Transport system for portable patient care apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transporting a patient care device, comprising:
- a patient transport device having a frame supporting a patient care platform;
a first horizontal flange secured to the patient transport device, said first horizontal flange having disposed on one end thereof a means for mating to a second horizontal flange;
a freestanding patient care apparatus having an elongate vertical member adapted for supporting a patient care device;
a second horizontal flange extending from the vertical member, said second horizontal flange having disposed on one end thereof a means for mating to said first horizontal flange; and
means for vertically adjusting at least one of said flanges to matingly engage said mating means of said flanges and to suspend the patient care device from the first flange.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for transporting a patient care device comprises a vertically adjustable first horizontal flange secured to a patient transport device, a patient care apparatus having an elongate vertical member supporting a patient care device, and a second horizontal flange disposed on an upper portion of the vertical member of the patient care apparatus. The upper portion of the vertical member may be detachable from the base portion thereof. In order to secure the patient care device to the patient transport apparatus, a mating means on the first horizontal flange is aligned directly below a mating means on the second horizontal flange. The first horizontal flange is then elevated until it interlockingly engages the second horizontal flange. The first flange is further elevated until the upper portion of the vertical member detaches from the base portion and becomes freely supported by the patient transport device.
173 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transporting a patient care device, comprising:
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a patient transport device having a frame supporting a patient care platform; a first horizontal flange secured to the patient transport device, said first horizontal flange having disposed on one end thereof a means for mating to a second horizontal flange; a freestanding patient care apparatus having an elongate vertical member adapted for supporting a patient care device; a second horizontal flange extending from the vertical member, said second horizontal flange having disposed on one end thereof a means for mating to said first horizontal flange; and means for vertically adjusting at least one of said flanges to matingly engage said mating means of said flanges and to suspend the patient care device from the first flange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A method of securing a patient care device to a patient transport device for unitary transport thereof, comprising the steps of:
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providing a patient transport device having affixed thereto a first horizontal flange, one end of which comprises a means for mating to another flange; providing a patient care apparatus having a vertical member supporting a patient care device, said vertical member having an upper portion which includes a protruding second horizontal flange having at one end thereof a means for mating to the first horizontal flange; aligning the mating means of the first horizontal flange directly below the mating means of the second horizontal flange; elevating the first horizontal flange such that it interlockingly engages the second horizontal flange; and continuing to elevate the patient transport device so that the upper portion of the vertical member detaches from the lower portion thereof to become freely supported by the patient transport device.
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Specification