Litter support assembly for medical care units having a shock load absorber and methods of their use

• US 10,285,878 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferno-Washington Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ferno-Washington Incorporated
• Inventors: Chinn, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNichols, Eret C
• Application Number:
  US14/967,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20160095766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 248562, 248567, 248581, 248602, 248613, 248616, 248631
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/006 Means for reducing the influence of acceleration on patients, e.g. suspension systems of platforms securing loads against shocks in general B60P7/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0825 using support rack, frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0841 on lateral support arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/085 on support, which can be brought into a different position, when not in use, e.g. foldable, collapsible, retractable support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0866 on height adjustable support
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/16 Protecting against shocks B60P7/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/00 Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 ; belt tensioners F16H7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/12 using plastic deformation of members F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/125 Units with a telescopic-like action as one member moves into, or out of a second member F16F7/124, F16F7/127, F16F7/128 take precedence

Abstract

A shock absorbing support arm assembly for a litter support assembly that includes a support arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a shock absorbing device disposed at the second end of the support arm, and a litter side shaft engagement mechanism disposed at the first end of the support arm. The support arm assembly may also comprise a mounting bracket connected at the second end of the support arm such that the shock absorbing device is positioned between the mounting bracket and the support arm. The support arm may move along an axis of the shock absorbing device and relative to the mounting bracket and may pivot about the axis relative to the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing support arm assembly for a litter support assembly, the shock absorbing support arm assembly comprising:

a support arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a shock absorbing device disposed at the second end of the support arm which configures the support arm to pivot axially about a pivot axis relative to the shock absorbing device and to travel linearly along the pivot axis for shock absorption where the linear travel may be adjusted to a desired length, the shock absorbing device being adapted to dampen forces translated from a vehicle to the support arm, wherein the shock absorbing device comprises a shock dampening material selected from the group consisting of oils, air, gases, water hydraulic fluids, viscous fluids, oleo, foams, resilient materials, shock absorbing materials, metal fillings with a magnet, magnets, electro-magnets, and combinations thereof; and

a litter side shaft engagement mechanism fixedly disposed at the first end of the support arm.

2. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing device comprises a crushable element that is adapted to collapse or crush under certain loads or shocks to dampen such loads or shocks being translated to the support arm from the vehicle.

3. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 2, wherein the crushable element comprises a scored or weakened section.

4. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 2, wherein the crushable element comprises a thermoplastic polyester elastomer.

5. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 2, wherein the crushable element comprises a material having a tensile modulus of elasticity from about 15,000 psi to about 65,000 psi.

6. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber device comprises:

an outer cylinder; and

an inner rod partially encompassed by the outer cylinder;

wherein;

the support arm is attached to the outer cylinder,

the support arm and outer cylinder move along a longitudinal axis of the inner rod and relative to the inner rod, and

the support arm and outer cylinder pivot about the inner rod.

7. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 6, wherein the inner rod is connected to a piston, the piston disposed and movable within the outer cylinder.

8. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 7, wherein the shock absorbing device further comprises a crushable element that is positioned adjacent to the inner rod.

9. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second shock absorbing device connected to the support arm.

10. A shock absorbing support arm assembly for a litter support assembly, the shock absorbing support arm assembly comprising:

a support arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a shock absorbing device connected to the second end of the support arm which configures the support arm to pivot axially about a pivot axis relative to the shock absorbing device and to travel linearly along the pivot axis for shock absorption where the linear travel may be adjusted to a desired length, the shock absorbing device comprising a shock dampening material selected from the group consisting of oils, air, gases, water hydraulic fluids, viscous fluids, oleo, foams, resilient materials, shock absorbing materials, metal fillings with a magnet, magnets, electro-magnets, and combinations thereof;

a mounting bracket connected to the shock absorbing device such that the support arm may move relative to the mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket comprises an engagement mechanism for removably engaging a corresponding wall bracket, enabling the support arm to be removably attachable to a wall of a vehicle; and

a litter side shaft engagement mechanism disposed at the first end of the support arm.

11. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting bracket comprises at least two projections extending outwardly from a surface opposite the support arm for engaging respective slots of a wall bracket.

12. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting bracket comprises four projections extending outwardly from a surface opposite the support arm for engaging slots of a wall bracket, and wherein each projection comprises a stem portion and an enlarged head portion disposed at a distal end of the stem portion.

13. A shock absorbing support arm assembly for a litter support assembly, the shock absorbing support arm assembly comprising:

a support arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a shock absorbing device disposed at the second end of the support arm, the shock absorbing device adapted to dampen forces translated from a vehicle to the support arm and the shock absorbing device is adapted so the linear travel of the support arm may be adjusted to a desired length, wherein the shock absorbing device comprises a shock dampening material selected from the group consisting of oils, air, gases, water hydraulic fluids, viscous fluids, oleo, foams, resilient materials, shock absorbing materials, metal fillings with a magnet, magnets, electro-magnets, and combinations thereof; and

a litter side shaft engagement mechanism fixedly disposed at the first end of the support arm, wherein the shock absorber device comprises;

an outer cylinder; and

an inner rod partially encompassed by the outer cylinder;

wherein;

the support arm is attached to the outer cylinder,

the support arm and outer cylinder move along a longitudinal axis of the inner rod and relative to the inner rod, and

the support arm and outer cylinder pivot about the inner rod.

14. The shock absorbing support arm assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner rod is connected to a piston, the piston disposed and movable within the outer cylinder.