Vertically adjustable suspension assembly

Claim 2

An overhead vertically adjustable suspension assembly comprising: first and second tubes having a loose sliding fit and including stop means limiting extension thereof, means for suspending the outer end of said first tube from a support for said assembly, clutch means movably housed within said second tube near the inner end thereof having a sharp hardened edge positioned to jam against the interior of said first tube and lock said tubes against relative extension, said clutch means including means normally biasing the same toward locking position, and means concealed within said second tube and including manually operable handle means adjacent the lower end of said second tube cooperating to hold said clutch means in the non-locking position thereof while said tubes are being moved to a different axially adjusted position.

Claim 3

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said handle means is positioned along the side of and at the outer ends of said second tube, and said handle means being movable toward the axis of said second tube to release said clutch means.

Claim 4

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said handle means includes a cap portion normally held seated over the outer end of said second tube.

Claim 5

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said handle means is held movably seated against the outer end of said second tube by spring means housed within the inner end of said second tube.

Claim 6

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said clutch operating means includes a tension wire having one end operatively connected to said clutch means and having a return bend at its opposite end embracing keeper means socketed in an opening in the bottom of said cup-shaped portion of said handle means.

Claim 7

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for operating said clutch means includes a tension member operatively connected at its inner end to said clutch means, and said handle means including ball and socket means holding the other end of said tension member detachably assembled to said handle means.

Claim 8

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said handle means is generally L-shaped, the shorter leg of said handle means being cup-shaped and sized to seat on the outer end of said second tube, the junction of said handle legs cooperating with the adjacent area of said second tube to provide a fulcrum for limited pivotal movement of said handle to operate said clutch means, and said ball and socket means being located in the bottom of the cup-shaped portion of said handle means.

Claim 9

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of trolley means supported crosswise of the outer end of said first tube adapted to provide a rolling support for said assembly in a horizontally supported track for said trolley means.

Claim 10

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of keeper pivot pin means holding said trolley means detachably assembled to the outer enD of said first tube.

Claim 11

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of bracket arm means adjustably supported on the exterior of said second tube and adapted to support items useful in treating a patient confined to bed.

Claim 12

A vertically adjustable suspension assembly comprising: first and second tubes having means holding the same telescopically assembled in a loose sliding fit, said second tube having an opening through its wall near the inner end thereof, a clutch plate extending crosswise of said second tube with one end fulcrumed thereon and its sharp edged opposite end extending through and slightly beyond the exterior side of said opening thereby to engage the juxtaposed wall portion of said first tube and lock said tubes positively against relative extension movement and to retain said clutch in assembled position, spring means normally urging said clutch plate toward locking position, and manually operable means including handle means at the outer end of said second tube for pivoting said locking plate out of locking engagement with said first tube and permitting said first and second tubes to be shifted to a different telescopic position.

Claim 13

A vertically adjustable suspension assembly comprising: first and second tubes having means holding the same telescopically assembled in a loose sliding fit, said second tube having an opening through its wall near the inner end thereof, a clutch plate extending crosswise of said second tube with one end fulcrumed thereon and its sharp edged opposite end extending through and slightly beyond the exterior side of said opening thereby to engage the juxtaposed wall portion of said first tube and lock said tubes positively against relative extension movement and to retain said clutch in assembled position, spring means normally urging said clutch plate toward locking position, and manually operable means including handle means at the outer end of said second tube for pivoting said locking plate out of locking engagement with said first tube and permitting said first and second tubes to be shifted to a different telescopic position.

Claim 14

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said handle means is movably supported at the outer end of said second tube and is movable toward one side of the latter to release said clutch plate.

Claim 15

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said handle means pivots about the rim end of said second tube and includes ball and socket means holding said handle means operatively connected to said clutch plate.

Claim 16

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 11 characterized in that the inner end of said second tube includes a thin walled sleeve fixed to the exterior thereof and cooperating with the inwardly deflected rim edge of the inner end of said first tube to limit the extension of movement of said tubes relative to one another.

Claim 17

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said clutch plate has a tang projecting from one end adapted to extend into and rest against a fulcrum opening therefor in the wall of said second tube in an area generally diametrically opposite said first mentioned opening.

Claim 18

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 15 characterized in that said opening through the wall of said second tube accommodating said clutch plate is large enough to permit assembly of said clutch therethrough prior to the telescopic assembly of said first and second tubes whereupon said tubes cooperate to hold said clutch plate in assembled position without need for retainer means.

Claim 19

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 11 characterized in the provision of means holding a suspension trolley assembly secured to the outer end of said first tube which trolley assembly is adapted to operate lengthwise of a horizontal trackway secured to a ceiling.

Claim 20

A suspension assembly as defined in claim 17 characterized in the provision of a keeper pin means holding said trolley assembly detachably to the outer end of said first tube and including non-metallic resilient sleeve means interposed between said trolley assembly and said first tube.