Adjustable instrument mounting assembly

• US 5,174,533 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pryor Products
• Original Assignee: Pryor Products
• Inventors: Ratcliff, Jack W., Pryor, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US07/810,893
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 248/229, 248/231.7, 248/288.3, 248/288.5, 248/125, 248/121, 248/122, 403/90, 403/97
• US Class Current: 248/288.51
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/103 frictionally clamped
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/125 for tilting and rolling F16M11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32311 Ball and socket

Abstract

An adjustable mounting assembly for mounting an instrument on a support member has a first clamping device for releasable clamping engagement with the support member and a second clamping device for securing to an instrument or piece of equipment, with a lockable, adjustable connection between the two clamping devices allowing adjustment about two perpendicular axes to allow the instrument orientation to be adjusted. In one version, an IV pole is secured at one end to the second clamping device, so that it can be oriented vertically or in any other selected orientation relative to a support member which may be vertical, horizontal, or in any other orientation. The pole can support other medical instruments such as IV pumps.

Claims

1. An adjustable mounting assembly, comprising:

a first clamping device for releasably clamping onto a selected support member in any orientation from vertical to horizontal;

a second clamping device for releasable locking engagement with the first clamping device, the second clamping device comprising a ball-shaped element secured to said first clamping device, a clamping member having clamping jaws for releasable clamping engagement with said ball-shaped element at a desired orientation of said clamping member relative to said first clamping device for adjusting the orientation of the clamping member relative to the first clamping device about two perpendicular axes of rotation, and locking means for releasably locking the clamping member in the desired orientation; and

mounting means for mounting medical equipment on said clamping member, whereby the equipment can be oriented in a desired orientation relative to a support member in any orientation from vertical to horizontal.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a pole secured at one end to project transversely from said clamping member means comprising means for allowing said pole to be orientated in a desired orientation relative to any support member on which the first clamping device is clamped.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball joint device comprises a ball element and a stem projecting from the ball element, the stem being secured to said first clamping device at its free end, and the clamping member comprises an elongate clamping sleeve having a slot extending around part of its periphery in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the ball element being located in the sleeve with the stem projecting out through said slot, said clamping jaws comprising a pair of opposing jaw members in said sleeve on opposite sides of said ball element.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a pole secured at one end to said sleeve and projecting transversely from said sleeve.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pole has IV hanger hooks at its opposite, free end, and mounting means intermediate its ends for mounting medical instruments on said pole.

6. An adjustable mounting assembly, comprising:

a first clamping device for releasably clamping onto a selected support member in any orientation from vertical to horizontal;

a second clamping device for releasable locking engagement with the first clamping device, the second clamping device including adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the second clamping device relative to the first clamping device about two perpendicular axes of rotation, and locking means for releasably locking the second clamping device in the desired orientation;

mounting means for mounting medical equipment on said second clamping device, whereby the equipment can be oriented in a desired orientation relative to a support member in any orientation from vertical to horizontal;

said mounting means including a pole secured at one end to project from said second clamping device, said adjustment means comprising means for allowing said pole to be orientated in a desired orientation relative to any support member on which the first clamping device is clamped; and

the pole having IV hanger hooks at its free end, and a mounting surface intermediate its ends for allowing medical instruments to be mounted on the pole.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second clamping device comprises a ball joint device secured to the first clamping device, and a clamping member having clamping jaws for releasable clamping engagement with said ball joint device at a desired orientation of said clamping member relative to said first clamping device.

8. An adjustable mounting assembly for holding an instrument on a support member, comprising:

a first clamping device for releasable clamping engagement with a support member;

a ball joint device secured to the first clamping device, the ball joint device comprising a ball element and a stem projecting from the ball element, the stem being secured to the clamping device at its free end;

a second clamping device for releasable clamping engagement with said ball element, the second clamping device comprising an elongate clamping sleeve having a slot extending around part of its periphery in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the ball element being located in said sleeve with said stem projecting outwardly through said slot, and a pair of opposing jaw members in said sleeve on opposite sides of said ball element;

a locking device acting on a first one of said jaw members, the locking device being movable between a first position biasing said first jaw member into locking engagement with said ball element and a second position releasing said first jaw member; and

a mounting device on said clamping sleeve for securing an instrument to said sleeve.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said ball element and jaw members are of different materials having a high coefficient of friction.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ball element is of metal and said jaw members are of plastic material.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said jaw members have at least partially rounded recesses on their innermost ends for seating against opposite sides of said ball element.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first jaw member comprises an elongate, solid cylindrical member slidably mounted in said clamping sleeve.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mounting device comprises a flat attachment bracket facing away from said slot and having holes for receiving fastener devices for securing said bracket to an instrument.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first clamping device comprises a C-shaped member having opposing first and second arms, the first arm having a recess for seating against a support member, and an adjustable locking member projecting through the second arm for locking a support member against said first arm.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said recess has a varying contour for location against round and rectangular shaped support members.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said recess has a V-shaped section and a flat section.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said slot extends around approximately half of the periphery of said sleeve.

18. An adjustable mounting assembly for releasably holding a device on a support, comprising:

first clamping means for releasable clamping engagement with a support member;

a ball member having a stem, the stem being secured to said first clamping means;

second clamping means for releasable clamping engagement with said ball member;

said second clamping means comprising an elongate clamping sleeve having a transverse slot extending around part of its periphery, said ball member being trapped in said sleeve with said stem projecting through said slot for movement between opposite ends of the slot, and jaw means in said clamping sleeve for releasable locking engagement with said ball member, said jaw means being movable between a locking position in which said ball member is trapped and a released position in which clamping sleeve can move relative to said ball member in a first rotational direction about the axis of said stem and a second rotational direction about the axis of said sleeve, rotation about the axis of said sleeve being limited by the length of said slot; and

a mounting pole secured at one end to the clamping sleeve to project transversely from the sleeve, the mounting pole having mounting means for allowing selected items to be mounted on the pole.

19. An IV stand, comprising:

a pole;

support means at one end of the pole for suspending at least one IV bag from the pole;

adjustable clamping means secured to the opposite end of the pole for releasably mounting the pole on selected support member at any orientation from vertical to horizontal, the clamping means comprising a first clamping part for releasable clamping engagement with a selected support member and a second clamping part adjustably mounted on the first part for adjusting the orientation of said second clamping part relative to the selected support member, said pole being secured to said second clamping part, said second clamping part including releasable locking means for releasably locking said second clamping part in a selected orientation relative to said first clamping part; and

mounting means intermediate the ends of the pole for allowing a medical instrument to be mounted on the pole.