Adjustable support assembly

An adjustable support assembly adapted for being releasably secured to an elongated support member comprises a clamp body member having a first lateral side for engaging the surface of the support member and a pair of pin members secured to and extending outwardly from the first lateral side of the body member. The pin members are generally parallel and spaced a distance greater than the width of the support member. The body member with the two pin members form a structure which is generally U-shaped in cross section for receiving the support member. An arm member is pivotally attached to one of the pin members to permit the other end of the arm member to engage the other pin member. Locking means are provided for retaining the other end of the arm into engagement with the pin member and for urging the arm member into clamping engagement with the support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to an adjustable support assembly 
and, more particularly, to such a support assembly which is adapted for 
being releasably secured to an elongated support member such as a pole. 
The support assembly of the present invention was initially developed for 
use in the medical field and is particularly adapted for attachment to an 
IV pole, wheelchair, geri-chair, stretcher or the like to support various 
medical and medical related equipment associated with a patient in order 
to facilitate movement of the patient. The medical equipment which may be 
supported may include such things as urinary drainage bags, multiple 
intravenous solutions, naso-gastric or chest tubings, urostomy drainage 
bags, lightweight monitoring equipment, tubing and wiring, and any other 
type of equipment or apparatus which must be secured to the patient or 
must otherwise accompany the patient during movement. In the past, it was 
necessary for a nurse, nurse's aid, or other hospital personnel to 
physically accompany the patient during movement solely for the purpose of 
supporting and transporting such medical apparatus and/or equipment. It 
was particularly critical that certain medical apparatus and equipment, 
such as IV tubing, be adequately supported at a predetermined height in 
order to promote the proper flow of the IV solution into the patient and 
to preclude the patient from tripping over the equipment, possibly 
resulting in damage to the tubing and/or inadvertent separation of the 
tubing from the patient. 
In addition to such medical equipment being hand carried by hospital 
personnel, often such equipment would be secured to the patient's clothing 
or other structures utilizing pins or tape, or would be positioned on the 
lap of the patient. Such makeshift methods are unreliable at best and, 
under some circumstances, can result in a great potential for injury or 
infection of the patient. 
The present invention provides an infinitely adjustable support assembly 
adapted for being releasably secured to an elongated support member, such 
as an IV pole, wheelchair or the like, and includes means for conveniently 
supporting medical apparatus and equipment to facilitate movement of a 
patient. 
While the present invention was initially developed for usage in the 
medical field, it will be readily apparent and should be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that it could also be utilized in many other 
fields. For example, the adjustable support assembly could be secured to a 
camera tripod for supporting a flash attachment and/or other equipment 
utilized by a photographer. Alternatively, the adjustable support assembly 
could be secured to a tent pole for supporting a hanging lantern or any 
other type of camping equipment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an adjustable support 
assembly which is adapted for being releasably secured to an elongated 
support member. The support assembly comprises a clamp body member having 
a first lateral side for engaging the surface of the support member and a 
pair of pin members secured to and extending outwardly from the first 
lateral side of the body member. The body member, at least across the 
first lateral side, is of a width greater than the width of the support 
member and the pin members are generally parallel and spaced a distance 
greater than the width of the support member. The length of the pin 
members extending beyond the body member is greater than the depth of the 
support member. The body member, in combination with the two pin members, 
forms a structure which is generally U-shaped in cross section for 
receiving the support member. An arm member, having a length at least as 
long as the distance between the two pin members, is also provided. One 
end of the arm member is pivotally attached to one of the pin members and 
the other end of the arm member is adapted for engagement with the other 
pin member. Locking means are provided for retaining the other end of the 
arm member into engagement with the other pin member and for urging the 
arm member into clamping engagement with the support member. In operation, 
the arm member is pivoted away from the other pin member to permit the 
support member to be received within the U-shaped structure and then is 
pivoted into engagement with the other pin member to enclose the support 
member. The locking means is then operated to urge the arm member into 
clamping engagement with the support member to secure the support assembly 
to the support member. A seat may be provided on the first lateral side of 
the body member between the two pin members for engaging the surface of 
the support member. In the preferred embodiment, adjustable hook means are 
secured to a second lateral side of the body member for securing apparatus 
to the support assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like 
elements throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a 
preferred embodiment of an adjustable support assembly, shown generally as 
10, in accordance with the present invention. The support assembly 10 of 
FIG. 1 is shown as being releasably secured to an elongated support 
member, in the present embodiment, a generally cylindrical tubular pole 12 
which is generally horizontally oriented. It should be understood, 
however, that the support assembly 10 of the present embodiment could also 
be secured to a support member which may be oriented in any other manner, 
such as vertically oriented, or oriented at some angle between the 
vertical and the horizontal. Likewise, although the support member as 
shown in FIG. 1 is a cylindrical tubular pole 12, it will be appreciated 
by those skilled in the art that the support assembly 10 could likewise be 
secured to a support member having any other cross section configuration, 
such as triangular, rectangular, square, elliptical, or the like. In 
addition, the support assembly 10 could be suitably sized to correspond to 
a support member of any given cross sectional dimensions. 
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support assembly 10 is comprised of a 
clamp body member 14. The clamp body member 14 has a first lateral side 16 
for engaging the surface of the support member or pole 12. In the present 
embodiment, the body member 14 further includes a seat in the form of a 
notched portion or notch 18 which is generally V-shaped in cross section. 
It is the seat or notch 18 which, in the present embodiment, actually 
engages the curved surface of the pole 12. It will be appreciate by those 
skilled in the art that the notch 18 could be of any other suitable 
configuration such as U-shaped in cross section, square in cross section, 
or the like, in order to provide a seat for engaging a support member of 
the same or a different configuration. 
Notch 18 includes a squared sub-notch 20 at the bight of the V-shaped area. 
The sub-notch 20 could be employed for receiving the surface of a support 
member of a different shape. For example, if the support member was square 
in cross section, one of the corners could be placed within the sub-notch 
20. 
The clamp body member 14 is fabricated of a generally rigid, preferably 
lightweight material such as wood, aluminum, metal or a polymeric 
material, for example, polyvinylchloride. The body member may be made by 
machining or otherwise processing a block of the material or by casting or 
molding the material, utilizing a known process or technique such as 
injection molding. The width of the body member 14, at least across the 
first lateral side 16, must be at least slightly greater than the 
corresponding width or diameter of the support member or pole 12 to which 
the support assembly 10 is to be secured. The other dimensions and overall 
external shape of the body member may vary, depending upon the particular 
application. In the present embodiment, the body member 14 is shown as 
being generally V-shaped in cross section. It should be understood and 
appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a shape and that any 
other suitable configuration could be employed in connection with a 
particular application. 
A pair of pin members 22 and 24 are secured at one end to the clamp body 
member 14 and extend outwardly from the first lateral side 16. The pin 
members 22 and 24 are generally parallel and are positioned one on each 
side of the seat or notch 18 so that the distance between the pin members 
is at least slightly greater than the width of the support member or pole 
12. The pin members 22 and 24 cooperate with the body member 14 to form a 
generally unitary structure, which is generally U-shaped in cross section, 
for receiving and engaging the support member 12. The length of the pin 
members 22 and 24 extending beyond the body member 14 in combination with 
the depth of the seat or notch 18 is at least slightly greater than the 
depth of the support member 12. It will be appreciated by those skilled in 
the art that the width of the body member 14 and the length of the pin 
members 22 and 24 may vary in accordance with the dimensions of the 
support member 12. 
The pin members 22 and 24 could be formed of any rigid, high-strength 
material. In the presently preferred embodiment, the pin member 22 and 24 
are generally cylindrical and are fabricated of steel. For purposes which 
will hereinafter become apparent, at least a portion of each of the pin 
members 22 and 24 proximate the distal end is threaded and preferably the 
entire length of each of the pin members 22 and 24 is threaded. 
The support assembly 10 further includes an arm member 26 which is adapted 
to cooperate with the body member 14 and the pin members 22 and 24 for 
securing the support assembly 10 to the support member 12. The arm member 
26 in the present embodiment is generally flat and elongated and is at 
least as long as the distance between the two pin members 22 and 24. The 
arm member 26 may be fabricated of the same material as the body member 14 
or any other generally rigid, preferably lightweight material. 
A generally circular opening 28 (shown in phantom) extends through the arm 
member 26 proximate one end 26a. One pin member 22 extends through the arm 
member opening for pivotally attaching the arm member 26 to the pin member 
22 to permit the arm member to pivot generally normal to the axis of the 
pin member 22. The other end of the arm member 26b is adapted for engaging 
the other pin member 24. A generally U-shaped notch 30 is provided 
proximate the other arm member end 26b. The notch 30 is appropriately 
sized and positioned to conveniently receive the other pin member 24 as 
shown in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate entry of the other pin member 24 
into the notch 30 the open end of the notch includes an enlarged mouth 
portion 32. 
Locking means are provided for retaining the arm member 26 on the pin 
member 22 and for urging the arm member 26 into clamping engagement with 
the support member 12. In the presently preferred embodiment, the locking 
means comprises a pair of nut-like members 34 and 36 having central 
openings with interior threads corresponding to the threads on the pin 
members 22 and 24. Preferably, the nut-like members 32 and 34 are 
generally cylindrical with knurled outer surfaces as shown to facilitate 
convenient gripping for rotational movement upon the pin members 22 and 
24. The nut-like members 32 may be fabricated of any lightweight rigid 
material, for example, steel. 
The support assembly further includes resilient means for urging the arm 
member 26 away from the body member 14 and into engagement with the 
nut-like members 34 and 36. In this manner, the support assembly 10 can be 
conveniently attached to the support member 12 utilizing only one hand. In 
the presently preferred embodiment, the resilient means comprises a single 
compressed coil spring member 38 surrounding pin member 22 and positioned 
between the body member 14 and the arm member 26. An annular disk-like 
member, such as a metal washer 40, may be installed between the spring 
member 38 and the arm member 26 in order to facilitate pivotal movement of 
the arm member 26 about the pin member 22. 
In utilizing the support member 10, the arm member 26 is pivoted away from 
pin member 24 to permit the support member 12 to be received within the 
U-shaped structure formed by the body member 14 and the two pin members 22 
and 24. The support member 12 is received within the seat or notch 18 as 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the desired location along the support member 
12. Thereafter, the arm member 26 is pivoted so that the notch 30 engages 
pin member 24. The coil spring member 38 urges the arm member 26 outwardly 
so that it pivots on the other side of the support member 12. The two 
nut-like members 34 and 36 may then be rotated to urge the arm member 26 
into engagement with the support member 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Further 
tightening of the nut-like members 34 and 36 tightly clamps the support 
assembly to the support member 12. 
It will be appreciated that the support member 10 can be releasably secured 
to a support member 12 having virtually any dimensions and can be 
positioned at virtually any location along the length of the support 
member. The support assembly 10 is strong and lightweight and can be 
conveniently positioned and clamped onto the support member 12 utilizing 
only one hand. The support assembly 10 can be quickly removed or adjusted 
to a different location along the support member 12. As previously 
discussed, the support assembly can be secured to a support member 12 
which is positioned in virtually any orientation. 
Although it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some 
apparatus could be conveniently supported by the support assembly 10 as 
thus far described, the support assembly 10 of the preferred embodiment 
further includes hook means attached to the body member 14 for securing 
apparatus thereto. In the presently preferred embodiment, the hook means 
comprises a single elongated hook member 42 which is attached to a second 
lateral side 44 of the body member 14. One end of the hook member 42 
includes threads 46 which engage complementary threads (not shown) within 
an opening in the body member 14 for holding the hook member 42 in place. 
Locking means, in the presently preferred embodiment a nut-like member 48 
similar in structure to nut-like members 34 and 36, threadingly engages 
the hook member threads 46 and functions as a lock nut to tightly secure 
the hook member 42 to the body member 14. The hook member 42 may be 
oriented in any desired manner by simply loosening the nut-like member 48 
and turning it with respect to the body member 14. In this manner, the 
hook member 42 may be oriented to serve a particular supporting purpose 
without regard to the orientation of the body member 14 which may be 
oriented to cooperate with the support member 12. Once the hook member 42 
is oriented as desired, the nut-like member 48 may be tightened upon the 
hook member threads 46 to lock the hook member 42 in place in the desired 
orientation. Once the hook member 42 is secured to the body member 14 the 
apparatus or equipment to be supported may be secured to the hook member 
42. 
The support assembly may include more than one hook member for a particular 
application. As shown in FIG. 2, the body member 14 may contain additional 
threaded openings 43 (only two of which are shown in phantom) to which may 
be attached additional hook members 42' (only one of which is shown in 
phantom). Additional hook members (not shown) may be secured to the top 
and/or bottom or end surfaces of the body member 14 if desired. 
As presently preferred, the distal ends of each of the pin members 22 and 
24, as well as the distal end of the hook member 42 is covered by 
protection means, preferably a cap 50 formed of a soft material such as 
rubber or vinyl. The cap 50 in addition to keeping the distal ends of the 
pin members 22 and 24 and hook member 42 clean, serves to prevent 
potential injury to users of the support assembly 10 and to prevent the 
inadvertent removal of the nut-like members 34 and 36. 
Although the adjustable support assembly 10 is preferably employed with an 
elongated hook member 42 of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be 
appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of hook means may 
alternatively be employed in particular applications. FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d 
and 3e illustrate but five of the different types of hook means which may 
alternatively be employed with the support assembly 10. Each of the hooks 
shown have threaded ends for engagement with the threaded openings on the 
body member 14. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 
any other type of hook means may alternatively be employed. 
In addition to hook means, shelf means may alternatively be secured to the 
support assembly 10. The shelf means could comprise a generally flat shelf 
such as shelf 52 (FIG. 4) or may comprise a shelf having a plurality of 
grooves embedded in the surface thereof, such as shelf 54 (FIG. 4). Any 
other suitable type of shelf may alternatively be employed. The shelf 
means also include a threaded member for engagement with the threaded body 
member openings. Shelves 52 and 54 may be utilized for supporting 
instrumentation or equipment or the like. 
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the support assembly for use 
in a specialized application such as in connection with an animal cage 
shown in section as 56. The support assembly 10 of FIG. 5 includes a 
second arm member 58 which includes circular openings at both ends for 
installation over the two pin members 22 and 24 as shown. The support 
assembly 10 of FIG. 5 is secured to the animal cage 56 in substantially 
the same manner as described above in connection with the embodiment of 
FIGS. 1 and 2. 
From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention 
comprises an adjustable support assembly for being releasably secured to 
an elongated support member and which may utilized in a variety of 
applications. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that 
changes may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention 
without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is 
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the 
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover any 
modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as 
defined by the dependent claims.