Abstract:
A Gurney Clamp, Detachable Equipment Stand and Associated Transport Cart is disclosed. The combination of these devices makes the transportation of patients and health status monitoring equipment more controlled, reliable and safe. The clamp is specifically configured to be attachable to the safety rails on a conventional gurney. Once installed, the clamp will provide a secure mounting point to attach the detachable equipment stand to the gurney. The stand is configured to be capable of holding a wide variety of patient monitoring equipment in an upright manner so that the equipment data can be easily viewed. The stand can be quickly and easily shifted back and forth between its mounting location at the gurney clamp, and its mounting location on the associated transport cart. When the stand is attached to the equipment cart, it provides the equipment with a secure, portable storage location

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to medical equipment and, more specifically, to a Gurney Clamp, Detachable Equipment Stand and Associated Transport Cart. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Portable medical equipment for monitoring and/or treating a patient is used daily by emergency medical personnel in ambulances, but also in the hospital environment. It is not uncommon for a patient to be transferred from an ambulance to a hospital emergency room, all the while having electronic monitors and related equipment connected to the patient. As the equipment manufacturers have added more and more capabilities to these portable units, the units not only have become more necessary, but also have become more unwieldy as well as more expensive. As a result, the cost of damaged equipment has escalated, while at the same time the risk of doing damage to the equipment has increased. 
         [0005]    The current approach for transporting the portable equipment used by health care providers is to place the monitor on the patient&#39;s gurney during transport, and then onto the floor or other surface that is in close proximity to the patient&#39;s bed. The problem with this is that the equipment can tend to be heavy and difficult to manage. There usually are cables, wires and/or tubes running between the equipment and the patient. Furthermore, the equipment is design to rest on a flat surface, and is usually not equipped with any sort of straps or clips to aid in securing the equipment in place. 
         [0006]    One particular drawback of the prior approach is that it does not allow a patient to be transferred from a bed to a gurney without disconnecting and then reconnecting the monitoring equipment. 
         [0007]    What is needed, then, is a system and assembly that provides a convenient, stable location for portable medical equipment to be transferred from a vehicle to a gurney and back again securely and without risk to the patient or the equipment. Furthermore, the system and assembly should permit the patient to be transferred while the equipment remains mounted and safely secured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices assemblies, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Gurney Clamp, Detachable Equipment Stand and Associated Transport Cart. The combination of all of these devices should make the transportation of patients and health status monitoring equipment more controlled, reliable and safe. The clamp should be configured to be attachable to the safety rails on a conventional gurney. Once installed, the clamp should provide a secure mounting point to attach the detachable equipment stand to the gurney. The stand should be configured to be capable of holding a wide variety of patient monitoring equipment in an upright manner so that the equipment data can be easily viewed. The stand should be designed such that it can be quickly and easily shifted back and forth between its mounting location at the gurney clamp, and its mounting location on the associated transport cart. When the stand is attached to the equipment cart, it should provide the equipment with a secure, portable storage location. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the detachable equipment stand of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the gurney clamp of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the gurney clamp of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transport cart of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the stand of  FIG. 1  mounted to the cart of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the stand of  FIG. 1  mounted to the clamp of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Gurney Clamp, Detachable Equipment Stand and Associated Transport Cart. 
         [0017]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the detachable equipment stand  10  of the present invention. The stand  10  is preferably made from rectangular aluminum tube in order to ensure maximum strength and durability, but also being lightweight. 
         [0018]    The stand  10  has an H-frame flat base  12  for convenient placement of a piece of portable equipment. An upright arm  14  extends downwardly from the base  12 , and is formed from two interconnected sections: a vertical section  16  at the bottom end of the arm  14 , and an angled section  18 , into which the vertical section  16  transitions at a point somewhere between the bottom end of the arm  14  and the attachment point to the base  12 . The arm  14  further has a pair of retaining apertures  15  formed through the distal end of the vertical section  16  proximate to the end of the section  16 . These apertures  15  will be described more fully below in connection with the discussion related to the gurney clamp. 
         [0019]    A cord strut  20  extends upwardly from the base  12 , and terminates in a finger hook  22 . The cord strut  20  provides a convenient location to mount additional auxiliary equipment associated with the piece of equipment that is being carried by the base  12 . The strut  20  and finger hook  22  design depicted here is for holding an IV pump and bag of fluid. 
         [0020]    The H-frame shape of the base  12  is specifically configured as such to provide ample support for the piece of portable equipment, while also giving plenty of structural locations for strapping the equipment to the base  12 . It is believed that the structure shown is superior to a solid flat platform or a perimeter frame configuration. 
         [0021]    A further aspect of the stand  10  is the provision of a plurality of tie-down loops  21  protruding from a variety of locations on the stand  10 . Here, there are four loops  21  extending from the H-frame base  12 . Other loops  21  may further be provided at alternate locations on the stand  10  in order to strap the monitoring equipment (and other items) securely to the stand  10 . If we now turn to  FIG. 2 , we can examine the second component of the assembly of the present invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the gurney clamp  30  of the present invention. The clamp  30  is specifically designed to securely clamp onto the rails of a conventional portable gurney. With minor adaptation, the clamp  30  could also attach to a typical hospital bed. Its purpose is to provide a location for the stand  10  to be attached to the gurney or bed. 
         [0023]    The clamp  30  by an upper jaw member  32  and a lower jaw member  34 . The two jaw members  32  and  34  are interconnected by structural members that provide the motion and clamping action exhibited by the clamp  30 . The central of these members are the female threaded post  36  and the male threaded post (see  FIG. 3 ) which threaded engages the internal threaded bore formed in the female threaded post. The male threaded post (see  FIG. 3 ) is interconnected to the knob  50  where the male threaded post (see  FIG. 3 ) extends through an aperture  52  formed in the upper jaw  32 . Since they are interconnected, turning the knob  50  will cause the male threaded post (see  FIG. 3 ) to also turn, thereby causing the threads of the male post (see  FIG. 3 ) to engage the threads of the female threaded post  36  to create longitudinal force and motion along the axis of the male and female threaded posts. 
         [0024]    Straddling the threaded male and female posts are first and second guide tubes and posts. To the left side in this depiction, a first guide post (see  FIG. 3 ) is housed within a first guide tube  38 A. The first guide post (see  FIG. 3 ) is attached to the upper jaw member  32 , and the first guide tube  38 A is attached to the lower jaw member  34 . The inner bore formed in the tube  38 A is configured to cooperate with the outer diameter of the first guide post (see  FIG. 3 ) so that the post will slide within the tube  38 A, while still providing enough structural integrity to keep the upper jaw member  32  aligned with the lower jaw member  34  as the clamp  30  is operated. 
         [0025]    Similarly, there is a second guide post (see  FIG. 3 ) attached to the upper jaw member  32  and housed within the second guide tube  38 B, which is attached to the lower jaw member  34 . The second guide post and tube  38 B operate the same as the first guide post and tube. 
         [0026]    The upper jaw member  32  has a slot  54  cut through it. The slot  54  has a shape that cooperates with the outer form of the vertical section of the upright arm of the stand (see  FIG. 1 ) such that the bottom end of the vertical section can slide through the slot  54  formed in the upper jaw member  32 . There is also a V-groove  56  cut transversely in the bottom surface of the upper jaw member  32 . The V-groove  56  on the upper jaw member  32  is aligned with a substantially identical V-groove  56  formed in the lower jaw member  34 . 
         [0027]    It should be casually obvious that the V-grooves  56  are designed to clamp to the rails of a gurney rail to securely hold the clamp  30  to the gurney. Of course, the V-grooves grooves  56  would be positioned over a pair of vertically-aligned gurney rails, with the user turning the knob  50  until the upper jaw  32  presses down onto the top of an upper gurney rail and the lower jaw  34  presses upwardly on the bottom of a lower gurney rail. 
         [0028]    The lower jaw member  34  has an upwardly-extending peg  58  formed on (or attached to) its top surface. The peg  58  is in alignment with the slot  54  formed in the upper jaw member  32 . The peg  58  is configured to cooperate with the inner profile of the lowest end of the vertical section of the upright arm of the stand (see  FIG. 1 ) so that the lowest end of the upright arm can be placed over the peg  58 . There is a retaining bore  64  cut through the peg  58  for receiving a retaining pin  60  therethrough. The retaining pin  60  and retaining bore  64  are located so that when the lowest end of the upright arm of the stand (see  FIG. 1 ) is place over the peg  58 , the bore  64  will align with the pair of apertures formed in the arm so that the pin  60  can be inserted through the apertures in the arm and the bore  64 , thereby holding the arm securely to the peg  64 . 
         [0029]    It should be apparent that the stand will be held securely in the upright position by inserting the vertical section  16  of the upright arm  14  through the slot  54  and then pinning it to the peg  58  with a pin  60  passing through the retaining bore  64  and retaining aperture  25 . The clamp  30  can be attached and detached from an external structure (e.g. the gurney rail) whether the stand is attached to the clamp  30  or whether the stand is separate from the clamp  30 . If we now turn to  FIG. 3 , we can see the clamp  30  in its open position. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the gurney clamp of  FIG. 2 . Here, in its extended position, the male threaded post  37  can be seen because it is extended beyond the end of the female threaded tube  36 . Similarly, the first and second guide posts  40 A and  40 B can be seen here extending beyond the tops of the first and second guide posts  38 A and  38 B, respectively. 
         [0031]    Many of the parts of the clamp  30  are formed from solid aluminum for lightweight strength. The threaded and guide posts and tubes are most likely formed from steel (likely stainless steel) in order to provide even more durability. Now turning to  FIG. 4 , we can examine the details of the third and final component of the assembly of the present invention. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transport cart  70  of the present invention. The cart  70  is specifically designed to cooperatively hold the stand of  FIG. 1  when the stand is not attached to a bed or gurney. The cart  70  is defined by first and second opposing upright frame members  72 A and  72 B, respectively. The upright frame members  72 A and  72 B extend upwardly from a lower platform frame  78 , and terminate in the handle  82 . 
         [0033]    The upright frame members  72 A and  72 B are interconnected by an upper transverse frame member  74  and a lower transverse frame member  76 . The upper transverse frame member  74  has an upper stand slot  84  formed through it. The upper stand slot  84  is essentially identical in dimensions to the slot formed in the upper jaw of the gurney clamp. 
         [0034]    There is also a lower stand slot  86  formed in the lower transverse frame member  76 . The lower stand slot  86  has the same dimensions as the upper stand slot  84  and is aligned to be in line with it as well. The lower stand slot  84 , however, has a closed bottom surface to prevent the stand&#39;s lowest end of the upright arm&#39;s vertical section from sliding therethrough once inserted into the slots  84  and  86 . 
         [0035]    There are first and second stiffening struts  90 A and  90 B interconnecting the lower platform frame  80  with the first and second frame members  72 A and  72 B. These struts  90 A and  90 B simply provide additional rigidity and stiffness to the cart&#39;s structure. The wheels  80  permit the cart  70  to be tilted and wheeled around when the user wishes to move the cart  70  (and stand/equipment).  FIG. 5  shows how the cart and stand work together. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the stand  10  of  FIG. 1  mounted to the cart  70  of  FIG. 4 . As shown here, the stand  10  extends conveniently upward and outward from the cart  70 . This condensed package can fit easily within an ambulance during transit. The stand  10  can be easily removed from the cart  70  once arriving on-scene. Furthermore, the cart/stand combination can be used as a portable stand for the monitoring equipment. 
         [0037]    A securing device may be required in order to secure the cart  70  to the ambulance while the vehicle is in motion. In a typical scenario, the stand  10  having the monitoring equipment attached to it will be clamped to the gurney. The cart  70 , however will most likely have additional items on it that the technicians will desire to have on hand while in transit. 
         [0038]    The lower platform  78  is designed to allow one or more piece of mobile equipment to be placed there when not in use. This allows the user to remove the stand  10  from the cart  70  without the weight of the piece of equipment on it.  FIG. 6  shows how the clamp and stand work together. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the stand  10  of  FIG. 1  mounted to the clamp  30  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The stand  10 , when inserted into the clamp  30  that is attached to a gurney or hospital bed, will be securely held to that gurney or bed. The base  12  will provide a level and secure platform for a piece of portable medical equipment. The gurney can be rolled around without a fear of the equipment being damaged, and without the need for the medical personnel to even worry about moving the equipment to another location. 
         [0040]    Although the above-disclosed embodiment was configured to support, transport and store a specific model of monitoring equipment, and to mount to a specific gurney model, the sizes and locations of the necessary coordinating elements of the device can be adjusted in other embodiments in order to accommodate any of the various manufacturers&#39; equipment models. 
         [0041]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.