Intravenous Fluid Container Stand And Methods For Making Same

• US 20090321589A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adhikari, Ishwor Prasad, Hampton, Linda M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0002 assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0007 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0021 in the form of a mounting pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 the rolling axle being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0057 the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0068 the swivel axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an intravenous stand for supporting an intravenous fluid container includes a hanger configured to support one or more intravenous fluid containers. A pole, having a first end and a second end, is coupled to the hanger at the first end and a base at the second. A plurality of casters are releasably coupled to the base via a plurality of quick-release members.

Claims

1. An intravenous stand for supporting an intravenous fluid container, comprising:

a hanger configured to support one or more intravenous fluid containers;

a pole having a first end and a second end, the pole being coupled to the hanger at the first end;

a base coupled to the pole at the second end;

a plurality of casters releasably coupled to the base via a plurality of quick-release members.

2. The intravenous stand of claim 1, wherein each quick-release member includes a stem, a push button, and at least one radially retractable ball that is spring biased to at least partially protrude from the stem.

3. The intravenous stand of claim 2, wherein the push button is coupled to the at least one radially retractable ball such that the push button causes the at least one radially retractable ball to retract at least partially within the stem when the push button is depressed.

4. The intravenous stand of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of caster connectors being tube-shaped and having an axial aperture therein, each of the plurality of caster connectors having a threaded exterior surface configured to be mounted in a corresponding threaded bore in the base; and

wherein each of the plurality of casters includes a mounting element with a mounting aperture therein, each of the plurality of quick-release members being configured to releasably couple a corresponding caster to the base by insertion through the mounting aperture and the axial aperture.

5. The intravenous stand of claim 4, wherein each caster connector has an inner lip at an upper end of the threaded exterior surface, and the at least one retractable ball extends away from the stem and adjacent to the inner lip of the caster connector when the quick-release member is fully inserted.

6. The intravenous stand of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of caster connectors being tube-shaped and having an axial aperture, each of the plurality of caster connectors having a surface configured to be mounted to a corresponding bore in the base; and

wherein each of the plurality of casters includes a mounting element with a mounting aperture therein, and each of the plurality of quick-release members being configured to releasably couple a corresponding caster to the base by insertion through the mounting aperture and the axial aperture.

7. The intravenous stand of claim 6, wherein the base includes a base hub and a plurality of base legs extending outwardly from the base hub, the base being coupled to the second end of the pole at the base hub, and the plurality of threaded bores being located at a distal portion of the plurality of base legs relative to the base hub.

8. The intravenous stand of claim 1, wherein the pole comprises at least a first member and a second member, the first member being coupled to the second member via a D-shaped insert to prevent rotational movement between the first member and the second member.

9. The intravenous stand of claim 8, wherein the D-shaped insert is integral with one of the first member or the second member.

10. The intravenous stand of claim 8, wherein the D-shaped insert extends from the first member and the second member has an opening configured to receive the D-shaped insert.

11. An intravenous stand for supporting an intravenous fluid container, comprising:

a hanger configured to support one or more intravenous fluid containers;

an upper pole having a first end and a second end, the first end of the upper pole being coupled to the hanger;

a lower pole having a first end and a second end;

an insert configured to couple the second end of the upper pole to the first end of the lower pole, the insert having a shape configured to prevent rotational movement between the upper pole and the lower pole;

a base coupled to the second end of the lower pole; and

a plurality of casters releasably coupled to the base.

12. The intravenous stand of claim 11, wherein the insert is a D-shaped member.

13. The intravenous stand of claim 11, wherein the insert is integral with one of the upper pole or the lower pole.

14. The intravenous stand of claim 12, wherein the D-shaped member extends from the upper pole and the lower pole has an opening configured to receive the D-shaped member.

15. The intravenous stand of claim 11, wherein the upper pole comprises a top pole and a bottom pole, and the top pole is configured to be extendible and retractable within the bottom pole.

16. The intravenous stand of claim 15, further comprising a quick-release member for coupling each of the plurality of casters to the base, each of the quick-release member including a stem, a push button, and at least one radially movable ball that is spring biased to at least partially protrude from the stem.

17. A method of making an intravenous stand for supporting an intravenous fluid container with quickly releasable casters, comprising:

providing a hanger configured to support one or more intravenous fluid containers;

coupling a pole to the hanger at a first end of the pole;

coupling a base to the pole at a second end of the pole; and

releasably coupling a plurality of casters to the base via a plurality of quick-release members.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a plurality of tube-shaped caster connectors each having a threaded portion and an axial aperture;

screwably attaching the threaded portion of each caster connector to a corresponding threaded bore in the base; and

wherein each caster includes a mounting portion having a mounting aperture therein, and the releasably coupling includes inserting a quick-release member through the axial aperture of each caster connector and the mounting aperture of a respective caster.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

prior to the inserting, depressing a push button on the quick-release member to cause one or more retractable balls to retract within a stem of the quick-release member; and

after the inserting, releasing the push button on the quick-release member to cause the one or more retractable balls to at least partially protrude from the stem and thereby hold the quick-release member within the caster connector.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more retractable balls extend adjacent an inner lip at an upper end of the respective caster connector.