REMOVABLY SECURED, FLUSH-MOUNTED PANEL SYSTEM AND CABINET INCLUDING THE SAME
A panel system is provided that may be used to access underlying apparatus, such as utility lines underlying a dental or medical cabinet. The panel system may connect to a frame via, for example, a magnetic element. The panels may include substantially planar or smooth outwardly facing surfaces that may be readily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected to provide an aseptic surface. The frame may be a support member on, for example, a cabinet, a cart, or a storage devices used in a dental or medical office.
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The present invention relates to panels that may be removably secured to a surface or frame, and more particularly, to a panel system that provides access to devices stored thereunder while providing a substantially planar surface.
BACKGROUNDVarious cabinet arrangements are used in dental offices. Some of this cabinetry contains various dental hand pieces (i.e., pneumatic or electric), syringes, pulp testers and like instrumentation used by the dentist in performing operations within the patient's oral cavity. Other cabinetry may contain other apparatus, such as Bunsen burners, amalgam mixing machines, vacuum apparatus, and the like used by the dentist in performing services associated with the practice of dentistry. Many of these dental apparatus and instruments require some sort of utility supply, either electricity, hot or cold water, gas, or vacuum lines.
The connection of the various utility service lines has been somewhat problematic using conventional cabinet arrangements. For example, the main utility service lines may be strung across the back of the cabinet and branch lines may extend into the cabinet through openings at the cabinet rear. In cases where the cabinetry is free standing, a separate false back or paneling may be built around the rear or base portion of the cabinet to conceal the various utility lines. These types of dental cabinets utilize exposed fasteners, such as screws, that must be removed and, thereafter, replaced to provide access to the underlying utility lines. In these types of cabinets, sufficient internal space may not be available to easily adjust the appropriate utility service connections. Conventional cabinets may also be difficult to move in order to service underlying utility lines.
In the modern day practice of dentistry, it has become increasingly important to disinfect the dental work station after each patient use and, especially, after treatment of a patient with an infectious disease. The disinfection of the dental work station is typically accomplished by wiping a disinfectant on all areas adjacent the dental work station, including the dental cabinet. The dental cabinet, however, is especially difficult to disinfect due to the various types of exposed fasteners used to secure the paneling covering utility supplies. Furthermore, in order to completely disinfect the cabinet, it may be necessary to disinfect utility supply lines. Consequently, this procedure is not only time consuming, but it is also relatively difficult to achieve complete disinfection of the dental cabinet.
In addition, conventional cabinets are often constructed from rigid materials such as wood, particle board, or metal. However, these cabinets are often relatively heavy and lack supports for easy movement, which may make the cabinet awkward or difficult to move.
A system that provides convenient and fastaccess to stored utility supply lines, that may be easily used, and which can be efficiently and effectively cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized by conventional methods is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention includes a panel system that may be used to provide access to an underlying apparatus, such as a utility supply line. The panel system may include a frame and a magnetic panel removably secured thereto. The magnetic panel may have a plurality of magnets disposed thereon or embedded therein, and may be removably secured to a metal frame. Alternatively, the magnets may be disposed on or embedded within the frame, and the panel may include a metal that may be removably secured to the frame via the magnets. For example, the magnetic panel may be received and removably secured within a recessed region in the frame. An exposed surface of the magnetic panel may be substantially coplanar with exposed surfaces of the frame so the panel system may be easily cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized. The panel system may additionally provide a support for an overlying structure, such as a cabinet, and may be attached to a surface thereof.
Another aspect of the invention includes a cabinet having a panel system that may provide access to storage or features, such as utility or supply lines. A base portion of the cabinet may include a frame having openings therethrough. A panel may be removably secured to the frame using a magnetic element, which may be present in the panel or the frame. The panel and the frame may be configured to render an outer surface of the base portion substantially planar. For example, the panel may be fitted within a recessed portion of the frame, which may have an interior sidewall having a height substantially equal to a thickness of the panel. The frame and the panel may include, for example, iron, nickel, cobalt, and/or alloys thereof. Optionally, the openings of the frame may be arranged on different sides of the cabinet to enable adjustment of internal mechanisms and to enable movement of the cabinet.
In a further aspect, the panel system includes flexible, magnetic strips disposed on or in a panel. The magnetic strips enable the panels to be removably secured to a frame while providing a substantially flush outwardly facing surface. Because the panel system provides a substantially flush surface, the panel system may be easily cleaned, disinfected, or sanitized.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the present invention, this invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some representative embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination.
Reference will now be made to the drawings. Like elements are identified by like numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.
As illustrated in
Referring to
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As shown in
Whether present on the frame 12 or the panels 26a and 26b, the magnetic element may be utilized to removably attach the panels 26a and 26b to the frame while providing a substantially planar surface that may be easily cleaned, sterilized, or disinfected.
Referring to
Thus, the panel system 10 may be used in a variety of applications in a dental or operatory setting. Because the panel system 10 provides a substantially planar surface that may be easily cleaned, disinfected and sterilized, the surfaces of the panel system 10 may be easily made aseptic.
Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing certain representative embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention can be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions, and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims, are encompassed by the present invention.
Claims
1. A panel system, comprising:
- a frame having at least one recessed region therein; and
- a magnetic panel removably secured within the recessed region, exposed surfaces of the metal frame being substantially planar with exposed surfaces of the magnetic panel.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a base of a cabinet.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least one metal portion.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one recessed region in the metal frame is disposed around an opening.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the opening provides access to components underlying a base of a cabinet.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic panel includes a plurality of magnetic strips disposed on a surface thereof and comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic, or a rubber.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic panel comprises a magnetic polymer material.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gap between the magnetic panel and the at least one recessed region, the gap having a width of less than 2 mm.
9. A cabinet having a removable panel, comprising:
- a cabinet having at least one apparatus underlying a base portion;
- a frame including at least one opening, the opening providing access to a compartment underlying the frame; and
- at least one panel removably secured to the frame by at least one magnetic element and having a substantially planar, outwardly facing surface.
10. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the at least one apparatus comprises a utility line or a service line for receiving water, gas, or vacuum pressure.
11. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the frame is disposed about the base portion of the cabinet.
12. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the at least one panel is fitted within a recessed portion of the frame.
13. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of the at least one panel is flush with the unrecessed portions of the frame to render the outwardly facing surfaces of the base portion substantially planar.
14. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises at least one of a iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys thereof.
15. The cabinet of claim 14, wherein the magnetic element is embedded within a recess in the panel.
16. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the compartment underlying the frame houses at least one supply line for providing water, gas, or vacuum pressure.
17. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the at least one opening provides a channel through opposing sides of the frame.
18. A panel system comprising:
- a frame having at least one opening formed therethrough, the opening providing access to an underlying compartment; and
- a panel overlying the opening and comprising at least one magnetic element, the at least one magnetic strip removably securing the panel to the frame.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a base of a storage container and provides support thereto.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the underlying compartment houses a supply line for water, gas, or vacuum pressure.
21. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a magnetic strip having a length of about 3.8 cm and a width of about 12.7 cm.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the magnetic strip is attached to a metal panel.
23. The system of claim 18, wherein the frame further comprises at least one recess having an interior sidewall having a height substantially equal to a thickness of the panel, the recess being configured to receive an outer periphery of the panel.
24. The system of claim 18, wherein an outwardly facing surface of the panel system is substantially planar.
25. The system of claim 18, further comprising a gap between the panel and the frame, the gap having a width of less than 1 mm.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 11, 2010
Applicant: DENTAL EQUIPMENT, LLC DBA PELTON & CRANE (Charlotte, NC)
Inventor: John Helgesen (Rock Hill, SC)
Application Number: 12/208,233
International Classification: A47B 95/00 (20060101); E04B 1/00 (20060101);