Removable bracket for attachment to rail

• US 4,725,030 A
• Filed: 12/29/1986
• Issued: 02/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hospital Systems Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Cox, Robert E., Enano, Crisanto R., Moulton, Thomas G., Miller, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US06/946,926
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 248/540, 248/541, 248/219.3, 248/228, 248/229, 248/231.2, 248/231.5, 248/231.6, 248/297.2, 403/254, 403/255, 403/297, 24/606, 24/607, 24/613, 269/97, 269/99, 269/100, 269/76
• US Class Current: 248/297.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/04 internal, i.e. with spreading action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0473 with hook-like parts gripping, e.g. by expanding, behind the flanges of a profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• 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 2200/027 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45482 and operator therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/557 Expansible section

Abstract

A bracket to support instruments, lamps and other equipment is detachably connected to the lipped channel used in hospital wall and cart constructions. The bracket has a hollow housing having a hole at one end to receive a rod on which the instrument is mounted with a set screw to hold the rod in place. The opposite end of the housing has a first projecting lug to fit inside one lip of the channel. A dog member fits inside the housing and has a projecting second lug to fit inside the other lip of the channel. An adjustment screw fits inside the housing and threadedly engages the dog to move the second lug toward and away from the first lug. When the lugs are close together, they may be inserted between the channel lips at any point along the length of the channel. By turning the adjustment screw, the second lug may be drawn away from the first lug to lock against the channel lips, securing the bracket in position.

Claims

1. In combination, a clamp bracket and a channel, said channel having a base, sides extending from said base and inturned first and second lips on the outer ends of said sides with a space between the inner ends of said lips, said lips having parallel inside and outside surfaces and perpendicular ends intersecting said inside surfaces in first and second corners, said bracket comprising a hollow housing having an outer end and an inner end, said inner end being formed with an opening, a first lug extending outward from said inner end and a first finger having an outward-slanted first bearing surface positioned to fit inside said first of said lips and to engage a first corner at the intersection of the end and inside surface of said first lip, a dog inside said housing and extending out through said opening, said dog having a second lug and a second finger having an outward-slanted second bearing surface positioned to fit inside said second of said lips and to engage a second corner at the intersection of the end and inside surface of said second lip, and means on said housing engaging said dog to move said second lug toward and away from said first lug while maintaining said first lug and said dog substantially parallel to each other, said second lug when moved toward said first lug spacing said fingers close enough together to fit through said space within said channel, said bracket being movable longitudinally of said channel, said second lug when moved away from said first lug clamping said slanted first and second bearing surfaces against said corners of said lips to secure said bracket longitudinally of said channel.

2. A bracket according to claim 1 in which said outer end of said housing is formed with an aperture for a rod and which further comprises a set screw in said housing fitting into said aperture and turnable to secure said rod in position relative to said bracket, said rod being axially and rotatably movable relative to said bracket prior to turning said set screw to secure said rod.

3. A bracket according to claim 1 which further comprises resilient means within said housing biasing said dog toward said first lug, a guide pin extending into the hollow of said housing, said dog being formed with a hole to receive said guide pin, said guide pin aligning said dog for movement toward and away from said first lug.

4. A bracket according to claim 1 which further comprises feet on said inner end of said housing positioned to engage the outsides of the lips of said channel, when said second lug is moved away from said first lug to secure said bracket.