Transferable patient care equipment support

• US 8,104,729 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Walke, James L., Newkirk, David C., Seim, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garft, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/684,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 248/288.31, 248/125.1, 248/125.8, 248/284.1, 248/333, 248/580, 248/125, 248/317, 248/511, 248/512, 248/514, 248/516, 248/535, 248/536, 285/121.7, 550/31, 556/8, 561/1, 561/3, 561/6, 403/131
• US Class Current: 248/288.31
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/002 Supply appliances, e.g. columns for gas, fluid, electricity supply vertical ducts or channels for receiving utility lines E04F17/08; installations of electric cables or lines, wall trunking H02G3/0431; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles F21V33/0068; stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles F16M11/00; buildings for public purposes E04H3/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/008 mounted on a mobile base, e.g. on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32704 Stud extends into ball

Abstract

A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.

Claims

1. A patient care equipment support transferable between a first device having a first generally hemispherical socket and a second device having a second generally hemispherical socket, the equipment support comprising:

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

a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the coupler having

first and second generally hemispherical portions of substantially equivalent size and shape, the first generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the first generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the first generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation and the second generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the second generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the second generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation, wherein the first and second generally hemispherical portions are configured to rotate within the respective first and second generally hemispherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second generally hemispherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices, wherein the coupler comprises

parallel spaced apart first and second posts extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the first generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the first post and the second generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the second post with the first and second generally hemispherical portions being spaced from the equipment supporting portion by substantially equivalent distances along the respective first and second posts, wherein each of the first and second generally hemispherical portions terminates at a respective flat, exposed upper surface that is perpendicular to the respective first and second posts, that extends radially outwardly from the respective first and second posts, and that overlies a remaining portion of the respective first and second generally hemispherical portions when the first and second posts are oriented vertically, and

wherein the first and second sockets are configured to permit rotation of the first and second generally hemispherical portions within the respective first and second generally hemispherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second generally hemispherical sockets.

2. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the first and second posts extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion are cylindrical.

3. The equipment support of claim 2, wherein the coupler comprises a first generally cylindrical portion that projects downwardly from the first generally hemispherical portion and that has a diameter greater than a diameter of the first post.

4. The equipment support of claim 3, wherein the coupler comprises a second generally cylindrical portion that projects downwardly from the second generally hemispherical portion and that has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second post.

5. The equipment support of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second posts have first and second portions that respectively extend above and below the associated generally hemispherical portion.

6. The equipment support of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second posts is tapered at a lower end of the second portion.

7. The equipment support of claim 6, wherein a first distance between the first generally hemispherical portion and the lower end of the first post and a second distance between the second generally hemispherical portion and the lower end of the second post are about equal.

8. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipment support comprises one of an IV pole and a rack adapted to carry infusion equipment.

9. A patient care equipment support transferable between a first device having a first generally hemispherical socket and a second device having a second generally hemispherical socket, the equipment support comprising:

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

a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the coupler having

first and second generally hemispherical portions of substantially equivalent size and shape, the first generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the first generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the first generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation and the second generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the second generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the second generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation, wherein the coupler comprises parallel spaced apart first and second posts extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the first generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the first post and the second generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the second post with the first and second generally hemispherical portions being spaced from the equipment supporting portion by substantially equivalent distances along the respective first and second posts, wherein each of the first and second generally hemispherical portions terminates at a respective flat, exposed upper surface that is perpendicular to the respective first and second posts, that extends radially outwardly from the respective first and second posts, and that overlies a remaining portion of the respective first and second generally hemispherical portions when the first and second posts are oriented vertically, and

wherein the first and second sockets are configured to permit rotation of the first and second generally hemispherical portions within the respective first and second generally hemispherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second generally hemispherical sockets.