Patent ID: 7074205

Claim:
A modular patient care system, comprising: a plurality of modules including a first module and a second module, said second module comprising a first portion grippable by a user, said second module being configured and dimensioned so as to be capable of being held by a single hand of the user by gripping said first portion; a hinge connector pair configured and dimensioned to allow hingeable engagement of said second module to said first module near a first end of said second module; a latch mechanism for securing said second module to said first module near a second end of said second module, said latch mechanism comprising a first part connected to said first module and a second part connected to said second module near said second end, said second part being capable of springably securing to said first part when forced into said first part; means for releasing said second part from said first part; a guide mechanism separate from said hinge connector pair and said latch mechanism and located therebetween, said guide mechanism for discouraging off-axis engagement of said first and second modules and for providing mechanical stability for said first and second modules when engaged; wherein said means for releasing is spaced away from said first portion of said second module a distance sufficient to prevent a hand gripping said first portion from also activating said releasing means; whereby said second module is capable of being structurally engaged to said first module in a one-handed, single step operation, and whereby an at least two-step or two-handed operation is required to structurally disengage said second module from said first module.