# US 7,204,714 B2 · Modular in-wall medical services outlet system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,204,714 B2 - Document ID: US7204714B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/846,007 - Filed: 2004-05-14 - Published: 2004-11-25 - Granted: 2007-04-17 - Earliest claimed: 2003-05-16 - Assignees: Modular Services Company - Inventors: James A. Walker; Taylor C. Culpepper; John R. Pierson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7204714B2 ## CPC - E04H 3/08: Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons - A61G 12/005: {mounted on the wall} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A modular in-wall medical services outlet system comprising separate standardized vertical units that can be shipped separately and assembled on site to form a consolidated horizontal system. The system includes a self-aligning feature that allows the units to be leveled as a single whole and eliminates the need to level each unit separately. The alignment system may be combined with connectors which secure the units to each other. Racks of medical service outlets are included. The racks may be horizontally aligned, vertically aligned, or both. Substantially continuous trim and cover plate assemblies extend entirely across the face of the system around the outlets giving the system the appearance of an in-wall horizontal unit. The trim is attachable to the wall structure, receives the wall board, supports the service outlets, and provides horizontal equipment tracks. The frame provides the system with load bearing capacity to support equipment in the horizontal tracks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular in-wall medical services outlet system for installation in the wall of a structure, the wall comprising wall board defining a wall space, the system comprising: a plurality of separable and interengageable vertical units, wherein each unit comprises a vertical frame comprising a vertical support assembly, the frame adapted to be installed in the wall space of the structure; and at least a first medical service outlet supported on at least one of the vertical units and positioned to be accessible when the unit is installed in the wall space; a cover plate assembly attachable to the plurality of vertical units when the plurality of vertical units are interengaged, wherein the cover plate assembly overlies the first medical service outlet and is adapted to extend substantially continuously across the assembled plurality of vertical units; and a trim assembly attachable to the plurality of vertical units when the plurality of vertical units are interengaged, wherein the trim assembly is adapted to at least partially frame the cover plate assembly and to extend substantially continuously across the plurality of interengaged vertical units. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the vertical support assembly comprises a pair of parallel spaced-apart vertical rails. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the at least one medical services outlet comprises a plurality of service outlets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medical services system of claim 3 further comprising a service conduit adapted to service at least one of the plurality of medical service outlets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The medical services system of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a pair of vertically aligned horizontal racks of service outlets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical services system of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a blank panel extending between and adjacent to the pair of vertically aligned horizontal racks of service outlets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The medical services system of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a horizontal rack of service outlets, and wherein the horizontal racks are horizontally aligned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The medical services system of claim 7 wherein the system further comprises three vertical units including first, second and third vertical units, wherein the first and third vertical units have horizontally aligned horizontally racks of service outlets, wherein the second vertical unit is positioned between and adjacent to the first and third units, and wherein the second unit comprises a horizontal blank panel sized similarly to and horizontally aligned with the horizontal racks of service outlets on the adjacent first and third units. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 further comprising an alignment assembly adapted to align one of the plurality of vertical units to at least one other adjacent one of the plurality of vertical units. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical services system of claim 9 wherein the alignment assembly of each of the vertical units comprises at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medical services system of claim 10 wherein the at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches comprises a plurality of such sets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The medical services system of claim 10 wherein the at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches are provided with complementary tapered edges whereby the fingers are self-guiding as they slide into the notches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The medical services system of claim 11 wherein the at least one set of fingers and notches define complementary angular shapes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the trim assembly comprises an internal structural trim member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The medical services system of claim 14 wherein the internal trim member comprises: a support flange adapted to be attached to the vertical frame; a wall board flange adapted to receive the wall board; and a device mounting flange adapted to support medical service outlets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical services system of claim 15 wherein the internal trim member is integrally formed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the trim assembly comprises an external trim member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medical services system of claim 17 wherein the external trim member is adapted to engage the internal trim member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The medical services system of claim 17 wherein the external trim member comprises a horizontally extending equipment track. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the vertical unit comprises an outlet support box supported on the frame and adapted to contain the medical services outlet. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the cover plate assembly comprises a plurality of cover plates. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the cover plate assembly comprises at least one cover plate, and wherein the at least one cover plate is adapted to provide an interface between the interior and exterior of the vertical units surrounding the medical service outlets. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The medical services system of claim 22 wherein the trim assembly is adapted to frame the cover plate assembly and provide an engagement between the edge of the cover plates and the surrounding wall board. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 wherein the trim assembly is adapted to frame the cover plate assembly and provide an engagement between the cover plate assembly and the surrounding wall board. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 further comprising: a service conduit adapted to service the at least one medical service outlet; and a junction box supported on the frame below the ceiling and above the at least one medical service outlet. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The medical services system of claim 25 further comprising an overbed light and wherein the junction box is supported in the frame behind the overbed light. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The medical services system of claim 1 comprising at least one alignment assembly adapted simultaneously to align and connect one of the plurality of vertical units to at least one other adjacent one of the plurality of vertical units. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The medical services system of claim 27 wherein the at least one alignment assembly comprises a plurality of alignment assemblies. ### Claim 29 A medical care facility comprising: a structure formed of at least one wall, wherein the wall comprises wall board defining a wall space; a modular in-wall medical services outlet system installed in the wall of the structure, the system comprising: a plurality of separable and interengageable vertical units, wherein each unit comprises a vertical frame comprising a vertical support assembly, the frame adapted to be installed in the wall space of the structure; and at least a first medical service outlet supported on at least one of the vertical units and positioned to be accessible when the unit is installed in the wall space; a cover plate assembly attachable to the plurality of vertical units when the plurality of vertical units are interengaged, wherein the cover plate assembly overlies the first medical service outlet and is adapted to extend substantially continuously across the assembled plurality of vertical units; and a trim assembly attachable to the plurality of vertical units when the plurality of vertical units are interengaged, wherein the trim assembly is adapted to at least partially frame the cover plate assembly and to extend substantially continuously across the plurality of interengaged vertical units. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the vertical support assembly comprises a pair of parallel spaced-apart vertical rails. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the at least one medical services outlet comprises a plurality of service outlets. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The medical care facility of claim 31 further comprising a service conduit adapted to service at least one of the plurality of medical service outlets. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The medical care facility of claim 31 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a pair of vertically aligned horizontal racks of service outlets. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The medical care facility of claim 33 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a blank panel extending between and adjacent to the pair of vertically aligned horizontal racks of service outlets. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The medical care facility of claim 31 wherein each of the plurality of vertical units comprises a horizontal rack of service outlets, and wherein the horizontal racks are horizontally aligned. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The medical care facility of claim 35 wherein the system further comprises three vertical units including first, second and third vertical units, wherein the first and third vertical units have horizontally aligned horizontally racks of service outlets, wherein the second vertical unit is positioned between and adjacent to the first and third units, and wherein the second unit comprises a horizontal blank panel sized similarly to and horizontally aligned with the horizontal racks of service outlets on the adjacent first and third units. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 further comprising an alignment assembly adapted to connect the one of the at least one vertical unit to at least one other adjacent one of the plurality of vertical units. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The medical care facility of claim 37 wherein the alignment assembly comprises at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The medical care facility of claim 38 wherein the at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches comprises a plurality of such sets. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The medical services system of claim 38 wherein the at least one set of interengageable fingers and notches are provided with complementary tapered edges whereby the fingers are self-guiding as they slide into the notches. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The medical care facility of claim 40 wherein the fingers and notches define complementary angular shapes. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the trim assembly comprises an internal structural trim member. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The medical care facility of claim 42 wherein the internal trim member comprises: a support flange adapted to be attached to the vertical frame; a wall board flange adapted to receive the wall board; and a device mounting flange adapted to support medical service outlets. ### Claim 44 (depends on 38) The medical care facility of claim 38 wherein the internal trim member is integrally formed. ### Claim 45 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the trim assembly comprises an external trim member. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The medical care facility of claim 45 wherein the external trim member is adapted to engage the internal trim member. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The medical care facility of claim 45 wherein the external trim member comprises a horizontally extending equipment track. ### Claim 48 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the vertical unit comprises an outlet support box supported on the frame and adapted to contain the medical services outlet. ### Claim 49 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the cover plate assembly comprises a plurality of cover plates. ### Claim 50 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the cover plate assembly comprises at least one cover plate, and wherein the at least one cover plate is adapted to provide an interface between the interior and exterior of the vertical units surrounding the medical service outlets. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The medical care facility of claim 50 wherein the trim assembly is adapted to frame the cover plate assembly and provide an engagement between the edge of the cover plates and the surrounding wall board. ### Claim 52 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the trim assembly is adapted to frame the cover plate assembly and provide an engagement between the cover plate assembly and the surrounding wall board. ### Claim 53 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the medical services outlet system further comprises: a service conduit adapted to service the at least one medical service outlet; and a junction box supported on the frame below the ceiling and above the at least one medical service outlet. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The medical care facility of claim 53 wherein the medical services outlet system further comprises an overbed light and wherein the junction box is supported in the frame behind the overbed light. ### Claim 55 (depends on 29) The medical care facility of claim 29 wherein the medical services outlet system further comprises at least one alignment assembly adapted simultaneously to align and connect one of the plurality of vertical units to at least one other adjacent one of the plurality of vertical units. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The medical care facility of claim 55 wherein the at least one alignment assembly comprises a plurality of alignment assemblies.