Disposable container for mobile medical cart

Abstract

A medical cart having a chassis with a plurality of wheels attached thereto; a plurality of drawers supported on the chassis; a temperature-regulated compartment in the chassis; a locking bar pivotally attached to the chassis; a headwall mount attached to the chassis; a display mounted on the chassis; and a positionable task light attached to the chassis. Each drawer includes a drawer lock shiftable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking bar is shiftable between a locked position and an unlocked position so that the locking bar serves as a secondary safety lock for all the drawers and the door of the temperature-regulated compartment.

Having thus described various embodiments of the inventions, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A disposable container for collecting, weighing, and disposing medical waste from a medical procedure, the disposable container comprising:
 an open-topped enclosure with a rigid planar floor that may be placed on a weigh scale; and   a flexible, open-topped bag supported within and attached to the enclosure for collecting medical waste to be weighed by the weigh scale.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , the enclosure further comprising a number of raised walls with lower edges attached to the floor and upper rims that define an open-top. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 2 , the bag comprising a closed end attached to the floor of the enclosure and an upper end which may be raised above the enclosure and attached to an object on which the weigh scale is supported so the bag shields the object from the medical waste as it is placed in the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 3 , the bag further comprising a closure mechanism for closing the upper end so as to contain the medical waste in the bag for safe disposal. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 3 , the bag further comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the upper end to the object on which the weigh scale is supported. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is formed of rigid corrugated plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bag is formed of flexible polyethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bag is attached to the enclosure with fasteners selected from the group consisting of adhesives, staples, and rivets. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bag is integrally formed with the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is in the shape of an inverted, truncated pyramid. 
     
     
         12 . A disposable container for collecting, weighing, and disposing medical waste from a medical procedure, the disposable container comprising:
 a rigid enclosure that may be placed on a weigh scale, the enclosure comprising—
 a rectangular planar floor having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and 
 four raised walls with lower edges attached to the floor and upper rims that together define an open-top; and 
   a flexible bag supported within and attached to the enclosure for collecting medical waste to be weighed by the weigh scale, the bag comprising—
 a closed end attached to the floor of the enclosure, 
 an upper end that defines an open-top, and 
 an attachment mechanism for attaching the upper end to an object on which the weigh scale is supported so the bag shields the object from the medical waste as it is placed in the bag. 
   
     
     
         13 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 12 , the attachment mechanism comprising grommets in the upper end of the bag for connecting to hooks on the object on which the weigh scale is supported. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 12 , the bag further comprising a closure mechanism for closing the upper end of the bag so as to contain the medical waste in the bag for safe disposal. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 14 , the closure mechanism comprising an interlocking groove and ridge formed in the upper end of the bag. 
     
     
         16 . A disposable container for collecting, weighing, and disposing medical waste from a medical procedure, the disposable container comprising:
 a rigid enclosure that may be placed on a weigh scale that is supported on a mobile medical cart, the enclosure being formed of rigid corrugated plastic and comprising—
 a rectangular planar floor having opposed upper and lower surfaces, 
 non-skid feet on the lower surface of the floor, and 
 four raised walls extending upwardly from the floor with lower edges attached to the floor and upper rims that together define an open-top; and 
   a flexible bag supported within and attached to the enclosure for collecting medical waste to be weighed by the weigh scale, the bag being formed of flexible polyethylene and comprising—
 a closed base attached to the floor of the enclosure, 
 an upper end that defines an open-top, 
 an attachment mechanism for attaching the upper end to a portion of the mobile medical cart so the bag shields the mobile medical cart from the medical waste as it is placed in the bag, and 
 a closure mechanism for closing the open-top of the bag so as to contain the medical waste in the bag for safe disposal. 
   
     
     
         17 . The disposable container as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure is in the shape of an inverted, truncated pyramid.