Universal cart

A cart for supporting various types of medical equipment including a main support shelf, a bottom support shelf and a pair of support legs. Each support leg having a first end attached to the main support shelf and a second end attached to the bottom shelf. The cart also including an upper support shelf which couples in spaced relation to the main support shelf. Additional support shelves can be selectively mounted and stacked atop the main support shelf in a similar fashion.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present disclosure relates to carts used for supporting medical 
equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a medical 
equipment cart having a main shelf, a bottom shelf and at least one 
selectively mountable upper shelf all designed to support various types of 
medical equipment. 
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
Carts for supporting various types of medical equipment, e.g., 
electrosurgical generators, lasers and laser peripherals, endoscopic 
instruments, coagulators, etc., are well known in the art (See for 
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,378 to Hellmann, III, 5,016,948 to Welch et 
al., 5,041,110 to Fleenor, 5,292,029 to Pearson, 5,330,469 to Fleenor, 
5,427,394 to Lauto, and 5,518,310 to Ellman et al.). However, the majority 
of these carts are one piece units which are typically designed for one or 
perhaps a specific combination of medical instruments. Still other carts 
are designed for specific medical purposes and include various features 
which are integrated into the cart's design, e.g., flow valves, foot 
switches, gas tubing, display panels, laser housings, etc. 
Since many of these prior art carts have sophisticated electronic and 
mechanical components integrally designed into their respective housings 
and frames, it is often impractical to use these carts for supporting 
other or additional medical equipment. Moreover, the majority of these 
carts are not designed to support and secure different types of medical 
equipment. At most, an additional piece medical equipment could be placed 
atop the cart or perhaps atop another piece of medical equipment. 
While generally acceptable for their intended purposes, the prior art carts 
are complicated and expensive. Accordingly, the need exists for a new, 
effective and inexpensive medical cart for supporting various types of 
medical equipment. 
SUMMARY 
The present disclosure relates to a cart for supporting medical equipment 
which includes a main support shelf, a bottom support shelf and at least 
one support leg having a first end which is attached to and which depends 
from the main support shelf and having a second end which is attached to 
the bottom shelf. The cart also includes at least one upper shelf which 
selectively mounts in spaced relation atop the main support shelf. 
Two support legs can be attached to and can depend from opposing side edges 
of the main support shelf. Preferably, the support legs are attached to 
the main support shelf proximate the center of gravity of the cart and 
each of the support legs depends from the main support shelf in an angular 
fashion towards the bottom shelf. The upper shelf can include a pair of 
side support members which align with and couple to each of the support 
legs of the main support shelf such that the upper shelf mounts in spaced 
relation atop the main support shelf. Preferably, the side support members 
of the upper shelf telescopically couple to the support legs. A plurality 
of spacers can be employed to mount the medical equipment within a 
corresponding plurality of grooves disposed within one of the shelves. 
Casters can be attached to the bottom shelf and the cart can be equipped 
with a handle to facilitate transporting the cart and the medial equipment 
mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a medical cart is shown according to the 
present disclosure generally identified by reference numeral 10. Cart 10 
includes a main support shelf 12 which is defined by a top plate 11, two 
opposing side edges 30a and 30b, front edge 37 and rear edge 33. Cart 10 
also includes a bottom support shelf 14 and an upper support shelf 16 
which is selectively mountable atop main support shelf 12. 
As shown best in FIG. 1, main support shelf 12 has a pair of opposing 
support legs 18a and 18b which are attached at either side edge 30a, 30b 
of the main support shelf 12 and which depend in an angularly fashion 
downwardly therefrom. The opposite end of each support leg 18a, 18b 
integrally mates with the side edges 40a and 40b of the bottom shelf 14 
preferably near the rear edge 38 thereof. In some cases, however, it may 
be preferable to attach the support legs 18a, 18b proximate the forward 
edge 42 of the bottom shelf 14 to suit a particular purpose. 
Alternatively, the lower portion of each support leg 18a, 18b may be 
bifurcated and attached proximate the rear and forward edges 38, 42 of the 
bottom shelf 14. Attaching the legs 18a, 18b in this fashion may provide 
greater stability for the cart 10. Advantageously, each support leg 18a, 
18b is attached to the main support shelf 12 near the center of each side 
edge 30a, 30b such that the main support shelf 12 is supported proximate 
the cart's center of gravity. This may also increase the overall stability 
of the cart 10. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, top plate 11 of the main support 
shelf 12 includes a plurality of generally circular grooves 21a-21c and 
21d-21f located thereon which each have a central bore 27 extending 
therethrough. Preferably, grooves 21a-c and 21d-f are dimensioned to 
releasably engage and secure a set of corresponding spacers 20a, 20b which 
are mounted to the medical equipment, e.g., electrosurgical generator 32. 
These spacers have some shock absorbing qualities as well. More 
particularly and as best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2, screws 34 
are inserted through bores 27 in a set of grooves, e.g., 21a, 21d, and 
through spacers 20a, 20b to engage the underside of generator 32 and 
secure the generator 32 to shelf 12. Spacers 20a, 20b are preferably 
configured to align with and recess within the set of grooves 21a, 21d. 
Grooves, e.g., 21a-c and 21d-f are pre-aligned within shelf 12 so as to 
mountingly engage corresponding spacers 20a, 20b affixed to specific types 
of medical equipment. For example, one particular embodiment of the 
medical cart 10 includes three sets of grooves 21a and 21d, 21b and 21e, 
and 21c and 21f located within shelf 12 which are each specifically 
dimensioned and aligned to engage corresponding spacers affixed to the 
underside of various medical equipment sold by VALLEYLAB.RTM., a 
subdivision of United States Surgical Corporation located at 5920 Longbow 
Drive, Boulder, Colo. 80301-3299 (i.e., groove pair 21a and 21d is aligned 
to mount VALLEYLAB.RTM.'s ARGON II.TM., F300.TM., FORCE EZ.TM. and 
OPTIMUMM.TM. instruments; groove pair 21b and 21e is aligned to mount 
VALLEYLAB.RTM.'s FORCE 1C.TM., LIGASURE.TM. and VESTA.TM. instruments; and 
groove pair 21c and 21f is aligned to mount VALLEYLAB.RTM.'s FORCE 2.TM. 
and FORCE FX.RTM. instruments). It is contemplated that the grooves 21a-c 
and 21d-f can be arranged with shelf 12 in any manner to securely mount a 
particular piece of medical equipment. 
Preferably, the upper support shelf 16 is generally rectangular and 
includes a top plate 17 and a pair of opposing side edges 15a, 15b which 
depend therefrom. Upper shelf 16 can also contain a series of pre-aligned 
grooves 23a, 23b which engage with pre-aligned spacers 20a, 20b and 
releasably engage additional medical equipment in the same or similar 
manner as described above with respect to the main support shelf 12. For 
example, the grooves of the upper shelf 16 of VALLEYLAB.RTM.'s medical 
cart can also be specifically dimensioned and aligned to receive the same 
above-mentioned instruments sold by VALLEYLAB.RTM.. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, a side support member 51a and 51b is integral with 
each side edge 15a, 15b and depends downwardly therefrom. Each side 
support member 51a, 51b is dimensioned to releasably engage a 
corresponding support leg 18a, 18b, respectively, such that upper shelf 16 
mounts in spaced relation atop main support shelf 12. Additional auxiliary 
shelves can be mounted in a similar manner such that multiple pieces of 
medical equipment can be supported in a stack-like manner. 
In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each support leg 18a, 18b is 
hollow such that openings 19a and 19b are created in each leg 18a, 18b. 
Preferably, each side member 51a, 51b includes a pair of generally 
rectangular flanges 52a and 52b, respectively, which depend therefrom and 
which telescopically engage openings 19a, 19b. Both flanges 52a, 52b and 
openings 19a, 19b are configured and dimensioned to facilitate easy 
slideable telescopic movement. Preferably, side members 51a, 51b each 
depend from side edges 15a, 15b near the center of shelf 16 such that 
shelf 16 is supported proximate the cart's center of gravity. 
In one particular embodiment of the cart 10, a plurality of wheels or 
casters 26 are mounted to the bottom shelf 14 to facilitate transport of 
the medical cart 10 and the equipment mounted thereon. As best seen in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward edge 42 of bottom shelf 14 includes a pair of 
ports 44 each for receiving a portion 45 of one of the casters 26. 
Preferably, the bottom distal end of each side support member 18a, 18b is 
designed to receive portion 45 to secure the rear casters 26 to the cart 
10. Alternatively, the rear casters 26 may be mounted to the rear edge 38 
of the bottom shelf through an additional pair of ports 46 in the same or 
similar fashion as the forward casters 26. The casters 26 may either be 
mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the bottom of shelf 
14, or, in the alternative, one of more of the casters 26 may be fixed 
from rotation for improved directional stability of the cart 10. 
Preferably, casters 26 include known locking mechanisms 77 to prevent 
undesired movement of the cart 10. 
As seen best in FIGS. 3-5, a bottom panel 55 is attached between the 
depending side edges 30a, 30b in spaced relation to main support shelf 12 
to define an access 48 therebetween. Preferably, an optional accessory 
shelf 70 can be selectively mounted to panel 55 by fasteners 72 to store 
and/or support additional medical equipment, operational manuals or 
supplies. In much the same manner, an optional drawer 80 can be 
selectively mounted to panel 55 by fasteners 82 for the same or similar 
purpose. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a tank support panel 60 which can be selectively mounted 
atop bottom shelf 14 to support and/or secure one or more gas containers 
or tanks 25 (FIG. 6), e.g., argon gas containers. Tank support panel 60 
includes bottom flange 64 which projects perpendicularly from panel 60 and 
a pair of opposing side flanges 69a, 69b. Preferably, flange 64 includes a 
plurality of fasteners 65 which depend therefrom and which align with a 
corresponding plurality of screw holes 67 located in the bottom shelf 14 
which cooperate to secure panel 60 to cart 10. Nut 66 engages fastener 65 
to further secure panel 60 to cart 10. However, in some cases it may be 
preferable to attach panel 60 to cart 10 in a different manner, e.g., 
snap-fit engagement or welding. Panel 60 also includes straps 62 for 
securing tanks 25 to panel 60. 
In another embodiment, cart 10 includes a bar or handle 24 which mounts to 
the main support shelf 12. Preferably, the side edges 30a, 30b project 
forwardly from the front edge 37 of the main support shelf 12 such that 
bar 24 can be mounted between the opposing edges 30a, 30b. In the 
particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, front edge 37 is recessed or 
tapered inwardly to accommodate handle 24. In some cases, however, it may 
be preferable to mount the handle 24 in different fashion, e.g., atop main 
support shelf 12, or, alternatively, the main support shelf 12 may be 
manufactured with a handle 24 formed therein. 
Preferably, cart 10 also includes a series of cord management hooks 28 
which are selectively attachable to various parts of the cart 10, e.g., 
rear edges 33, 36 and 38 of shelves 12, 16 and 14, respectively. As can be 
appreciated, cord hooks 28 are specifically designed for simple and quick 
attachment to the various parts of the cart 10 so as to organize and 
arrange stray electrical cords leading from the medical equipment. 
Advantageously, more than one cord hook 28 can be employed on one or more 
shelves depending-upon the number of electrical cords involved. 
Preferably, cart 10 also includes a pair of end caps 50 which engage 
openings 19a, 19b, respectively, when the upper support shelf 16 is not 
mounted atop the main support shelf 12. 
From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those 
skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can be made 
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, 
while the main support shelf 12 and other shelves 14 and 16 have generally 
been shown to be rectangular in construction, the shelves can be designed 
in any shape depending upon the particular instruments involved, e.g., 
round, ovoid, polygonal, etc. 
In the particular embodiments shown in the figures, the upper shelf 16 is 
telescopically mounted atop the main support shelf 12, however, in some 
cases it may be preferable to mount the upper shelf 16 in a different 
manner, e.g., snap-fit, tongue and groove and/or ratchet and pawl. 
Moreover, although the figures depict the equipment being anchored to the 
cart by screws, other methods of attachment may be employed, e.g., locking 
dials, clasps and/or latches. 
Although the particular figures depict only one upper support shelf 16 
mounted atop the main support shelf 12, any number of auxiliary shelves 
can be mounted in a similar fashion to support additional medical 
equipment. 
There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a 
medical cart for supporting various pieces of medical equipment. While 
particular embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is not 
intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that 
the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the 
specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should 
not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplications of preferred 
embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications 
within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.