Patent ID: 8104729

Claim:
A patient care equipment support transferable between a first device having a first generally hemispherical socket and a second device having a second generally hemispherical socket, the equipment support comprising: an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment, and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the coupler having first and second generally hemispherical portions of substantially equivalent size and shape, the first generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the first generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the first generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation and the second generally hemispherical portion being configured for receipt in the second generally hemispherical socket to seat upon the second generally hemispherical socket in weight bearing relation, wherein the first and second generally hemispherical portions are configured to rotate within the respective first and second generally hemispherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second generally hemispherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices, wherein the coupler comprises parallel spaced apart first and second posts extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion, the first generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the first post and the second generally hemispherical portion is coupled to the second post with the first and second generally hemispherical portions being spaced from the equipment supporting portion by substantially equivalent distances along the respective first and second posts, wherein each of the first and second generally hemispherical portions terminates at a respective flat, exposed upper surface that is perpendicular to the respective first and second posts, that extends radially outwardly from the respective first and second posts, and that overlies a remaining portion of the respective first and second generally hemispherical portions when the first and second posts are oriented vertically, and wherein the first and second sockets are configured to permit rotation of the first and second generally hemispherical portions within the respective first and second generally hemispherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second generally hemispherical sockets.