Abstract:
An easily transportable apparatus for carrying critical care equipment, such as an EKG unit, needed by a patient being transported on a conventional gurney, stretcher, or like patient transport device. The apparatus is adjustable so that it can be conveniently attached to gurneys having side rails with different spacing. Additionally, the apparatus includes an equipment support platform to which the critical care equipment can readily be connected. This platform can be connected and disconnected to a tray component that is connected to a turntable. The turntable can be readily rotated 360 degrees so that the equipment can easily be viewed by caregivers located in both the front and rear of the patient transport device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/316,286 filed Dec. 10, 2008 now abandoned. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatus for carrying critical care equipment needed by a patient being transported on a conventional gurney. More particularly, the invention concerns an adjustable apparatus that carries critical care equipment such as EKG units and that can be conveniently attached to standard gurneys having side rails of different spacing. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Accident victims as well as critically ill persons are typically transported to care facilities such as hospitals on standard collapsible stretchers or gurneys having spaced-apart side rails. During transport, the vital functions of the patient are typically carefully monitored with units such as EKG units and the patient is often provided with oxygen and various intravenously administered medicaments. The supply of medicaments and the monitoring of vital body functions require the use of equipment and supplies that must be located in close proximity to the patient. Additionally, the medical supplies and the monitoring equipment must be readily accessible to the ambulance attendants to enable them to expeditiously attend to the needs of the patient. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a compact, easy-to-use apparatus that can be readily interconnected with gurneys of various designs and one that will efficiently support critical care equipment in a manner such that, during patient transport, the equipment is readily accessible to and viewable by the ambulance attendants. Several attempts have been made in the past to provide such an apparatus. Representative of one such prior art attempt is the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,351 issued to Berta et al. This patent describes a stretcher table assembly for attachment over an ambulance stretcher. The stretcher table assembly includes a tray for securing medical equipment used during an emergency. A pair of legs extends away from the tray and includes attachment members for engaging the rails of the stretcher. The attachment members may include anti-skidding members providing frictional resistance between the attachment members and the rails. The legs are secured to the rails through a flexible strap. The flexible strap may be wrapped around the rail and secured. The flexible strap may also be used in conjunction with a hook which engages the rail. The flexible strap is then secured to hold the stretcher table assembly in place over the stretcher. 
     A somewhat similar prior art apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,285 issued to Chinn. This apparatus comprises a stretcher table assembly for attachment over an ambulance stretcher. The stretcher table assembly includes a tillable support surface for securing emergency medical equipment. The tillable support surface may be inclined to permit technicians to more easily view the equipment secured thereon. Additionally, the support surface has a grid of holes upon which anchoring devices may be positioned. The anchoring devices permit emergency medical equipment to quickly and easily secure to the support surface without the need of adjusting a strap or buckle. A pair of legs extends away from the support frame and has attachment feet for engaging the rails of the stretcher. Each of the legs is secured to the rails by an attached securing mechanism that holds the tillable stretcher table assembly in place over the stretcher. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for carrying critical care equipment needed by a patient being transported on a conventional gurney, stretcher, or like patient transport device. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable apparatus for carrying critical care equipment, such as EKG units that can be conveniently attached to standard gurneys having side rails with different spacing. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character that includes an equipment support platform to which critical care equipment, such as an EKG, can readily be easily connected and one that can be rotated 360 degrees so that the critical care equipment can easily be viewed by ambulance attendants in both the front and rear of the gurney. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the support platform to which critical care equipment is attached, can be readily removed from the portion of the apparatus that is connected to the gurney. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraph which includes a novel locking assembly for preventing accidental removal of the of the equipment support platform. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraphs that further includes spaced-apart telescoping, support legs that are inter-connectable with the side rails of the gurney and are foldably connected to the equipment support platform so that the apparatus can be easily folded into a compact configuration for transport and storage. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraph that further includes a locking mechanism for releasably locking the support legs of the apparatus in the retracted, stowed position. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described that includes a pair of adjustable strap assemblies that function to interconnect the equipment support assembly with the patient transport device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described that is light-weight, compact and easy to use. 
     The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention will be achieved by the novel apparatus illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the apparatus of the invention as it appears when interconnected with the side rails of a conventional gurney. 
         FIG. 2  is a greatly enlarged, top plan view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the leg locking mechanism of the apparatus moved into a retracted, or release position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing the leg assembly illustrated in  FIG. 7  moved from the retracted position shown in  FIG. 7  to an extended position. 
         FIG. 9A  is a generally perspective view showing the method of inter-connection of the legs of the leg assemblies with the bight portions of the leg assemblies. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  when considered together illustrate an end view of the apparatus of the invention with the leg assemblies of the apparatus in an extended position and with one of the legs of one of the leg assemblies shown in cross-section to illustrate internal construction. 
         FIG. 11  is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 12  is a view taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 13  is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is an end view of one form of the apparatus of the invention illustrating the extension of the leg assemblies of the apparatus to permit the apparatus to be releasably interconnected with a gurney having side rails of a different spacing from the gurney shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a generally perspective view of an alternate form of the apparatus of the invention as it appears when interconnected with the side rails of a conventional gurney. 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a view taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a fragmentary, exploded view of the support tray and equipment support platform of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 19  showing the equipment support platform being separated from the support tray. 
         FIG. 21  is an enlarged, generally perspective view of the support tray locking assembly of the alternate form of the apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing, the construction of one form of the adjustable strap assembly of the invention for removably connecting the equipment support assembly to the patient transport device. 
         FIG. 23  is an enlarged, generally perspective, fragmentary view showing the manner of stowing the adjustable strap assembly of the invention when it is not in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , one form of the apparatus of the invention for securely holding elements of critical care equipment in close proximity to a patient lying on patient transport device, such as a gurney “G”, is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  14 . Apparatus  14  here comprises an equipment support assembly  16  that includes a base  18  having an upper surface  18   a  and a lower surface  18   b  ( FIG. 5 ). Apparatus  14  also includes an equipment support platform  20  that is connected to the upper surface  18   a  of the base  18  for swiveling movement relative thereto in the manner indicated by the arrow  21  in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. More particularly, as best seen in  FIG. 5 , this swiveling movement is made possible through the use of a turntable assembly  24  that is disposed between the upper surface  18   a  of base  18  and the lower surface  20   a  of equipment support platform  20 . Turntable assembly  24  here comprises an upper plate  26 , a lower plate  28  and a turntable bearing assembly  30  that is disposed intermediate the upper and lower plates. Turntable bearing assembly  30  is of conventional design and is readily commercially available from various sources, including Cabinet Accessories of Turnbul, Conn. 
     Apparatus  14  also includes a connector assembly  34  that is connected to the equipment support assembly  16  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  10 A and  10 B. Connector assembly  34  functions to releasably connect the equipment support assembly  16  to the patient transport device, or gurney “G”, in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. This novel connector assembly here comprises first and second pairs of spaced-apart, generally U-shaped leg assemblies  36  and  38  respectively (see  FIG. 4 ). As best seen in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , each support leg assembly  36  and  38  is pivotally connected to the lower surface  18   b  of base  18  by suitable conventional connector brackets  41  and extends there at an obtuse angle “O”. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, it can be seen that support leg assembly  36  includes first and second spaced apart telescoping legs  39  and  40  that are interconnected by a bight portion  42 . Similarly, support leg assembly  38  includes first and second spaced apart telescoping legs  44  and  46  that are interconnected by a bight portion  48 . As indicated in  FIG. 9A , each of the legs of the leg assemblies  36  and  38  is connected to its respective bight portions by a commercially available elbow  49 . 
     In order that the leg assemblies  36  and  38  can conveniently fold and nest into their retracted position in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 , the first and second legs  39  and  40  of the first support leg assembly  36  are spaced apart by a first distance “D”, while the first and second legs  44  and  46  of the second support leg assembly  38  are spaced apart by a second distance “D−1” that is greater than first distance “D”. With this novel construction, the leg assemblies can be pivoted from their extended position shown in  FIG. 1  to their retracted position shown in  FIG. 4  in a manner such that the leg assemblies are nested and are disposed in close proximity with the lower surface  18   b  of base  18  of the support assembly  16 . 
     In order to connect the apparatus of the invention to the gurney “G” in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the spaced apart support legs of each of said first and second support leg assemblies includes a generally “U” shaped connector foot  50  for engagement with a selected one of the transversely spaced apart side rails “R” of the patient transport device (see, for example,  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , connector assembly  34  further includes biasing means that is operably associated with base  18  of the equipment support assembly for urging the first and second support leg assemblies  36  and  38  of the connector assembly toward the lower surface  18   b  of base  18 . In the present form of the invention, this biasing means comprises conventional torsion springs  52  and  54 . As indicated in  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  9 , torsion spring  52  circumscribes bight portion  42  of leg assembly  36  with end  52   a  thereof, being connected to leg  39  and end  52   b  thereof, being in engagement with the lower surface  18   b  of base  18 . Similarly, torsion spring  54  circumscribes bight portion  48  of leg assembly  38  in the manner shown in  FIG. 4  with end  54   a  thereof, being connected to leg  46  and end  54   b  thereof, being in engagement with the lower surface  18   b  of base  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , with the construction thus described, torsion spring  54  yieldably resists movement of leg assembly  38  from the retracted position shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7  toward the extended position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 . Similarly, torsion spring  52  yieldably resists movement of leg assembly  36  from the retracted position shown in  FIG. 4  toward the extended position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In order to releasably lock the first and second leg assemblies  36  and  38  in their retracted position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , equipment support assembly  16  further includes locking means that are connected to the sidewalls  16   a  and  16   b  of the equipment support assembly. These novel locking means here comprise first and second pull pin locking assemblies  60  and  62 . Pull pin locking assembly  60  is mounted on the side wall  16   a  of equipment support assembly  16 , while pull pin locking assembly  62  is mounted on side wall  16   b  of equipment support assembly  16 . Each of the pull pin locking assemblies  60  and  62  is of substantially identical construction and operation and each is of the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8  of the drawings. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each assembly  60  and  62  comprises a hollow housing  68  having a base wall  68   a  and a threaded shank portion  68   b  that threadably receives a locking ring  70 . Shank portion  68   b  is received within apertures  72  formed in each of the sidewalls  16   a  and  16   b  of the equipment support assembly  16  and is secured in position within the apertures by locking rings  70 . Each locking assembly  60  and  62  includes a pull pin  74  that has a locking pin portion  74   a  and a head portion  75   h  that is connected to pin portion  74   a  by a set screw  75 . Locking pin portion  74   a  extends through an aperture  75  formed in end wall  68  and into hollow housing  68 . Disposed within hollow housing  68  is a coil spring  78  that continuously urges pin portion  74   a  into locking engagement with the bight portion of the adjacent leg assembly in the manner shown in  FIG. 6 . More particularly, coil spring  78  continuously urges the tip  77  of the pin portion into an aperture  79  formed in the adjacent bight portion. To release the adjacent leg assembly so that it can be folded downwardly, the pull pin is pulled outwardly in the direction of the arrow  81  of  FIG. 8  against the urging of coil spring  78  to move the tip  77  of the pin portion out of aperture  79  so as to permit rotation of the bight portion in the manner indicated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     Each of the telescoping legs of the leg assemblies  36  and  38  is of the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 11 . More particularly, each leg comprises first, second and third segments  80   a ,  80   b  and  80   c . A pair of spring loaded detent assemblies  81  of conventional construction and operation (see  FIGS. 10A and 11 ) releasably maintains the legs in the extended position shown in  FIG. 10A . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  5  of the drawings, elements of the emergency medical equipment, such as an EKG unit, are secured to the equipment support platform  20  by means of first and second flexible strap assemblies  82  and  84 . Flexible strap assemblies  82  and  84 , which are substantially identical in construction and operation, each comprises first and second releasably inter-connectable straps  86  and  88  that may be wrapped around the emergency medical equipment in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Each of the straps  86  and  88  has a first end  89  that extends through slots  91  formed in equipment support platform  20  ( FIG. 3 ) and a second end  93 . First ends  89  are connected to equipment support platform  20  by conventional buckles  94  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . After the straps are positioned around the emergency medical equipment, such as the EKG, the second ends  93  of the straps are connected together by suitable fastening devices, such as connectors  96  sold under the name and style VELCRO® ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In this way, the medical equipment is securely affixed to the support platform  20 . 
     In using the apparatus of the invention and with the apparatus in the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein the leg assemblies are folded into their stowed position, the emergency medical equipment such as the EKG is secured to the support platform  20  by strap assemblies  82  and  84  in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . With the apparatus in this configuration, it can be easily stored, or transported from place to place as may be required. 
     When the apparatus is to be used in an emergency situation the apparatus can be carried in the folded configuration to the location at which the apparatus is to be affixed to a patient transport device, such as gurney “G”. The locking means  60  and  62  are then operated in the manner previously described to permit the leg assemblies to be moved from the retracted stowed position shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings to the extended operative position shown in  FIG. 1 . With the legs in the extended position. U-shaped connector feet  50  can be positioned in engagement with the gurney rails “R” in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     An important feature of the apparatus of the invention resides in the fact that, if the rails of the gurney are spaced apart a greater distance than that shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings (for example, see  FIG. 14  wherein the legs are spaced apart by a distance “W−1” which is greater than the distance “W” between the legs shown in  FIG. 1 ), the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate this wider spacing by outwardly telescoping each of the legs of the leg assemblies so as to accommodate the width “W−1”. Conversely, if the rails of the gurney are spaced apart a distance less than the distance “D”, this distance can be accommodated by telescoping the legs inwardly rather than outwardly so as to decrease the distance that the legs are spaced apart. As indicated in  FIG. 10A , each of the legs of the leg assemblies is provided with spaced-apart, detent head receiving apertures  85  so that the legs can be locked in the desired position. This novel leg adjustability feature of the apparatus of the invention allows the apparatus to be used with gurneys, stretchers or the like, which have rails that are spaced different distances apart. 
     In an alternate form of the invention shown in  FIG. 13  of the drawings, a leg securement strap  86  is provided that can be used to releasably interconnect each of the legs with a selected rail “R” of the gurney. Securement strap  86  here comprises an elongated strap having first and second ends  86   a  and  86   b , each of which is provided with a suitable connector device such as connectors sold under the name and style VELCRO®. To releasably interconnect end  86   a  to a selected leg, a second connector device such as a connector  88  sold under the name and style VELCRO® is affixed to the lower portion of the leg in the manner shown in  FIG. 13 . In similar fashion, the second end of the securement is provided with mating connector devices so that once the strap is securely wound about the connector foot  50  and the gurney rail “R”, the strap can be snugged down and secured in position in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 13  to thereby releasably affix the leg assembly to the rail “R”. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 15 through 23 , an alternate form of the apparatus of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  104 . This alternate form of the invention is similar in many respects to that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 14  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 15 through 23  to identify like components. In this latest form of the invention, the apparatus for securely holding elements of critical care equipment in dose proximity to a patient lying on a patient transport device, or gurney “G”, comprises an equipment support assembly  106  that includes a base  108  having an upper surface  108   a  and a lower surface  108   b  ( FIG. 19 ). Apparatus  104  also includes a turntable  110  that is connected to said upper surface of base  108  for swiveling movement relative thereto ( FIGS. 17 and 19 ). Turntable  110  is of conventional design and is readily commercially available from various sources, including Cabinet Accessories of Turnbul, Conn. Connected to turntable  110  by a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded connectors  111  ( FIG. 19 ) is the important support tray  112  of the invention. Support tray  112  is provided with a pair of transversely spaced-apart tracks  112   a  that slidably receive the equipment support platform  114  of the invention. Equipment support platform  114  ( FIG. 18 ) which supports the critical care equipment, such as an EKG, is slidably movable relative to the support tray between the first position shown  FIG. 19  wherein it is in engagement with the support tray and the second position shown in  FIG. 18 , wherein it is disengaged from the support tray. More particularly, equipment support platform  114  has transversely spaced apart edges  114   a  that are slidably received within the spaced apart tracks  112   a  of the support tray. In order to prevent accidental movement of the equipment support platform  114  between its first position and second positions, a novel locking assembly  116  ( FIG. 19 ) is provided. The construction and operation of the locking assembly will presently be described. 
     As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention a novel connector assembly  120  is provided for connecting equipment support assembly  106  to the patient transport device, or gurney “G”. Connector assembly  120 , which is similar in many respects to that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 14 , here comprises first and second pairs of spaced-apart, generally U-shaped leg assemblies  122  and  124 , respectively. As before, each support leg assembly is pivotally connected to the lower surface  108   b  of base  108  by suitable conventional connector brackets  41  and extends therefrom at an obtuse angle. Support leg assembly  122  includes first and second spaced-apart telescoping legs  126  and  128  that are interconnected by a bight portion  130 . Similarly, support leg assembly  124  includes first and second spaced-apart telescoping legs  132  and  134  that are interconnected by a bight portion  136 . As in the earlier described embodiment, each of the legs of the leg assemblies is connected to its respective bight portions by a commercially available elbow  49 . 
     In order that the leg assemblies  122  and  124  can conveniently fold and nest into their retracted position, the first and second legs  126  and  128  of the first support leg assembly  122  are spaced apart by a first distance “D”, while the first and second legs  132  and  134  of the second support leg assembly are spaced apart by a second distance “D−1” that is greater than first distance “D”. With this novel construction, the leg assemblies can be pivoted from their extended position shown in  FIG. 15  to their retracted position a manner such that the leg assemblies are nested and are disposed in close proximity with the lower surface  108   b  of base  108  of the support assembly  106 . 
     In order to connect the apparatus of the invention to the gurney “G” in the manner shown in  FIG. 15 , each of the spaced-apart support legs of each of said first and second support leg assemblies includes a generally “U” shaped connector foot  140  for longitudinal engagement with a selected one of the transversely spaced-apart side rails “R” of the patient transport device. 
     As in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 14 , each of the connector assemblies further includes biasing means that is operably associated with base  108  of the equipment support assembly for urging the first and second support leg assemblies of the connector assembly toward the lower surface  108   b  of base  108 . In the present form of the invention, this biasing means comprises conventional torsion springs, such as torsion springs  52  and  54 . As indicated in  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  19 , the torsion springs circumscribe the bight portions  42  of the leg assemblies with one end thereof being connected to the legs and the other end thereof being in engagement with the lower surface  108   b  of base  108  (see for example,  FIG. 19 ). With this construction and in the manner previously described, the torsion springs yieldably resist movement of the leg assemblies from the retracted position toward the extended position. 
     In order to releasably lock the first and second leg assemblies in their retracted position, equipment support assembly  106  further includes leg locking means that are connected to the sidewalk of the equipment support assembly. These novel leg locking means here comprise first and second pull pin locking assemblies  60  and  62  that are of substantially identical construction and operation to those previously described. 
     Each of the telescoping legs of the leg assemblies  122  and  124  comprises first, second and third segments  80   a ,  80   b  and  80   c . A pair of spring loaded detent assemblies  81  of conventional construction and operation releasably maintain the legs in the extended position shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 17 ,  19 , and  21  of the drawings, elements of the emergency medical equipment, such as an EKG unit, are secured to the equipment support platform  114  by means of threaded connectors  143 . 
     Forming an important part of the connector assembly  120  of the present invention is a pair of adjustable strap assemblies  144 , each having a first end  146  connected to equipment support assembly and a second end  148  removably connected to the patient transport device. Strap assemblies  144 , which are substantially identical in construction and operation, each comprise an elongated, flexible strap  150  that is entrained through an opening  152   a  formed in a hook-like member  152  that is hooked over the gurney rail ( FIG. 15 ) and is also entrained through an opening  154   a  formed in a toggle assembly  154 . Toggle assembly  154  includes a locking leg  154   b , the toothed extremity  154   c  of which is normally urged into engagement with the strap in the manner shown in the drawings. When the toggle assembly is in this locked position (see particularly,  FIG. 17 ), the strap  150  is locked against loosening movement and functions to secure the equipment support assembly to the gurney. When the locking leg  154   b  of the toggle assembly  154  is pivoted into the release position by pushing inwardly on the upper end of the locking leg, the strap is released and can be loosened so that the strap assembly can be disconnected from the gurney and stowed in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 23  within a storage housing  157  that is affixed to base  108 . Storage housing  157  can be constructed of various materials, but is here formed from cooperating straps  157   a  and  157   b  of a material sold under the name and style VELCRO®. 
     In using the apparatus of the invention, the EKG is first secured to the equipment support platform  114  by connectors  143 . This done, the assemblage thus formed can be interconnected with support tray  112  by first pressing down on the leg  116   a  of plate  116   b  of the locking assembly  116  against the urging of a spring  154   a  of a spring assembly  154  in the manner indicated by the arrows  157  of  FIGS. 18 and 21  (see  FIG. 21 ). Spring  154   a , which is connected to the lower surface of plate  116   b  by a connector pin  155 , is also provided with a locking pin  156  proximate its outboard end that, in its normal position shown in  FIG. 19 , prevents sliding movement of equipment support platform  114 . The shank of locking pin  156 , which is received within an aperture  158  formed in leg  116   a , will clear the aperture when the locking assembly  116  is depressed (see  FIG. 20 ), thereby permitting sliding movement of the equipment support platform  114  relative to tray  112 . With the locking assembly  116  depressed, it is clear that the equipment support platform  114 , along with the EKG, can be conveniently inserted into or removed from the support tray  112 . With the equipment support platform  114 , along with the EKG, removed and with the telescoping, legs and the strap assemblies  144  stowed, the apparatus of the invention can be easily stored, or transported from place to place as may be required. 
     When the apparatus is to be used in an emergency situation, the apparatus can be affixed to a patient transport device, such as gurney “G”. The locking means  60  and  62  are then operated in the manner previously described to permit the leg assemblies to be moved from the retracted stowed position to the extended operative position shown in  FIG. 1 . With the legs in the extended position, U-shaped connector feet 1400 can be positioned in engagement with the gurney rails “R” in the manner shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     As before, if the rails of the gurney are spaced apart a greater distance than that shown in  FIG. 15  of the drawings, the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate this wider spacing by outwardly telescoping each of the legs of the leg assemblies so as to accommodate the width. Conversely, the rails of the gurney are spaced apart a distance less than the distance “D”, this distance can be accommodated by telescoping the legs inwardly rather than outwardly, so as to decrease the distance that the legs are spaced apart. This novel leg adjustability feature of the apparatus of the invention allows the apparatus to be used with gurneys, stretchers or the like, which have rails that are spaced different distances apart. 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.