TRANSFERABLE PATIENT CARE EQUIPMENT SUPPORT

• US 20090050756A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Daugbjerg, Cristian J., Newkirk, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/008 mounted on a mobile base, e.g. on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0503 Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports

Abstract

A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first coupling member and a second device having a second coupling member. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler coupled to the equipment supporting portion and having first and second clamps. The first clamp is configured to grip the first coupling member and the second clamp is configured to grip the second coupling member.

Claims

1. A patient care equipment support transferable between a first device having a first coupling member and a second device having a second coupling member, the equipment support comprising:

an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment, and

a coupler coupled to the equipment supporting portion and having first and second clamps, the first clamp being configured to grip the first coupling member and the second clamp being configured to grip the second coupling member.

2. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a post that extends downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, and the first and second clamps are coupled to the post on first and second sides of the post.

3. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the first clamp grips the first coupling member when the equipment support is carried by the first device, and the equipment support is transferred from the first device to the second device when the second clamp grips the second coupling member and the first clamp releases the first coupling member allowing the first device to move away from the second device.

4. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a mounting block, the first clamp includes a first jaw, a first handle coupled to a first side of the mounting block and a first link coupled to the first jaw and coupled to the first handle, the first jaw moves between an opened position and a closed position as the first handle moves between a releasing position and a locking position, the second clamp includes a second jaw, a second handle coupled to a second side of the mounting block and a second link coupled to the second jaw and coupled to the second handle, and the second jaw moves between an opened position and a closed position as the second handle moves between a releasing position and a locking position.

5. The equipment support of claim 4, wherein the coupler comprises a post that extends downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, and the mounting block is coupled to the post.

6. The equipment support of claim 4, wherein the first jaw is coupled to the first side of the mounting block for pivoting movement about a first pivot pin, the first handle is coupled to the first side of the mounting block for pivoting movement about a second pivot pin, and the first link has a first end coupled to the first jaw for pivoting movement about a third pivot pin, the first link has a second end coupled to the first handle for pivoting movement about a fourth pivot pin, the second jaw is coupled to the second side of the mounting block for pivoting movement about a fifth pivot pin, the second handle is coupled to the second side of the mounting block for pivoting movement about a sixth pivot pin, the second link has a first end coupled to the second jaw for pivoting movement about a seventh pivot pin, and the second link has a second end coupled to the second handle for pivoting movement about an eighth pivot pin.

7. The equipment support of claim 6, wherein the mounting block, the first jaw, the first handle, and the first link form a first four bar linkage, and the mounting block, the second jaw, the second handle, and the second link form a second four bar linkage.

8. The equipment support of claim 6, wherein the first coupling member of the first device comprises a first post that is configured to be received in a first post-receiving cavity defined by the first jaw and the mounting block when the first jaw is moved to the opened position, and the first post is clamped between the first jaw and the mounting block when the first jaw moves to the closed position after receiving the first post in the first post-receiving cavity in response to the first handle moving to the locking position.

9. The equipment support of claim 8, wherein the second coupling member of the second device comprises a second post that is configured to be received in a second post-receiving cavity defined by the second jaw and the mounting block when the second jaw is moved to the opened position, and the second post is clamped between the second jaw and the mounting block when the second jaw moves to the closed position after receiving the second post in the second post-receiving cavity in response to the second handle moving to the locking position.

10. The equipment support of claim 9, further comprising a lock configured such that in case only one of the posts is received in one of the post-receiving cavities and the associated handle is moved to the locking position, said one of the posts is locked to the equipment support coupler, and such that in case both of the posts are received in the associated post-receiving cavities, both of the handles are unlocked so that respective engagements of both posts and the equipment support coupler are releasable.

11. The equipment support of claim 10, wherein the lock comprises a first slider and a second slider which are both spring biased such that a first tab of the first slider projects into the second post-receiving cavity and a first hook of the first slider engages the third pivot pin to normally lock the first handle in the locking position and such that a second tab of the second slider projects into the first post-receiving cavity and a second hook of the second slider engages the seventh pivot pin to normally lock the second handle in the locking position.

12. The equipment support of claim 11, wherein, when the first post is received in the first post-receiving cavity, the first post engages the second tab to shift the second slider against a spring force to disengage the second hook from engagement with the seventh pivot pin to unlock the second handle, and, when the second post is received in the second post-receiving cavity, the second post engages the first tab to shift the first slider against a spring force to disengage the first hook from engagement with the third pivot pin to unlock the first handle.

13. The equipment support of claim 11, wherein each slider has two slots through which the first and fifth pivot pins extend so that the sliders can shift between their respective latching positions and unlatching positions.

14. The equipment support of claim 11, wherein the lock further comprises a spring that is situated in a state of compression between the first and second tabs to bias the first and second sliders in opposite directions so that the first tab projects into the second post-receiving cavity and the second tab projects into the first post-receiving cavity.

15. The equipment support of claim 9, further comprising a lock that is movable to the first side when the first handle is in the locking position to lock the first handle in the locking position and to lock the first jaw in the closed position and to unlock the second handle and the lock is movable to the second side when the second handle is in the locking position to lock the second handle in the locking position and to lock the second jaw in the closed position and to unlock the first handle.

16. The equipment support of claim 15, wherein the lock is not movable to the first side when the first handle is the releasing position and the lock is not movable to the second side when the second handle is the releasing position.

17. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipment supporting portion comprises an upper cross bar, a lower cross bar, a pair of outer posts extending between the upper and lower cross bars adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and a central post extending between the upper and lower cross bars between the two outer posts, and the first and second clamps are coupled to a lower portion of the central post that extends below the lower cross bar.

18. The equipment support of claim 17, wherein each outer post comprises a first portion and a second portion that telescopes into and out of the first portion and a lock movable between a releasing position allowing the second portion to telescope into and out of the first portion and a locking position preventing the second portion from telescoping relative to the first portion.

19. The equipment support of claim 18, wherein each outer post further comprises a plurality of IV bag hooks coupled to an upper end of the second portion.

20. The equipment support of claim 17, further comprising a pair of handles extending forwardly from the lower cross bar adjacent to the outer posts.

21. An apparatus for use with a patient care equipment support having a downwardly-extending post, the apparatus comprising:

a support, and

a clamp coupled to the support, the clamp being configured to grip the downwardly-extending post when the equipment support is carried by the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an arm extending outwardly from the support, wherein the clamp is coupled to the arm.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the clamp comprises a movable jaw coupled to the arm, a handle coupled to the movable jaw, and a link coupled to the handle and coupled to the arm, and the movable jaw moves between an opened position and a closed position as the handle moves between a releasing position and a locking position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the movable jaw is coupled to the arm for pivoting movement about a first axis, the handle is coupled to the movable jaw for pivoting movement about a second axis, the link has a first end coupled to the handle for pivoting movement about a third axis, and the link has a second end coupled to the arm for pivoting movement about a fourth axis.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the arm, the movable jaw, the handle, and the link form a four bar linkage.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the downwardly-extending post of the equipment support is configured to be received in a post-receiving cavity defined by the arm and the movable jaw when the movable jaw is open, and the post is clamped between the arm and the movable jaw when the movable jaw closes after receiving the post in the post-receiving cavity in response to the handle moving to the locking position.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the handle passes through an over-the-center position as it moves from the releasing position to the locking position, and the post exerts an outward force on the second jaw in a direction that holds the handle in the past-over-the-center locking position.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a latch movable relative to the arm between an unlatched position in which the handle is movable between the releasing and locking positions and a latched position in which the handle is latched in the locking position.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the arm extends about ten inches (i.e., about 25.4 centimeters) from the support.

30. An apparatus for use with a patient care equipment support having a coupler, the apparatus comprising:

a support,

an arm extending outwardly from the support,

a manual input coupled to the arm, and

a pair of oppositely-disposed pins that are movable relative to the arm between respective retracted and extended positions in response to movement of the manual input between a releasing position and a locking position, the pins engaging the coupler when the equipment support is carried by the apparatus and the pins are disposed in their respective extended positions.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the pins are generally axially aligned.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the top and bottom pins protrude from top and bottom surfaces of the arm respectively when the top and bottom pins are in their respective extended positions.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein head portions of the top and bottom pins are substantially flush with the top and bottom surfaces of the arm respectively when top and bottom pins are in their respective retracted positions.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a latch movable between an unlatched position in which the manual input is movable between the releasing and locking positions and a latched position in which the manual input is latched in the locking position.

35. A patient care equipment support for use with a first device having a first coupling member, the equipment support comprising:

an upper member,

a lower member,

a pair of outer posts extending between the upper and lower members adjacent to the opposite ends of the upper and lower members,

a column extending between the upper and lower members between the two outer posts, and

a first clevis including top and bottom flanges extending forwardly from the column for engaging the first coupling member of the first device when the equipment support is carried by the first device.

36. The equipment support of claim 35, further comprising a second clevis including top and bottom flanges extending rearwardly from the column for engaging a second coupling member of a second device when the equipment support is transferred to the second device.

37. The equipment support of claim 35, wherein the first device comprises a support and an arm extending outwardly from the support, the first coupling member comprises a pair of generally axially-aligned top and bottom pins that are movable relative to the arm between respective retracted and extended positions and that are received in generally axially-aligned openings in the top and bottom flanges when the equipment support is carried by the first device and the pins are disposed in their respective extended positions.