Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6243993
-
Patent Number
6,243,993
-
Date Filed
Thursday, March 11, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 12, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Waddey & Patterson
- Beavers; Lucian Wayne
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 052 27
- 052 364
- 052 791
- 052 794
- 052 795
- 052 797
- 052 2363
- 052 34
- 052 361
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly is provided for creating a room in an unfinished space of a building. The interior assembly includes a modular sidewall assembly which includes a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together. Each wall panel segment includes a finished interior wall surface. A divider wall separates the room into a bedroom and a bathroom. A pre-fabricated vanity unit is located in the bathroom. The vanity unit includes a vanity countertop, a vanity wash basin and a vanity perimeter wall. A prefabricated bathing unit is located in the bathroom. A pre-fabricated nurse's station is located in the bedroom.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pre-fabricated room interiors, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to pre-fabricated room interiors for use in a healthcare environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present state of the art in the construction of hospital rooms and other healthcare facilities utilizes on site stick built construction of the room interior. Interior furnishings are selected from various conventional sources and may or may not optimize the usefulness and attractiveness of the completed room.
In addition to the non-optimal design, such traditional methods of construction involve long and unreliable construction times due to the difficulties in scheduling the various craftsmen such as carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians and the like to complete the construction work.
The same problems are encountered in both new construction and in renovation using traditional methods.
Furthermore, in today's more competitive healthcare environment there is a demand by patients for more livable and pleasant accommodations, as contrasted to the typical sterile clinical environment of traditional hospital room construction.
Accordingly, there is a need for an optimal healthcare room interior design which at the same time can be rapidly installed either in a new construction or renovation situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly is provided for creating a room in an unfinished space of a building. The modular room interior may be utilized in either new construction or renovation.
The room interior assembly includes a modular sidewall assembly. The sidewall assembly includes a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together. Each wall panel segment includes a finished interior wall surface.
A divider wall at least partially separates the room into a bedroom and a bathroom. A pre-fabricated vanity unit is located in the bathroom. The vanity unit includes a countertop, a wash basin and a perimeter wall. A pre-fabricated bathing unit is located in the bathroom.
A pre-fabricated nurse's station is located in the bedroom. The nurse's station includes a nurse's countertop, a nurse's washbasin and nurse's perimeter wall.
A medical gas rail assembly is located in the bedroom and mounted on either the sidewall assembly or the divider wall, often referred to as a headwall. The medical gas rail assembly includes a plurality of healthcare utility connections.
All of the components are designed to be fabricated at one or more off site locations and then transported to the onsite assembly point.
The components are constructed so that they may be rapidly assembled on site. When connected together the components provide a complete building interior with finished wall surfaces, and all necessary equipment.
Furthermore, the room interior is designed to optimize the usefulness of the available space and provide a far more pleasant livable environment for the patient.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide modular patient healthcare room interior assemblies.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of methods for constructing patient healthcare room interiors.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a room interior which may be pre-fabricated off site and then rapidly assembled at the onsite location.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of healthcare room interiors which optimize the usefulness of the available space.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of healthcare room interiors which provide a more pleasant and livable patient environment.
Other and further objects features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon the reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective cutaway view of a first embodiment of the modular room interior of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a perspective cutaway view of a second embodiment of the modular room interior.
FIG. 3
is a plan view of the room interior of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a plan view of the room interior of FIG.
2
.
FIG. 5
is a front elevation view of the pre-fabricated vanity unit.
FIG. 6
is a sectioned elevation view taken along line
6
—
6
of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is a section plan view taken along FIG.
7
—
7
of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 8
is a front elevation view of the nurse's station.
FIG. 9
is a sectioned elevation view taken along line
9
—
9
of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 10
is a section plan view taken along line
10
—
10
of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 11
is a downward looking cross-sectional view showing two of the sidewall panel segments fitted together, and received in a floor channel.
FIG. 12
is a front elevation view of a vanity storage cabinet module.
FIG. 13
is a front elevation view of a towel and soap dispenser cabinet module.
FIG. 14
is a front elevation view of a communications cabinet module.
FIG. 15
is a front elevation view of a sharps cabinet module.
FIG. 16
is a plan view of several alternative lay-outs for room interiors.
FIG. 17
is a plan view of two more alternative lay-outs for room interiors.
FIG. 18
is a downward looking cross-sectional view showing interior construction of the headwall/divider wall to which the medical gas rail assembly is mounted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 3
, a modular patient healthcare room interior assembly is shown and generally designated by the numeral
10
.
The interior assembly
10
is installed in an unfinished space of a building
12
. The building
12
typically includes exterior columns
14
, exterior walls
16
, interior columns
18
, and interior walls
20
. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1
, the interior wall
20
may also be referred to as a hallway wall
20
.
It will be appreciated that there are many varieties of building construction and that the particular type and arrangement of the various structural members defining the building super structure are not critical to the present invention.
The modular room interior assembly
10
of the present invention may be modified as necessary to fit within any existing or planned building construction.
The interior building wall
20
includes a doorway opening
19
and door
21
.
The major components of the room interior
10
include a modular sidewall assembly
22
, a divider wall assembly
100
, which in part separates the room into a bedroom
102
and bathroom
104
, a pre-fabricated vanity unit
106
, a pre-fabricated bathing unit
108
, and a pre-fabricated nurse's station
110
.
All of the interior walls of the room
10
are defined by the modular sidewall assembly
22
which is made up of a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together at the onsite location. Each of the wall segments includes a finished interior wall surface
24
. Preferably the interior wall surface
24
is covered with a washable vinyl material, but any other desired wall finish including paint could be used. All of the wall segments are, however, fabricated in an off site facility where they are completely finished, and thus are ready to be assembled on site into a finished room interior. There is no need for painting or papering the room interior walls after the panels are assembled.
Beginning on the left hand side of
FIG. 3
, the modular sidewall assembly
22
includes a relatively long linear panel
26
, a concave rounded interior segment
28
, a short linear segment
30
, a convex rounded interior panel
32
, a short linear panel
34
, a concave rounded interior panel
36
, a linear panel
38
, fitted around a window opening
39
, a concave rounded corner panel
40
, another longer linear panel
42
, another concave rounded corner panel
44
, two short linear panels
46
and
48
which lead up to the nurse's station
110
. On the other side of the nurse's station
110
there is another linear panel
50
, which leads to the hallway door opening
19
in the interior building wall
20
.
The modular sidewall assembly
22
continues on the opposite side of the hallway door opening
19
with another linear panel
54
, a bathroom entry trim piece
56
, and a concave rounded corner panel
58
which leads to the vanity unit
106
. On the other side of the vanity unit
106
, the sidewall assembly
22
continues with a short linear panel
60
, a concave rounded corner panel
62
, a longer linear panel
64
, another concave rounded corner panel
66
, and a short linear panel
68
which leads to the bathing unit
108
.
On the opposite side of the bathing unit
108
, is found the divider wall
100
. The divider wall
100
includes a linear panel
70
, doorway opening trim panel
72
, a short linear panel
74
, a rounded corner panel
76
, and a long linear panel
78
which is joined by a concave corner panel
80
to the linear panel
26
of sidewall assembly
22
.
Although some of the components of the divider wall
100
are constructed from the same types of panel segments as the segments of wall assembly
22
, the divider wall
100
also includes a special wall section known as a headwall panel
82
. The headwall panel
82
may be constructed in a manner similar to that of the wall panel segments, but is typically thicker and of more sturdy construction. The headwall panel
82
is constructed to have a medical gas rail assembly
116
and a bed locator
117
(see
FIG. 1
) mounted thereon. The headwall unit
82
will also carry various plumbing and electrical connections for the medical gas rail assembly
116
and bed locator
117
.
FIG. 18
illustrates further details of the construction of the interior of the headwall panel
82
. Headwall panel
82
is made up of an internal structure including vertical metal I-beams or studs such as
83
and
84
, and cross-bridging such as
85
,
86
and
87
which spans between adjacent vertical I-beams. The cross-bridging snaps in place between the I-beams. First and second outer wall panels such as
88
and
89
snap into place on the internal structure.
The wall panels
88
and
89
may be ⅝ inch thick gypsum board covered with a washable vinyl outer covering. The thickness
90
of headwall
82
can vary, but typically is five inches.
It is noted that the divider wall
100
may be described as at least partially dividing the room space into the bedroom
102
and the bathroom
104
. One could also describe the divider wall
100
and certain portions of the sidewall such as sidewall panel segment
54
as collectively defining an enclosure wall around the bathroom
104
.
It will be appreciated that the various panel segments which make up the sidewall assembly
22
and divider wall
100
will be for most part made up of standard dimension components, but for any particular room it will likely be necessary for a few custom components to be designed to accommodate the unique shapes and arrangements of the existing structural columns and walls of the building super structure.
FIG. 11
shows a typical construction for one of the sidewall panels with connecting means for connecting the panel to adjacent panels of either the sidewall assembly
22
or divider wall
100
.
For example, in
FIG. 11
two adjacent standard two foot wide segments
26
A and
26
B of linear panel
26
are shown. The panel segments are received in channel shaped floor and ceiling tracks. The floor track
92
has a web
93
and upward extending flanges
94
and
95
. The ceiling track is similar but inverted.
The panel segments
26
A and
26
B have a width
96
, typically of 3¼ inches, which is closely received between flanges
94
and
95
.
Each wall panel segment such as
26
B includes an interior panel board
96
and an exterior panel board
97
. Interior panel board
96
has the interior surface
24
covered with a washable vinyl covering. Boards
96
and
97
are separated by a tongue spacer
98
and central spacers such as
99
. Central spacer
99
of panel segment
26
A is spaced inward to form a groove
101
in which a tongue
103
of panel segment
26
B is slidably received.
The boards
96
and
97
and the spacers
98
and
99
may all be constructed of ⅝ thick gypsum board.
Thus the segments are easily assembled on site by sliding them into the floor and ceiling channels, and sliding the panel segments into a tongue and groove engagement with each other.
The divider wall
100
extends from the sidewall assembly
22
so that an acute angle interior corner
112
is defined in the bathroom
104
adjacent divider wall
100
, and so that an obtuse angle interior corner
114
is defined in the bedroom
102
adjacent the divider wall
100
.
A medical gas rail assembly
116
is mounted on the headwall panel
82
of the divider wall assembly
100
. It is possible to alternatively locate the headwall panel and the medical gas rail assembly on the sidewall, as seen in the third room from the left in FIG.
16
. The assembly
116
includes a plurality of healthcare utility connections such as electrical power (standard and emergency), air, oxygen, vacuum, communications, lighting controls and the like. The headwall bed locator unit
116
may be an Integris 2001 Headwall System including rail and locator module, manufactured by the Hill-Rom Company.
Located on headwall panel
82
below the medical gas rail assembly
116
is a bed locator
117
(See
FIG. 1
) which locates the hospital bed
118
and carries electrical connections and the like for the bed.
The divider wall
100
includes a bedroom side
120
which faces toward a diagonally opposite corner
122
of the bedroom
102
. As seen in
FIG. 1
, a corner armoire
124
is located in the corner
122
. The armoire
124
includes a space for a television receiver
126
which is thus conveniently located to be viewed by the patient lying in the bed
118
.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the bathing unit
108
is preferably a shower stall
108
. The shower stall
108
is located in the acute angled corner
116
adjacent the divider wall
100
.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the vanity unit
106
is located on a side of the bathroom
104
opposite from the divider wall
100
. A toilet
128
is located in the bathroom
104
adjacent the wall section
64
of sidewall
22
.
The bathroom
104
is provided with hand rails throughout in order to assist disabled patients. A first hand rail
130
is located to the left upon entering through the doorway
132
to the bathroom
104
. A second hand rail
134
is located within the shower stall
108
. A third hand rail
136
is located adjacent the toilet
128
. A fourth hand rail
138
is attached to the vanity unit
106
.
It is noted that doorway
132
will typically be closed by either a conventional hinged door or a sliding door.
The shower stall
108
has rounded interior walls
140
which provide superior support to a disabled patient who may be leaning against the wall. Also provided is a folding bench
142
so that patients may sit in the shower.
The bedroom
102
includes an area adjacent the hallway door opening
19
which functions as a staff foyer
144
. The bathroom
104
opens through opening
132
into the staff foyer
144
. The nurse's station
110
faces into the staff foyer
144
on a side of the staff foyer
144
opposite the bathroom opening
132
.
As noted, all of the corners of the room are defined either by the rounded concave corner panel section such as
28
or the rounded convex panel portion such as
32
. This provides many advantages. It eliminates the danger of sharp corners to patients who may fall in the room. Also it provides a very pleasing appearance and is easier to clean. The rounded convex wall panels such as
32
preferably have a radius of curvature of at least four inches and typically 7¼ inches. The concave corner portions
28
preferably have a radius of curvature of at least four inches and typically 7¼ inches. The radiused corners in bathroom
104
have a radius of curvature typically of four inches.
The Embodiment of FIGS.
2
and
4
Looking at
FIGS. 2 and 4
, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The room interior assembly of
FIGS. 2 and 4
is generally designated by the numeral
150
. The room interior
150
includes a modular sidewall assembly
152
, a divider wall
154
, a vanity unit
156
, a bathing unit
158
and a nurse's station
160
.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 2 and 4
, the bathing unit
158
includes a tub located on a side of the bathroom opposite from the divider wall
154
. The vanity unit
156
is located in the bathroom adjacent the divider wall
154
.
The medical gas rail assembly
116
may be a Provider 6000 Bed Locator Module and Medical Gas Rail Assembly manufactured by Modular Services Company of Oklahoma City.
The room of
FIGS. 2 and 4
is somewhat larger than the room of
FIGS. 1 and 3
, thus providing a larger bathroom which has room for the tub unit
158
and also providing a larger bedroom which provides more room for furnishings as shown, and which provides space for a closet
162
.
The Vanity Unit and The Nurse's Station
The details of construction of the vanity unit are shown in
FIGS. 5-7
. The details of construction of the vanity unit
106
of
FIGS. 1 and 3
and those of the vanity unit
156
of
FIGS. 2 and 4
are identical.
Vanity unit
106
is a pre-fabricated module. It includes a countertop
164
having a front access edge
166
, side portions
168
and
170
and a rear portion
172
. A back wall or perimeter wall
174
extends upward from the side and rear portions of the countertop
164
. A module ceiling
176
spans the perimeter wall
172
above the countertop
164
.
The perimeter wall
174
includes two planar sidewall portions
178
and
180
and a backwall portion
182
. As best seen in
FIG. 7
, the sidewall portions
178
and
180
are slanted toward each in plan view so that the sidewall portions are closer together adjacent the backwall portion
182
than they are adjacent the front access edge
166
. The sidewall portions
178
and
180
intersect the backwall portion
182
to form two rounded obtuse interior corners
184
and
186
.
The front access edge
166
of the countertop
164
is straight, and in plan view as seen in
FIG. 7
the front access edge
166
and the perimeter wall
174
form a generally trapezoidal shape.
A sink
188
is located centrally in the countertop
164
. In the preferred embodiment the sink
188
is integrally molded with the countertop
164
as further described below. Conventional faucets are mounted adjacent the sink
188
.
The countertop
164
has an arcuate enclosed edge
190
bounded by and tangential to the sidewall portions
178
and
180
and backwall portion
182
of the perimeter wall
174
. The arcuate edge
190
is located above the elevation of countertop
164
by a distance
192
so as to form first and second integral shelves
194
and
196
lying outside the arcuate edge
190
and above the elevation of the countertop
164
.
The countertop
164
, sink
188
, perimeter wall
174
, ceiling
176
and the integral shelves
194
and
196
are preferably formed as a one piece integrally molded structure which is molded from a plastic material such as acrylic for example.
The countertop
164
, perimeter wall
174
and ceiling
176
may be collectively generally described as an upper portion
198
of the module
106
.
Although the side panels
178
and
180
are molded as a continuous solid member, they will typically have openings such as
200
and
202
cut therein for receiving pre-fabricated cabinet structures.
The first cabinet receiving opening
200
preferably receives an open front vanity storage cabinet
197
as shown in elevation view in FIG.
12
. The second cabinet receiving opening
200
preferably receives a towel and soap dispensing cabinet
199
as shown in FIG.
13
. The positions of cabinets
197
and
199
may be reversed.
A mirror
204
is mounted on the back wall
182
. A pair of can type lighting fixtures
205
and
207
are mounted in the module ceiling.
The module
106
also includes a lower portion
206
which is preferably integrally molded with the upper portion
198
.
The lower portion
206
is located below countertop
164
and has a concave wheelchair receiving recess
208
defined therein immediately below the sink
188
. The concave recess
208
is defined by interior sidewalls
210
and
212
, a floor
214
and a pipe shield wall
216
. The pipe shield wall
216
includes a removable access panel
218
for allowing access to plumbing
220
connected to the sink
188
. The lower portion
206
includes left and right forward facing fiont side panels
223
and
225
on either side of the wheelchair receiving recess
208
.
Preferably, the floor panel
214
has a portion thereof cut out from the front edge thereof to an arcuate line
215
the location of which is best shown in FIG.
7
. The cutout along arcuate line
215
is for the purpose of improving wheelchair access by eliminating the need for a wheelchair to roll over a front lip of the floor panel
214
.
The sidewalls
210
and
212
, floor
214
and pipe shield wall
216
are all integrally molded parts of the lower portion
206
of the module
106
. In a preferred embodiment, the countertop
164
, perimeter wall
174
, module ceiling
176
, side panels
223
and
225
, interior sidewalls
210
and
212
. floor
214
and pipe shield panel
216
are all one integrally molded part thus providing great structural integrity to the module
106
and making it economical to manufacture and install. A night light
228
is mounted on interior sidewall
210
as seen in FIG.
6
.
As best seen in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, the integrally molded portions of the module
106
include a perimeter flange
230
integrally molded therewith to provide an aesthetically pleasing interface and fit with the sidewall assemblies
222
adjacent thereto.
Referring again to the front elevation view of
FIG. 5
, on the left hand side of the concave wheelchair receiving recess
208
there is located a recessed trash receptacle
222
which is mounted flush with a front surface
224
of the module which is generally in line with the front access edge
166
.
The grab rail
138
extends across the module
106
above the concave wheelchair receiving recess
208
and below the countertop
164
.
On the right hand side of the wheelchair receiving recess
208
is a recessed toilet tissue dispenser
226
. Alternatively the positions of trash receptacle
222
and dispenser
226
can be reversed.
Turning now to
FIGS. 8
,
9
and
10
, the details of construction of the nurse's station
110
are shown. The nurse's station
110
includes an upper portion
232
and a lower portion
234
.
The upper portion
232
of nurse's station
110
is constructed substantially identical to the upper portion
198
of the vanity unit
106
, and can in fact be molded from the same mold. The molded plastic portions of the nurse's station
110
, however, terminate at a lower edge
236
defining the lower end of upper portion
232
.
Typically, the only differences between the upper portion
232
of the nurse's station
110
and the upper portion
198
of the vanity unit
106
involve the separate structures mounted therein. For example, the nurse's station
110
will preferably have a sharps disposal cabinet
240
as best shown in
FIG. 15
, mounted in the opening
200
in the left sidewall
178
, and will have a communications module
242
as best shown in
FIG. 14
mounted in the opening
202
in the right side panel
180
. The positions of cabinets
240
and
242
may be reversed if desired. Also, instead of a mirror, preferably a bulletin board or marker board
238
which may be either a marker board or a tack board is mounted on the back wall
182
.
The lower portion
234
of the nurse's station
110
is a pre-fabricated drawer assembly including an assortment of drawers and storage areas as seen in FIG.
8
.
The Embodiments of FIGS.
16
and
17
FIGS. 16 and 17
provide some alternative layouts of room spaces which have been created utilizing the modular assembly of the present invention. In the embodiment of
FIG. 16
four modular patient healthcare room interior assemblies are shown and generally designated by the numerals
250
,
252
,
254
and
256
, respectively.
The room interior assemblies
250
,
252
, and
256
are similarly constructed. For example, room interior assembly
252
includes a sidewall
258
, and a divider wall
260
dividing the space into a bedroom
262
and a bathroom
264
. A medical gas rail assembly
266
is mounted on the divider wall
260
, and the location of the bed
268
is shown in dashed lines. These rooms each include a vanity
268
and bathing unit
270
similar to those previously described.
One change as compared to the layouts previously described is with regard to the nurse's station
272
, which no longer carries the sharps cabinet and data communications module as integral parts thereof. In the unit
250
of
FIG. 16
, a separate data communications panel
274
is provided. A separate sharps storage unit
276
may be located at any convenient location within the bedroom.
Another alternative arrangement is seen for the room interior assembly
254
of FIG.
16
. In this embodiment, a divider wall
278
is oriented at a generally ninety degree angle to the sidewall
280
. In this instance the sidewall
280
includes a headwall panel
282
upon which is mounted a medical gas rail assembly
284
. The location of the bed
286
adjacent the headwall
282
is shown in dashed lines.
FIG. 17
shows still other room layouts which may utilize certain portions of the present invention. The room layouts of
FIG. 16
are associated with a curved outer wall
286
thus dictating different interior layouts for the room spaces. In
FIG. 17
two room spaces designated as
288
and
290
are shown.
One primary difference in the layout of
FIG. 17
is that the two rooms
288
and
290
share a common staff foyer space
292
in which a nurse's station
294
is located for common use by the staff attending to patients in rooms
288
and
290
.
Methods of Onsite Assembly
All of the wall panel segments of sidewall assembly
22
, the divider wall
100
, the vanity units
106
and
156
, the bathing units such as
108
and
158
, and the nurse's station
110
and
160
are fabricated at one or more off site locations.
Most of the segments of the sidewall assembly
22
and divider wall
100
will be standard length either straight or rounded pieces, but where necessary custom dimension components will be fabricated to fit a particular onsite room.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the space of the building
12
which is to be converted into the patient healthcare room like those previously described, may either be a completely unfinished space of a newly constructed building, or it may be a space of an existing building which is being renovated.
Typically, the installation of the sidewall assembly
22
, divider wall
100
, vanity units such as
106
or
156
, bathing unit such as
108
or
158
, and nurse's station such as
110
or
160
will be part of a turnkey package which will include finishing of the floor and ceiling of the building space and installation of all necessary plumbing and electrical wiring.
A typical such turnkey package will be constructed as follows.
First, prior to locating the pre-fabricated components, the floor and ceiling of the space will be finished. The floor will typically be covered with floor coverings such as carpet or sheet vinyl. The ceiling will typically be constructed of a conventional drop ceiling type structure or of a painted gypsum board type structure.
After the finishing of the floor and ceiling, the bathing unit, vanity unit, nurse's station, toilet and any other structures requiring plumbing will typically be located and connected to existing plumbing stubs.
Next, the headwall panel
82
of divider wall
100
will be installed and connected to all necessary plumbing and electrical connections.
Then the ceiling and floor tracks for holding the wall panel segments of sidewall assembly
22
will be laid in place, and then the various panels of the sidewall panel assembly
22
will be installed.
Then the electrical wiring will be pulled through the walls and ceiling to the various electrical outlets and fixtures.
Then lighting fixtures and other electrical equipment can be installed.
Finally, the bed and other furniture will be placed within the room.
By this method, the majority of the on-site skilled craft work such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical which has previously been required in conventional construction is eliminated. Most of this work is now done in a controlled factory environment as part of the manufacture of the various prefabricated components. On-site construction time is greatly reduced.
Thus it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present invention readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly for finishing an unfinished space of a building, comprising:a modular sidewall assembly including a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together, each wall panel segment including a finished interior wall surface; a divider wall which at least in part separates the space into a bedroom and a bathroom; a pre-fabricated vanity unit located in the bathroom, the vanity unit including a vanity countertop, a vanity wash basin and a vanity perimeter wall; a pre-fabricated bathing unit located in the bathroom; and a pre-fabricated nurse's station located in the bedroom.
- 2. The room interior assembly of claim 1, further comprising:a medical gas rail assembly mounted on one of the sidewall assembly and the divider wall within the bedroom, the medical gas rail assembly including a plurality of healthcare utility connections.
- 3. The room interior assembly of claim 2, wherein:the divider wall extends from the sidewall assembly so that an acute angle interior corner is defined in the bathroom adjacent the divider wall and an obtuse angle interior corner is defined in the bedroom adjacent the divider wall.
- 4. The room interior assembly of claim 3, wherein:the medical gas rail assembly is mounted on the divider wall.
- 5. The room interior assembly of claim 4, wherein:the divider wall includes a bedroom side which faces toward a diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom; and the interior assembly includes a corner armoire located in the diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom.
- 6. The room interior of claim 1, wherein:the divider wall extends from the sidewall assembly so that an acute angle interior corner is defined in the bathroom adjacent the divider wall and an obtuse angle interior corner is defined in the bedroom adjacent the divider wall.
- 7. The room interior assembly of claim 6, wherein:the bathing unit includes a shower stall located in the acute angle interior corner of the bathroom adjacent the divider wall.
- 8. The room interior assembly of claim 6, wherein:the vanity unit is located on a side of the bathroom opposite from the divider wall.
- 9. The interior room assembly of claim 6, wherein:the bathing unit includes a tub located on a side of the bathroom opposite from the divider wall.
- 10. The interior room assembly of claim 9, wherein:the vanity unit is located adjacent the divider wall.
- 11. The room interior assembly of claim 1, the unfinished space having a hallway door, wherein:the bedroom includes a staff foyer adjacent the hallway door; and the bathroom opens to the staff foyer.
- 12. The room interior assembly of claim 11, wherein:the nurse's station faces into the staff foyer on a side of the staff foyer opposite the bathroom.
- 13. The room interior assembly of claim 1, wherein:the sidewall assembly includes at least one rounded concave wall panel segment defining a concave interior corner of the bedroom.
- 14. The room interior assembly of claim 1, wherein:the sidewall assembly includes at least one rounded convex wall panel segment defining a protruding interior corner of the bedroom.
- 15. The room interior assembly of claim 14, wherein:the rounded convex wall panel segment has a radius of curvature of at least 4 inches.
- 16. A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly for finishing an unfinished space of a building, comprising:a modular sidewall assembly including a plurality of wall panel segments detachably connected together; a divider wall at least partially separating the room into a bedroom and a bathroom, the divider wall extending from the sidewall assembly so that an acute angle interior corner is defined in the bathroom adjacent the divider wall and an obtuse angle interior corner is defined in the bedroom adjacent the divider wall; and a medical gas rail assembly mounted on the divider wall within the bedroom, the medical gas rail assembly including a plurality of healthcare utility connections.
- 17. The room interior assembly of claim 16, wherein:the divider wall includes a bedroom side which faces toward a diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom; and the interior assembly includes a corner armoire located in the diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom.
- 18. The room interior assembly of claim 16, further comprising:a shower stall located in the acute angle interior corner of the bathroom adjacent the divider wall.
- 19. The room interior assembly of claim 16, further comprising:a vanity unit located on a side of the bathroom opposite from the divider wall.
- 20. The interior room assembly of claim 16, further comprising:a tub located on a side of the bathroom opposite from the divider wall.
- 21. The interior room assembly of claim 20, further comprising:a vanity unit located adjacent the divider wall.
- 22. The room interior assembly of claim 16, the unfinished space having a hallway door, wherein:the bedroom includes a staff foyer adjacent the hallway door; and the bathroom opens to the staff foyer.
- 23. A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly for finishing an unfinished space of a building, the unfinished space having a hallway door comprising:a modular sidewall assembly including a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together; a divider wall at least partially separating the room into a bedroom and a bathroom, the bedroom including a staff foyer adjacent the hallway door, the bathroom opening to the staff foyer; a pre-fabricated vanity unit located in the bathroom; a pre-fabricated bathing unit located in the bathroom; and a pre-fabricated nurse's station located in the bedroom, the nurse's station facing into the staff foyer.
- 24. The room interior assembly of claim 23, further comprising:a medical gas rail assembly mounted on one of the sidewall assembly and the divider wall within the bedroom, the medical gas rail assembly including a plurality of healthcare utility connections.
- 25. The room interior assembly of claim 24, wherein:the divider wall extends from the sidewall assembly so that an acute angle interior corner is defined in the bathroom adjacent the divider wall and an obtuse angle interior corner is defined in the bedroom adjacent the divider wall.
- 26. The room interior assembly of claim 25, wherein:the medical gas rail assembly is mounted on the divider wall; the divider wall includes a bedroom side which faces toward a diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom; and the interior assembly includes a corner armoire located in the diagonally opposite corner of the bedroom.
- 27. A method of assembling a room interior on site in an unfinished space comprising:(a) fabricating a plurality of interior wall panel segments, a divider wall, a vanity unit, a bathing unit and a nurse's station at one or more off site locations; (b) transporting the interior wall panel segments, the divider wall, the vanity unit, the bathing unit and the nurse's station to the room space; (c) installing the vanity unit, the bathing unit and the nurse's station within the room space; (d) installing the divider wall and thereby at least partially separating the room space into a bathroom and a bedroom so that the vanity unit and the bathing unit are located in the bathroom; and (e) assembling the wall panel segments into a sidewall assembly defining an interior wall of the bedroom.
- 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:mounting a medical gas rail assembly within the bedroom.
- 29. The method of claim 28, wherein:the medical gas rail assembly is mounted on the divider wall.
- 30. The method of claim 28, wherein:step (d) is performed after step (c).
- 31. The method of claim 28, wherein:step (e) is performed after step (c).
US Referenced Citations (37)