Abstract:
A feeding tube holder is provided. The feeding tube holder is attached to a squeeze clamp for attachment to a crib or chair. The holder and squeeze clamp interface is adjustable for a plurality of position changes. Feeding tubes have fastening elements to provide attachment of any type of feeding tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to medical feeding devices, and more particularly to a holder for feeding tubes. 
     There is a need for feeding tubes in a medical environment, both for adults, children and infants. For high-risk neonatal intensive care unit patients the simple task of feeding an infant can be complicated. Ideally, the infant would be held while the infant is being fed. However, this is not always possible, and also neonatal feeding tubes are difficult to handle. Applicant has developed a feeding tube holder, especially useful for neonatal care, for which U.S. Design Pat. No. D710,994 was issued on Aug. 12, 2014 to applicant, hereinafter referred to as the &#39;994 patent or &#39;994 holder. Said design patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In actual use, several limitations with the &#39;994 holder have become apparent. Neonatal infants are tiny. Care of the infants causes support equipment to get bumped and sometimes pushed out of place. Feeding tubes may also come in different forms and sizes, which may require different sized holders. It would also be desirable that the holder be adapted for use with chairs as well as cribs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the limitations of the &#39;994 holder, applicant has changed the clamping structure to provide a larger, flexible clamp which is difficult to push aside and may be used on chairs as well as cribs. Applicant is also providing an adaptable feeding tube holder attachable to the main holder structure. Applicant is also providing a hooking structure adapted to handle nearly any sized feeding tube. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the following specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention of the &#39;994 patent. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the second embodiment ancillary tube holder. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the clip holding a syringe 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a feeding tube holder according to the principles of the present invention. The feeding tube holder  1  of the present invention is comprised, in part of the generally flat, nominally vertical, elongated holding element  10  having a flat front face  11 , opposite flat rear face  12 , two opposite side edges  13 , a top  14 , and a bottom  15 . The holding element  10  has an elongated, central channel  16  formed therein, said channel  16  extending nearly to the top  14  and bottom  15 . The holding element central channel  16  permits various configurations to be attached to the feeding tube holder  1 . 
     The holding element bottom  15  terminates in perpendicular, rearwardly extending, elongated, element  20 . The rearwardly extending element  20  has a first end  21  joined to the holding element bottom  15  and a second, opposite end  22 , terminating in a perpendicular, downwardly extending element  30 . The downwardly extending element  30  has a first end  31  joined to the rearwardly extending element second end  22  and a second end  32 . The downwardly extending element  30  has two opposite sides  33 . The downwardly extending element has an aperture  34  centrally formed and extending from one opposite side to the other. 
     The present invention holder  1  is further comprised of a squeeze clamp  40  comprised of a generally flat bottom arm  41  and a generally flat top arm  42 , wherein both arms are pivotally attached to each other by means of a spring-loaded pivot mechanism  43 . The squeeze clamp  40  replaces the &#39;944 holder clamping mechanism. The squeeze clamp  40  is oversized and has a front end  44 , a rear end  45 , a top  46 , a bottom  47 , and two opposite sides  48 , said front end and rear end defining a squeeze clamp longitudinal axis. The pivot mechanism  43  is adapted to keep the arms pressing against each other at the squeeze clamp front end  44 , with the arm portions at the squeeze clamp rear end  45  providing means to hand-manipulate the squeeze clamp front end  44  into arm separation. The squeeze clamp top  46  has an attachment element  50  with an upwardly extending, open U-shaped portion  51 . The U-shaped portion  51  has two opposite arms  52  defining the U-shape. Each arm  52  has a corresponding aperture  53  defining a nominal axis transverse to the squeeze clamp longitudinal axis. The downwardly extending element  30  is adapted to fit between the U-shaped portion arms  52  and has its aperture  34  in alignment with the U-shaped portion arm apertures  53 . An elongated fastener  55  is inserted through the apertures  53  and  34 . The fastener  55  is adjustable allowing the downwardly extending element  30  to be horizontally pivoted to various positions, and consequently the rearwardly extending element  20  and vertical holding element  10 . The attachment element  50  is also adapted to being pivotally turned and positioned from its nominal position about a vertical axis perpendicular to a top arm  42  plane. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a modified neonatal feeding syringe  60  attached to the present invention vertical holding element  10 . The syringe  60  is comprised of a generally cylindrical casing  61  and a plunger  62 , said plunger being removed from the casing when an actual feeding is in operation. The casing  61  has a bottom open protrusion  63  attachable to a feeding tube  64 , said casing providing a gravity feed through the open protrusion  63  into and through a feeding tube  64 . The casing  61  has a fastening element  65  attached to the syringe casing  61  and protruding axially away therefrom. The casing  61  is positioned against the vertical holding element front face  11 . The casing fastening element  65  extends through the vertical element central channel  16  at a desired height and is grasped by a fastener element head  66  against the vertical element rear face  12 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 5-7 , there is shown a second embodiment of the invention comprising an ancillary tube holder  70  removably fastened to the vertical holding element  10 . The ancillary tube holder  70  is comprised of a flat back wall  71 , having a top  72 , a bottom  73 , a front face  74  and a rear face  75 . The ancillary tube holder back wall front face  74  has a half-cylindrical element  80  attached thereto starting near to the flat wall bottom  73  and extending upwardly a desired distance toward the flat back wall top  72 . The flat back wall  71  has two central apertures  77  formed therein, said apertures  77  arranged vertically above the half-cylindrical element  80 . The apertures  77  are adapted to receive removable fasteners  79  extending through the holding element central channel  16 , thereby holding the ancillary tube holder  70  to the vertical holding element  10 . The half-cylindrical element  80  has a bottom  81 , a generally half-cylindrical wall  82  extending upwardly to an open top  83 , said half-cylindrical wall  82  terminating on the flat back wall front face  74  near to opposite flat back wall side edges  78 . The half-cylindrical wall  82  has a vertical, open, front channel  84  extending centrally from the half-cylindrical element bottom  81  to open top  83 . The half-cylindrical bottom  81  has a closed portion  85  extending across the side wall  82  to the flat back wall front face  74 . A bottom open portion  86  is formed extending forwardly from the closed portion  85  to the vertical open channel  84 . The ancillary tube holder  70  is adapted to hold a feeding syringe casing  61  within the half-cylindrical element  80 . The half-cylindrical wall vertical open channel  84  and bottom open portion  86  are adapted to receive the casing bottom open protrusion  63  and feeding tube  64 . Spacers  90  may also be used between the casing  61  and the flat back wall front face  74  to hold the casing  61  firmly in place. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a third embodiment of the invention wherein the vertical, elongated holding element  10  is modified to provide two vertical rows of apertures  17 , each row adjacent the central channel  16 . Each aperture  17  has an open connection  18  to the central channel  16 . The neonatal feeding syringe casing fastening element  65  may be comprised of a button  67  with an indented channel  68  about the button circumference. The button  67  is positioned within the central channel  16  and then slid across the open connection  18  into an aperture  17  wherein the indented channel  65  engages the aperture edge holding the casing in a desired position against the holding element  10 . 
     Alternatively, a syringe-holding clip  100  may be provided. The clip  100  is adapted to slidably fit about the syringe casing  61 . The clip  100  has a protruding hook  101  adapted to fit into one of the apertures  17  and suspend the syringe  60  from the holding element  10 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.