Patent US4945592A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4945592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transport system for portable patient care apparatus
Assignee: General Hospital Corp
•
Filing: 1988-09-30
•
Granted: 1990-08-07
•
Expires: 2008-09-30
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathaniel M. Sims
- 👤 James P. Welch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/1414; A61M5/1415; A61G; A61G12/00; A61G12/002; A61G12/008; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/70; A61G2203/80; A61G7/0506
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate member has an upper portion and a lower portion and the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the frame of the patient transport device is vertically adjustable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first horizontal flange is secured to the frame of the patient transport device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first horizontal flange is vertically adjustable as a result of the vertical adjustment of the patient transport device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first horizontal flange is vertically adjustable independent of the vertical adjustment of the patient transport device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second horizontal flange is secured to the upper portion of the vertical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said patient transport device is a gurney.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said patient transport device is a wheelchair.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mating means of the first horizontal flange interlockingly engages the mating means of the second horizontal flange such that upon vertical elevation of the first horizontal flange the upper portion of the vertical member becomes detached from the lower portion thereof, enabling the patient care device to be securely mounted to the patient transport device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mating means of the first horizontal flange comprises a female member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mating means of the second horizontal flange comprises a male member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second horizontal flange is substantially longer than the first horizontal flange.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient care device comprises an intravenous apparatus.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of securing a patient care device to a patient transport device for unitary transport thereof, comprising the steps of: 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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of securing a patient care device to a patient transport device for unitary transport thereof, comprising the steps of: 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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first horizontal flange is vertically adjustable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vertical adjustment of the first flange is dependent on the adjustment of the patient transport device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second horizontal flange is vertically adjustable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the vertical adjustment of the second horizontal flange is dependent on the vertical adjustment of a portion of the patient care apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mating means of the first and second flanges mate in pivotal engagement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2696963A
Cited
FR1208680A
Cited
US3552577A
Cited
US3709556A
Cited
US3709372A
Cited
GB1476061A
Cited
US4511157A
Cited
US4511158A
Cited
US4600209A
Cited
US4824132A
Cited
US4795122A
Cited
US4725027A
Cited
US4767131A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |