agents, antiviral agents, antiparasitic agents and combinations thereof.
And it is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray further comprising:
a reservoir having therein a liquid antimicrobial coating.
And it is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray wherein the liquid antimicrobial coating further has current passing therethrough, light passing therethrough, UV light passing therethrough, beneficial microorganisms and combinations thereof.
And in addition to that it is therefore one aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a disposable sanitary tray wherein the antimicrobial coating covers a first portion of the tray top surface, the first portion being one member selected from the group consisting of: a spider web of thin lines, less than half of the top surface, more than half of the top surface, all of the top surface.
It is therefore a second or higher numbered aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table comprising:
a core unit having at least one arm segment, the at least one arm segment dimensioned and configured to project over such bedside;
a connector unit mounted upon the core unit at a first end of the at least one arm segment;
a backing, the backing being made of a resilient material able to bear weight, the backing formed into a tray shape, the tray shape dimensioned and configured to mechanically engage such connector unit;
a plurality of hygienic layers, each hygienic layer comprising a film and a coating, each coating being one member selected from the group consisting of: anti-bacterial coatings, bacterial detection coatings, adhesives, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table comprising:
an electronic connector suitable for connecting an electronic device to.
It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table wherein the connector unit is a pair of tines and the electronic connector unit is one member selected from the group consisting of: an electrical power cord, an electronic data cable, electrical controls, low voltage connectors suitable for passing low voltage through the films, UV lighting, ambient lighting, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table further comprising: low voltage conductivity through the compounds of/in the film.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table wherein the hygienic layers are transparent in UV and wherein the table further comprises: a UV light disposed so as to shine through the tray.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention, in addition to those described above, to provide a bedside table, TV tray, night stand, coffee table or end table for use with a floor or a mattress and further comprising:
a foot, the foot having a shape selected from the group consisting of: a foot dimensioned and configured to support the table when the foot is flat on such floor, a foot dimensioned and configured to support the table when the foot is inserted beneath such mattress and combinations thereof.
It is therefore a preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the invention to provide a disposable tray as part of a bedside table, the disposable tray having numerous layers of removable material thereon so that as one layer is used, or dirtied, or simply due to the passage of a period of time, a layer may be removed—along with any micro-organisms clinging thereto—and a new layer is exposed, clean. The layers may additionally have anti-microbial compounds on them, such as anti-fungal or anti-bacterial compounds. Detection compounds may be used, liquids, lights, and time release compounds may be used.
Stepped tablet holder 108 has a bottom contour which is dimensioned and configured to accept different thicknesses and shapes (and thus brands) of tablets. The bottom contour may have a larger section into which a first tablet's edge may sit, and then may have additional steps which will catch and hold the edges of other tablets having differing thicknesses or sections.
The shape of the bottom contour and cupholders of the embodiment may be dimensioned and configured to allow liquids to flow into the center (for example, the two large rectangular areas). When the device is peeled away, the user (such as a nurse, etc) may peel the edges first and the center last, thus allowing the peel away coating of plastic, metal, copper, foil, etc, function as a bag and the spilled liquids may be bagged and taken away without any need to wipe down the tray.
Films may have texturing or microchannels to enhance the flow of the anti-microbial compounds or even the microbes themselves.
Anti-bacteria film 200 will cover a substantial part of the surface of the disposable tray, for example, in the preferred embodiments it may cover the entire top surface of the tray.
Tab 202 and tab 204 may have no adhesive thereon. The tabs 202/204 may conveniently project from a feature or from an edge of the tray so that they can easily be individually gripped between thumb and forefinger. When the tab which is part of the topmost layer, or is connected to the topmost layer, is gripped and pulled as shown by arrow 206/arrow 210, the pull will lift the immediately adjoining areas of the layer up and off the disposable tray. Continuing to pull, larger and larger parts of the layers will be removed until finally the entire layer can be removed. It will be appreciated that it may be advantageous, in embodiments, for the adhesive to be tacky, however the exact adhesive properties will depend upon other aspects of the embodiment.
Backside/back layer of film/adhesive layer 208 and similar layer 210 may be provided with an adhesive to hold the layers together and to the disposable tray prior to being used and pulled off one by one. Note that the adhesive compound underneath a first layer might negatively interact with the anti-micro-organism compound of the next layer down. However, this can be handled in several ways. Two ways are discussed further in reference to
Disposable tray 300 may be seen to be of fairly conventional shape and size for a bedside table top in this alternative embodiment. Thus the tray 300 may be used in place of metal trays or table tops which ordinarily are used beside beds such as hospital beds, hospice beds, home care beds and in similar situations.
Detail of Tray/Table 302 shows peel away tabs used to peel away layers.
Tabs 304 may be as previously described, and when pulled will expose backside/back layer of film/adhesive layer 306. In this case the pulling off of the layer may be even faster than in other embodiments due to the simpler shape of the tray.
Hospital bedside table 308 may be seen in an overall view, the table being of relatively simple shape and dimension. It has a wheeled base part which can extend underneath a bed and the disposable tray part, with attachment parts, which hangs low over the bed.
Latch 404 may be seen to provide a unique shape for easy fastening and unfastening, as well as being secure: this latch is adapted for the use of the disposable tray with the connector (tines in this embodiment) which hold the tray to the rest of the table.
Pivot/lock 406 allows the arm segments, such as arm segment 408 or 414, to be rotated so that the tray is held in any desired location, and yet be locked once the various parts are in that location.
Recess 410 serves several purposes, such as weight and material reduction and providing an easier grip. However, the recess 410 provides a safe secure location to tuck cord 412 so that the table can be provided with an electrical/electronic connection such as a power cord and power outlet disposed conveniently to hand on or near the disposable tray, or an electronic data cable connection such as for a USB cable or the like.
Piston Segment 416 allows the device to be raised or lowered, and in addition may assist that motion by means of mechanical linkages or a gas shock, an electric worm drive and so on and so forth. As will be seen in the next several diagrams 10 through 12, the piston segment 416 further allows a secure anchor point for the bedside table of the invention to be attached to a base or support.
Forks 522 (again seen side on) are dimensioned and configured, and tray 524 is likewise dimensioned and configured, so as to engage to one another mechanically, for example, the tines 522 may extend under the tray into raised areas, into springs, holes, etc in order to secure them together. The tines/connector may provide a solid feel to the tray, allowing thinner tray construction (the tray may be disposable) without sacrificing a feeling of stability.
Connector 526 (a power cord in the embodiment illustrated) may plug into a standard wall outlet.
Wall/floor 630 may be used to support wall rail/wall track 632 (or in preferred embodiments such as that depicted, more than one track) which in turn supports connector 634, which in turn is secured to the piston portion of the core unit. This embodiment may be preferable in institutional settings such as care facilities or health care facilities in which beds may be moved and rooms rearranged and yet the device should be flexibly employable in the same room in a new spot, and the device should be fastened down. It may be preferable for other reasons as well to have a hospital device mounted to a wall.
This standardized rail may also be a data rail, which allows equipment to slide along the rail freely and yet maintain a data connection between the equipment mounted on the rail and the internet or other data network.
Mattress insert support 702 is yet another unique feature of the invention. The mattress insert support 702 may be inserted interstitially (between otherwise adjacent things), in this case, the insert support 702 may slide easily in between the mattress and the box spring. It will then be held in place by the weight of the mattress above it and the friction with the mattress and box spring. It may also be inserted below the box spring, depending on the bed construction. In yet other settings, such as a single mattress care facility bed, it may be inserted between the mattress and the surface of the bed on which the mattress rests. This base has the advantages of being instantly removable and transferrable, stable, light weight and inexpensive.
While shown side on and thus appearing to be a tongue or bar, in fact in the preferred embodiment shown the insert may be a large flat device having an oval, round, rectangular or similar planform.
One superior example of this is the preferred embodiment of
As shown in
The lights of the invention may advantageously be UV lights designed for sanitary purposes: sterilization. The lights may also be dim or ambient lighting, or may even be reading lights (note that this particular positioning shown in
The net may further be replaced by a shelf, of course.
Note that another USB may be used (but not visible in this side view), and the buttons shown may even control the platform motion in the vertical dimension.
Use of the plug-style retainer or gasket is similar (this holds the upper compartment cabling), with the addition of removing the plug before altering the cords/cables. Thus there are three interior cables as well as the two exterior wires.
The claw stand may be quite heavy in optional embodiments: this provides an advantageous stability, at the cost of making it harder for more lightly built individuals to move.
In addition to the features and aspects, advantages and embodiments previously described, the present invention has the following elements.
The shape of the tray unique design has concords in a frame supporting multiple layers of thin film.
The tray frames are shaped to support the function of holding items. The tray frame's bottom is designed to mechanically slide into a support frame. The tray frame will be made of disposable or non-disposable materials. The tray frame can connect to power or data once attached to support frame. The tray frame will support monitoring sensors and lighting. The tray frame is designed to connect to a support frame at multiple angles above and below horizontal. The tray frame is designed to hold personal electronics (laptop computer, tablet computer and personal phones) of multiple sizes.
The tray frame is designed to allow liquid to flow to the center. The tray frame can be injected with antibacterial, fire retardant and or other compounds. The tray frame is designed to support handles to move the tray.
The films unique layering may be of compounds between chemically injected layers of film.
The film can be removed by pinching tabs then pulling towards the center of tray. The film tabs are located around tray frame edges at the bottom. The film layers are attach by adhesives, electrostatic and or ultrasonic welding. The film can have raised ridges to separate compounds applied. The film can have liquid conductivity compounds that feed data between forks or prongs. The film can contain properties of compounds to detect bacteria growth by changing colors. The film can contain lines of conductive adhesives compound that can be attached to sensors that will kill bacteria and or transfer information. The film can contain lines of design such as logo and become visual or illuminate with tray frame lighting.
The film layering can be multiple layers and supports its own structure molded to fit the tray frame. The film layering can be multiple layers, not supporting its own structure and mold to fit existing surface. The film can come in packet layers and replaced with refill connecting in tray frame. The film layers can contain printing such as advertisements, instructions and the like.
The film is flexible to allow to be used like a drop cloth. The film can have electronically charged neg. or pos. ions that can effect the surface of each individual layer or all layers. The films electronically charged surface will make the connection through the tray frame then thru the fork connector
The film can have a gel type coating compound that dissolves over a timed period. When gel type coating is dissolved a word like (peel layer) can become visible.
The lighting in the fork design can flash UV Pulse through the clear layers of film killing bacteria. The tray frame and films can be different in colors or in patterns to direct UV Pulse light beam to high contact areas.
The tray frame and film can contain its own power source and or processor for data information collection.
The fork is designed to except the tray frame and hold in place with click connect on the inside of the fork rail with tension. The click connection on the inter fork can be a point or source of low voltage feed and or data to the tray frame and peel away film. The lower part of the fork is designed to accept an external connection to support a net, drawer, speaker, camera, trash bag, etc. The fork on either side is hinged to allow the prong to move individually above or below 0 degrees to support a flat tray or angled stair step designed tray frame. The fork prong can contain lighting to illuminate the tray frame and or film. This lighting can be for illumination or killing of bacteria with UV Lighting. The fork power and data source will connect at the engagement of the fork swivel locking connector.
The fork can be designed to provide sensors internal or external to detect such things as weight placed on fork, motion, temperature beam, and or bacteria. It may have Bluetooth or wi-fi for data to/from a network directly to a smartphone, tablet or computer.
The fork can be made with impregnated anti-bacteria properties in plastic, metals, copper etc.
The fork can accept attachments to reconfigure its structure as needed. The fork is designed to be pinched by the tray frame film cartage. The fork can also change it configuration to support different designs of tray frames.
The connector locks the fork into place. The connector connects power to the fork/prongs. The connector is unique in shape to lock fork/prong into and the connector can be tightened to adjust motion of swings of various parts. The connector has lighting, buttons, sensors and or processor for data. The connector can have 360 degrees motion. The connector locks fork/prong with a locking mechanism. The connector powers and or data feeds the fork/prong through frame into film.
The arm contains controls for horizontal motion and functions in tray/prong through to film. The arm contains USB ports for charging and data feed and can contain wire, cable, tubing to support power and or data feed. The arm can contain support wiring within the arm structure and or attached external wire underneath arm and can support extra external wiring in storage area underneath arm and held in place with rubber flaps across from each other overlapping to support.
The arm frame can be made of metal, plastic, layered composite materials.
Note that the arm can be fitted with touch surfaces film peel a ways used with the same protection as film layers, can have a cover over it made of anti-bacterial plastic, copper and or peel-away layers of film, and the arm's unique design at the controls is designed to fit the palm of a user's hand comfortably allowing a finger forward to press buttons. The arm's swinging motion can be adjusted by tightening knob where control arm connects to support arm. The arm's unique design located on top is designed not to pinch fingers when folded on top of the support arm.
The arm can contain wire, cable, tubing to support power and or data feeds, and can contain support wiring within the arm structure and or attached external wire underneath arm.
The arm can support extra external wiring in storage area underneath arm and held in place with rubber flaps across from each other overlapping to support. The arm frame can be made of metal, plastic, layered composite materials.
The arm can be fitted with touch surfaces film peel a ways used with the same protection as film layers. The arm can except a cover over it made of anti-bacterial plastic, copper and or peel away layers of film.
The arm's swinging motion can be adjusted by tightening knob where support arm connects to knuckle.
The support arm can fold inward to the cylinder unit and can fold from 0 degrees to 90 degrees.
The support arm also locks in place at knuckle at needed degrees, much like the main arm discussed previously. The support arm can be disengaged by mechanical button. Support arm's unique design located on top is designed not to pinch fingers when folded below the control arm.
The knuckle connects to the support arm. The knuckle can turn 360 degrees and the knuckle swing motion can be tightened with knob. The knuckle is located at the top of the actuator cylinder. The knuckle supplies power and or data to the support arm at connection. The knuckle and or knob can be covered over with materials made of anti-bacterial plastic, copper and or peel away layer of film as other parts of the furniture.
The knuckle is directly attached to the top of the cylinder. The cylinder is telescopic so it can move up or down. The cylinder may be uniquely designed to fit proprietary cylinder mounts, and the cylinder can be shaped round, square, triangle, egg and or and other shape. The cylinder mechanical movement can be supplied by gas, electric and or hydraulic actuators.
The cylinder can supply power and or data through to the fork and or prongs and can supply power to the top at all times while in motion.
At cylinder's telescopic joint an antibacterial donut can be place to sterilize the upper tube as it moves up or down. The cylinder power and or data connection is located at the bottom of the cylinder. The cylinder bottom ball is rubber or other materials to secure to all flooring surfaces, wood, tile, carpet and or any other flat surface. Cylinder tubing can be made of metal, carbon fiber, fiberglass, plastic and or other materials. The cylinder can have lighting to notify users that power is connected or no power is running through the cylinder.
The cylinder is designed to attach to a floor mount, mattress paddle mount and or a track wall mount device.
Floor claw mount is designed to accept the cylinder to secure it during use. The floor claw mount is uniquely designed to slide between a support leg of a chair, couch and or bed post between a wall easily pushed into position by guiding between the two obstacles and curving its self into place.
The floor claw mount is uniquely designed at a slope higher at the cylinder mount and lower at the tips to allow the mount to wedge under a chair, couch, and or bed to add support. The floor claw mount is uniquely designed to allow itself to lock with a wedge and pin technique then unlocking by grabbing the handle pulling and twisting allowing the claw mount slide out of its wedge formed lock.
The floor claw mount provides power and or data to the cylinder as a click-in connection once placed in to cylinder shelve. The floor claw mount provides external power and or data connection that provides the power and or data feed to the bottom of the cylinder sleeve. The floor claw mount can hold data processors for the functions of the whole connected unit.
The floor claw mount can be made of metal, concrete, plastic and or cast molded. The floor claw mount can be molded by casting, injection molding and or spin molding.
The floor claw mount can have attachments on the bottom of it allowing easier sliding on surfaces and or wheels to roll across surface. The paddle's unique design allows it to slide between the mattress and box spring then supporting cylinder by a mechanical connection.
The paddle's kidney shape allows it to be pushed into place by sliding the tip between the mattress and box spring the curved shape guides the paddle into position by the curve touching the back board and or wall then sliding to position. The paddle has a support on either side extending from the paddle to support the cylinder.
The paddle can be made of metal, plastic, wood and or composite materials. The paddle can have raised patterns on both sides or one surface allowing the paddle to secure its self to the fabric. The paddle has a handle used to insert and or remove from the mattress and box spring. The paddle can be use on either side of the bed right side and or left side by flipping the paddle over.
The paddle can also be used as a table when cylinder is connected to the floor claw mount.
The rail mount has two rails upper rail and lower rail. Rail mounts can be 2, 4, and 6 feet long and or can be attached to continue all the way down a wall horizontally.
The rail mounts allow the cylinder to move horizontally then lock into place where needed and unlocked to move to new location. The upper rail has a mechanical lock device that locks the cylinder into place once the cylinder connected into the lower rail. The upper rail has two caps at either end capping the end openings of the rail. The rails be mount to a wall or mount off the wall with spacers allowing electric cord to slide between the wall and rail. The lower rail will contain a power and or data strip inside the rail to make connect to the cylinder once placed into sleeve cup like holder. The lower rail has two caps at either end capping the end openings of the rail with one of the caps supplying the power and or data. The cylinder slides into a cup shaped sleeve to make power and or data connection for the whole unit on the lower rail. The rails can be made of metal, plastic and or composite materials.
Bag-like pocket 1104 may be seen to be flexible, hygienic and water-tight, since the layers are the same layers on the tray top surface, without any breaks or seams. The bag may be thought of as simply an extension of the normal hygienic layers which form the bottoms of the cup holders, tablet holders and so on in the various depressions in the tray.
Removed parts 1208 are portions of the film which have been lifted off the tray surface. By peeling upward from the edge of the tray, the user has allowed the bag-like pocket 1204 to remain in place as the film/walls of the bag rise higher. When the bag is finally removed, the liquid remains safely contained therein.
First coat 1304 has above it a second coat 1306 with no intervening film layer.
Liquid flow may advantageously be the opposite direction if the liquid is anti-microbial, or any liquid having beneficial properties.
One advantage of the use of liquids is that the liquid may be chosen for its ability to detect bacteria or other microorganisms.
Tray 1702 have a tank (with liquid shown inside the tank) which is a thin shell, for example tank/shell 1704. This embodiment might be used with the pores of the previous diagrams or with similar arrangements.
Methods and components are described herein. However, methods and components similar or equivalent to those described herein can be also used to obtain variations of the present invention. The materials, articles, components, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in exemplary embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described examples are illustrative embodiments and can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Techniques from any of the examples can be incorporated into one or more of any of the other examples. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
The application claims the priority and benefit of previously filed and presently co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/142,785 filed on Apr. 3, 2015 in the name of the same inventor Steven Gabor Kovacs and having the same title, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62142785 | Apr 2015 | US |
