초록 ▼

A utility cart includes a sensor or plurality of sensors to determine the state of a cart and secure cart contents. A sensor may be used to determine whether the contents of the cart have been accessed. When the sensor determines that the cart has been accessed, an alarm sequence that sounds an alar

A utility cart includes a sensor or plurality of sensors to determine the state of a cart and secure cart contents. A sensor may be used to determine whether the contents of the cart have been accessed. When the sensor determines that the cart has been accessed, an alarm sequence that sounds an alarm or activates a visual indicator will be initiated. The alarm sequence may be terminated by a kill switch or by using an input device to deactivate the alarm. After the cart is used, the cart is re-stocked and the alarm controller is re-armed to return the cart's alarm system to an access sensing state.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cart comprising: a housing having a top surface portion and a plurality of sides;a compartment section, for storing items in said housing, which is associated with and accessible from at least one side of said housing, wherein said compartment section may be placed in (a) a closed condition for

1. A cart comprising: a housing having a top surface portion and a plurality of sides;a compartment section, for storing items in said housing, which is associated with and accessible from at least one side of said housing, wherein said compartment section may be placed in (a) a closed condition for preventing removal of items stored therein, and (b) an open condition for permitting access to items stored therein;a sensor for sensing movement of said compartment section from the closed condition to the open condition;an alarm indicator for signaling an alarm condition;an alarm controller, coupled to said sensor and said alarm indicator, wherein said alarm controller controls said alarm indicator to signal the alarm condition when said sensor senses movement from the closed condition to the open condition; anda termination mechanism, coupled to said alarm controller, for transmitting an alarm termination signal when said termination mechanism is triggered by a user, wherein said termination mechanism is located in said compartment section. 2. The cart of claim 1, wherein said termination mechanism is not accessible when said compartment section is in the closed condition. 3. A cart comprising: a housing having a top surface portion and a plurality of sides;a compartment section, for storing items in said housing, which is associated with and accessible from at least one side of said housing, wherein said compartment section may be placed in (a) a closed condition for preventing removal of items stored therein, and (b) an open condition for permitting access to items stored therein;a sensor for sensing movement of said compartment section from the closed condition to the open condition;an alarm indicator for signaling an alarm condition;an alarm controller, coupled to said sensor and said alarm indicator, wherein said alarm controller controls said alarm indicator to signal the alarm condition when said sensor senses movement from the closed condition to the open condition; anda termination mechanism, coupled to said alarm controller, for transmitting an alarm termination signal when said termination mechanism is triggered by a user, wherein said termination mechanism is hidden on a side surface of the cart. 4. The cart of claim 1, wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator for providing an audible signal of the alarm condition. 5. The cart of claim 4, further comprising: an input device coupled to said alarm controller,wherein said alarm controller prevents said audible alarm indicator from signaling the alarm condition when a logical key is entered before said sensor determines movement from the closed condition to the open condition, and said alarm controller terminates the signaling of the alarm condition by said audible alarm indicator when a logical key is entered after said sensor determines movement from the closed condition to the open condition. 6. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a movable bar for securing said compartment section in the closed condition by engaging a compartment section retaining portion when said movable bar is in a securing position. 7. The cart of claim 6, wherein said alarm controller is returned to a status detecting state when said movable bar is returned to the securing position. 8. The cart of claim 1, wherein said compartment section comprises a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments being capable of storing items and being placed in the closed position and the open position. 9. The cart of claim 1, wherein said alarm indicator comprises a remote digital communication unit, coupled to said alarm controller, that digitally transmits an alarm condition to a remote receiving device. 10. The cart of claim 1, wherein said alarm indicator comprises a visual indicator located on said housing of the cart, and wherein said visual indicator visually indicates the alarm condition when said sensor detects movement from the closed condition to the open condition and visually indicates that the cart has been previously accessed after the alarm condition has been terminated. 11. The cart of claim 10, further comprising: a battery; anda battery condition sensor,wherein said visual indicator indicates that said battery is low on power when said battery condition sensor determines that the power level of said battery is below a predetermined battery power level. 12. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a movement sensor which senses movement of the cart from a first location to a second location. 13. A cart comprising: a housing having a top surface portion and a plurality of sides;a plurality of compartments, for storing items in the cart, which are associated with and accessible from at least one side of said housing, each of said compartments being selectably accessible by being placed between (a) a closed condition for preventing removal of items stored therein, and (b) an open condition for permitting access to items stored therein;a plurality of sensors, wherein each of said plurality of sensors is respectively associated with a different one of said plurality of compartments and senses when said respective compartment is moved from the closed condition to the open condition;an alarm indicator for signaling an alarm condition;an alarm controller, coupled to said sensors and said alarm indicator, wherein said alarm controller controls said alarm indicator to signal the alarm condition when one of said sensors senses movement of said respective compartment from the closed condition to the open condition; anda termination mechanism, coupled to said alarm controller, for transmitting an alarm termination signal when said termination mechanism is triggered by a user, wherein said termination mechanism is either hidden or not accessible when each of said plurality of compartments is in the closed condition. 14. The cart of claim 13, wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator. 15. The cart of claim 13, wherein said termination mechanism is hidden on a side surface of the cart. 16. The cart of claim 13, said cart further comprising an input device coupled to said alarm controller, wherein said alarm controller prevents said audible alarm indicator from signaling the alarm condition when a logical key is entered before said sensor determines movement of from the closed condition to the open condition, and said alarm controller terminates the signaling of the alarm condition by said audible alarm indicator when a logical key is entered after said sensor determines movement from the closed condition to the open condition. 17. The cart of claim 13, wherein said termination mechanism comprises a switch located in at least one of said plurality of compartments, wherein said switch is not accessible when said at least one compartment is in the closed condition. 18. The cart of claim 13, wherein said alarm indicator further comprises a wireless communication unit, coupled to said alarm controller, that transmits the alarm condition to a remote receiving device. 19. The cart of claim 13, wherein said alarm indicator comprises a visual indicator located on said housing of the cart, wherein said visual indicator visually indicates the alarm condition when one of said sensors detects movement from the closed condition to the open condition and visually indicates that the cart has been previously accessed after the alarm condition has been terminated. 20. The cart of claim 13, further comprising: a battery; anda battery condition sensor,wherein said visual indicator indicates that said battery is low on power when said battery condition sensor determines that the power level of said battery is below a predetermined battery power level. 21. The cart of claim 13, further comprising a securing bar for securing said plurality compartment sections in the closed condition by engaging a plurality of compartment section retaining portions when said securing bar is in a securing position, wherein said securing bar may simultaneously disengage said plurality of compartment section retaining portions when said securing bar is moved from the securing position to an unsecured position to place said plurality compartment sections in the open condition. 22. A method of securing medical supplies in a cart, the method comprising the steps of: providing a cart comprising (1) a housing having a top surface portion and a plurality of sides, (2) a compartment section for storing items in the housing and which may be placed in (a) a closed condition for preventing removal of items stored in the compartment section, and (b) an open condition for permitting access to items stored in the compartment section, (3) a sensor for sensing movement from the closed condition to the open condition, (4) an alarm indicator for signaling an alarm condition, (5) an alarm controller, coupled to the sensor and the alarm indicator, and (6) a termination mechanism, coupled to the alarm controller, for transmitting an alarm termination signal when the termination mechanism is triggered by a user, wherein the termination mechanism is either hidden or not accessible when the compartment section is in the closed condition;arming the alarm controller after medical supplies have been stocked in the storage compartment of the cart and the cart has been placed in the closed condition; andcausing the alarm indicator to signal an alarm condition when the alarm controller determines that the sensor has sensed movement from the closed condition to the open condition. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said causing step causes the alarm indicator to wirelessly transmit the alarm condition to a remote location in a hospital.