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Patent Abstract
A integrated institutional first aid kit for use in schools, playgrounds,
daycare facilities and other similar environments, wherein the integrated
institutional first aid kit enables first aid medicines, hygienic
needs, cold packs, and regulatory forms to be carried in a single
package. The integrated institutional first aid kit also enables
the user to quickly and easily access tissues or other hygienic
needs without exposing internal compartments to contamination through
the use of external openings. The integrated institutional first
aid kit further allows for the storage of cold packs through the
use of an segregated, insulated pocket. The integrated institutional
first aid kit can be formed in any of a variety of materials including
various nylon blends, or in a rigid format formed of plastic or
metal commonly used for such applications and known within the art.
Patent Claims
1. An integrated first aid kit comprising: enclosed first aid storage
and an integrated clipboard,
2. An integrated first aid kit consisting of: (a) a plurality of
first aid storage pockets; (b) An insulated pocket; (c) A clipboard;
3. An integrated first aid kit consisting of: (a) a plurality of
first aid storage pockets; (d) An insulated pocket; (e) A clipboard;
(f) A segregated tissue access point;
Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to first aid kits, and more specifically,
to a new and useful means for providing first aid essentials in
a school, playground, day care or similar environment.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] In the field of emergency medical care there are dozens
of kits comprised of various components and laid out in a variety
of formats. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,097 describes a first
aid kit utilizing distinct pockets, each pocket marked by an indicia
regarding the sort of injury treatable by the contents of the pocket.
It further describes flotation means to enable a user to maintain
buoyancy in an emergency. Another invention, described in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,460,702 utilizes a card-catalog style layout and a detailed
instruction book to offer benefits to users.
[0003] No prior art known to the inventor describes a first aid
kit that suits the particular needs of institutional use through
the use of an integrated clipboard, nor does any prior art describe
a first aid kit for institutional use which provides an insulated
cold area. Finally, no prior art depicts a first aid kit which segregates
easy access items requiring less sterility, from more protected
items where greater sterility is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention is comprised of an integrated institutional
first aid kit constructed to contain a plurality of pockets or internal
voids within the integrated institutional first aid kit, a clipboard
means, and a central insulated region for storing cold packs or
ice packs for first aid needs. The first aid kit would provide quick
and easy access in one location for the most common needs for providers
of child care in the school or playground environment and allow
the providers to utilize one kit rather than carry multiple items
to address the current health, sanitation, and regulatory needs
of today's providers. Keys to the design are a tissue dispenser
on an outside surface, allowing for the fast and sanitary distribution
of tissues without exposing the inner portions of the kit to dirt
or germs, a fold out clipboard and pen holder to accommodate the
regulatory forms that are required in most state school systems
every time first aid is administered, and an integral insulated
pocket for cold packs or ice packs.
[0005] The integrated institutional first aid kit of the invention
could take the form of a multi-pocket soft case, an external closure
means, such as a hook and loop equipped strip, and a plurality of
internal pockets ideally situated around an insulated internal pocket.
In the preferred embodiment, the integrated institutional first
aid kit of the invention is comprised of a semi-rigid compact fabric
kit bag which opens on one surface exposing the clipboard and regulatory
forms, medical gloves, and room-temperature first aid items, with
a second sealed closure maintaining the cool chamber for ice packs.
A singe pocket accessible from the outside and segregated from the
other internal areas would accommodate a standard or small-sized
tissue box and allow access from the outside of the kit without
opening the kit. This allows for a unique solution to school first
aid providers and other providers of aid in a generally pediatric
fashion, to provide for the common needs of the children, and for
the increasing regulatory needs in a single kit, while simultaneously
providing an easy and compact solution for cold packs and the like.
[0006] The integrated institutional first aid kit can be constructed
from any of the natural or synthetic materials commonly used for
sewn goods, with sufficient rigidity to protect the contents and
sufficient durability to withstand the rigors of playground presence,
or, alternatively, from some cast or molded rigid synthetic materials
with similar characteristics. Certain grades of nylon fabric used
for active outdoor purposes are commonly employed for kit construction,
and this same nylon material may be utilized in the chief embodiment
of the invention.
[0007] Taken severally or in combination the novel features of
the integrated institutional first aid kit offers benefits exclusive
to the field.
[0008] The present embodiments, described in the foregoing, satisfies
the need within the art by providing a integrated institutional
first aid kit with cold-pocket and clipboard means which allows
the user numerous capabilities not otherwise available with the
current first aid kits on the market.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0009] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention
are listed below: [0010] (a) It is one object of this invention
to provide a first aid kit ideally suited to the needs of schools,
daycares, and other similar institutions [0011] (b) It is another
object of this invention to provide the most common playground first
aid necessities in a single package; [0012] (c) It is another object
of this invention to promote regulatory compliance to state and
federal laws by bundling regulatory forms, writing means and clipboard
within the first aid kit of the invention; [0013] (d) It is another
object of this invention to provide a mobile and compact means of
maintaining cold packs in a child care or playground environment;
[0014] (e) It is yet another object of this invention to promote
good hygiene by keeping tissues on the outside of the kit, reducing
access to inner portion for true first aid needs, and thereby increasing
the cleanliness of the inner portion of the kit.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an exterior profile view of a integrated institutional
first aid kit in an open position.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0016] 10 An integrated institutional first aid kit [0017] 11 A
clipboard means within the integrated institutional first aid kit
[0018] 11A A closure means on the clipboard means for closing the
first aid kit [0019] 12 Internal pockets for first aid medicines
and medical gloves within the first aid kit [0020] 13 The cold storage
pocket within the first aid kit of the invention
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS--FIG. 1
[0021] Now turning to the drawing it will be observed that it depicts
a detailed drawing of one typical embodiment of an integrated institutional
first aid kit 10 with clipboard means 11 serving as a lid for the
first aid kit using closure means 11A to seal the lid. The internal
pockets 12 hold supplies securely within the case and may be individually
labeled to maintain continuity and to ensure proper re-supply. The
cold storage pocket is insulated and maintains its own separate
closure to aid in maintaining the cold environment necessary for
cold pack or ice pack storage.
OPERATION OF INVENTION
[0022] The manner of using the first aid kit of the invention is
as follows: The integrated institutional first aid kit will be stocked
with the necessary first aid items such as bandages, antiseptic,
medical gloves, tissue, cold packs, tissues and the like. It will
also be supplied with the necessary regulatory forms required by
law in schools and other institutions when medicine is dispensed,
and these forms will be affixed to the clipboard of the first aid
kit. The first aid kit will then be employed in a playground, nurses
office or other environment. Tissues will be dispensed as desired
without a need for opening the first aid kit and exposing the internal
portions to dirt and germs by virtue of the tissue opening described
in the invention. Additionally, minor injuries requiring cold packs
will now be treatable at the site without resorting to a second
device in the form of a cooler or refrigerator by virtue of the
cold pack storage area of the invention.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF INVENTION
[0023] Thus the reader will see that integrated institutional first
aid kit of this invention provides a new and highly effective means
for enabling care providers to carry and maintain the necessary
first aid essentials for an institutional, school or playground
environment while simultaneously providing means for regulatory
compliance integrally. Additionally, the integrated institutional
first aid kit allows for all of the benefits of a first aid kit
combined with the benefits of cold storage, and hygienic non-first
aid needs in a single package.
[0024] While the above description contains certain specifics,
it should not be construed as a limitation upon the described invention,
but merely as providing illustrations of certain currently preferred
embodiments.
[0025] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by
the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by
the examples given.
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