Abstract:
IV pole having mounted at an upper end a holding assembly comprising a head and a plunger, and at a lower end a docking assembly. The head on an upper portion includes at least two opposed upwardly extending projections suitably for hanging IV fluid containers. The plunger is movable between an extended position in which the plunger is held a distance above the height of the projections, and a retracted position in which the plunger is proximate to the projections such that removal of IV fluid containers hung on the projections is prevented. The smooth profile of the head and plunger greatly reduces the risk of the IV pole getting snagged on an obstruction or causing injury to rescue personnel. The docking assembly permits the IV pole to be removably secured to a docking port provided to a structural member and to be lowered to a stowed position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Application: Serial No. 60/191,583 for IV POLE, filed Mar. 23, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an IV pole and, more particularly, to an IV pole with a holding assembly that safely secures intravenous fluid containers to the top of the IV pole. 
     Many varieties of IV poles exist in the field for supporting intravenous fluid containers to facilitate the gravity feed of fluids contained therein to patients oriented in an adjacent support structure, such as an emergency cot or bed. Two common types of IV support arms or brackets used to support or hang IV containers from a conventional IV pole  10  are illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown by FIG. 1, the first common bracket-type is a hook assembly  12 , such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,095,418, and 5,407,163. The second common bracket-type is a looped wire assembly  14 , such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,191, and 5,772,162, and as shown by FIG. 2 
     In many instances, the IV pole  10  is mounted directly to an emergency stretcher. In that particular instance, having one of the above-mentioned common bracket-types  12  or  14  may cause the IV pole  10  to snag on an obstruction due to the protruding and/or hooked shape. As a result, a delay in evacuating a patient carried on the emergency stretcher may ensue if it is necessary to unhooking the bracket from the obstruction. Additionally, catching the bracket on an obstruction may result in damaging the IV fluid container hung thereon. Furthermore, having one of the mentioned bracket-types may cause physically injury to an inattentive technician, such as for example, by being caught in the eye with the bracket due to the bracket&#39;s protruding shape. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an IV pole with a holding assembly that secures intravenous fluid containers thereon, and which minimizes the chances of the IV pole snagging on an obstruction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned needs have been met by providing an IV pole comprising a holding assembly at a first end and a docking assembly at a second end. The holding assembly comprises a head and a plunger. The head on an upper portion includes at least two opposed upwardly extending projections. The projections are shaped and sized such that IV fluid containers may be hung thereon. A guide hole is provided by the head in the area of the upper portion between the projections. A lower portion of the plunger is mounted axially and slidably within the guide hole, wherein the plunger is movable between an extended position and a retracted position that secures the IV fluid containers to the IV pole. The smooth profile of the head and plunger greatly reduces the risk of the IV pole getting snagged on an obstruction or causing injury to rescue personnel. The docking assembly permits the IV pole to be removably secured to a docking port provided to a structural member of a structure supporting a patient. Additionally, the docking assembly permits the IV pole to be lowered to a stowed position, if desired. 
     In the extended position, an upper portion of the plunger is held a distance above the height of the projections to allow IV fluid containers to be hung upon the projections. Pushing downwardly on the plunger&#39;s upper portion vertically moves the plunger within the guide hole to place the plunger in a retracted position. In the retracted position, the underside of the plunger&#39;s upper portion is proximate to the projections such that removal of IV fluid containers hung on the projections is prevented. Various mechanisms, such as a spring or a diaphragm, may be used to maintain and/or move the plunger to the extended and retracted positions. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the invention, the plunger may be manually and/or automatically moveable between the retracted and extended positions. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a holding device for securing at least one intravenous fluid supply to a fixture is provided. The holding device comprises a head having a proximate end portion configured to support the at least one intravenous fluid supply, and a distal end portion configured to be mounted to the fixture. The head defines an internal chamber and a guide hole provided in the proximate end portion, wherein the chamber is in communication with the guide hole. The holding device further comprises a plunger having a cap portion. The plunger slidably mounts within the chamber and extends through the guide hole. The plunger is operable between an extended position in which the cap potion of the plunger extends a distance above the proximate end portion of the head and a retracted position in which the cap portion secures the at least one intravenous fluid supply to the holding device. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an IV pole for supporting fluid containers above a structure is provided. The IV pole comprises an elongated pole having a first end and a second end, and a holding device mounted to the first end. The holding device has upwardly extending projections and a plunger with a cap portion. The plunger is movable between an extended position, in which the cap portion is a distance from the projection such that the fluid containers may be hung upon the projections, and a retracted position in which the cap portion is in close proximity to the projections such that the hung fluid containers are releasably secure upon the projections. The IV pole further comprises a support mounted at the second end for holding the IV pole in an upright condition. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, an IV pole for supporting fluid containers above a structure is provided. The IV pole comprises an elongated pole having a first end and a second, a collar with an integral dovetail base, a docking port provided to the structure and having an oppositely shaped channel configured to slidably receive the dovetail base of the collar. The collar releasably secured to the docking port. The IV pole further comprises a mounting plug having first and second ends, the first end of the mounting plug mounted to the first end of the pole, the second end of the mounting plug rotatably mounted to the collar such that the IV pole is movable between an upright condition and a stowed condition. 
     Other features and objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first-type prior art holding assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is side view of a second-type prior art holding assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is front view of an embodiment of a holding assembly of an IV pole according to the present invention shown in an open position; 
     FIG. 4 is front view of the holding assembly of FIG. 3, partially cut away to show the internal components, and in a closed position; 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are back and side views, respectively, illustrating other embodiments of a holding assembly of an IV pole according to the present invention, and partially cut-away showing their internal components; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of a holding assembly of an IV pole according to the present invention in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of an IV pole according to the present invention in an upright position; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the IV pole of FIG. 7 shown in a stowed position; 
     FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b  are perspective views of docking port/clamping arrangements of an IV pole according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an IV pole according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an IV pole according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With regards to FIGS. 3-11, various embodiments of a holding arrangement used to secure intravenous fluid containers to an IV pole  20  according to the present invention are discussed. Referring to FIG. 3, at a first end  23  of an elongated pole  22 , a first embodiment of the holding device  21  includes a head  24 , and a plunger  26  with a cap portion  28 . The head  24  includes at least a pair of projections  30  opposed two each other and integrally formed with the head  24 . The pair of projections  30  extends upwardly from a land area  32  of the head  24  and are shaped and sized to provide attachment points such that conventional IV fluid containers may be hung thereon. The head  24  further includes a butt portion  34  by which the head  24  mounts to the pole  22  with a tube and butt engagement, as illustrated by FIG.  4 . Alternatively, the head  24  may mount to the pole  22  with a male and female engagement, wherein a male extension of the head  24  maybe inserted into the inner diameter of the pole  22 . 
     A plunger guide hole  36  is formed within the land area  32  of the head  24  between the projections  30 . A stem portion  38  of the plunger  26  is slidably mounted within the plunger guide hole  36 , wherein the plunger is movable between an extended position, illustrate by FIG. 3, and a retracted position, illustrated by FIG.  4 . 
     In the extended position, the cap portion  28  of the plunger  26  is held a distance above the height of the projections  30  to allow IV fluid containers to be hung upon the projections. Pushing downwardly on the cap portion  28 , vertically moves the stem portion  38  of the plunger  26  within the plunger guide hole  36  to place the plunger in the retracted position. In the retracted position, a seating surface  40  of the cap portion  28  is proximate to the projections  30  such that removal of IV fluid containers hung on the projections is substantially prevented. It is to be appreciated that the holding device  21  provides for a safer holding arrangement due to the holding device&#39;s smooth circumferential profile and the protected vertical attachment points, which minimizes the chance of the upper portion of the IV pole  20  getting snagged on an obstacle during transport. 
     Various actuator mechanisms may be used to maintain and/or move the plunger  26  of the holding device  21  to the extended and retracted positions. In the embodiment of the holding device  21  illustrated by FIG. 4, showing the head  24  partially cut away, the plunger  26  is conventionally mounted at an end to a flexible membrane  42 . The flexible membrane  42  is housed within a chamber  44  of the head  24  that is in communication with the plunger guide hole  36 . The membrane  42  is flexibly deformable to an up position (not shown) and a down position as illustrated, which maintains the plunger  26  in the retracted position. Deforming the membrane  42  to the up position maintains the plunger  26  in the extended position illustrated by FIG.  3 . Manually pushing or pulling on the cap portion  26  deforms the membrane  42 , and situates the plunger  26  in the retracted and extended position, respectively. 
     In the embodiment of the holding device  21  illustrated by FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b , and  6 , a pop-up feature for the plunger  26  will be described. As for the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the major difference between these embodiments is the manner by which the plunger  26  is retained or latched in the retracted position by an engagement member. It is to be appreciated that for other embodiments other latching methods may be used. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b , and  6 , the same features that were mentioned in regards to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, are labeled with like numbers, and for convenience, only the differences in this embodiment will be discussed. 
     In the embodiments shown by FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the plunger  26  is part of a spring-loaded plunger subassembly. In these embodiments, the plunger  26  is mounted to a plate portion  46  of a guide rod  48  and is slidable with the guide rod against the bias of a guide rod spring  50 . The plate portion  46 , in addition to supporting the plunger  26 , is sized such that it acts as stop preventing the stem portion  38  of the plunger  26  to exit completely from at least the plunger guide hole  36 , which is best shown by FIG. 5 a . The guide rod spring  50  is sized such that it is accommodated in chamber  44  and retained on the guide rod  48  between the plate portion  46  and a guide rod hole  52 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 b , the guide rod spring  50  is accommodated in a recess provided in the butt portion  34  of the head  24  such that the plate portion  46  of the guide rod  52  retracts in close proximity to the butt portion  34  within the chamber  44 . The guide rod hole  52  is provided in the butt portion  34  of the head  24  in axial alignment with the plunger guide hole  36 . The guide rod  48  extends from the guide rod-hole  52  coaxially through the spring  50  to the plunger  26 . With the plunger  26  in the extended position, a portion of the guide rod  48  remains positioned in the guide rod hole  52 , which is illustrated by the dashed-lines in FIG. 5 a.    
     As previously mentioned, the plunger  26  and guide rod  48  are slidably movable against the bias of the guide rod spring  50 . For the embodiment shown by FIG. 5 a , manually compressing the guide rod spring  50  by pushing on the cap portion  28  of the plunger  26 , engages the plate portion  46  of the guide rod  48  with a latching projection  54  provided on the interior surface of a push-button  56 . The push-button  56  is mounted pivotally to the head  24  and biased against a spring (not shown) toward a retaining position. The latching projection  54  includes a sloping ridge  58  and an undercut  60 . The sloping ridge  58  is angled such that the plate portion  46  of the guide rod  48  may slide over and slightly move the latching projection  54  away as the guide rod spring  50  is compressed with minimal resistance. As the plate portion  46  is moved below the latching projection  54 , the push-button  56  retains the plunger  26  in the retracted position with the plate portion  46  engaged by the undercut  60  as illustrated by FIG.  6 . When the push-button  56  is actuated, the undercut  60  of the latching projection  54  moves away from the plate portion  46 , releasing the plunger to pop-up to the extended position. A thumb depression  62  may be provided to the exterior surface of the push button  56  for more convenient gripping. 
     For the embodiment shown by FIG. 5 b , the plate portion  46  of the guide rod  48  is provided with a perimeter groove  64 . The latching projection  54  of the push-button is accommodated in a horizontal through-bore  66  that opens in the cavity  44  of head  24 . The latch projection  54  is biased against a spring  68 , which maintains the latching projection  54  engaged in the groove  64  of the plate portion  46  holding the plunger  26  in the illustrated retracted position. Accordingly, pressing the push-button moves the latching projection  54  from the retaining position to a release position, which by releasing the guide rod spring  50  permits the plunger  26  to pop-up to the extended position as illustrated by FIG.  6 . 
     In using the holding device  21  in the extended position (FIG. 5 a ), the cap portion  28  of the plunger  26  is held a length above the height of the projections  30  to allow IV fluid containers to be hung upon the projections. Pushing down on the cap  28  will place the plunger  26  in the retracted position (FIG. 6) with the latching projection  54  of the push-button  56  releasably engaging the plate portion  46  of the guide rod  48 , thereby resetting the pop-up feature of the holding device  21 . In the retracted position, the cap portion  28  either rests or is proximate to the projections  30  securing the IV fluid containers therein. Pressing the push-button, releases the latching projection  54  thereby springing the plunger  26 , by the spring  50  expanding, to the extended position. 
     With regards to FIGS. 7-11, various embodiment of the IV pole  20  according to the invention are discussed. In the embodiment of the IV pole  20  shown by FIG. 7, the holding device  21  is provided at the end  23  of the elongated pole  22 . The elongated pole  22  comprises an inner tube  70 , an outer tube  72 , a manually operable adjusting sleeve  74 , and a socket assembly  76  located at the lower end of the outer tube  72 . The outside diameter of the inner tube  70  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the outer tube  72  thereby permitting the inner tube to slide freely within the outer tube. 
     The adjustable sleeve  74  at a lower portion  78  is mounted over the upper end of the outer tube  72 . An upper portion  80  of the adjustable sleeve  74  is flexible along a portion of its circumference due to a slit  82  defining the upper portion into a pair of flexible radial arms  84  and  86 . A lever  88  is pivotally mounted to the free ends of the arms  84 ,  86  and is used to releasably secure the inner tube  70  in place when located in a first position substantially parallel to the outer tube  72 . Rotating the lever  88  from the first position to a second position substantially perpendicular to the sleeve  74 , indicated by the dashed line, increases the circumference of the sleeve in the upper portion  80  such that the inner tube  70  may slide up or down freely. Rotating the lever  88  back down to the first position, draws the arms  84  and  86  of the sleeve  74  closer together thereby squeezing the inner diameter of the upper portion  80  of the sleeve  74  tightly against the outer circumference of the inner tube  70  securing the tube in place. Accordingly, the adjustable sleeve  74  is used to releasably secure the inner tube  70  in a selected vertical position with respect to the outer tube  72 . 
     The socket assembly  76 , which supports the pole  22  by its lower end in at least an upright condition, comprises a mounting plug  90 , and a generally cylindrical collar  92  with preferably an integral dovetail base  94 . For other embodiments, other conventionally known base configurations, such as for example a stand, may be used to support the IV pole  20  in the upright condition. The collar  92  has a cutout  96  extending into it from its upper edge diametrically across the collar. The cutout  96  is generally concave in shape and defines a pair of opposed walls  98 . A bolt  100  is disposed in a pair of first holes  102  provided in the opposed walls  98  at a location above the bottom of the cutout such that the shank of the bolt extends approximately diametrically across the collar at approximately the midsection of the cutout. 
     The mounting plug  90  has near its center a radially outwardly projecting annular flange  104 . Extending upwardly from the annular flange  104  is a very short cylindrical stub  106  having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the lower end of the outer tube  72 . The stub  106  is disposed within the lower end of outer tube  72  such that the flange  104  is disposed against the lower end of the outer tube  72 . The mounting plug  90  also includes an elongate projection  108  that extends downwardly from the flange  104 . The projection is generally rectangular, and has a width that is slightly less than the distance between the opposed walls  98  of the collar  92 . The outer edges  110  of the projection  108  is slightly rounded, and the projection  108  has a lengthwise slot  112  opening transversely through it such that the shank of the bolt  100  is slidably received within the slot. 
     When the pole  22  is in its upright condition, the annular flange  104  rests against the upper edge of the collar  92  with the shank of bolt  100  near the upper end of the slot  112  and spaced from the lower end  62  of slot  58 . A first securing pin  114   a  is disposed in a second pair of holes  116 . It is to be appreciated that the hole  116  on the unshown side is the same. The holes  116  are provided in the opposed walls  98  in a location below the first pair of holes  102  and above the bottom of the cutout  92  such that the shank of the pin  114   a  may pass through the slot  112  of the plug  90  with the flange  104  resting against the upper edge of the collar  92 . Accordingly, cooperation of bolt  100 , the pin  114   a , and slot  112  prevents rotation of the outer tube  72 . 
     The dovetail base  94  releasably mounts to a docking port  118  by sliding the collar  92  into an oppositely shaped mounting socket  120 . Positioning second and third securing pins  114   b  and  114   c , respectively, in holes  121  provided in a side wall  123  of the docking port  118  releasably secures the dovetail base  94  within the mounting socket  120 . In one embodiment, the docking port  118  is mounted directly to a structural member  122 , such as a side rail  125  of a stretcher or emergency cot, as illustrated in FIG.  8 . As shown in FIG. 8, a support bracket  124  that easily clips onto the side rail  125  with a flexible C-clamp portion  127  may be used to provide extra support for the IV pole  20  when folded down parallel to the structural member in a stowed condition. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b , embodiments of removably providing the docking port  118  to the structural member  112  according to the present invention are shown. For the embodiment of FIG. 9 a , the docking port  118  is provided integral to an O-type clamping arrangement  126 . The O-type clamping arrangement  126  is formed of two halves  128  and  130  that interlock via a tongue and groove fitting  132 , and held tightly on the structural member  112  by a pair of bolts  134 . The advantage of this type of arrangement is the docking port  118  may be retrofitted and provided semi-permanently to structural members  112  of a structure, such as for example, various emergency cots, stretchers, vehicles, crash carts, hospital beds, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 9 b , the docking port  118  is provided integral to a C-type clamp device  136  that permits the docking port  118  to be slidably engaged onto the structural member  112 . Moving a handle  138  from a first position, shown by FIG. 9 b , to a second position, indicated by a dashed-line, will cause a holding surface  140  of the C-type clamp device  136  to lift and to contact firmly against the structural member  112  thereby releasably securing the docking port  118  in place. An upper portion  142  of the C-type clamp  136  pivots relative to a lower portion  144  such that the C-type clamp may be easily removed from the structural member by positioning the handle  138  in the first position and pivoting the first portion  142  away from the structural member  112  relative to the lower portion  144 . The advantage of such a clamping device is that the docking port may be easily and conveniently provided to and repositioned on structural members of various types of emergency cots, stretcher, crash carts, transport vehicles, hospital bed and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of an IV pole  20  according to the present invention is shown. For this embodiment, at a lower end of a tubular support member  146  the dovetail support assembly  76  is provided such that the docking port  118  as previously mentioned releasably secures the IV pole  20  to the structural member  112 . The support member  146  provides an integral cross bracket portion  148  which mat be used to hang intravenous fluid containers and other medical equipment. 
     In still another embodiment of the IV pole  20  according to the present invention, a tubular bar  150  is provided which spans between two structural members  112   a  and  112   b , as illustrated by FIG.  11 . At each end of the bar  150  a dovetail support assembly  76  is provided in the same manner as explained above such that the ends of the bar  150  may by releasably secured in docking ports  118   a  and  118   b  provided on the structural members  112   a  and  112   b.    
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof It will, however be appreciated that various modifications and changes, such as replacing the conventional holding brackets on conventional IV poles with the holding device of the invention, may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.