Combined power and data cord and receptacle

• US 8,727,804 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: McNeely, Craig A., Heimbrock, Richard H., Riley, Carl W., Huster, Keith A., Vanderpohl, Irvin J. III, McDaniel, Paul J. III, Collins, Williams F. Jr., Manguiat, Oscar A., Tincher, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US13/105,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 439/505, 439/502, 439/498, 439/536
• US Class Current: 439/505
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/005 mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 : with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 : with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 : on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 : with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 : Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 : Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1461 : Suppression of signals in the return path, i.e. bidirectional control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 : Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

Claims

1. A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed, the system comprising

a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed, the cable assembly including power conductors and at least one data conductor, the cable assembly having a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor, and

a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet, the second data coupler being configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

2. The system of claims 1, wherein the cable assembly includes a junction member and first, second, and third cables extending from the junction member, the first cable having a first portion of the power conductors contained therein, the second cable having a first portion of the at least one data conductor contained therein, and the third cable having second portions of each of the power conductors and the at least one data conductor contained therein such that the third cable serves as a combined power and data cable.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first cable terminates at a first power connector that is configured to mate with a second power connector of the hospital bed and wherein the second cable terminates at a first data connector that is configured to mate with a second data connector of the hospital bed.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third cables are permanently affixed to the junction member.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third cables are detachable from the junction member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the power conductors and each data conductor of the at least one data conductor is encased in its own insulator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable assembly includes a sheath that surrounds the at least one data conductor and that serves to shield the at least one data conductor, at least partially, from any electromagnetic field produced by AC voltage levels associated with the power conductors.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable assembly comprises a unitary jacket, the power conductors are grouped together within the unitary jacket in a first grouping, and the at least one data conductor comprises a plurality of data conductors that are grouped together in the unitary jacket in a second grouping, and the first and second groupings are spaced apart.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a plug body and further comprising a plurality of prongs extending from the plug body, each prong of the plurality of prongs being coupled to a respective one of the power conductors, and the first data coupler being spaced apart from the plurality of prongs.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the power conductors and the at least one data conductors each comprise a metal wire.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sheath surrounding the at least one data conductor and the sheath comprising aluminum and polyethylene.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a pleach surrounding the sheath.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a ground conductor embedded in the pleach.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a jacket in which the pleach and sheath are embedded.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data coupler is included as part of a module that mounts adjacent a face plate of the standard AC power outlet.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data coupler is communicatively coupled with a nurse call system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second data coupler is included as a part of a module that includes a nurse call cancel button that is pressed to cancel a nurse call.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second data couplers are in wireless communication.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second data couplers each comprise at least one of a photoemitter and a photodetector.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein data communicated between the first and second data couplers includes voice data.