U.S. patent application number 11/580612 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for medical table clamp and accessory including same.
Invention is credited to Clifford P. Limpert.
Application Number | 20070136947 11/580612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38171675 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070136947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Limpert; Clifford P. |
June 21, 2007 |
Medical table clamp and accessory including same
Abstract
A clamp assembly for a medical table accessory includes a base
including: (i) a rail-receiving channel block defining a
rail-receiving channel adapted to receive and releasably retain an
associated medical table accessory rail; and, (ii) a plunger
assembly mount that includes a mounting wall. The plunger assembly
is mounted to the mounting wall. The plunger assembly includes a
plunger that moves in the aligned plunger holes relative to the
base in a straight-line reciprocal manner between a retracted
position and an extended position. The plunger includes a working
end that extends into the rail-receiving channel when said plunger
is located in its extended position to abut an associated medical
table accessory rail located in the rail-receiving channel and
capture the associated medical table accessory rail between the
plunger working end and the front hook to prevent disengagement of
the base from the associated medical table accessory rail when the
plunger is in its extended position. The plunger assembly further
includes a handle operatively connected to the plunger by a
linkage, wherein the handle moves pivotably from a disengaged
position to an engaged position. The plunger moves to its extended
position when the handle is moved to its engaged position, and the
plunger moves to its retracted position when the handle moves to
its disengaged position. A medical table accessory such as an
extension table is connected to the base.
Inventors: |
Limpert; Clifford P.; (Port
Charlotte, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY SHARPE LLP
1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE, SEVENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
38171675 |
Appl. No.: |
11/580612 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60726824 |
Oct 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/600 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 13/022 20130101;
A61G 13/124 20130101; A61G 13/0045 20161101; A61G 13/101 20130101;
A61G 13/1235 20130101; A61G 13/129 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/600 |
International
Class: |
A47B 71/00 20060101
A47B071/00 |
Claims
1. A clamp assembly for a medical table accessory, said clamp
assembly comprising: a base comprising: (i) a rail-receiving
channel block defining a rail-receiving channel adapted to receive
and releasably retain an associated medical table accessory rail;
and, (ii) a plunger assembly mount that comprises a mounting wall
spaced from said rear wall of said rail-receiving channel, said
rear wall and said mounting wall defining respective first and
second aligned plunger holes; a plunger assembly mounted to the
mounting wall of said plunger assembly mount, said plunger assembly
comprising a plunger that moves in said aligned plunger holes
relative to said base in a straight-line reciprocal manner between
a retracted position and an extended position, said plunger
comprising a working end that abuts an associated medical table
accessory rail located in said rail-receiving channel and captures
the associated medical table accessory rail between said plunger
working end and said front hook to prevent disengagement of said
base from the associated medical table accessory rail when said
plunger is in its extended position; said plunger assembly further
comprising a handle operatively connected to said plunger by a
linkage, wherein said handle is adapted to move pivotably from a
disengaged position to an engaged position, wherein said plunger
moves to its extended position when said handle is moved to its
engaged position, and wherein said plunger moves to its retracted
position when said handle moves to its disengaged position.
2. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
rail-receiving channel block of said base comprises: a rear wall;
an upper wall that projects outwardly from the rear wall; a lower
wall that projects from the rear wall at a location vertically
spaced from the upper wall; and, a front hook that projects
downwardly from the upper wall.
3. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a
medical table accessory connected to said base.
4. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said medical
table accessory comprises an extension table accessory connected to
said base by at least one fastener.
5. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lower
wall of said rail-receiving channel block comprises a stepped
surface, wherein said rail-receiving channel is defined between
said stepped surface and said front hook projecting downwardly from
said upper wall, such that when an associated medical table
accessory rail is located in said rail-receiving channel, the
associated medical table accessory rail is spaced from said rear
wall of said rail-receiving channel block.
6. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said working
end of said plunger is adjustable to lengthen or shorten said
plunger.
7. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said front
hook includes a chamfer oriented outwardly away from said
rail-receiving channel to facilitate mounting and dismounting said
base relative to an associated medical table accessory rail.
8. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said plunger
assembly is secured to said plunger assembly mount of said base by
a nut that is secured to said plunger assembly and that captures
said mounting wall of said plunger assembly mount.
9. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said base is
a multi-piece construction, wherein said plunger assembly mount is
connected to said rail-receiving channel block by at least one
fastener.
10. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said
linkage by which said handle is operatively connected to said
plunger moves to an over-center position when said handle is moved
to said engaged position to move said plunger to said extended
position, such that when said plunger is in said extended position
and said handle is in said engaged position, said plunger is
prevented from moving from said extended position to said retracted
position in response to axial force exerted on said working end of
said plunger.
11. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
medical table accessory comprises an extension table accessory
connected to said base by at least one fastener.
12. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lower
wall of said rail-receiving channel block comprises a stepped
surface, wherein said rail-receiving channel is defined between
said stepped surface and said front hook projecting downwardly from
said upper wall, such that when an associated medical table
accessory rail is located in said rail-receiving channel, the
associated medical table accessory rail is spaced from said rear
wall of said rail-receiving channel block.
13. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said
working end of said plunger is adjustable to lengthen or shorten
said plunger.
14. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said front
hook includes a chamfer oriented outwardly away from said
rail-receiving channel to facilitate mounting and dismounting said
base relative to an associated medical table accessory rail.
15. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said
plunger assembly is secured to said plunger assembly mount of said
base by a nut that is secured to said plunger assembly and that
captures said mounting wall of said plunger assembly mount.
16. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said base
is a multi-piece construction, wherein said plunger assembly mount
is connected to said rail-receiving channel block by at least one
fastener.
17. The clamp assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said
linkage by which said handle is operatively connected to said
plunger moves to an over-center position when said handle is moved
to said engaged position to move said plunger to said extended
position, such that when said plunger is in said extended position
and said handle is in said engaged position, said plunger is
prevented from moving from said extended position to said retracted
position in response to axial force exerted on said working end of
said plunger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from and benefit of the
filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/726,824
filed Oct. 14, 2005 (Oct. 14, 2005), and said provisional
application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present
specification.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known in the art to employ clamps that attach onto the
sides of medical/surgical tables in order to support accessories
such as table extensions or auxiliary equipment. However, attaching
these clamps often proves to be a difficult task. As is known in
the art, medical tables have a standard rectangular accessory rail
whereby accessories can be attached onto the table by being clamped
to the accessory rail. Prior attempts to clamp accessories onto
medical tables using the accessory rail have included utilizing a
clamp assembly including a knob or bar that must be repeatedly
turned or rotated (often from an inconvenient angle) in order to
securely attach the clamp to the accessory rail by advancement of a
threaded fastener. Another known clamp assembly requires alignment
of components and subsequent insertion of pins into aligned
apertures. These prior arrangements have been deemed sub-optimal
for attaching (and detaching) medical accessories to a surgical
table, due to the time and inconvenience required to
engage/disengage the clamp assembly and for other reasons.
SUMMARY
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
clamp assembly for a medical table accessory includes a base
including: (i) a rail-receiving channel block defining a
rail-receiving channel adapted to receive and releasably retain an
associated medical table accessory rail; and, (ii) a plunger
assembly mount that includes a mounting wall spaced from the rear
wall of the rail-receiving channel. The rear wall and the mounting
wall define respective first and second aligned plunger holes. The
plunger assembly is mounted to the mounting wall of the plunger
assembly mount. The plunger assembly includes a plunger that moves
in the aligned plunger holes relative to the base in a
straight-line reciprocal manner between a retracted position and an
extended position. The plunger includes a working end that abuts an
associated medical table accessory rail located in the
rail-receiving channel and captures the associated medical table
accessory rail between the plunger working end and the front hook
to prevent disengagement of the base from the associated medical
table accessory rail when the plunger is in its extended position.
The plunger assembly further includes a handle operatively
connected to the plunger by a linkage, wherein the handle is
adapted to move pivotably from a disengaged position to an engaged
position. The plunger moves to its extended position when the
handle is moved to its engaged position, and the plunger moves to
its retracted position when the handle moves to its disengaged
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The present development comprises various components and
arrangements of components, preferred embodiments of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top view of a medical table extension including
two medical table clamps formed in accordance with the present
invention, with each of the clamps engaged with a standard medical
table accessory rail of the medical table in accordance with the
present development;
[0006] FIG. 1A is sectional view as taken along line 1A-1A of FIG.
1 showing a cross-section of the accessory rail;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the medical
table clamps of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a view as taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows the accessory rail of FIG. 1A and shows one of
the clamps of the table extension of FIG. 1 partially installed
thereon;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing
a fully installed and engaged medical table clamp;
[0011] FIGS. 6-8 are additional views of a medical table clamp
formed in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIGS. 9-12 are additional views of a DE-STA-CO model 602
clamp that forms a part of the medical table clamp embodiment
disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 shows two medical table clamps 10 being used in a
sample practical application to attach a medical accessory 16, such
as a surgical table extension for a patient's arm, to a medical
table 12 in accordance with the present development. As shown in
FIG. 1, a medical table 12 comprises an accessory rail 14 on both
sides of the table 12. As it is known in the art and shown in FIG.
1A, these rails 14 are of a universal nature in size and
rectangular shape, and the medical table clamp(s) 10 of the present
development are correspondingly dimensioned and conformed to be
releasably and fixedly secured to the rail 14. A medical accessory,
such as the extension table 16, is attached to the medical table
rail 14 with one or more clamps 10, e.g., two clamps 10 as shown
herein.
[0014] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the main components of each medical
table clamp 10. The outer/upper clamp portion 20, also referred to
as a plunger assembly 20, comprises: two handle brackets 22, a
handle grip 24, two linkage brackets 26, a handle base 28, plunger
30, adjustable plunger end 32, a stopper bar 34, and a mounting nut
36. The handle grip 24 covers a first end of each of the handle
brackets 22.
[0015] Each handle bracket 22 is L-shaped and rotatably attached,
with a fastener such as a rivet R1, R2, to a first end 26a of a
respective linkage bracket 26 at the elbow 22a of its L-shape
structure. Opposite the first end of each linkage bracket 26 is a
second end 26b which is rotatably attached, with a fastener such as
a pin P1, to the handle base 28. The linkage brackets 26 are
parallel and spaced-apart, and approximately midway between the
first and second ends 26a, 26b of the linkage brackets 26 the
stopper bar 34 extends between and interconnects the two linkage
brackets 26. The stopper bar 34 prevents the handle brackets 22
from being able to over rotate when the operator engages or
disengages the table clamp 10. The inner end 22b of each L-shaped
handle bracket 22 is rotatably attached, with a fastener such as a
rivet R3, at a first end 30a of the plunger 30. This linkage
arrangement results in reciprocal straight-line translation of the
plunger 30 (see arrow P in FIGS. 4 and 5) in response to pivoting
movement of the handle grip 24 and handle brackets 22 relative to
ends 26a of the linkage brackets 26 (see arrow H in FIGS. 2 and 6).
This reciprocal movement of the plunger in response to movement of
the handle grip 24 can be seen also by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5,
where the plunger 30 is retracted/disengaged in FIG. 4 and
extended/engaged in FIG. 5. The geometry of the plunger assembly
20, including the handle brackets 22, linkage brackets 26, plunger
30, and handle base 28, is such that the plunger 30 is held in its
extended/engaged position (FIGS. 5-8) when handle 24 is pivoted
fully to its engaged position, i.e., the handle 24 and brackets 22
move over-center, so that axial disengaging force exerted on the
plunger 30 cannot move the plunger from its engaged position to its
disengaged position, absent manual movement of the handle 24 from
its engaged position (FIGS. 5-8), where the handle brackets 22 lie
parallel to the rail-receiving channel RC, to its disengaged
position, where the handle brackets 22 are pivoted away from the
engaged position.
[0016] With continuing reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the plunger
assembly 20, which can be provided by a DE-STA-CO model 602 clamp
or other straight-line plunger clamp, is fixedly secured to a base
40 of the clamp assembly 10. The base 40 comprises two main
portions: (i) a rail-receiving channel block 40a; and, (ii) a
plunger assembly mount 40b. The base 40 can be molded or extruded
from Aluminum or a polymeric material as a one-piece construction
and/or can be machined and/or fabricated from one or more pieces.
As shown herein, the rail-receiving channel block 40a is machined
and/or extruded and/or molded and/or fabricated to have the profile
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the plunger assembly mount 40b, which
can be formed in any suitable manner as described for the
rail-receiving channel block 40a, is secured thereto by fasteners
42.
[0017] With particular reference now to the rail-receiving channel
block 40a, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, it is conformed and
dimensioned to be releasably engaged with a standard accessory rail
14 of a medical table 12. To that end, the rail-receiving channel
block 40a comprises an upper horizontally extending wall 44a that
projects outwardly from a vertically extending rear wall 44b. A
lower wall 44c projects horizontally outward from the rear wall 44b
and is vertically spaced from the upper wall 44a. A front hook 44d
projects downwardly from the outer end of the upper wall 44a, i.e.,
generally toward the lower wall 44c, although the lower wall 44c is
not vertically aligned with the front hook 44d owing to the reduced
length of the lower wall 44c relative to the upper wall 44a. Also,
the lower wall 44c defines steps 44e, 44f. As such, rail-receiving
channel block 40a defines an open rail-receiving channel RC.
[0018] The plunger assembly mount 40b includes a mounting wall 44g
that is spaced from and preferably parallel to the rear wall 44b of
the rail-receiving channel block 40a so that an open space or
channel 44h is defined therebetween. The walls 44b, 44g define
respective first and second plunger apertures h1, h2 that are
aligned with each other to accommodate the plunger 30.
[0019] The plunger assembly 20 is mounted to the base 40, e.g., by
a nut 36 located in channel 44h and that engages the handle base 28
of the plunger assembly 20 to capture the wall 44g therebetween. In
one embodiment, as illustrated herein, the plunger assembly 20
comprises a DE-STA-CO model 602 clamp, but it is to be understood
that any other similar type clamp may be used and the present
development is not to be limited to same. The working or inner end
30b of the plunger 30 has an internal thread which allows for the
length of the plunger 30 to be adjusted by threaded advancement or
retraction of a head 32, which allows for the precise length of the
plunger 30 to be determined in order to provide an unyielding fit
onto every table rail 14. In other words, the length of the plunger
30 is adjustable based on the length necessary for clamping.
[0020] One or more clamp assemblies 10 are secured to an extension
table or other accessory 16 by fasteners F that extend through the
accessory 16 and into the clamp base 40, or the accessory 16 is
otherwise fixedly secured to the base 40.
[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the process of attaching the
medical table clamp assembly 10 to the table rail 14 so that the
associated extension table 16 or other accessory can be fixedly but
releasably secured to the rail 14. The plunger holes h1,h2 in the
clamp 40 allows for the plunger 30 to extend back and forth (see
arrow P) in a reciprocal fashion through the clamp base 40 in order
to clamp onto the associated table rail 14. In order to engage the
plunger 30 onto the table rail 14, the operator must pivot the
clamp handle 24 from its disengaged position (FIG. 4) to its
engaged position (FIG. 5) to extend plunger 30 through the holes
h1,h2 until the clamp handle 24 is in its engaged position. When
handle 24 is moved in the opposite direction 180 degrees, the
plunger 30 fully retracts. When the handle 24 is in a perpendicular
position to walls 44b and 44g of the clamp base 40, the adjustable
end 32 of the plunger 30 is approximately flush with rear wall 44b
of the clamp base 40.
[0022] When the medical table clamp 10 is securely attached to the
table rail 14, as illustrated by FIG. 5, the rail 14 will fit
snuggly against steps 44e and 44f and also against wall 44a and
front hook 44d of the clamp base 40a, but is spaced from the rear
wall 44b to define an open channel 44h, which is important to allow
for some movement of the plunger 30 between the wall 44b and the
rail 14 which is required for the handle 24 to be able to move
over-center as described, and to allow the adjustable plunger end
32 to be easily adjusted. The front hook 44d preferably includes an
outwardly facing chamfer 44dc (i.e., facing away from the
rail-receiving channel RC) to allow for ease of use when sliding
the clamp 10 onto or off of the table rail 14, i.e., to prevent the
hook 44d from catching on the rail 14 during installation or
removal of the clamp assembly 10 relative to rail 14.
[0023] When the table rail 14 is fully received in the rail channel
RC and plunger 30 is fully extended as shown in FIG. 5, the table
rail 14 is firmly and immovably captured in rail channel RC, so
that an extension table or other accessory 16 connected to the
clamp assembly 10 is fixedly secured to the table rail 14. FIG. 3
shows an alternative view of the medical table clamp 10 when
looking at a side of the medical table 12 demonstrating when the
clamps 10 are engaged and attaching a medical accessory 16 to the
table rail 14.
[0024] FIGS. 6-8 are additional top, front and side views of the
medical table clamp assembly 10 formed in accordance with the
present development. FIGS. 9-12 are views of the DE-STA-CO model
602 clamp by itself, which, in the illustrated embodiment, forms
the plunger assembly 20.
[0025] The present development has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading this
specification, and it is intended that the claims be construed
literally and/or according to the doctrine of equivalents to the
fullest possible extent to encompass all such modifications and
alterations.
* * * * *