US2998508A - Hospital service console and bedlight fixture combination - Google Patents

Description

9, 1961 M. BOBRICK 2,998,508

HOSPITAL SERVICE CONSOLE AND BEDLIGHT FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 FIG. 5. INVENTOR JUICY/[ll [WE/W6! Aug. 29, 1961 M, BOBRlCK 2,998,508

HOSPITAL SERVICE CONSOLE AND BEDLIGHT FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY W ATTORNEY M. BOBRICK Aug. 29, 1961 HOSPITAL SERVICE CONSOLE AND BEDLIGHT FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y W M M M T T /N A y W B I y? L Vm Om WE N:

M. BOBRICK Aug. 29, 1961 HOSPITAL SERVICE CONSOLE AND BEDLIGHT FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 T H n m mm mm an mm WITT? 4 1 n. y z ww m lw U m 3i, fififlfl H 41 mm H mm w R km a I n mwu mm M K s l/WEN raw Al/ 701/511 BMW/0K A TTORNEY Aug. 29, 1961 M. BOBRICK 2,998,508

HOSPITAL SERVICE CONSOLE AND BEDLIGHT FIXTURE COMBINATION Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Ill/67ml MEIR/67f ATTORNEY firm Filed May 19, 1959, Ser. No. 814,244 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to a lighting and service fixture combination, particularly adapted for use adjacent hospital beds for providing various kinds of lighting, means of communication, and gas services associated with the care of patients in bed in a hospital.

One object of the invention is to provide in a centralized unit adjacent individual or pairs of beds all of the facilities required by the patient or attendant for the care of bed patients in a hospital.

Another object is to provide in association with room lighting, individual reading and examination spotlights, signaling means, communication, and other service outlets such as oxygen, suction, etc., in a common outlet or junction box inserted in the wall structure, which box also serves as a support means for the visible fixtures.

Another object is to provide light, communication and gas service to two pairs of adjoining beds in adjoining wall-separated rooms from a common outlet box.

A further object is to provide a hospital bedlight fixtore which requires no behind-the-wall service wiring except through end connection with an outlet or junction box.

Another object is to provide universally adjustable spotlights in combination with a fixed fixture over the bed for general illumination.

These and other objects are attained by my invention, which will be understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, in whch:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a one-bedlight with service console unit as it appears mounted on the wall of a hospital bedroom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same with the auxiliary spotlight arms in adjustable extended position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a typical rough wall structure showing one manner of mounting the junction box to the studs of a partition wall, which is subsequently finished with plaster;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the wall of FIG. 3 after the lath and plaster have been applied, and also showing the means for supporting the light fixture on the service console;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view with the wall structure shown in section showing the arrangement of a dual junction box serving a pair of bed units on each side of a partition wall;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, showing the mounting of the lighting unit and the console on the protruding margin of the junction box;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the supporting frame for the lighting unit;

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 10 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line ld-l0 of FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view in disassembly of the constituent parts of the lighting fixture; and

FIG. 12 is a plan sectional view taken on the line l2-12 of FIG. 9.

In general the service console and bedlight combination consists of (l) a junction box, (2) a service connitcd States Patent 0 ice sole serving alternatively either a single bed, or two adjoining beds, and (3) a lighting fixture at one side, or at both sides of the console, disposed respectively adjacent and over one bed, or two adjoining beds. In a hospital having wall-separated adjoining rooms with pairs of beds disposed on opposite sides of the wall in head-to-head relation, one dual junction box will serve four beds. See particularly FIG. 6.

The basic units of the combination are similar or the same in the various indicated combinations, so that a simple combination of one light fixture and a console will first be described as illustrative.

The junction box or outlet box 20 is a rectangular metal structure with its open face directed outwardly into the room, the rear wall 22 being disposed within a partition wall 24 of the hospital building. The width of the junction box generally corresponds to the space between the studs when the building partition is of wood and plaster construction, and this width corresponds to the length of the service console unit 46. The height of the junction box 20 corresponds generally to the height of the service console unit 40. The top wall 25, bottom Wall 26, end wall adjacent the lighting fixure 27, and other end wall 28 of the console unit 40 protrude from the surface 23 of the partition wall 24 by an amount equal to the thickness of the console unit. In other Words, the protruding part of the junction box 20 constitutes the enclosing walls of the console unit 40. The amount of the protrusion of the box from the partition wall surface 23 may in the original installation be determined and fixed by the nipple couplers 29, with lock nuts 30, which engage an oppositely positioned junction box 21 protruding on the opposite side of the partition wall 24.

Where the units are not to be provided on both faces of a partition wall, the extent of the protrusion of the junction box 20 may be fixed by means of nails or screws holding the box to the studs.

Conduits and pipes marked generally 31 carrying the electrical supply, communication lines, gas and oxygen tubes, etc., into the junction box 2%, are installed in the usual manner through selected knock-out holes 32, the details of the flexible connections to the service outlets mounted on the facia 42 of the console unit 40 for clarity not being shown in the drawings.

The console unit 49 consists generally of the protruding edge portion of the junction box 20 as above described, and a facia 42 which is preferably an aluminum extrusion having a plane front mounting surface 43 and a top member 44 covering the protruding top wall 25 and bottommember 45 covering the protruding portion of the bottom wall 26 of the junction box 20, which members are arranged to be engaged by spring clips 46 at the top and spring clips 47 at the bottom, the looped ends of these clipsengaging edge beads 48 on the edges of the top and bottom members of the extrusion. The clips 46 and 47 are attached respectively to the top wall 25 and the bottom wall 26 of the junction box 20. The clips are so shaped and arranged that the facia 42 is securely mounted when both the top and bottom clips are engaged; and the top clip may also be used as a fulcrum around which the facia extrusion may be swung upwardly to give access to the inside of the console unit 4t) and the join, tion box 20.

A console end cover plate 49 conforming to the shape of the facia extrusion is attached by screws 5% to the protruding end wall 28 of the junction box.

Various outlet elements may be mounted on the front mounting surface 43 of the facia 42, or preferably mounted inside the console so that their forward ends enter coinciding holes provided in the facia when the latter is mounted in place, as described, the nature of these being selected to conform to the particular requirements of the installation, but including for examples telephone jacks 54, switch buttons 55, control valves 56 for gas services such as oxygen or vacuum, and signal lights 57.

A speaker unit 52 is also provided, with a grid 53 mounted over a large opening in the facia 42, for sound.

7 The lighting fixture 60 is of elongated form supported to extend outwardly from the wall and generally positioned above and over the head of hospital bed. The lighting fixture 60 is mounted, as will be described, on the fixture supporting frame 62, which is a flanged metal channel with mounting holes 63 adjacent the end adjacent the console 44 these holes being adapted to engage stud bolts 65 projecting horizontally from the angle mounting bracket 67, which in turn is attached on one side of the protruding end wall 27 of the junction box 20, the stud bolts 65 projecting outwardly from the right-angled arm 68 of the bracket 67, the arm 68 resting against the surface 23 of the partition wall 24. When the partition wall structure is of wood studs and plaster, the arms 68 may optionally be further anchored to the partition Wal 24 by screws 69 (as shown particularly in FIG. The fixture supporting frame 62 is thus supported as a cantilever from the stud bolts 65 and this frame may wholly support the light fixture where the partition wall is of concrete blocks or other structure where it is undesirable to insert the additional support screw 69 in the holes 64 distributed along the length of the channel frame 62.

The lighting fixture 60 consists generally of somewhat intricately shaped aluminum body extrusion 72 (as shown particularly in FIG. 11) and a longeron 90 which is also an aluminum extrusion defining the forward top edge of the lighting fixture, there being end plates 99 which engage the ends of the body extrusion 72 and the longeron 90. The body extrusion is roughly E-shaped, the top member 73 thereof extending forwardly and being provided with an outwardly facing longitudinal slot 74 in which one edge of the top difluser plate 75 rests, the slot extending for the full length of the fixture.

The top member 73 of the body extrusion 72 is integral with the vertical member 76 of the body 72, there being a hook head 77 at the junction between the top member 73 and the vertical member 76, this bead making contact when the fixture is mounted with the building partition wall surface 23'.

Below the head '77 there is provided a vertically disposed downwardly directed slot 79, the outer wall'80 of said slot being preferably flared toward the partition wall (see FIGS. 9 and 11), this vertically disposed slot 79 extending the full length of the fixture and being adapted to engage the upper flange 66 of the fixture supporting frame 62.

The middle member 81 of the body extrusion 72 ex tends forwardly as a shelf, the forward edge of which is turned up to provide a ledge 82 upon which rests the edge of the outwardly bent portion 84 of the rear reflector 83, there being strike out tabs 78 abutting the ledge 82. The opposite edge 85 of the rear reflector 83 is engaged under the longitudinal slot 74 of the body extrusion 72. The lower member 86 of the body extension 72 extends forwardly below the middle member 81 and is also provided on its outer edge with a bead 104 having a longitudinal groove 87 opening toward the vertical member 76, which slot engages a hinge pin 88 about which light fixture end plates 99 may pivot, thus allowing access .to the fluorescent light tubes 95, sincethe lower lens 92, the longeron 9t and the front reflector 102 also move with the end plates as a unit, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 9. A detent means 121 is provided to hold the hinged diffuser section in normal position.

' A slot 9'7 is provided on the forward-face of the vertical member 76 of the body extrusion, disposed between the middle member 81 and the lower member 86, thisslot receiving one edge of the bottom closure plate 96,

the other edge being provided witha bent 103 Which abuts the bead 104.

The vertical member 76 of the body extrusion 72 is also provided with integral screw head slots 89 which are adapted to receive the heads of screw bolts 100 by which the ballast 98 is mounted in the compartment defined by the top member 73, the middle member 81 and the rear reflector 83.

The longeron extrusion 90 is generally V-shaped with an upper slot 91 facing inwardly and engaging the top difiiuser piate 75. The other leg 94 of the longeron 91 which extends downwardly at an angle is arranged to form an abutment for the upper edge of the lower diffuser lens 92, the other end of this lens being protected by the metal channel 93. The lower diffuser lens 92 is supported on the inturned flanges 166 on the end plates 99. The end plates 99 are shaped to conform to the general contour ofthe extrusions and lenses 75 and 92 there being screws 112 in holes 113 in said end plate which engage threaded [holes 11 4 in the end of the body extrusion 72 (as particularly shown in FIG. 11).

It will be understood that knock-out and other wire way holes are provided in the end plates 99 and brackets 107 to accommodate the electrical wiring between the parts, following the usual custom in lighting fixtures.

A pair of opposed tube support brackets 107 are mounted on the inner faces of the body extrusion 72 between the top member 73 and the middle member 81, these brackets being in face abutment with the end plates 99. An inwardly facing horizontal groove 198 along the top margin of end bracket is provided to engage the end edges- 1 11 of the top diffuser plate 75, and a flange 1419 is provided along the forward and downward edge of each bracket against which flanges the front reflector 102 presses, this front reflector 102 being attached at its edges to the longeron 90 by screws 101; the opposite edges of the reflector overlapping the bent out portion 84 of the rear reflector 83. The fluorescent light tubes 85 are supported in sockets 122 which are attached to the face of the brackets 197.

The reflectors 162 and 83 are so arranged that only a small fraction of the light generated by the tubes is diffused by the lower diffuser lens 92 while the much larger proportion is directed upwardly toward the ceiling by the upper or top diffuser plate 75. This gives light of low intensity on the bed itself, and diffused room light. The patient may use the reading spotlight 115 when desired, and this does not cause any interference with other patients in the room.

The space between the middle member 81 of the body extrusion and the closure plate 96 serves as a container compartment for a pair of movable spotlights 115 and 116, these being mounted on pivots 117 and 118, on the middle member 81 of the body extrusion, and with jointed extending arms 119 and 121) being provided, the spotlights being attached by universal pivots at the outer ends of the arms 120. Handles 123 and 124 are provided on the spotlights for adjusting the position of the lights. The spotlight 115 is particularly adapted as a reading lamp for the patient and may be readily adjusted to any comfortable position. The spotlight 116 is a high intensity examination light, particularly for use for examinations by the physician.

The advantages of my combination service console and bedlight will be apparent from the above description. A compact service console and bedlight combination is provided which may be arranged to service a single bed or a pair of beds. The stated objectives have been attained.

I claim:

1. A wall mounted hospital service console and bedlight fixture comprising in combination an outlet box having top, bottom and side walls arranged to protrude from the wall from an anchored position inset within a building partition, said box having a back wall adapted to be disposed inwardly from the face of said partition; a

down flange service console consisting of said protruding portion of said outlet box and a front panel attached thereto, the outer face of said front panel being provided with control switch operating levers, valve operating levers and outlet connectors for electricity, gas, and sound service lines connected thereto within said outlet box, some of said electrical lines being also operatively connected to said bedlight fixture; an elongated bedlight fixture disposed adjacent to and communicating with said outlet box, said fixture including a back wall, end walls protruding from said back wall and having sockets for elongated fluorescent light tubes, an upper diffuser plate disposed above and covering said light tubes, and a lower diffuser plate below said light tubes, said diffuser plates being supported by said fixture ends and back wall; and a cantilever bracket means having an arm and a base member, said base member being attached to the forward edge portion of side wall of said outlet box, and said bracket being also attached at its free end portion to said bedlight fixture.

2. A wall mounted service console and bedlight fixtures for two adjacent beds comprising in combination an outlet box having top, bottom and side walls arranged to protrude from the wall from an anchored position within a building partition, said box having a back wall adapted to be disposed inwardly from the face of said partition; a service console consisting of said protruding portion of said outlet box and a front face panel attached thereto, the outer face of said front panel being provided with control switch operating levers, valve operating levers and outlet connectors for electricity, gas, and sound service lines connected thereto within said outlet box, some of said electrical lines being also operatively connected to said bedlight fixture; a pair of elongated bedlight fixtures disposed adjacent to and communicating with said outlet box, each of said fixtures including a back wall, end walls protruding from said back walls with sockets for elongated fluorescent light tubes, an upper diffuser plate disposed above and covering said light tubes, said diffuser plates being supported by said fixture ends and back walls; and a pair of cantilever bracket means each having an arm and a base member, said base member being attached to a forward edge portion of a side wall of said outlet box, and said bracket arms each being also attached at its free end portion to said bedlight fixture.

3. A wall mounted hospital service console and bedlight fixture comprising in combination an outlet box having top, botom and side walls arranged to protrude from the wall from an anchored position inset within a building partition, said box having a back wall adapted to be disposed inwardly from the face of said partition; a service console consisting of said protruding portion of said outlet box and a front face panel attached thereto, the outer face of said front panel being provided with control switch operating levers, valve operating levers and outlet connectors for electricity, gas, and sound service lines connected thereto within said outlet box, some of said electrical lines being also operatively connected to said bedlight fixture; an elongated bedlight fixture disposed adjacent to and communicating with said outlet box, said fixture including a back wall, end walls protruding from said back wall and having sockets for elongated fluorescent light tubes, an upper diflt'user plate disposed above and covering said light tubes, and a lower diffuser plate below said light tubes directing light downwardly and outwardly, said difluser plates being supported by said fixture ends and back wall; reflectors adjacent said lights arranged to reflect most of the light up wardly to said upper diffuser and only a small part of the light downwardly to said lower diffuser; and a cantilever bracket means having an arm and a base member, said base member being attached to the forward edge portion of a side wall of said outlet box, and said bracket arm being also attached at its free end portion to said bedlight fixture.

4. A wall mounted hospital service console and bedlight fixture comprising in combination an outlet box having top, bottom and side walls arranged to protrude from the wall from an anchored position inset within a building partition, said box having a back wall adapted to be disposed inwardly from the face of said partition; a service console consisting of said protruding portion of said outlet box and a front face panel removably attached to the top and bottom of said box, the outer face of said front panel being provided with control switch operating levers, valve operating levers and outlet connectors for electricity, gas, and sound service lines connected thereto within said outlet box, some of said electrical lines being also operatively connected to said bedlight fixture; an elongated bedlight fixture disposed adjacent to and communicating with said outlet box, said fixture including a back wall, end walls with sockets for elongated fluorescent light tubes, a grooved longeron on the forward edge of said fixture connecting said end walls, an upper difiuser plate disposed above and covering said light tubes, and a lower difluser plate below said light tubes directing light downwardly and outwardly, the forward edges of said upper and said lower diifuser plates being seated in the grooves of said longeron; rear and front reflectors adjacent said lights arranged to reflect most of the light upwardly to said upper diffuser and only a small part of the light downwardly to said lower diifuser; and a cantilever bracket means having a base member attached to one protruding side wall of said outlet box, the cantilever arm of said bracket being removably attached to and supporting the back wall of said light fixture.

5. The wall mounted hospital service console and bedlight fixture as defined in claim 4 in which said back wall of said light fixture is an E-shaped body extrusion having top, middle and bottom members, the top member of said extrusion having at its forward edge a longitudinal slot in which one edge of said upper diffuser plate rests, and at its inner end is provided with a hood flange engaging the cantilever supporting arm of said bracket, the middle member of said extrusion being provided at its outer end with means to support one end of a rear reflector and one end of the said lower diffuser, and the lower member being provided on its outer end with a bead, said bead supporting pivot means for said end plates; said longeron extrusion having slots to receive the forward edge of said bottom reflector and said lower diffuser plate; the sub-assembly comprising said end plates and the longeron extrusion being angularly movable as a unit to provide access to said fluorescent light tubes; and tube socket supporting brackets being attached to the ends of said E-shaped extrusion between the top member and the middle member thereof, adjacent said end plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,685 Schepmoes Dec. 28, 1943 2,569,772 Olsen Oct. 2, 1951 2,667,571 Versen Ian. 26, 1954- 2,875,323 Harling Feb. 24, 1959

Images