U.S. patent application number 11/713922 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-11 for removable canister holder bracket.
Invention is credited to Keith Roepke.
Application Number | 20080217495 11/713922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39740679 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080217495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roepke; Keith |
September 11, 2008 |
Removable canister holder bracket
Abstract
A system for mounting commercially available sanitizing agent
canisters, includes a fixed mounting bracket and expandable
mounting bracket. The brackets are adapted for tool-less and
removable mounting to the tubular structures of hospital equipment
via an open-ended spring-force clip. The brackets include means for
removable connection to prior art canister holders, such that a
unitary bracket and canister holder apparatus can be removably
mounted to tubular structures.
Inventors: |
Roepke; Keith;
(Chesterfield, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C.
101 S. HANLEY, SUITE 1600
ST. LOUIS
MO
63105
US
|
Family ID: |
39740679 |
Appl. No.: |
11/713922 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/223.41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/223.41 |
International
Class: |
A47K 17/00 20060101
A47K017/00 |
Claims
1. A system for removably mounting a canister holder to a tubular
structure, the system comprising: a fixed mounting bracket and an
expandable mounting bracket; the expandable mounting bracket having
an expandable platform; the expandable platform having a first end
wall and a second end wall; the first end wall and the second end
wall being oppositely disposed on the expandable platform and
defining an expandable space on the platform; the first end wall
having means for removably mounting the expandable mounting bracket
to the tubular structure; the second end wall of the expandable
mounting bracket having means for removably connecting to the
canister holder; the fixed mounting bracket having means for
removably mounting the fixed mounting bracket to the tubular
structure; and the fixed mounting bracket further having a spanning
bracket with means for removably connecting to the canister
holder.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the canister holder comprises: a
seating cage having a first arcuate strut and a second arcuate
strut arranged in co-axial relation, the first and second arcuate
struts each having ends; the seating cage further having a pair of
outboard struts, each outboard strut descending from an end of the
first arcuate strut and terminating at the end of the second
arcuate strut; the seating cage further having a floor frame, the
floor frame being connected to the seating cage; the floor-frame
comprising a pair of vertical inboard struts with top ends; the
vertical inboard struts descending from the top ends to a lowermost
point and then bending outwardly to form outwardly projecting
struts; the outwardly projecting struts having outermost ends and
being at their outermost ends connected by a lower transverse
strut; and the seating cage being connected to a first faceplate,
the first faceplate having holes.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the seating cage further comprises
a swing-down gate, the swing-down gate being connected in hinge
fashion to the lower transverse strut.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for removably mounting
the fixed mounting bracket to the tubular structure comprises means
for one-handed or tool-less mounting.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for removably mounting
the expandable mounting bracket to the tubular structure comprises
means for one-handed or tool-less mounting.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the fixed
mounting bracket to the tubular structure comprises one or more
open-ended spring-force clips.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends with a latch.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends adapted with holes to receive a
screw.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the
expandable mounting bracket to the tubular structure comprises one
or more open-ended spring-force clips.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends with a latch.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends adapted with holes to receive a
screw.
12. The system of claim 2 where the means for removably connecting
the second end wall of the expandable mounting bracket to the
canister holder comprises a second faceplate attached to the second
end wall of the expandable mounting bracket, the second faceplate
having holes complementary to the first faceplate of the seating
cage.
13. A bracket for mounting a canister holder to a tubular member,
the bracket comprising: an expandable platform; the expandable
platform having a first end wall and a second end wall; the first
end wall and the second end wall being oppositely disposed on the
expandable platform and defining an expandable space on the
platform; the first end wall having means for removably mounting
the bracket to the tubular structure; and the second end wall
having means for removably connecting to the canister holder.
14. The bracket of claim 13 wherein: the canister holder comprises
a seating cage connected to a faceplate, the faceplate having
holes; the seating cage having a first arcuate strut and a second
arcuate strut arranged in co-axial relation, the first and second
arcuate struts each having ends; the seating cage further having a
pair of outboard struts, each outboard strut descending from an end
of the first arcuate strut and terminating at an end of the second
arcuate strut; the seating cage further having a floor frame, the
floor frame being connected to the seating cage; the floor-frame
comprising a pair of vertical inboard struts with top ends; the
vertical inboard struts descending from the top ends to a lowermost
point and then bending outwardly to form outwardly projecting
struts; and the outwardly projecting struts having outermost ends
and being at their outermost ends connected by a lower transverse
strut.
15. The bracket of claim 14 wherein the seating cage further
comprises a swing-down gate, the swing-down gate being connected in
hinge fashion to the lower transverse strut.
16. The bracket of claim 13 wherein the means for removably
connecting the second end wall to the canister holder includes a
faceplate with holes in it.
17. The bracket of claim 13 wherein the means for removably
mounting the bracket to the tubular structure comprises means for
one-handed or tool-less mounting.
18. The bracket of claim 13 wherein the means for removably
mounting the bracket to the tubular structure comprises one or more
open-ended spring-force clips.
19. The bracket of claim 18 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends with a latch.
20. The bracket of claim 18 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends adapted with holes to receive a
screw.
21. A bracket for mounting a canister holder to a tubular member,
the bracket comprising: a spanning bracket having a front face and
a rear face; the rear face having means for removably mounting the
bracket to the tubular structure; and the front face having means
for removably connecting to the canister holder.
22. The bracket of claim 21 wherein: the canister holder comprises
a seating cage connected to a faceplate, the faceplate having
holes; the seating cage having a first arcuate strut and a second
arcuate strut arranged in co-axial relation, the first and second
arcuate struts each having ends; the seating cage further having a
pair of outboard struts, each outboard strut descending from an end
of the first arcuate strut and terminating at an end of the second
arcuate strut; the seating cage further having a floor frame, the
floor frame being connected to the seating cage; the floor-frame
comprising a pair of vertical inboard struts with top ends; the
vertical inboard struts descending from the top ends to a lowermost
point and then bending outwardly to form outwardly projecting
struts; and the outwardly projecting struts having outermost ends
and being at their outermost ends connected by a lower transverse
strut.
23. The bracket of claim 22 wherein the seating cage further
comprises a swing-down gate, the swing-down gate being connected in
hinge fashion to the lower transverse strut.
24. The bracket of claim 22 wherein the means for removably
connecting the bracket to the canister holder includes holes in the
front face, the holes being arranged according to the holes in the
faceplate of the canister holder.
25. The bracket of claim 21 wherein the means for removably
mounting the bracket to the tubular structure comprises means for
one-handed or tool-less mounting.
26. The bracket of claim 21 wherein the means for removably
mounting the bracket to the tubular structure comprises one or more
open-ended spring-force clips.
27. The bracket of claim 26 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends with a latch.
28. The bracket of claim 26 wherein the one or more open-ended
spring-force clips comprise ends adapted with holes to receive a
screw.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM ON COMPACT DISC
[0003] Not applicable.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to mounting brackets. The
invention is specifically directed to brackets that are adapted to
attach to commercially available holders of sanitizing products and
that can be removably mounted to hospital equipment having one or
more tubular structures or features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Both the number and severity of infections contracted in
hospitals are increasing. Recent studies indicate that nosocomial
infection has grown to become a leading cause of death in the
United States. According to published estimates, one out of every
twenty hospital patients succumbs to a nosocomial infection. In raw
numbers, this equates to approximately two million Americans a
year, of which, an estimated 103,000 die due to the infection.
Attempts to control the increase in nosocomial infection via
antibiotics, as opposed to rigorous hygiene, have failed. Of note,
the United States lags behind many developed countries in the
prevention of one of the most deadly hospital infections,
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Despite the
fact that it is preventable, MRSA infection poses a major threat to
the United States hospital system.
[0006] Bacteria are largely spread through touch. Hence, unclean
hands and contaminated equipment are the primary cause behind the
spread of nosocomial infection such as MRSA. The most effective way
to reduce hospital infections is for doctors and other health care
workers to clean their hands and equipment in between treating
patients. In particular, pertinent literature suggests that
antiseptic treatment of wheelchairs and other hospital equipment is
effective in reducing the risk of transmission of bacteria from
infected patients to inanimate objects and then to other patients.
This is because bacterial resistance to disinfectants is nowhere
near as common as antibiotic resistance.
[0007] To foster infection-reducing hygiene practice, a hospital
administrator will often locate sanitizing agents (e.g., lotions,
foams, wipes, etc.) throughout a hospital for staff to use. As
purchased, these sanitizing agents are often contained in
cylindrical or near-cylindrical containers. In this application the
term "canister" will be used to describe both cylindrical and
near-cylindrical containers. These canisters are then mounted in
holders secured to walls. An example of a prior art canister holder
is shown in FIG. 1.
[0008] A hospital's decision to permanently affix wall-mounted
sanitizing agent holders to control hospital infection, though
laudable, is not without disadvantage. First, permanently affixing
a sanitizing agent holder to a wall surface normally requires a
member of the hospital's maintenance staff to use tools, such as
drills and screwdrivers, to accomplish the task. Second, locating
such permanently mounted sanitizing agents is hampered by the fact
that in hospitals and nursing homes, wall space is at a premium due
to the need to also affix medical equipment and informational
displays (e.g., medical records, charts, patient instructions,
hospital information, etc.) to the walls at convenient working
heights and distances. Of course, permanently mounting any item to
a wall, necessarily involves marring the wall, which in turn
requires cosmetic repairs to the wall if the mounted item is later
removed or relocated.
[0009] Also, when a hospital or nursing home chooses to permanently
mount sanitizer holders, it must install a sufficiently large
number of dispensing devices to ensure that all rooms and areas of
the hospital are outfitted with a device. However, much of the
equipment in a hospital or nursing home, such as wheelchairs,
intravenous stands or diagnostic equipment is mobile and used among
patients throughout the facility. The itinerant use of hospital
equipment not only raises the chances of cross-transmission of
contagion among staff and patients, it could result in the
equipment being moved to an area not outfitted with a sanitizer.
Accordingly, vigilant sanitizing of such equipment and the hands of
persons using the equipment is necessary for infection control.
Accomplishing the requisite frequent equipment cleaning (or hand
cleaning after using equipment) is often made difficult by the lack
of a near-at-hand sanitizer after using the equipment. In the case
where sanitization of mobile equipment was desired immediately
after patient use, the equipment would have to be brought to a
location where a known sanitizer dispenser was located.
Additionally, in the situation where there arose the possibility of
in-transit exposure of a patient or medical equipment to infectious
agents such as might be encountered while traveling through a
floor, ward or room of a facility, facility staff would need to
detour or wait until their destination to find an available
sanitizing agent dispenser. Still another disadvantage to placing
sanitizing agents in wall-mounted holders arises from the fact that
sanitizing agents often contain alcohol as an ingredient. For
reasons of fire safety, alcohol-based agents must be located away
from wall-mounted electrical sources such as light switches or
hospital equipment. Because of these considerations, wall-mounted
sanitizers are often affixed at less than convenient places.
[0010] Because of the above-described and other disadvantages there
is thus a need in the art for a sanitizing agent holder mounting
system and apparatus that can be quickly and easily secured to
hospital equipment so that sanitizing agents can be located
near-at-hand. Additionally, there is a need in the art for a
sanitizing agent holder mounting system and apparatus that can be
quickly and easily removed for deployment on other equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention meets the need in the art by providing
for a system of mounting brackets that are each adapted to attach
to aftermarket sanitizing agent holders. The subject invention
comprises a fixed mounting bracket and an expandable mounting
bracket that can be used to mount prior art canister holders to
tubular or near-tubular structures. In their preferred embodiments,
each mounting bracket can be installed upon and removed from
hospital equipment quickly, without tools and with one hand. The
brackets are adapted so that they may be removably mounted on the
tubular members commonly found on hospital equipment, such as an IV
pole, a bed, a stretcher or an equipment cart. The brackets may be
used individually or as part of system to allow non-permanent,
equipment-based mounting of sanitizing agent holders.
[0012] The fixed version of the preferred embodiment mounting
bracket includes a spanning bracket adapted to connect to the prior
art canister holder. In this regard, the front face of the bracket
is adapted with means to receive and hold the faceplate of the
canister holder. A rear face of the bracket is provided with means
for removably mounting the prior art holder to a tubular member.
The preferred embodiment means for removably mounting the holder to
a tubular member comprise one or more open-ended spring-force
clips. This version of the embodiment advantageously provides for
an easily-removable mounting device that has a sufficiently minimal
profile that does not interfere with the operation or portability
of hospital equipment or furniture. A second version preferred
embodiment mounting bracket provides for an expandable bracket that
has a larger profile, but accommodates a greater variety of
positioning needs. This embodiment includes an expandable elongate
platform with a pair of opposing end walls. The forward end wall is
adapted with means to receive the prior art canister holder. A rear
end wall is provided with means for removably mounting the bracket
with attached canister holder to a tubular member. The preferred
embodiment means for removably mounting the holder to a tubular
member comprise one or more open-ended spring-force clips. By
virtue of this mounting means, the brackets can be mounted to
hospital or nursing home equipment using no tools and only one
hand. In both the fixed and expandable embodiments, the ends of the
open-ended spring-force clips can be augmented with latches or
fastener-receiving holes to increase holding power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art canister
holder.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fixed mounting bracket
of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fixed mounting bracket
of the present invention with attached canister holder.
[0016] FIG. 4 is right side elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention
with attached canister holder.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention
with attached canister holder.
[0018] FIG. 6 is an overhead plan view of a preferred embodiment of
the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention with attached
canister holder.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of
the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention with attached
canister holder.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment
of the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention with
attached canister holder.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a preferred embodiment of
the fixed mounting bracket of the present invention with attached
canister holder.
[0022] FIG. 10a is a perspective view of open-ended spring-force
clips with arms adapted with holes to accept a fastener such as a
screw and nut.
[0023] FIG. 10b is a perspective view of open-ended spring-force
clips with arms adapted with a latch.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the expandable mounting bracket of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of
the expandable mounting bracket.
[0026] FIG. 13 is an overhead plan view of a preferred embodiment
of the expandable mounting bracket.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a left side elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the expandable mounting bracket.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a right side elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the expandable mounting bracket.
[0029] FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment
of the expandable mounting bracket.
[0030] FIG. 17 is a rear elevation view of a preferred embodiment
of the expandable mounting bracket.
[0031] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the prior art canister
holder removably connected to the expandable mounting bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Before embodiments of the invention are explained in detail,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of the examples set forth in the
following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention
is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried
out in a variety of applications and in various ways. Also, it is
to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein
is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and
variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed
thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The
terms "mounted," "connected," or "coupled," if used, are used
broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting,
connecting, and coupling. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are
not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
As used in this application, the terms "tubular member" or "tubular
structure" are not limited to hollow cylindrical structures, but
also include any solid cylindrical or near-cylindrical structure
such as a rod or pole. The terms "removably connected" or
"removably attached" mean to firmly connect or attach an object to
a second object in a manner that does not alter the structure of
the second object and that allows for the first object's later
complete removal from the second object.
[0033] A prior art canister holder 100 designed to hold canisters
of varying sizes is disclosed in FIG. 1. Prior art canister holder
100 comprises a seating cage 101 adapted to receive canisters
containing sanitizing products. Seating cage 101 comprises a pair
of co-axial arcuate struts: an upper arcuate strut 104 and a lower
arcuate strut 105. The circumferential outline of arcuate strut 104
defines an opening through which cylindrical containers may be
received into, and engaged by, seating cage 101. The ends 106 of
upper arcuate strut 104 descend to form outboard struts 108 which
are in axial arrangement with arcuate struts 104, 105. Outboard
struts 108 continue downward and terminate at the ends 107 of lower
arcuate strut 105. Seating cage 101 is shaped to receive canisters
holding sanitizing products in an interference fit.
[0034] Seating cage 101 also comprises floor frame 102. Floor frame
102 is comprised of a pair of vertical inboard struts 112. Inboard
struts 112 are each symmetrically affixed to arcuate strut 104 at a
point along a rear segment of arcuate strut 104. Inboard struts are
similarly attached to arcuate strut 105 at points below the fixing
points on arcuate strut 104. From their respective top ends 114,
vertical inboard struts 112 each continue downward to a lowermost
point 113 and then form outwardly projecting struts 118, which
serve as a floor of the prior art canister holder. Outwardly
projecting struts 118 have outermost ends, which are connected by
lower transverse strut 121.
[0035] Holder 100 can be adapted with a swing-down gate 111 that
attaches rotatably about transverse strut 121 and clasps to
transverse strut 116 at the top of frame 102. Swing-down gate 111
is thus attached in hinge fashion to lower transverse strut 121.
Hinged in the fashion described above, swing-down gate 111 can
rotate about lower transverse strut 111. From the open position,
swing-down gate 111 swings up and over seating cage 101 (and any
engaged container). Near their rearmost sections, arcuate struts
104, 105 are secured to the front face 123 of faceplate 122.
Faceplate 122 has a front facing portion 123 and a rear-facing
portion 125. As shown in the drawings, seating cage 101 is affixed
to the forward face 123 of faceplate 122. Faceplate 122 includes
arranged holes 124.
[0036] A preferred embodiment fixed mounting bracket 130 of the
present invention is disclosed in FIGS. 2-9. Fixed mounting bracket
130 includes spanning bracket 133. Front face 131 of spanning
bracket 133 has a set of holes 132 matching the spacing and
arrangement of openings in faceplate 122. Preferably the holes 132
in spanning bracket 133 are tapped so that faceplate 122 can be
secured to bracket 133 by passing threaded screws or bolts through
holes 124 and threading them into the threaded holes 132 in
spanning bracket 133.
[0037] Face 131 of spanning bracket 133 is made complementary to
faceplate 122 of holder 100 such that holes 124 in faceplate 122
are disposed and arranged in accordance with holes 132 on bracket
130. Rear-face 125 of faceplate 122 is placed in face-to-face
contact with front face 131 of spanning bracket 133 such that holes
132 align with complementary holes 124 of faceplate 122. Once holes
124 align with holes 132, a fastener such as a bolt or screw 136 is
inserted through holes 124 and threaded on into holes 132 until
tight. As is best seen in FIG. 1, for ease of connection, faceplate
122 is adapted with one or more holes 124 that are keyhole shaped.
Threaded fasteners, such as screws 136 insert through holes 124 and
into engagement with the tapped openings 132 of spanning bracket
133. In this fashion faceplate 122 can be removably connected to
fixed mounting bracket 130. Alternatively, the holes 132 in front
face 131 of spanning bracket 133 may be un-threaded so as to
require alternative securing means such as nut and bolt, screw and
bolt, rivet or other type of mechanical fastener in order to
removably connect fixed mounting bracket 130 to faceplate 122.
[0038] With fasteners inserted through holes 124 and holes 132,
faceplate 122 is now secured to spanning bracket 133 and canister
holder 100 is now conjoined with fixed mounting bracket 130. A
depiction of the apparatus comprised of conjoined holder 100 and
bracket 130 is shown in FIGS. 3-9. The conjoined units may now be
attached as a unitary structure to a tubular member such as an IV
pole or such as might be found on a hospital bed or equipment cart.
This version of the embodiment advantageously provides for an
easily-removable mounting device that has a sufficiently minimal
profile that does not interfere with the operation or portability
of hospital equipment or furniture. By virtue of its mounting means
described below, the brackets can be mounted to hospital or nursing
home equipment using without tools and using only one hand.
[0039] In the depicted embodiment spanning bracket 133 is an open
ended box-shaped bracket, but may be any shape, including solid,
hollow, tubular or planar. Attached to the rear-facing portion 138
of spanning bracket 133 are means for removably securing fixed
mounting bracket 130 to tubular structures. In the embodiment shown
the means for removably securing fixed mounting bracket 130
comprise one or more spring-force clips 140. Spring-force clips 140
can be made out of any rigid, resilient material, such as spring
steel, carbon fiber or Nylon. The "open" spring construct of the
spring-force clip 140 shown is particularly suited for one-handed
mounting of the holder. Alternatively, means for providing
removable securement may be accomplished via a hinged clamp or a
clamp having a mechanically actuated opening. In the embodiment
shown in the figures, open-ended spring-force clips 140 each
comprise a pair of arms 141 with distal ends 142 that define an
opening 150 through which the profile of a tubular member 300
(shown in outline) is inserted. Bulge sections 144 are disposed
opposite from each other and have a concave inside surface 145.
Within their interior, bulge sections 144 roughly define an
approximate circular area of diameter D. Hence, spring-force clips
140 are ideally suited to hold tubular structures with a
cross-section diameter greater than the distance D. In this
fashion, after the profile of tubular member 300 is inserted in
opening 150, tubular member 300 is then pushed on into the interior
of bulge sections 144. Inside surfaces 145 of bulge sections 144
thereafter receive the tubular member and embrace it by
interference fit.
[0040] Outfitting the holder bracket with an appropriately sized,
open-ended spring-force clip as herein described and shown enables
the holder to be advantageously deployed and removed from tubular
structures without tools and using only one hand. To provide for
securement to tubular structures of varying dimensions,
spring-force clips 140 may comprise a plurality of bulge sections
of tapering diameters D. Additionally, when mounted upon a tubular
structure, the holder can be protected against axial and transverse
(in relation to the tubular structure) twisting forces by providing
the holder with at least two spring-force clips mounted in vertical
arrangement to support bracket 130. Spring-force clips 140 can be
secured to the rear face 138 of spanning bracket 133 by any
conventional attachment means, including but not limited to
brazing, welding, adhesives or mechanical fasteners such as rivets
or screws. In the embodiment shown, spring-force clips 140 are
attached to rear face 138 by means of screws 151. Screws 151 are
placed through holes (not shown) in spring-force clips 140 and
through holes (not shown) in rear face 138 of spanning bracket 133
and threaded into nuts 152. If it is desired that bracket 130 be
able to swivel transversely about tubular member 300, then a
preferred means of securing spring-force clip 140 to spanning
bracket 133 would comprise a rivet.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 10a, to provide spring-force clips 140 with
more holding power or protection against removal, ends 142 can be
provided with oppositely disposed fastener receiving holes 146 that
can receive a screw or bolt 147, which, in, turn, can receive a nut
148. A washer 149 can be included in the fastening arrangement as
security against nut 148 loosening. Alternatively, one of holes 146
may be adapted or threaded so as to mechanically receive screw 147
and thereby dispense with the need for nut 148 and washer 149.
Utilizing a screw and nut arrangement to secure spring-force clip
140 to a chosen tubular member, would effectively result in holder
100 being mounted in a fashion that would require tools to mount
and remove the holder. Mounting a sanitizing agent holder such as
shown to a piece of hospital equipment with tool-dependent
fasteners would solve the problem of not having a sanitizing agent
near at hand while using the equipment, but could create other
concerns. For example, installing holders requiring tool-dependent
fasteners on hospital equipment would require tools, fastening
hardware and the likely services of hospital maintenance workers
(as opposed to treating staff) who may not be readily available.
Additionally, some hospital equipment is collapsible to allow for
storage. Mounting a sanitizing agent holder to collapsible
equipment with tool-dependent fasteners would not just make it more
difficult to remove the holder, but it could cause the
bracket-to-tubular member connection to be too tight and thus
interfere with the holder's ability to rotate axially about the
tubular member. These problems could interfere with the ability of
the equipment to collapse and stow-away or travel through confined
hospital spaces. Finally, mounting a holder on a specific piece of
hospital equipment using tool-dependent fasteners would prevent the
holder from being readily used on other equipment and would thus
require the hospital to purchase holders to outfit many pieces of
equipment. Hence, if additional holding power is desired, than it
is preferred that ends 142 be adapted with a latch mechanism 160
such as is shown in FIG. 10b. A holder outfitted with a latch
mechanism as is shown in FIG. 10b would provide additional holding
power, yet still enable the holder to be mounted and removed
without tools and with one hand.
[0042] Once removed from fixed bracket 130, canister holder 100 can
be mounted to expandable bracket 200 as herein described. Canister
holder 100 can be removed from bracket 130 by loosening the screws
holding faceplate 122 to spanning bracket 133. A preferred
embodiment expandable mounting bracket of the present invention is
disclosed in FIGS. 11-17. Mounting bracket 200 comprises an
expandable platform 201 with a first end wall 203 and a second end
wall 202. Expandable platform 201 comprises two L-shaped brackets
204, 205 with respective end walls 202, 203 and slidably mounted
together on their respective platform sections 206, 207.
[0043] As best seen in FIG. 14, in the embodiment shown, L-shaped
bracket 205 includes mounting holes 209 on platform section 207. As
seen in FIG. 15, L-shaped bracket 204 includes lengthwise slot 210
on platform section 206. When the respective platform sections 206,
207 of L-shaped brackets 204 and 205 are placed in face-to-to face
contact with each other, holes 209 align with slot 210. L-shaped
bracket 204 is secured to L-shaped bracket 205 by inserting screws
211 through slot 210, into holes 209 and then into fastener
receivers 212. When brackets 204, 205 are arranged and connected in
the depicted fashion, end walls 202, 203 define an expandable space
240.
[0044] L-shaped brackets 204, 205 are preferably made out of any
lightweight rigid material such as plastic, carbon fiber or metal.
In the preferred embodiment, fastener receivers 212 are threaded
bosses that are glued, welded or brazed on platform section 207.
Fastener receivers 212 could be, however, any type of bolt or
screw-receiving fastener that allows for loosening and tightening,
such as a nut. Threaded bosses 212 receive screws 211, which are
then threaded into threaded bosses 212 until tightened. By virtue
of slot 210, the overall length of holding platform 201 can be
adjusted to different lengths merely by loosening the fasteners
holding L-shaped brackets 204, 205 together and sliding L-shaped
bracket 204 forward or rear-ward along L-shaped bracket 205.
[0045] Attached to outside face 213 of rear end wall 203 of
L-shaped bracket 205 are one or more means for removably securing
the holder to tubular structures. In the embodiment shown the means
for removably securing the holder comprise one or more open-ended
spring-force clips 214. Spring-force clips 214 can be made of any
rigid, resilient material including but not limited to spring
steel, carbon fiber or nylon. Alternatively, means for providing
removable securement may be accomplished via a belt clamp, hinged
clamp or a clamp having a mechanically actuated opening. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-18, spring-force clips 214 each
comprise open, oppositely disposed arms 215 with distal ends 216.
The space between ends 216 defines an opening 218 through which the
profile of a tubular member 300 (shown in outline) is inserted.
Bulge sections 220 are disposed opposite from each other and have a
concave inside surface 221. The interior of bulge sections 220
roughly defines an approximate circular area of diameter D. Hence,
spring-force clips 214 are ideally suited to hold tubular
structures with a cross-section diameter slightly greater than the
distance D. In this fashion, after the profile of tubular member
300 is inserted in opening 218, member 300 is then pushed on into
the interior of bulge sections 220. The inside surfaces 221 of
bulge sections 220 thereafter receive tubular member 300 and
embrace it by interference fit. By virtue of a proper interference
fit, bracket 200 is held secure to tubular member 300 but can
rotate axially about the member as space needs dictate.
[0046] Outfitting mounting bracket 200 with open-ended spring-force
clips as herein described and shown enables the holder to be
deployed and removed from tubular structures without tools and in
one-hand fashion. To provide for securement to tubular structures
of varying dimensions, spring-force clips 214 may comprise a
plurality of bulge sections of tapering diameters D. Additionally,
when mounted upon a tubular structure, the holder can be protected
against axial and transverse (in relation to the tubular structure)
twisting forces by providing the holder with at least two
spring-force clips mounted in vertical arrangement to end wall 203
as shown in FIGS. 11-18.
[0047] Spring-force clips 214 can be secured to the outside face
213 of end wall 203 by any conventional attachment means, including
but not limited to brazing, welding, adhesives or mechanical
fasteners such as rivets or screws. In the embodiment shown,
spring-force clips 214 are attached to rear end wall 203 by means
of bolts 226. Bolts 226 are placed through holes (not shown) in end
wall 203 and then threaded into brazed-on nuts 227. If it is
desired that holder 200 be able to swivel transversely about
tubular member 219, then a preferred means of securing spring-force
clip 214 to end wall 203 would comprise a rivet.
[0048] End wall 202 of bracket 200 contains means for receiving the
canister holder 100. In the preferred embodiment the means comprise
faceplate 230 mounted in face-to-face fashion to the outside face
241 of end wall 202 of L-shaped bracket 204. Faceplate 230 is made
complementary to faceplate 122 of holder 100 such that holes 124 in
faceplate 122 are disposed and arranged in accordance with holes
232 on faceplate 230. Rear-face 125 of faceplate 122 is placed in
face-to-face contact with front face 233 of faceplate 230 such that
holes 232 align with complementary holes 124 of faceplate 122. Once
holes 124 align with holes 232, a fastener such as a bolt or screw
235 is inserted through holes 124 and threaded on into holes 232
until tight. As is best seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 18, for ease of
connection, faceplate 122 is adapted with one or more holes 124
that are keyhole shaped. Threaded fasteners, such as screws 235
insert through holes 124 and into engagement with the tapped
openings 232 of faceplate 230. In this fashion faceplate 122 can be
removably connected to expandable mounting bracket 200.
Alternatively, the holes 232 in faceplate 230 may be un-threaded so
as to require alternative securing means such as nut and bolt,
screw and bolt or other type of mechanical fastener in order to
removably connect expandable mounting bracket 200 to holder
100.
[0049] With fasteners inserted through holes 124 and holes 232,
faceplate 122 is now secured to faceplate 230 and canister holder
100 is now conjoined with expandable mounting bracket 200. A
depiction of the apparatus comprised of conjoined holder 100 and
bracket 200 is shown in FIG. 18. The conjoined units form a unitary
apparatus that may now be attached to a tubular member such as an
IV pole or such as might be found on a hospital bed or equipment
cart. By virtue of the expandable mounting bracket, canister holder
100 can be mounted and deployed to accommodate positions and
locations not permitted by fixed mounting bracket 130.
[0050] It is a feature and advantage of expandable mounting bracket
200 that it may be removably attached to tubular structures. In
particular, it is a feature and advantage of the described and
depicted invention that it can be easily attached to and removed
from tubular structures without tools and by using only one hand.
However, as described and disclosed in connection with bracket 130,
spring-force clips 214 of bracket 200 can be provided with means
such as screws, bolts or latches to provide for additional holding
power. Additionally, when mounted upon a tubular structure, the
holder can be protected against axial and transverse (in relation
to the tubular structure) twisting forces by providing the holder
with at least two spring-force clips mounted in vertical
arrangement to support bracket 200.
[0051] The construct of the invention may be varied depending on a
number of factors, such as the size of the mounting means, spanning
brackets, platforms, end walls and their component parts and the
composition of their component parts. Though the invention
described herein has particular application to mounting canister
holders that hold containers of sanitizing products, it can be
adapted and used to hold containers of other shapes and products.
Additionally, though the invention described herein has particular
application for mounting holders of sanitizing products to tubular
members found on mobile hospital equipment, it can be employed on
any object having tubular members, such as shopping carts, baby
strollers, carriages and cages. While specific embodiments have
been shown and described, many variations are possible. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible
within the scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined
by the following claims and their equivalents, in which all terms
are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise
indicated. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been shown
and described, many variations are possible. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that the invention can be carried
out with various other minor modifications from that disclosed
herein, and same is deemed to be within the scope of this
invention.
* * * * *