Patent Publication Number: US-6336412-B2

Title: Pivoting hand table

Description:
This is a divisional of a copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/321,188, filed on May 27, 1999, and entitled “Pivoting Hand Table”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to patient support decks such as hospital stretchers, surgical operating tables and hospital beds, and particularly to hand table or armboard assemblies for such patient support decks. More particularly, the present invention relates to hand table assemblies suitable for hand or arm surgeries. 
     Various surgical tables having articulated table tops have been developed to meet the growing demand of surgical tables which may be used for a wide variety of different surgical procedures. Among the functions desirable for a surgical table is the ability to articulate the back section with respect to the seat section about a transverse axis. 
     For hand or arm surgeries, a hand table or armboard is attached to a surgical rail of an operating room table or a hospital stretcher at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the patient support surface. It is known to pivot the hand tables about a vertical axis in the plane of the patient support surface as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,505. 
     Another arrangement for supporting a hand table or armboard is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,210. As shown therein, the armboard  52  is mounted to a novel adapter  100 , which includes a horizontal shaft  102  disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the patient support surface. The generally horizontal shaft  102  is, in turn, mounted to a conventional surgical accessory socket  18  that is commonly used for attaching various accessories to a surgical operating table. This configuration allows two additional degrees of freedom to the armboard  52 . The armboard  52  can pivot about the axis of a horizontal shaft  102  disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient support surface as shown in FIG.  7 . In addition, the armboard  52  can pivot about the axis of the surgical accessory socket  18  extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the patient support surface  36  as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The prior art arrangements, however, do not allow the head of a patient resting on the surgical stretcher to be raised prior to, during or after a surgical procedure. The ability to raise a patient&#39;s head is particularly important for patients with respiratory problems. The present invention provides the ability to raise a patient&#39;s head without tilting the hand table about its longitudinal central axis. In accordance with this invention, the hand table is mounted to pivot about its longitudinal central axis so that it can remain parallel to the floor even when the back section of the stretcher is elevated. 
     In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the hand table assembly includes a platform having a longitudinal central axis and a platform attachment apparatus for coupling the platform to a patient support deck generally in a horizontal plane and at a 90° angle. The platform attachment apparatus illustratively includes a first member configured to be mechanically coupled to an inboard end of the platform and a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to a side rail of an articulatable back section of the patient support deck. The first member is pivoted relative to the second member about the longitudinal central axis of the platform such that the platform remains generally parallel to the floor when the articulatable back section is articulated. 
     According to another embodiment, the platform attachment apparatus includes a generally planar supporting plate having first and second oppositely-disposed sides. A first outwardly-projecting member is pivotally coupled to the supporting plate on a first side thereof for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of the hand table. The first outwardly-projecting member includes a first rail-receiving channel disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis of the platform and sized for slidably receiving an end rail secured to an inboard end of the platform. A first clamp is mechanically coupled to the first outwardly-projecting member for selectively clamping the platform end rail upon its reception in the first rail-receiving channel. A second outwardly-projecting member is mechanically coupled to the supporting plate on the second side thereof. The second outwardly-projecting member includes a second rail-receiving channel facing away from the first rail-receiving channel and also disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis of the platform for slidably receiving a side rail secured to the articulate back section. A second clamp is mechanically coupled to the second outwardly-projecting member for selectively clamping the side rail upon its reception in the second rail-receiving channel. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, the first and second rail-receiving channels are offset with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the platform so that the top surface of a cushion supported on the hand table assembly is generally disposed at the same level as the top surface of a mattress disposed on the patient support deck. 
     According to still further embodiment of the present invention, the hand table assembly includes a platform support leg and a platform support leg attachment mechanism. The platform support leg attachment mechanism illustratively includes a leg-receiving receptacle coupled to the underside of the platform, an upper bracket configured to be coupled to the leg-receiving receptacle and a lower bracket coupled to the platform support leg. The lower bracket has an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof. The upper bracket also has an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof which is pivotably coupled to the outwardly-extending portion of the lower bracket about a first axis disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the platform. A lower latch coupled to the lower bracket at the other end thereof is configured to releasably secure the other end of the upper bracket to the other end of the lower bracket. An upper latch coupled to the upper bracket is configured to releasably secure the upper bracket to the leg-receiving receptacle. 
     According to the present invention, the platform support leg attachment mechanism includes a support leg storage latch comprising a retaining pin secured to the underside of the platform at one end thereof (e.g., inboard end). The support leg, mounted at the other end of the platform (e.g., outboard end), can be folded and locked in a storage position under the platform by pivoting the platform support leg about the first axis so that it extends generally parallel to the length dimension of the platform on the underside thereof and extending the support leg to cause the retaining pin to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle disposed in a foot end of the support leg to lock it in place. The platform support leg illustratively includes at least two telescopic sections and a latch for locking the telescopic sections in place. 
     Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a hand table assembly of the present invention coupled to an articulated back section of a hospital stretcher, and further showing the hand table disposed generally parallel to the floor while the articulated back section is raised so that a patient&#39;s hand can comfortably rest on the hand table, 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hand table of FIG. 1 showing an end rail secured to each end of the hand table and a hand table platform attachment mechanism for securing a hand table platform to a back section of a patient support deck at a 90° angle, and further showing Velcro (trademark) pads for securing a cushion supported on the hand table platform, 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hand table platform attachment mechanism with portions broken away and showing a supporting plate, a first outwardly-projecting member pivotally coupled to the supporting plate on a first side thereof for rotation about a longitudinal central axis of the platform, the first outwardly-projecting member including a first rail-receiving channel disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis of the platform and sized for slidably receiving a platform end rail, a second outwardly-projecting member mechanically coupled to the supporting plate on a second side thereof, the second outwardly-projecting member including a second rail-receiving channel facing away from the first rail-receiving channel and also disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis of the platform for slidably receiving a side rail secured to the back section, the second rail-receiving channel having thickness greater than a conventional surgical rail, 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the platform attachment mechanism showing a thumb screw for clamping a side rail received in the second rail-receiving channel, and further showing a flip-over lever pivotally mounted to the second outwardly-projecting member for movement between a deployed up position and an out-of-the-way down position, the flip-over lever having a first end extending into the second rail-receiving channel when deployed, the detent portion when deployed reducing the thickness of the second rail-receiving channel so that a conventional surgical rail can be snugly received therein and clamped. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the platform attachment mechanism along a line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4, and further showing the first end of the flip-over lever extending into the second rail-receiving channel, a conventional surgical rail snugly received in the second rail-receiving channel, a thumb screw for clamping the conventional surgical rail received in the second rail-receiving channel, and a hand table platform end rail snugly received in the first rail-receiving channel and clamped, 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, except that a wider-than-conventional surgical rail is snugly received in the second rail-receiving channel and clamped, and further showing the flip-over lever in the out-of-the-way down position, and a platform end rail snugly received in the first rail-receiving channel and clamped, 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a platform support leg attachment mechanism with portions broken away, and showing a leg-receiving receptacle coupled to the underside of the platform and having a downwardly-facing U-shaped channel, a lower bracket coupled to the platform support leg, and an upper bracket supported on the lower bracket configured to couple the lower bracket to the leg-receiving receptacle, the lower bracket having an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, the upper bracket also having an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof which is pivotably coupled to the outwardly-extending portion of the lower bracket about a first axis disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the platform, a lower latch coupled to the lower bracket at the other end thereof being configured to releasably secure the other end of the upper bracket to the other end of the lower bracket, and an upper latch coupled to the upper bracket to releasably secure the upper bracket to the leg-receiving receptacle, the upper latch being shown in a first orientation in which an outwardly-turned lip portion of a generally upwardly-extending portion of the upper latch engages an inwardly-turned lip portion of the leg-receiving receptacle to releasably secure the upper bracket to the receptacle, 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the upper latch is moved to a second orientation in which the outwardly-turned lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending portion of the upper latch disengages from the inwardly-turned lip portion of the leg-receiving receptacle to free the platform support leg, 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, except that the platform support leg is pivoted and pulled down to remove it from the hand table assembly, 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of the hand table assembly coupled to a back section side rail secured to a back section of a patient support deck (not shown) and showing a platform support leg releasably secured to the hand table platform at an outboard end thereof, 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, except that the platform support leg is folded and locked in a storage position under the platform by pivoting it so that it extends generally parallel to the length dimension of the platform on the underside thereof and then extending the platform support leg to cause a retaining pin secured to the underside of the platform at an inboard end thereof to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle disposed in a foot end of the platform support leg to lock it in place, 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the hand table assembly with the platform support leg folded and locked in a storage position under the platform, 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10, except that the platform support leg is secured to the hand table platform at the inboard end thereof instead of the outboard end, and 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of the patient support deck including an articulated back section pivotally mounted to a seat section about a transverse axis, and first and second side rails secured to first and second sides of the back section respectively for supporting various surgical accessories. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be described primarily as a hand table assembly to be attached to a surgical stretcher, but it will be understood that the same may be used in conjunction with any surgical operating table or a hospital bed. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical stretcher  20  includes a base frame  22  supported on a floor  24 , an intermediate frame  26  coupled to the base frame, and an articulated patient support deck  28  mounted to the intermediate frame. The articulated patient support deck  28  includes longitudinally spaced-apart back section  30 , seat section  32 , and leg and foot sections (not shown), which are coupled to the intermediate frame  26  for movement relative to one another and relative to the intermediate frame. A mattress  34 , disposed on the patient support deck  28 , has an upwardly-facing patient support surface  36  upon which a patient can rest. 
     The base frame  22  is covered by a protective shroud  38  to shield various mechanisms mounted to the base frame from view and to prevent foreign objects from being inadvertently inserted therein. Relatively large casters  40 , mounted at each corner of the base frame  22 , extend downwardly therefrom to engage the floor  24 . The intermediate frame  26  is supported above the base frame  22  by a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart elevation mechanisms  42 , well-known to those skilled in the art. The elevation mechanisms  42  are each covered by a protective boot to shield the elevation mechanisms from view and to prevent foreign objects from being inadvertently inserted into the elevation mechanisms. The stretcher  20  includes a plurality of foot pedals  44  coupled to the elevation mechanisms  42 . Different foot pedals can be depressed to activate appropriate elevation mechanisms  42  to raise, lower or tilt the intermediate frame  26  and the patient-support deck  28  with respect to the floor  24 . 
     The stretcher  20  includes a conventional brake and steer mechanism (not shown). The brake and steer mechanism includes a caster braking mechanism (not shown) which brakes the casters  40  to prevent them from rotating and swivelling when a brake-steer shaft is rotated to a braking position. The brake-steer mechanism further includes a steering mechanism (not shown) which lowers a center wheel (not shown) into engagement with the floor  24  when the brake-steer shaft is rotated to a steering position to enable the operator to steer the stretcher  20 . Additional details of the many of the above-referenced mechanisms can be found in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,111, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, the patient support deck  28  has a longitudinal axis  50  that extends parallel to its length dimension. At least the back section  30  is pivotally mounted to the seat section  32  about a generally horizontal transverse axis  52  extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the patient support deck  28  for movement between a generally horizontal lying-down position and a reclining sitting-up position. The leg and foot sections may be also pivotally mounted to the seat section  32  for articulation. The back section  30  is lockable relative to the seat section  32  in an infinite number of positions between the lying-down and sitting-up positions. A head rest  54  is coupled to the back section  30  adjacent to a head end  56  of the patient support deck  28 . 
     Again referring to FIG. 1, the stretcher  20  includes side rail assemblies  60  movably mounted on each side of the stretcher by means of conventional 4-bar linkage mechanisms well-known to those skilled in the art. The side rail assemblies  60  are movable between (I) a down-out-of-the-way position in which the side rail assemblies are disposed below the patient support surface  36  to provide maximum access to a patient resting on the patient support surface, and (ii) a raised position in which the side rail assemblies are elevated above the patient support surface to prevent a patient resting on the patient support surface from inadvertently falling off. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, the articulatable back section  30  of the stretcher  20  is equipped with back section side rails  64  and  66  secured to first and second sides  68  and  70  of the back section for the purpose of accepting various accessories which are attached to the side rails by means of standard surgical accessory sockets in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art. The back section side rails  64  and  66  extend slightly below the patient support deck  28  and away from the sides  68  and  70  of the back section  30  creating a space between the side rails and the sides of the patient support deck for attachment of the surgical accessory sockets. The surgical accessory sockets are free to move along the length of the back section side rails  64  and  66  so that the accessories can be positioned at suitable locations. The side rails  64  and  66  generally have the same rectangular cross-section as a standard surgical rail (i.e., 1″ high and ⅝″ wide). Likewise, as shown in FIG. 14, the seat section  32  may also be equipped with seat section side rails on both sides thereof. As mentioned above, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,210 illustratively describes one arrangement for attaching a hand table to a back section side rail of a stretcher via a surgical accessory socket. U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,210 is incorporated herein by reference to establish the nature of surgical armboards. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical hand table or armboard assembly  100 , designed as a cantilevered structure, is coupled to the surgical stretcher  20  generally in a horizontal plane and at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis  50  of the patient support deck  28 . The hand table assembly  100  includes a generally planar platform  102  having a longitudinal central axis  104 , a platform attachment mechanism  106  for releasably coupling the hand table assembly to the patient support deck  28 , a vertically-extendible platform support leg  108 , and a platform support leg attachment mechanism  110  for releasably coupling the platform support leg to the platform. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the generally planar platform  102  has an hourglass shape with one end broader than the other. The platform  102  includes first and second end rails  112  and  114  coupled to inboard and outboard ends  116  and  118  of the platform in a direction generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform. The platform  102  is configured to be coupled to the patient support deck  28  at either end  116  or  118  of the platform. The ability to couple the platform  102  at either end thereof provides more space at an end of the platform  102  where it is most appropriate for the type of surgery, either close or away from a patient resting on the patient support deck  28 . The platform end rails  112  and  114 , like the back section side rails  64  and  66 , have generally the same rectangular cross-section as a standard surgical rail (i.e., 1″ high and ⅝″ wide). 
     Likewise, the platform  102  is further configured to be coupled to the patient support deck  28  on either side  68  or  70  of the patient support deck. Thus, for a right arm surgery the platform  102  can be coupled to the right side of the patient support deck  28 , and for a left arm surgery the platform can be coupled to the left side of the patient support deck. 
     A cushion  130 , having an upwardly-facing surface  132 , is attached to the platform  102  by Velcro (trademark) pads  134  to provide a cushioned surface for a patient&#39;s arm. The peripheral edge of the platform  102  is rounded, and covered with a protective coating of soft material  136  with a tough outer layer to avoid tearing. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the vertically-extendible platform support leg  108  has a head end  140  coupled to the platform  102  and a foot end  142  coupled to a foot plate  144  configured to be supported by the floor  24 . The support leg  108  comprises an inner tube  146  that is telescopically received in an outer tube  148 . A thumb screw  150  engages a threaded opening in a sleeve  152  secured to an upper end of the outer tube  148 . The distal end of the thumb screw  150  engages the inner tube  146  to lock it in any suitable position to adjust the height of the platform support leg  108 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the platform attachment mechanism  106  includes a generally planar supporting plate  160  having first and second oppositely-disposed sides  162  and  164 . A first outwardly-projecting member  166  is pivotally coupled to the supporting plate  160  on the first side  162  thereof for rotation about the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102 . The first outwardly-projecting member  166  includes a first rail-receiving channel  168  disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102  for slidably receiving either of the two platform end rails  112  and  114 . As can be seen from FIG. 6, a first thumb screw  170  engages a threaded opening in the first outwardly-projecting member  166 . The distal end of the thumb screw  170  engages a platform end rail  112  received in the first rail-receiving channel  168  to clamp the platform attachment mechanism  106  anywhere along the platform end rail. This provides the ability to adjust the side-to-side position of the platform  102  relative to a patient&#39;s arm when the back section  30  is elevated as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A second outwardly-projecting member  180  is mounted to the supporting plate  160  on the second side  164  thereof. The second outwardly-projecting member  180  includes a second rail-receiving channel  182  facing away from the first rail-receiving channel  168  and disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102  for slidably receiving either of the two back section side rails  64  and  66  of the articulatable back section  30 . As can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, a second thumb screw  184  engages a threaded opening in the second outwardly-projecting member  180 . The distal end of the thumb screw  184  engages a back section side rail received in the second rail-receiving channel  182  to clamp the platform attachment mechanism  106  anywhere along the side rail. This provides the ability to adjust the height of the platform  102  when the back section  30  is elevated as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The first and second rail-receiving channels  168  and  182  are offset with respect to each other, as shown in FIG. 6, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102  so that the upwardly-facing surface  132  of the cushion  130  supported on the platform  102  is generally at the same level as the upwardly-facing surface  36  of a mattress  34  supported on the patient support deck  28 . 
     The platform attachment mechanism  106  is configured to attach to either (I) a standard surgical side rail of a surgical stretcher or a surgical operating table (i.e., 1″ high and ⅝″ wide) or (ii) a one-inch square tube side rail of a conventional stretcher (i.e., 1″ high and 1″ wide) so as to provide the ability to attach the hand table assembly  100  to either a surgical side rail or a conventional side rail. To this end, the second rail-receiving channel  182  is oversized to fit a one-inch square tube as shown in FIGS. 4-6. A flip-over lever  190  is movably coupled to the second outwardly-projecting member  180 . The flip-over lever  190  has a first end  192  extending into the second rail-receiving channel  182  when deployed, a second end  194  providing a handle portion, and a middle portion  196  coupled to the second outwardly-projecting member  180  for pivoting movement between (I) a deployed up position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which a first end  192  of the flip-over lever extends into the oversized second rail-receiving channel  182 , and (ii) an out-of-the-way down position, shown in FIG. 6, in which the first end of the flip-over lever is outside the oversized second rail-receiving channel. The first end  192  of the flip-over lever  190  reduces the thickness of the oversized second rail-receiving channel  182  to closely fit a conventional surgical side rail when the first end of the flip-over lever is positioned inside the second rail-receiving channel as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A not-illustrated spring, coupled to the flip-over lever  190 , biases the flip-over lever toward the deployed up position when the flip-over lever is between an over-the-center position and the deployed up position, and biases toward the out-of-the-way down position when the flip-over lever is between the over-the-center position and the out-of-the-way down position. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, each rail-receiving channel  168  and  182  has a C-shaped configuration comprising a base portion  200  extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102 , first and second arm portions  202  and  204  extending generally perpendicularly to the base portion and at least one lip portion  206  extending generally parallel to the base portion and spaced therefrom. The base portion  200 , the arm portions  202  and  204  and the at least one lip portion  206  defining a rail-receiving space so as to prevent a rail received therein from moving transversely out of the rail-receiving channel. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-13 generally and FIGS. 7-9 particularly, the platform support leg attachment mechanism  110  includes two identical leg-receiving receptacles  220  and  222  coupled to the underside of the platform  102  at its inboard and outboard ends  116  and  118  respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, a generally planar lower bracket  230  is coupled to the head end  140  of the platform support leg  108 . The lower bracket  230  has an outwardly-extending portion  232  at one end  234  thereof. A generally planar upper bracket  240  is supported by the lower bracket  230  on the top side thereof in a back-to-back arrangement as shown. The upper bracket  240  has an outwardly-extending portion  242  at one end  244  thereof which is pivotably coupled to the outwardly-extending portion  232  of the lower bracket  230  about a first axis  248  (see FIG. 9) disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102 . 
     Again as shown in FIG. 7, a lower latch  260  is pivotally coupled to the lower bracket  230  at the other end  236  thereof. The lower latch  260  includes a generally upwardly-extending first portion  262 , which has an inwardly-turned lip portion  264  adapted for engagement with the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  for releasably securing the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  to the other end  236  of the lower bracket  230 . The lower latch  260  further includes a second generally downwardly-extending portion  266  providing a leg storage release handle, and a middle portion  268  pivotally coupled to the lower bracket  230  for pivoting movement about a second axis  270  disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102  between (i) a first orientation shown in FIG. 10 in which the inwardly-turned lip portion  264  of the generally upwardly-extending first portion  262  of the lower latch  230  engages the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  for releasably securing the lower bracket  230  to the upper bracket  240 , and (ii) a second orientation in which the inwardly-turned lip portion  264  of the generally upwardly extending first portion  262  of the lower latch  230  disengages from the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  to free the platform support leg  108  to pivot about the first axis  248  as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     The lower latch  260  further includes a spring  272  for biasing the lower latch toward the first orientation thereof in which the inwardly-turned lip portion  264  of the generally upwardly-extending first portion  262  of the lower latch  260  engages the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  for releasably securing the lower bracket  230  to the upper bracket  240 . As mentioned above, the lower latch  260  disengages from the other end  246  of the upper bracket  240  to free the platform support leg  108  to pivot about the first axis  248  for storage underneath the platform  102  in response to movement of the leg storage release handle  266 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 10-13, the hand table assembly  100  includes a support leg storage latch  274  comprising first and second retaining pins  276  secured to the underside of the platform  102  at both inboard and outboard ends  116  and  118  thereof. The platform support leg  108  can be folded and locked in a storage position under the platform  102 , as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, by pivoting the platform support leg about the first axis  248  so that it extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  104  of the platform on the underside thereof and extending the support leg to cause a retaining pin to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle  278  disposed in the foot plate  144  of the platform support leg to lock it in place. 
     As described above, the platform support leg attachment mechanism  110  includes two identical leg-receiving receptacles  220  and  222  coupled to the underside of the platform  102 . The leg-receiving receptacle  220  is coupled to the underside of the platform  102  at its inboard end  116 , and the other leg-receiving receptacle  222  is coupled to the underside of the platform at its outboard end  118 , as shown in FIGS. 10-13. Since the two leg-receiving receptacles  220  and  222  are identical, only the leg-receiving receptacle  222  secured to the outboard end  118  of the platform  102  will be described. The description of the other leg-receiving receptacle  220  is similar. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the leg-receiving receptacle  222  forms a downwardly-facing inverted U-shaped channel  280  including first and second downwardly-extending portions  282  and  284  extending generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the platform  102 . The open ends of the first and second downwardly-extending portions  282  and  284  are configured to form first and second inwardly-turned lip portions  286  and  288  as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The upper bracket  240  includes an upwardly-extending portion  290  adjacent the other end  246  thereof which forms an outwardly-turned lip portion  292  adapted for engagement with the inwardly-turned lip portion  288  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, an upper latch  300  is pivotally coupled to the upper bracket  240  adjacent the one end  244  thereof. The upper latch  300  includes a first generally upwardly-extending portion  302  having an outwardly-turned lip portion  304  adapted for engagement with the other inwardly-turned lip portion  286  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222  for releasably securing the upper bracket  240  to the leg-receiving receptacle. The upper latch  300  includes a second outwardly-extending portion  306  providing a leg release handle and a middle portion  308  pivotally coupled to the upper bracket  240  for pivoting movement about a third axis  310  (shown in FIG. 9) disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis  104  of the platform  102  between (I) a first orientation, shown in FIG. 7, in which the outwardly-turned lip portion  304  of the first generally upwardly-extending portion  302  of the upper latch  300  engages the inwardly-turned lip portion  286  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222  to releasably secure the upper bracket  240  to the leg-receiving receptacle, and (ii) a second orientation, shown in FIG. 8, in which the outwardly-turned lip portion  304  of the first generally upwardly-extending portion  302  of the upper latch  300  disengages from the inwardly-turned lip portion  286  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222  to free the platform support leg  108 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the upper latch  300  further includes a spring  312  for biasing the upper latch toward the first orientation thereof in which the outwardly-turned lip portion  304  of the first generally upwardly-extending portion  302  of the upper latch  300  engages the inwardly-turned lip portion  286  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222  to releasably secure the upper bracket  240  to the leg-receiving receptacle. The outwardly-turned lip portion  304  of the generally upwardly-extending first portion  302  of the upper latch  300  disengages from the other inwardly-turned lip portion  286  of the leg-receiving receptacle  222 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in response to the movement of the leg release handle  306  to free the platform support leg  108  from the leg-receiving receptacle, for example, to move the platform support leg to the other end of the platform  102 . 
     The upper bracket  240  and the two leg-receiving receptacles  220  and  222  are illustratively formed from a high strength, light weight plastic material by extrusion, but they may very well be formed from any other suitable material—such as high strength, light weight metal extrusion. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the present invention as described and defined in the following claims.