Support and transport system for medical apparatus

1. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a stationary support, said first arm assembly including an arm having a free end that is movable relative to said stationary support;

a second arm assembly connected to a patient transfer vehicle, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies.

2. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a stationary support, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connected to a patient transfer vehicle, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of said first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of said other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said first arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said stationary support for pivotal movement relative thereto.

3. A support and transport system as defined in claim 2 , wherein said first arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said stationary support and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

4. A support and transport system as defined in claim 3 , wherein said arms are moveable in a horizontal plane.

5. A support and transport system as defined in claim 3 , wherein said stationary support is a wall.

6. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a stationary support;

a second arm assembly connected to a patient transfer vehicle;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said first arm assembly and to said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto one of said first and second arm assemblies, the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said second arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said patient transfer vehicle for pivotal movement relative thereto.

7. A support and transport system as defined in claim 6 , wherein said second arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said patient transfer vehicle and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

8. A support and transport system as defined in claim 7 , wherein said arms are moveable in a horizontal plane.

9. A support and transport system as defined in claim 6 , further comprising:

means for vertically adjusting the position of said second arm assembly relative to said patient transfer vehicle.

10. A support and transport system as defined in claim 6 , wherein said patient transfer vehicle is a hospital bed.

11. A support and transport system as defined in claim 1 , wherein said end cap includes attachment means for releasably attaching a patient care apparatus to said end cap.

12. A support and transport system as defined in claim 11 , wherein said attachment means is a collar clamp.

13. A support and transport system as defined in claim 11 , wherein said patient care apparatus is an IV pole.

14. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a stationary support;

a second arm assembly connected to a patient transfer vehicle;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said first arm assembly and to said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto one of said first and second arm assemblies, the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said end cap includes two cavities dimensioned to receive the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies, and wherein said end cap includes attachment means for releasably attaching a patient care apparatus to said end cap.

15. A support and transport system as defined in claim 14 , wherein said locking means includes:

a control member moveable between a first position locking said first arm assembly to said end cap and a second position locking said second arm assembly to said end cap, and

a locking pin associated with each of said cavities, said locking pins permitting movement of said control member between said first and second positions when each of said locking pins is disposed in a predetermined position relative to said control member.

16. A support and transport system as defined in claim 15 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

17. A support and transport system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.

18. A support and transport system as defined in claim 15 , wherein said first arm assembly is locked to end cap when said second arm assembly is unlocked and removable from said end cap, and vice-a-versa.

19. A support and transport system as defined in claim 15 , wherein each locking pin is biased away from said predetermined position when an associated arm assembly is removed from said end cap.

20. A support and transport system as defined in claim 19 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

21. A support and transport system as defined in claim 20 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.

22. In combination:

an IV pole;

a first arm assembly connectable to a stationary support, said first arm assembly including an arm having a free end that is movable relative to said stationary support;

a second arm assembly connectable to a patient transfer vehicle, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting said IV pole, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of said first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto the free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto the free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies.

23. In combination:

an IV pole;

a first arm assembly connectable to a stationary support, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connectable to a patient transfer vehicle, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting said IV pole, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of said first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto the free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said first arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said stationary support for pivotal movement relative thereto.

24. A support and transport system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said first arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said stationary support and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

25. A support and transport system as defined in claim 24 , wherein said arms are moveable in a horizontal plane.

26. A support and transport system as defined in claim 24 , wherein said stationary support is a wall.

27. In combination:

an IV pole;

a first arm assembly connectable to a stationary support;

a second arm assembly connectable to a patient transfer vehicle;

an end cap for supporting said IV pole, said end cap being selectively attachable to said first arm assembly and to said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto one of said first and second arm assemblies, the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is Locked onto said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said second arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said patient transfer vehicle for pivotal movement relative thereto.

28. A support and transport system as defined in claim 27 , wherein said second arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said patient transfer vehicle and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

29. A support and transport system as defined in claim 28 , wherein said arms are moveable in a horizontal plane.

30. A support and transport system as defined in claim 27 , further comprising:

means for vertically adjusting the position of said second arm assembly relative to said patient transfer vehicle.

31. A support and transport system as defined in claim 27 , wherein said patient transfer vehicle is a hospital bed.

32. In combination:

an IV pole;

a first arm assembly connectable to a stationary support, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connectable to a patient transfer vehicle, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting said IV pole, said end cap being selectively attachable to the free end of said first arm assembly and to the free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto the free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said end cap includes attachment means for releasably attaching an IV pole to said end cap.

33. A support and transport system as defined in claim 32 , wherein said attachment means is a collar clamp.

34. A support and transport system as defined in claim 32 , wherein said IV pole is threaded into said end cap.

35. A support and transport system as defined in claim 32 , wherein said end cap includes two cavities dimensioned to receive the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies.

36. A support and transport system as defined in claim 35 , wherein said locking means includes:

a control member moveable between a first position locking said first arm assembly to said end cap and a second position locking said second arm assembly to said end cap, and

a locking pin associated with each of said cavities, said locking pins permitting movement of said control member between said first and second positions when each of said locking pins is disposed in a predetermined position relative to said control member.

37. A support and transport system as defined in chum 36 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

38. A support and transport system as defined in claim 37 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.

39. A support and transport system as defined in claim 36 , wherein said first arm assembly is locked to the end cap when said second arm assembly is unlocked and removable from said end cap, and vice-a-versa.

40. A support and transport system as defined in claim 36 , wherein each locking pin is biased away from said predetermined position when an associated arm assembly is removed from said end cap.

41. A support and transport system as defined in claim 40 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

42. A support and transport system as defined in claim 41 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.

43. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a first structure, said first arm assembly including an arm having a free end that is movable relative to said first structure;

a second arm assembly connected to a second structure said second arm assembly including a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of said first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies.

44. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of

a first arm assembly connected to a first structure, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connected to a second structure said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said first arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said first structure for pivotal movement relative thereto.

45. A support and transport system as defined in claim 44 , wherein said first arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said first structure and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

46. A support and transport system as defined in claim 45 , wherein said first structure is a stationary support.

47. A support and transport system as defined in claim 46 , wherein said stationary support is a wall.

48. A support and transport system as defined in claim 45 , wherein said first structure is a patient transfer vehicle.

49. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a first structure;

a second arm assembly connected to a second structure;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said first arm assembly and to said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto one of said first and second arm assemblies, the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said second arm assembly includes an arm mounted to said second structure for pivotal movement relative thereto.

50. A support and transport system as defined in claim 49 , wherein said second arm assembly includes two arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said two arms being mounted to said second structure and the other of said two arms having a free end that is attachable to said end cap.

51. A support and transport system as defined in claim 50 , wherein said second structure is a stationary support.

52. A support and transport system as defined in claim 50 , wherein said second structure is a patient transfer vehicle.

53. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a first structure, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connected to a second structure, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said end cap includes attachment means for releasably attaching a patient care apparatus to said end cap.

54. A support and transport system as defined in claim 53 , wherein said attachment means is a collar clamp.

55. A support and transport system for a patient care apparatus, comprised of:

a first arm assembly connected to a first structure, said first arm assembly having a free end;

a second arm assembly connected to a second structure, said second arm assembly having a free end;

an end cap for supporting a patient care apparatus, said end cap being selectively attachable to said free end of first arm assembly and to said free end of said second arm assembly; and

locking means on said end cap for locking said end cap onto said free end of one of said first and second arm assemblies, the free end of the other of said first and second arm assemblies being detachable from said end cap only when said end cap is locked onto said free end of said one of said first and second arm assemblies, wherein said patient care apparatus is an IV pole.

56. A support and transport system as defined in claim 55 , wherein said IV pole is threaded into said end cap.

57. A support and transport system as defined in claim 53 , wherein said end cap includes two cavities dimensioned to receive the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies.

58. A support and transport system as defined in claim 57 , wherein said locking means includes:

a control member moveable between a first position locking said first arm assembly to said end cap and a second position locking said second arm assembly to said end cap, and

a locking pin associated with each of said cavities, said locking pins permitting movement of said control member between said first and second positions when each of said locking pins is disposed in a predetermined position relative to said control member.

59. A support and transport system as defined in claim 58 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

60. A support and transport system as defined in claim 59 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.

61. A support and transport system as defined in claim 58 , wherein said first arm assembly is locked to end cap when said second arm assembly is unlocked and removable from said end cap, and vice-a-versa.

62. A support and transport system as defined in claim 58 , wherein each locking pin is biased away from said predetermined position when an associated arm assembly is removed from said end cap.

63. A support and transport system as defined in claim 62 , wherein said locking pins are in said predetermined positions when the ends of said first and second arm assemblies are positioned within the cavities of said end cap.

64. A support and transport system as defined in claim 63 , wherein the free ends of said first and second arm assemblies operatively engage said locking pins when said free ends are inserted within the cavities to move said locking pins to said predetermined position.