Patent Publication Number: US-6669224-B2

Title: Docking assembly

Description:
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/310,250 filed May 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,739. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a docking assembly for medical equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a docking assembly that allows one piece of medical equipment to be hitched to a second piece of medical equipment to allow the second piece of medical equipment to be towed with the first piece of medical equipment. 
     It is often desirable to couple a first medical device to a second medical device so that the first medical device can be towed along with (or by) the second medical device as the second medical device is rolled along the floor. 
     In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, a docking assembly configured to allow a first medical device to move together with a second medical device includes a hitch, a base, and a connector. The hitch can be coupled to and decoupled from the first medical device. The base is spaced apart from the hitch and is coupled to the second medical device. The connector interconnects the hitch and the base and allows movement of the hitch relative to the base. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the connector allows vertical movement of the hitch relative to the base. The connector also allows rotational movement of the hitch relative to the base about a longitudinal axis defined by the connector. The connector of the illustrative embodiment, however, blocks horizontal movement of the hitch relative to the base so that the first medical device can tow the second medical device, even over an irregular surface, without suffering from unintended decoupling. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the connector includes at least one leaf spring extending between the hitch and the base. The leaf spring is made from a flexible material. The hitch is movable when decoupled from the first medical device between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the hitch extends beyond a footprint of the second medical device and in the retracted position, the hitch resides within the footprint of the second medical device. 
     Also in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a docking assembly couples a first medical device having a latch receiver to a second medical device. The docking assembly includes a hitch, a base, and a connector. The hitch can be coupled to and decoupled from the latch receiver and has a central finger. The base is spaced apart from the hitch and is coupled to the second medical device. The base has a central finger. The connector interconnects the hitch and the base. The connector includes a first leaf spring and a second leaf spring extending between the hitch and the base. The first and second leaf springs lie on opposite sides of the central finger in substantially parallel relation. The first and second leaf springs allow rotational movement of the hitch relative to the base about a longitudinal axis defined by the spring. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated 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 drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an accessory cart being coupled to an incubator using a docking assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the docking assembly of FIG. 1 showing the docking assembly including a base, an opposite hitch, and a connector extending between the base and the hitch; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the docking assembly of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the docking assembly of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the accessory cart of FIG. 1 showing the cart having a cart base coupled to casters, a support column extending upwardly from the cart base, a plurality of accessory shelves coupled to the support column, and a latch receiver coupled to the cart base; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the latch receiver of FIG. 5 showing the latch receiver having a base member coupled to the cart base, a latch plate configured to be coupled to the base member, a latch mechanism configured to be coupled to the latch plate, and a cover configured to conceal the latch mechanism; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a back end of the incubator of FIG.  1  and the docking assembly of FIGS. 1-4 showing the docking assembly coupled to an underside of the back end of the incubator and showing the hitch of the docking assembly in a retracted position; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 showing the hitch of the docking assembly in an extended position; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8 showing the hitch of the docking assembly just before the latch receiver of the accessory cart is hitched to the hitch; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 showing the latch receiver of the accessory cart hitched to the hitch of the docking assembly so that the accessory cart may be towed behind the incubator. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a docking assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, docking assembly  10  allows a first medical device, in this instance an accessory cart  12 , to be coupled to a second medical device, in this instance an incubator  14 , so that accessory cart  12  can be towed behind incubator  14 . Docking assembly  10  is securely fastened to incubator  14  and allows accessory cart  12  to be hitched and unhitched as desired from incubator  14 . As described in more detail below and shown in FIG. 2, docking assembly  10  allows accessory cart  12  to move rotationally (arrow  16 ) and vertically (arrow  17 ) relative to incubator  14  as accessory cart  12  is towed behind incubator  14  to compensate for bumps and the like on the floor, but prevents accessory cart  12  from moving horizontally (arrow  18 ) relative to incubator  14  so that accessory cart  12  is easily steered behind incubator  14  when accessory cart  12  is hitched to docking assembly  10 . 
     Although accessory cart  12  and incubator  14  are described in detail herein as being an accessory cart and an incubator, respectively, the docking assembly of the present invention may be used with a wide variety of medical devices. For example, first medical device  12  and/or second medical device  14  could also be a resuscitation accessory module, a back-up battery pack, a hospital bed, or any other type of medical device that is capable of being docked or coupled to another type of medical device. Therefore, accessory cart  12  is occasionally referred to herein as being a first medical device and incubator  14  is occasionally referred to herein as being a second medical device, thereby indicating the general applicability of the docking assembly of the current invention to various kinds of medical devices. 
     Docking assembly  10  includes a base  20 , a connector  22  extending from base  20 , and a hitch  24  extending from connector  22 , as shown in FIGS. 2-4. As shown in FIG. 2, base  20  includes a base plate  28  and a retainer  30  positioned to lie below base plate  28 . Base plate  28  allows docking assembly  10  to be coupled to incubator  14  and cooperates with retainer  30  to couple base  20  to connector  22  of docking assembly  10 . 
     Base plate  28  includes a mounting portion  32  and a coupling portion  36  extending inwardly from mounting portion  32  toward a center of docking assembly  10 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Mounting portion  32  is formed to include three holes  34  to allow mounting portion  32  to be coupled to incubator  14 . As shown illustratively in FIG. 7, base plate  28  is coupled to an underside of incubator  14  using three screws (not shown) that extend through the three holes  34  in mounting portion  32 . 
     Coupling portion  36  extends from mounting portion  32  at an angle  37 , as shown in FIG.  4 . Coupling portion  36  is formed to include two laterally spaced-apart holes  38  and a central finger  40  extending inwardly relative to mounting portion  32  from a location between holes  38 . Retainer  30  is also formed to include two holes (not shown) that are sized and spaced to align with holes  38  of coupling portion  36 . A fastener such as a rivet or screw (not shown) extends through each of the two holes  38 , through each hole (not shown) formed in retainer  30 , and through a pair of first holes (not shown) formed in connector  22  to couple base  20  to connector  22 , as shown in FIGS. 2-4. 
     In the preferred embodiment, connector  22  includes first and second leaf springs  50 ,  52 , respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Leaf springs  50 ,  52  extend longitudinally away from retainer  30  and coupling portion  36  of base  20  and are positioned to lie on opposite sides of central finger  40 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each leaf spring  50 ,  52  extends between coupling portion  36  and retainer  30 . Each leaf spring  50 ,  52  is formed to include a first hole (not shown) that is aligned with holes  38  of coupling portion  36 . A fastening mechanism (not shown), such as a screw or a rivet, extends through the holes in coupling portion  36 , through the holes in leaf springs  50 ,  52 , and through the holes in retainer  30  to sandwich leaf springs  50 ,  52  between base plate  28  and retainer  30 . Each leaf spring  50 ,  52  also includes a second hole (not shown) positioned on an opposite end of each leaf spring  50 ,  52  to couple connector  22  to hitch  24 , as described below. Each leaf spring  50 ,  52  is preferably made from a flexible material such as steel, spring steel, stainless steel, or composite plastic material (such as carbon fiber) and is rectangularly shaped, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Hitch  24  extends from connector  22  and allows accessory cart  12  to be hitched (or docked) to docking assembly  10 . Hitch  24  includes a transition plate  58 , a latch plate  60 , a hinge  61  having a hinge pin  62  and pivotably interconnecting transition plate  58  and latch plate  60  about an axis defined by hinge pin  62 , and a bottom guide  64  positioned to lie below transition plate  58 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, transition plate  58  includes a mounting portion  66 , a coupling portion  68 , and an S-shaped transition portion  70  interconnecting mounting portion  66  and coupling portion  68 . Mounting portion  66  is formed to include a pair of laterally spaced-apart holes  72  and a central finger  74  extending inwardly relative to transition plate  58  from a location between holes  72 . Holes  72  of mounting portion  66  are sized and spaced to align with second holes (not shown) of leaf springs  50 ,  52  to couple leaf springs  50 ,  52  to mounting portion  66 . 
     Latch plate  60  is coupled to coupling portion  68  of transition plate  58  using hinge  61 , as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Latch plate  60  includes a top plate  78 , two downwardly extending side plates  79 ,  80 , and a post  82  extending upwardly from top plate  78 . Latch plate  60  is configured to pivot about hinge pin  62  relative to transition plate  58  to move latch plate  60  from a retracted position (FIG. 7) to an extended position (FIG.  8 ). 
     Bottom guide  64  includes a coupling portion  88  and a guide portion  90 , as shown in FIG.  4 . Coupling portion  88  is formed to include a pair of holes  92  that are aligned with holes  72  of transition plate  58  to couple leaf springs  50 ,  52  between transition plate  58  and bottom guide  64  using a screw, a rivet, or some other suitable fastener, as discussed above. Guide portion  90  cooperates with top plate  78  and side plates  79 ,  80  to allow hitch  24  to mate with accessory cart  12 , as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
     Connector  22  is configured to allow hitch  24  to move rotationally  16  relative to base  20  about a longitudinal axis  54  defined by connector  22 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It can be seen that upon being subjected to a first torque indicated by reference number  16 , such as when one wheel  112  or  212  of one of first and second medical devices rolls over an irregularity, connector  22  will flex, permitting rotation of hitch  24  relative to base  20  about axis  54 . Specifically, leaf spring  50  will flex in a first direction and leaf spring  52  will flex in an opposite second direction permitting the rotation of hitch  24  relative to base  20 . Of course, upon flexure, connector  22  will apply a second torque opposing the first torque to urge hitch  24  and base  20  back to their original relative positions to maintain the stability of docking assembly  10 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that connector  22  could include a coil spring having an axis coextensive with axis  54 , a rotating mechanical axis that relies upon gravity acting on the first and second medical devices to retain the stability of docking assembly  10 , or any similar device or combination of devices that permits the desired rotation about axis  54 . 
     Connector  22  is also configured to allow hitch  24  to move vertically  17  relative to base  20  about a transverse axis  55  defined by holes  38  of coupling portion  36 , as shown in FIGS. 2-4. It can be seen that upon being subject to a first vertical force, indicated by reference number  17 , such as when side-by-side wheels  112  or  212  of one of first and second medical devices roll over a door threshold or a gap between a floor and an elevator, connector  22  will flex, permitting the vertical movement of hitch  24  relative to base  20 . Specifically, leaf springs  50 ,  52  will flex about axis  55  permitting the vertical movement of hitch  24  relative to base  20 . Of course, upon flexure, connector  22  will apply a second vertical force opposing the first vertical force to urge hitch  24  and base  20  back to their original relative positions to maintain the stability of docking assembly  10 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that connector  22  could include a hinge having an axis coextensive with axis  55 , a universal joint, a rigid connector including, for example, a first portion being a vertical post or bar that can slide within an opening formed in a second portion, perhaps relying on gravity to retain the stability of docking assembly  10 , or any similar device or combination of devices that permits the relative vertical movement of hitch  24  and base  20 . The rotational and vertical movement  16 ,  17  of hitch  24  relative to base  20  allow accessory cart  12  to easily move over minor floor obstructions or irregularities when being towed behind incubator  14 . 
     Connector  22  also blocks hitch  24  from moving horizontally  18  relative to base  20  about a vertical axis  56  perpendicular to longitudinal axis  54 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This blocking of horizontal movement  18  of hitch  24  relative to base  20  allows accessory cart  12  to remain behind incubator  14  without twisting hitch  24 . This, in turn, allows the steering of the combined/hitched accessory cart  12  and incubator  14  to be accomplished by pushing (from behind) on the accessory cart  12  and/or pulling (from in front) on the incubator  14 . In other words, connector  22  allows the combined unit of the accessory cart  12  and the incubator  14  to be steered from either the front or the rear of the unit. Thus, docking assembly  10  can be used with a first medical device and a second medical device to permit moving first medical device with second medical device. It is clear that docking assembly  10  can be used to tow second medical device behind first medical device. It is also clear that docking assembly  10  can be used to push second medical device in front of first medical device. 
     An illustrative first medical device  12  is shown in more detail in FIG.  5 . As shown in FIG. 5, device  12  may be an accessory cart having a cart base  110  that rides on rollers  112 , a support column  114  extending upwardly from cart base  110 , a plurality of accessory members  116 - 126  coupled to support column  114 , and a latch receiver  128  coupled to cart base  110 . Rollers  112  can be any revolving cylinder over or on which something is moved, such as a caster or a wheel. As shown in FIG. 5, accessory member  116  may be an accessory rail coupled to support column  14  having a pair of IV poles  117 ,  118  extending vertically therefrom. Accessory member  120  may be an equipment shelf coupled to the top of support column  114  and positioned adjacent to accessory rail  116 . Accessory member  122  may preferably be a handle extending outwardly from support column  114  to allow a user to move accessory cart  12  upon rollers  112 . Accessory member  123  may be an AC power outlet coupled to support column  114 . Accessory member  124  may be a ventilator shelf extending outwardly from support column  114 . Accessory member  126  may be an oxygen bottle holder extending outwardly from ventilator shelf  124 . Although accessory cart  12  is described in detail, the docking assembly  10  of the present invention may be used with virtually any kind of medical device that is desired to be towed behind another medical device. 
     Latch receiver  128  of first medical device  12  is shown in more detail in FIG.  6 . Latch receiver  128  includes a base member  138 , a latch plate  140  configured to lie on base member  138 , a latch mechanism  142  configured to be coupled to latch plate  140 , and a cover  144  configured to cover latch mechanism  142 . Base member  138  includes a mount portion  148  extending outwardly from base  110  of accessory cart  12  and a guide portion  150  extending outwardly from mount portion  148 . Mount portion  148  is formed to include a slot  152  and three holes  154 . Slot  152  and holes  154  are sized and spaced to allow latch plate  140  and latch mechanism  142  to be coupled to base member  138 , as described below. 
     Latch plate  140  of latch receiver  128  includes a mechanism mount portion  158 , a base mount portion  160  extending outwardly from mechanism mount portion  158 , and a guide portion  162  extending outwardly from base mount portion  160 . Mechanism mount portion  158  is C-shaped and extends from base mount portion  160  to define a slot  164  between mechanism mount portion  158  and base mount portion  160 . The C-shape of mechanism mount portion  158  defines an opening  166  that is sized to receive latch mechanism  142 , as discussed below. Base mount portion  160  of latch plate  140  is formed to include three holes  170  that are sized and spaced to align with the three holes  154  of base member  138  to allow latch plate  140  to be coupled to base member  138  using screws or the like. Guide portion  162  is configured to angle slightly downwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, to help guide latch plate  60  of docking assembly  10  onto accessory cart  12 . 
     Latch mechanism  142  includes a base portion  178  and a latch  180  coupled to base portion  178 , as shown in FIG.  6 . Latch mechanism  142  is commercially available from Eberhard Manufacturing Co. located in Cleveland, Ohio. Base portion  178  is formed to define a recess  179  that is sized and shaped to received post  82  of docking assembly  10 . Latch  180  includes a release member  182  and a latch member  184 . Release member  182  is configured to extend through slot  164  in latch plate  140  and slot  152  in base member  138  so that a user may reach under base member  138  to move release member  182  from a closed position to a released position. Movement of release member  182  from the closed position to the released position causes latch member  184  to move from a latched position to an unlatched position to allow post  82  of docking assembly  10  to be hitched and unhitched from accessory cart  12 . 
     Cover  144  of latch receiver  128  is formed to include a cut-out portion  188  that is sized and shaped to receive post  82  of docking assembly  10 . Cover  144  is configured to be coupled to base  110  of medical device  12  so that latch mechanism  142  and mechanism mount portion  158  of latch plate  140  are enclosed by cover  144 , as shown in FIG.  9 . Cover  144  may be made from a stainless steel material. 
     Second medical device  14  is shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 as it would appear after being coupled to docking assembly  10 . As shown in FIG. 1, second medical device  14  includes a body  210  that rides on rollers  212 . Body  210  includes a base portion  220  and a hood or cover  222  positioned atop base portion  220 . Rollers  212  can be any revolving cylinder over or on which something is moved, such as a caster or a wheel. An incubator similar to incubator  14 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/926,380 filed Sep. 9, 1997 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, docking assembly  10  is coupled to an underside  214  of a back end  216  of base portion  220  of second medical device  14 . Although not shown in FIG. 7, mounting portion  32  of base plate  28  of docking assembly  10  is preferably coupled to underside  214  of second medical device  14  using screws (not shown) that extend upwardly through holes  34  formed in base plate  28  and screw into a bottom surface  218  of second medical device  14 . As shown in FIGS. 7-10, after docking assembly  10  is coupled to second medical device  14 , connector  22  extends outwardly from second medical device  14  so that hitch  24  is accessible. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, hitch  24  may be moved to a retracted (storage) position when docking assembly  10  is not being used so that it is “out of the way”. In the retracted position, latch plate  60  pivots relative to transition plate  58  about hinge pin  62  to be positioned on top of transition plate  58 . In this position, docking assembly  10  resides entirely within a footprint of incubator  14  defined by the perimeter of rollers  212 , as shown in FIG.  7 . Thus, in the retracted position, docking assembly  10  does not interfere with the normal use of second medical device  14 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, hitch  24  may also be moved to an extended (use) position when docking assembly  10  is desired to couple first medical device  12  to second medical device  14 . In the extended position, latch plate  60  is pivoted relative to transition plate  58  about hinge pin  62  so that hitch  24  extends beyond the perimeter defined by rollers  212 . In this extended position, post  82  is substantially vertical and is ready to be coupled to latch receiver  128  of first medical device  12 . 
     In operation, docking assembly  10  is used to couple first medical device  12  to second medical device  14  as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIG. 9, after docking assembly  10  is positioned in the extended position, first medical device  12  is moved into alignment with second medical device  14  so that latch receiver  128  is adjacent to hitch  24 . First medical device  12  is moved relative to second medical device  14  so that guide portions  150 ,  162  of latch receiver  128  extend under top plate  78  of docking assembly  10  and between side plates  79 ,  80  of docking assembly  10 . 
     Medical devices  12 ,  14  are then further moved toward one another so that guide portions  150 ,  162  of latch receiver  128  are positioned between bottom guide  64  and transition plate  70  of docking assembly  10  and mount portions  184 ,  160  of latch receiver  128  are positioned between side plates  79 ,  80 . Medical devices  12 ,  14  are then further moved toward one another until post  82  is received by latch mechanism  142  and latch member  184  extends about post  82  to secure hitch  24  to latch receiver  128  of first medical device  12 . In this position, docking assembly  10  is securely coupled to latch receiver  128  so that first medical device  12  can be moved with second medical device  14 . 
     To disconnect first medical device  12  from second medical device  14 , release member  182  of latch mechanism  142  is moved from the closed position to the released position, as described above. This movement of release member  182  from the closed position to the released position causes latch member  184  to move from a latched position to an unlatched position to allow post  82  of docking assembly  10  to move away from accessory cart  12 . Then, hitch  24  of docking assembly  10  can be moved from the extended position to the retracted (storage) position thereby positioning hitch  24  out of the way and allowing second medical device  14  to move independently from first medical device  12 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a certain illustrated embodiment, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and as defined in the following claims.