Patient care equipment support transfer system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a patient care equipment support, and more particularly relates to a system for transferring a patient care equipment support between two or more devices, such as a hospital bed, a wall arm system, a wheeled cart, stand or dolly, and the like.

[0002] Hospitalized patients often require patient care equipment to be in close proximity during hospital care. Such patient care equipment is typically supported on a patient care equipment support such as, a rack, shelf system, cabinet, an IV pole or the like. Examples of patient care equipment include, but are not limited to, the following: heart monitoring equipment, medical gas delivery equipment, infusion management equipment, equipment monitors, patient monitors, defibrillators, IV bags, IV pumps, IV poles, oxygen tanks, suction equipment, and the like, many of which directly connect to the patient via lines or tubes.

[0003] It is desirable that patient care equipment is transferable between a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, a stretcher, an ambulatory care chair, and the like, and a support structure, such as a ceiling or wall-mounted service head, a ceiling or wall-mounted equipment support arm, a floor-supported stand, a wheeled cart, a headwall, a wall of a hospital room, and the like. An illustrative patient care equipment support that is transferable between a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, and a support structure, such as a service head, is disclosed in a U.S. Patent Application, Publication Number US-2006-0179571-A1, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] The present invention comprises an apparatus, or a system or a method having one or more of the features recited in the claims or one or more of the following features, which alone or in any combination may comprise patentable subject matter:

[0005] A patient support apparatus may comprise a lower frame supported on a floor, an upper frame supported above the lower frame and configured to support a patient, and a support structure coupled to the lower frame. The support structure may include a column or lift having a movable portion that is movable generally vertically relative to the lower frame and relative to the upper frame. The movable portion of the lift may be configured to carry a patient care equipment support. The equipment support may be configured to support patient care equipment. The upward movement of the movable portion of the lift may allow the equipment support to be lifted off the floor and the downward movement of the movable portion of the lift may allow the equipment support to be lowered onto the floor. The patient support apparatus may be one of a hospital bed, stretcher, OR table, or the like. The equipment support may be one of a rack, shelf system, cabinet, an IV pole, a cart, or the like.

[0006] The apparatus may further comprise an actuator operable to raise and lower the movable portion of the lift and a user input coupled to the actuator. The user input may be located on the movable portion of the lift. The apparatus may further comprise a handle coupled to the movable portion of the lift. The handle may be movable between a use position and a storage position.

[0007] The support structure may comprise an arm extending outwardly from the lower frame so that at least a portion of the arm extends outside a footprint of the upper frame. The lift may extend upwardly from the portion of the arm that extends outside the footprint of the upper frame. The arm may be coupled to the lower frame for side-to-side movement between a first position on a first side of the lower frame and a second position on a second side of the lower frame through a central position near a head end of the lower frame. The arm may comprise a first portion coupled to the lower frame for pivoting movement about a generally vertical axis and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis of the arm. The movable second portion of the arm may carry the lift. The longitudinal axis of the arm may be generally horizontal.

[0008] The apparatus may further comprise a linkage coupled to the lower frame and coupled to the movable second portion of the arm that carries the lift. Pivoting movement of the first portion of the arm may cause the linkage to move the second portion of the arm carrying the lift along the longitudinal axis of the arm. The linkage may comprise a frame member coupled to the lower frame and having a track and a pin coupled to the movable second portion of the arm and riding in the track.

[0009] The arm may pivot from the central position near the head end of the lower frame to the first position on the first side of the lower frame through an intermediate position near a corner of the lower frame. The second portion of the arm carrying the lift may move generally outwardly as the arm pivots from the central position near the head end of the lower frame to the intermediate position near the corner of the lower frame. The second portion of the arm carrying the lift may move generally inwardly as the arm pivots from the intermediate position near the corner of the lower frame to the first position near the first side of the lower frame.

[0010] The apparatus may further comprise a first actuator operable to raise and lower the movable portion of the lift, a first user input coupled to the first actuator, a second actuator operable to pivot the arm about the generally vertical axis, a second user input coupled to the second actuator, a third actuator operable to move the second portion of the arm along the longitudinal axis of the arm and a third user input coupled to the third actuator. The first, second and third user inputs may be located on the movable portion of the lift. The movable portion of the lift may have upper and lower first couplers which are vertically aligned. The patient care equipment support may comprise upper and lower second couplers which are also vertically aligned and which are configured to be detachably coupled to the respective upper and lower first couplers of the patient support apparatus when the equipment support is carried by the patient support apparatus.

[0011] When the upper and lower first couplers of the patient support apparatus are positioned vertically below the respective upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support and the movable portion of the lift is raised, the upper and lower first couplers engage the upper and lower second couplers to lift the equipment support off the floor, allowing the equipment support to be transported with the patient support apparatus. The equipment support may be decoupled from the patient support apparatus when the movable portion of the lift is lowered to a position where the equipment support is supported on the floor and the upper and lower first couplers of the patient support apparatus are disengaged from the respective upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support, allowing the equipment support to move away from the patient support apparatus.

[0012] In some embodiments, the upper and lower first couplers may comprise upper and lower upwardly-opening hooks and the upper and lower second couplers may comprise upper and lower horizontally-extending members. In other embodiments, the upper and lower first couplers may comprise upper and lower horizontally-extending pins and the upper and lower second couplers may comprise upper and lower downwardly-opening hooks. In still other embodiments, the upper and lower first couplers may comprise upper and lower upwardly-opening sockets or collars and the upper and lower second couplers may comprise downwardly-extending pins. In further embodiments, the upper and lower first couplers may comprise upper and lower upwardly-extending pins and the upper and lower second couplers comprise upper and lower downwardly-opening sockets or collars.

[0013] The system may further comprise a device, such as a support arm, column, or wheeled stand or cart, having a first portion and a second portion that is movable vertically relative to the first portion. The movable second portion of the device may have upper and lower third couplers which are vertically aligned. When the upper and lower third couplers of the device are positioned vertically below the respective upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support and the movable second portion of the device is raised, the upper and lower third couplers engage the respective upper and lower second couplers to lift the equipment support off the floor. The equipment support may be decoupled from the device when the movable second portion of the device is lowered to a position where the equipment support is supported on the floor and the upper and lower third couplers of the device are disengaged from the respective upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support, allowing the equipment support to move away from the device.

[0014] In some embodiments, the equipment support may have upper and lower fourth couplers which are also vertically aligned and which are configured to be coupled to the respective upper and lower third couplers of the device when the equipment support is detachably coupled to the device. The equipment support may be transferred directly from the patient support apparatus to the device when the upper and lower third couplers of the device are positioned vertically below the respective upper and lower fourth couplers of the equipment support and the movable second portion of the device is raised to a position where the upper and lower third couplers of the device engage the respective upper and lower fourth couplers of the equipment support and the equipment support is lifted off the patient support apparatus. Further upward movement of the movable second portion of the device causes the upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support to disengage from the respective upper and lower first couplers of the patient support apparatus, allowing the equipment support to move away from the patient support apparatus.

[0015] Alternatively, the equipment support may be transferred directly from the patient support apparatus to the device when the upper and lower third couplers of the device are positioned vertically below the respective upper and lower fourth couplers of the equipment support and the movable portion of the lift is lowered to a position where the upper and lower third couplers of the device engage the respective upper and lower fourth couplers of the equipment support and the equipment support is lifted off the patient support apparatus. Further downward movement of the movable portion of the lift causes the upper and lower second couplers of the equipment support to disengage from the respective upper and lower first couplers of the patient support apparatus, allowing the equipment support to move away from the patient support apparatus.

[0016] In some embodiments, the device may comprise a wall arm system having a lift and the upper and lower third couplers may be coupled to the lift. In some other embodiments, the device may comprise a stand or cart having a wheeled base, a column extending generally vertically upwardly from the base and a lift coupled to the column. The upper and lower third couplers may be coupled to the lift coupled to the column.

[0017] The apparatus may include a motorized traction system coupled to the lower frame and operable to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor. The motorized traction system may have a user input coupled to the handle. The user input may comprise a force sensor, such as a load cell, coupled to the handle. The apparatus may comprise a first sensor configured to enable the motorized traction system when the arm is generally centered at the head end of the lower frame and configured to disable the motorized traction system when the arm is generally not centered at the head end of the lower frame. The apparatus may comprise a second sensor configured to enable the motorized traction system when the handle is in the use position and configured to disable the motorized traction system when the handle is in the storage position.

[0018] The apparatus may include a deck supported above the upper frame. The deck may include a foot section that extends and retracts. A user input for extending and retracting the foot section may be coupled to the movable portion of the column. The user input may include a foot section extension button to increase the length of the foot section and a foot section retraction button to decrease the length of the foot section.

[0019] Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative equipment support 20 that is configured to support patient care equipment 22. The equipment support 20 has a plurality of downwardly-extending support legs 24 with floor-engaging wheels 26 which allow the equipment support 20 to be lowered onto a floor 28, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2, for stand-alone operation thereof to locate patient care equipment 22 in close proximity to a patient. When the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28, the equipment support 20 functions as a cart and can be rolled along the floor 28 from one location to another location along with the patient care equipment 22 carried by equipment the support 20.

[0042] The equipment support 20 is transferable from a position where the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28 (FIG. 2) to a position where the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by a wheeled patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIG. 4, or lifted off the floor 28 by a support structure, such as a wall arm system 32 as shown, for example, in FIG. 11 with respect to an equipment support 420. Conversely, the equipment support 20 is transferable from a position where the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30 or the wall arm system 32 to a position where the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28. When the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30, the equipment support 20, including the patient care equipment 22 supported thereon, can be transported with the bed 30 from one area to another. In some embodiments, an equipment support, such as the equipment support 420 shown in FIGS. 11-16, is directly transferable from the bed 30 to the wall arm system 32 and from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30 without having to go through an intermediate step of lowering the equipment support 20 onto the floor 28. Illustratively, the equipment support 20, the bed 30 and the wall arm system 32 cooperate to form an illustrative patient care equipment support transfer system 100 shown in FIGS. 2-10.

[0043] In FIGS. 2-7, the patient support apparatus is illustratively the hospital bed 30 positioned in a patient room of a hospital or a healthcare facility. However, it should be understood that the patient support apparatus may very well be a stretcher, a surgical table, an ambulatory care chair, and the like. Also, in FIG. 2, the support structure is illustratively the wall arm system 32 located in the patient room of a hospital or a healthcare facility. However, it should be understood that the support structure may very well be some other type of device such as a floor-supported stand, a wheeled cart or dolly, a headwall, a wall of a hospital room, and the like. In addition, it should be understood that the support structure and the patient support apparatus may very well be used in different settings such as, for example, intensive care rooms, operating rooms, physician offices, and nursing homes.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the equipment support 20 includes a first tower 50, a second tower 52 positioned alongside the first tower 50, and a pair of upper and lower vertically-aligned couplers 54, 56 extending between the towers 50, 52. Each tower 50, 52 is in the form of a rectangular, box-shaped housing having a front wall 58, a back wall 60, an outer wall 62, an inner wall 64, a top wall 66 and a bottom wall 68. Two support legs 24 having the floor engaging wheels 26 are pivotably coupled to the bottom wall 68 of the first tower 50 by a bracket 70. Likewise, two support legs 24 having the floor engaging wheels 26 are pivotably coupled to the bottom wall 68 of the second tower 52 by a bracket 70.

[0045] When the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30 or by the wall arm system 32, the support legs 24 move, as a result of a force of gravity, to a collapsed position, where the support legs 24 extend generally vertically downwardly as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. When the equipment support 20 is lowered onto the floor 28, however, the support legs 24 move, as a result of the weight of the equipment support 20 and the angled orientation (FIG. 1) of the support legs 24 in the collapsed position, to a deployed position, where the support legs 24 extend generally horizontally outwardly as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Suitable stop mechanisms, therefore, are provided on the equipment support 20 to establish the angled positions of the support legs 24 when the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28.

[0046] Two IV pole support arms 74 are coupled to the outer wall 62 of the first tower 50 by associated brackets 76 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical pivot axis 78. Likewise, two IV pole support arms 74 are pivotably coupled to the outer wall 62 of the second tower 52 by associated brackets 76 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical pivot axis 78. Each IV pole support arm 74 has a socket 80 for supporting an IV pole 82. The pivotable mounting of the IV poles 82 to the associated towers 50, 52 allows the IV poles 82 to be pivoted from a position adjacent a front 42 of the equipment support 20 to a position adjacent a rear 44 of the equipment support 20 in an arc. Pivot locks (not shown) are provided to lock the IV pole support arms 74 in place. In addition, latches 84 are provided to secure the IV poles 82 to respective sockets 80. Each IV pole 82 includes a plurality of hooks 86 for hanging IV bags (not shown). Each IV pole 82 has a handgrip 88 made of soft rubber or plastic to provide a comfortable grip.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the IV pole 82 coupled to the first tower 50 carries an equipment support shelf 110 for supporting patient care equipment 22, such as a monitor 112. The monitor 112 may be secured to the shelf 110 by latching brackets (not shown). The monitor 112 typically has an internal power supply. The shelf 110 is movable from an elevated position illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, to a lowered position (not shown). The shelf 110 is secured to the IV pole 82 by a lock 114. The first tower 50 has a compartment 116 for receiving an oxygen cylinder 118 having valves 120. The outer wall 62 of the first tower 50 has a plurality of electrical outlets 122. Some of the electrical outlets 122 are powered only when the equipment support 20 is plugged into a wall outlet. On the other hand, some of the outlets 120 are automatically powered by an onboard battery 124 when the equipment support 20 is unplugged from the wall outlet. The patient care equipment 22 requiring power during transport must therefore be plugged into these outlets for an uninterrupted power supply from the battery 124.

[0048] In other embodiments, however, all electrical outlets 122 receive power from a wall outlet when the equipment support 20 is plugged thereto and then automatically switch over to receive power from the battery 124 when the equipment support 20 is unplugged therefrom. Illustratively, the onboard battery 124 is located on the second tower 52. The battery 124 is recharged when the equipment support 20 is plugged into a wall outlet. The IV pole 82 coupled to the second tower 52 supports a plurality of IV pumps 130. The IV pumps 130 typically have an internal power supply. The second tower 52 carries suction equipment 132 to provide suction during transport of a critical care patient. The monitor 112, the oxygen cylinder 118, the IV pumps 130 and the suction equipment 132 are, of course, just some of the examples of the type of equipment that could be carried by the equipment support 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other types of equipment associated with the care of a patient may be carried by the equipment support 20 in addition to, or in lieu of, the illustrative equipment shown, for example, in FIG. 1.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the equipment support 20 is transferable from a position where the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28 to a position where the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 and carried by a wheeled patient support apparatus, such as the hospital bed 30. The bed 30 shown in FIGS. 2-7 is similar to the bed 30 shown in FIG. 18, with the exception of a support structure 200 used for lifting the equipment support 20 off the floor 28 and then lowering it back onto the floor 28. The bed 30 shown in FIGS. 2-7 is, of course, just one illustrative example of the type of a hospital bed that could be used with the equipment support 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of hospital beds may very well be used with the equipment support 20.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 18, the illustrative bed 30 includes a lower frame 150, an upper frame 152 supported above the lower frame 150, and an articulated deck 154 supported above the upper frame 152. The deck 154 has longitudinally-spaced head, seat, thigh and foot sections. Illustratively, the seat section is fixed to the upper frame 152. The head, thigh and foot sections are movable relative to each other and relative to the seat section. A mattress 156 having a patient support surface 158 rests on the deck 154. The bed 30 includes a head end 162, a foot end 164, a left side 166, a right side 168, and a longitudinal axis 170. An elevation adjustment mechanism 172 is interposed between the lower frame 150 and the upper frame 152. The lower frame 150 is supported on four casters 174. The outer periphery of the upper frame 152 defines a footprint when projected downwardly onto the floor 28. Two side rails 180 are coupled to the head section of the deck 154. Two side rails 182 are coupled to the upper frame 152 near the foot end 164. In some embodiments, the side rails 182 are coupled to the foot section of the deck 154. In the illustrated embodiment, controls (not shown) are coupled to the head end side rails 180 to operate the elevation adjustment mechanism 172 to raise, lower and tilt the upper frame 152. A foot board 184 is coupled to the foot end 162 of the upper frame 152. A shroud 186 covers the lower frame 150.

[0051] As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 19, the bed 30 includes a motorized traction system 188 that is operable to propel the bed 30 along the floor 28 via a driving wheel or belt. Examples of suitable motorized traction systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,330,926; 6,588,523; 6,749,034; 6,877,572; 6,902,014; 7,014,000; 7,083,012; 7,090,041; and 7,011,172, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 19, one or both push handles 302 of the bed 30 are coupled to one or more load cells or other types of force sensors 190 to provide one or more input signals to a controller 192 associated with the motorized traction system 188. Alternatively, one or both handles 302 can be coupled to a throttle device (not shown), such as a rotary potentiometer, to provide one or more input signals to the controller 192 associated with the motorized traction system 188. In some embodiments, user controls 310 (FIG. 7) of the bed 30 may include buttons for selecting the speed and the direction of travel provided by the motorized traction system 188.

[0052] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 19, the bed 30 includes a sensor 194 to disable the motorized traction system 188 when a telescoping arm 210 (FIGS. 2-4) carrying the equipment support 20 is not centered at the head end 162 of the bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the bed 30 includes a sensor 196 to disable the motorized traction system 188 when the handles 302 (FIGS. 2-8) are in their respective storage positions (shown, for example, in FIG. 18 with respect to handles 608). In still other embodiments, the bed 30 includes sensors 198 to determine the operational status of the bed 30, such as, for example, whether a charge level of an onboard battery is above a threshold, whether the casters brakes are not et, whether the traction system 188 is lowered into contact with the floor 28, whether a “dead man” type switch is engaged by a caregiver, whether the bed AC cord is unplugged, or whether any other conditions that need to be met are, in fact, met before the traction system 188 operates to propel the bed 30 along the floor 28. In some embodiments, the controller 192, coupled to the sensors 198, displays the operational status of the bed 30 on a monitor (not shown). In some embodiments, the controller 192, coupled to the sensors 198, activates an alarm (not shown) to alert the caregiver of an out-of-bound parameter.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, a foot section 160 (FIG. 18) of the bed 30 can be extended or retracted to increase or decrease the length of the foot section 160. For example, the foot section 160 can be extended for a taller patient and the foot section can be retracted for a shorter patient. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the user controls 310 include a foot section extension button 318 to increase the length of the foot section 160 and a foot section retraction button 320 to decrease the length of the foot section 160. Examples of beds with extendible and retractable foot sections are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,715,548; 6,212,714; 6,446,993; 6,684,427; and 6,880,189, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0054] As shown generally in FIGS. 2-10 and particularly in FIGS. 8-10, the support structure 200 includes a telescoping arm 210 that extends generally horizontally outwardly from the head end 162 of the lower frame 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm 210 comprises an outer tube 212 and an inner tube 214 configured to telescope relative to the outer tube 212. In other embodiments, however, this arrangement of the inner/outer tubes of the telescoping arm 210 may be reversed. Illustratively, telescoping movement of the arm 210 is manual. In some embodiments, however, the telescoping movement of the arm 210 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver (not shown) housed in the outer tube 212. In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 200 is spaced from the floor 28.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 8-10, the support structure 200 includes upper and lower vertically-spaced flanges 230, 232 which extend horizontally outwardly from a laterally-extending bar 234. The bar 234 is, in turn, fixedly attached to a head end frame member 236 of the lower frame 150 by suitable fasteners, such as pins, studs, nut and bolt combinations, and the like. A proximal end 216 of the outer tube 212 of the arm 210 is received in a space 238 defined by the vertically-spaced flanges 230, 232 and mounted thereto for pivoting movement about a pivot pin 240. Illustratively, the arm 210 is manually pivoted about the pivot pin 240. In some embodiments, however, the pivoting movement of the arm 210 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver (not shown) housed in the outer tube 212. The arm 210 is pivotable between a position on the left side 166 of the bed 30 and a position on the right side 168 of the bed 30, as shown, for example, in FIG. 9, through an intermediate position near the head end 162 of the bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIG. 8.

[0056] As shown generally in FIGS. 8-10 and particularly in FIG. 10, the lower flange 232 is formed to include a curved track 244, including, in some embodiments, portions that are elliptical, that is configured to receive a pin 246 that extends downwardly from the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 through an elongate slot 248 in the outer tube 212 of the arm 210. The reception of the pin 246 in the track 244 forms a linkage 242 (FIG. 10) that moves the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 along a longitudinal axis 220 (FIG. 10) in response to the pivoting movement of the arm 210. The arm 210 can pivot from a central position near the head end 162 of the bed 30, as shown, for, example, in FIG. 8, to a position near a left or right side 166, 168 of the bed 30, as shown, for, example, in FIG. 4, through an intermediate position near a corner 176, 178 of the bed 30, as shown, for, example, in FIG. 9. The inner tube 214 of the arm 210 initially moves generally outwardly as the arm 210 pivots from the central position near the head end 162 of the bed 30 to the intermediate position near a corner 176, 178 of the bed 30. The inner tube 214 of the arm 210 then moves generally inwardly as the arm 210 pivots from the intermediate position near a corner 176, 178 of the bed 30 to the position near the left or right side 166, 168 of the bed 30. This outward and inward movement of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 allows the equipment support 20 carried by the inner tube 214 to remain close to the bed 30 as it arcs around the corners of the frame 150 at the head end 162 of the bed 30.

[0057] As shown generally in FIGS. 2-10 and particularly in FIGS. 8-9, the support structure 200 includes a telescoping column or lift 250 comprising an inner tube 252 (FIG. 6) fixed to a terminal portion 218 of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 and an outer tube 254 sleeved over the inner tube 252 and configured to telescope relative thereto under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver, such as a linear actuator 256 (FIG. 20), housed in the inner tube 252. In other embodiments, however, this arrangement of the inner/outer tubes of the lift 250 may be reversed. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 20, the actuator 256 has a housing 258 and a piston rod 260 that extends out of and retracts into the housing 258. The housing 258 is fixed to the terminal portion 218 of the arm 210. A free end 262 of the piston rod 260 is coupled to the outer tube 254 of the lift 250. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, the outer tube 254 of the lift 250 has upper and lower hook-like couplers 264, 266 which are vertically aligned and which are configured to be detachably coupled to the respective vertically-aligned upper and lower couplers 54, 56 (FIG. 1) of the equipment support 20 when the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIG. 4.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, each equipment support coupler 54, 56 comprises a horizontally-extending block 270 interconnecting the two towers 50, 52. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, each bed coupler 264, 266 comprises a bottom wall 272 attached to the outer tube 254 of the lift 250 and a side wall 274 that extends upwardly from an outer edge of the bottom wall 272 to define a block-receiving space 276 as shown in FIG. 8. The equipment support blocks 270 (FIG. 1) are sized for close fit sliding reception into the respective block-receiving spaces 276 (FIGS. 8-9) when the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, the upper portions 278 of the side walls 274 of the bed couplers 264, 266 are flared outwardly to compensate for any misalignment between the blocks 270 of the equipment support couplers 54, 56 and the block-receiving spaces 276 of the bed couplers 264, 266 as the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30.

[0059] The vertical spacing between the equipment support couplers 54, 56 and the vertical spacing between the bed couplers 264, 266 are about equal so that the weight of the equipment support 20 is equally shared by the two bed couplers 264, 266 when the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30. Also, the vertical spacing between the equipment support couplers 54, 56 is sufficient to allow the upper bed coupler 264 to move to a position between the equipment support couplers 54, 56 prior to the lift 250 being operated to raise the bed couplers 264, 266 into engagement with the respective equipment support couplers 54, 56. The couplers 54, 56 not only serve to rigidly interconnect the two towers 50, 52 of the equipment support 20, but also facilitate the attachment of the equipment support 20 to the lift 250 of the bed 30 when the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30.

[0060] The lift 250 is supported by the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 outside a footprint of the upper frame 152 as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The outward and inward movement of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 as the arm 210 pivots around the head end 162 of the bed 30 allows the lift 250 and the attached equipment support 20 to be swung away from the head end 162 of the bed 30 to provide improved access to a patient lying on the bed 30 while maintaining the equipment support 20 and the patient care equipment 22 close to the head end 162 of the bed 30. Illustratively, the actuator 256 (FIG. 20) used for causing the telescoping movement of the lift 250 is a linear actuator of the type commercially available from the Linak Company of Denmark. It is, however, understood that drivers such as manual cranks, fractional horsepower motors, hydraulic cylinders, magnetic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, and the like may very well be used in lieu of the linear actuator.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, a pair of laterally-spaced flanges 290, 292 extend upwardly and outwardly from an upper portion 294 of the outer tube 254 of the lift 250. A mounting block 296 is received in a space 298 defined by the laterally-spaced flanges 290, 292 for pivoting movement about pivot pins 300 (FIG. 8). Pivot locks (not shown) are provided to lock the mounting block 296 in place. In other embodiments, the block 296 may be fixed to the flanges 290, 292. A pair of push handles 302 extend outwardly from opposite ends of the mounting block 296. Each push handle 302 has a handgrip 304 made of soft rubber or plastic to provide a comfortable grip. The handgrips 304 are grippable by a caregiver to maneuver the bed 30 along the floor 28.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 256 (FIG. 20) is actuated by user controls 310 mounted on a control panel 312 located on the mounting block 296 as shown in FIG. 7. Illustratively, the user controls 310 include a column Up-button 314 to raise the outer tube 254 of the lift 250 and a column Down-button 316 to lower the outer tube 254 of the lift 250. In addition, the user controls 310 include a foot section extension button 318 to increase the length of the foot section 160 and a foot section retraction button 320 to decrease the length of the foot section 160. Also, the control panel 312 includes a series of indicators 322 to indicate a charge level of the onboard battery 122. Alternatively and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the user controls 310 are located on a wired or wireless remote control device (not shown).

[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the push handles 302 are located above the patient support surface 158 of the mattress 156 regardless of the vertical position of the outer tube 254 of the lift 250. In embodiments where the telescoping movement of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver, the user controls 310 may include an arm In-button (not shown) to cause the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 to retract to, in turn, move the lift 250 and the equipment support 20 closer to the bed 30 and an arm Out-button (not shown) to cause the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 to extend to, in turn, move the lift 250 and the equipment support 20 away from the bed 30. Likewise, in embodiments where the pivoting movement of the arm 210 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver, the user controls 310 may include an arm Left-button (not shown) to cause the arm 210, the lift 250 and the equipment support 20 to pivot to the left side 166 of the bed 30 and an arm Right-button (not shown) to cause the arm 210, the lift 250 and the equipment support 20 to pivot to the right side 168 of the bed 30.

[0064] To transfer equipment support 20 from a position where the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28 to a position where the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30, the equipment support 20 is moved to a position where the vertically-aligned upper and lower couplers 264, 266 of the bed 30 are positioned generally below the vertically-aligned upper and lower couplers 54, 56 of the equipment support 20 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3 and the outer telescoping tube 254 of the lift 250 carrying the bed couplers 264, 266 is raised. As the outer telescoping tube 254 of the lift 250 is raised, the blocks 270 of the equipment support couplers 54, 56 slide into the block-receiving spaces 276 of the respective bed couplers 264, 266. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, the upper portions 278 of the side walls 274 of the bed couplers 264, 266 are flared outwardly to compensate for any misalignment between the blocks 270 of the equipment support couplers 54, 56 and the block-receiving spaces 276 of the bed couplers 264, 266 as the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30. As the outer telescoping tube 254 of the lift 250 is further raised, the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, the angular position of the arm 210 carrying the equipment support 20 may be adjusted before or after the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28. In addition, the bed 30 carrying the equipment support 20 can be rolled along the floor 28 to another location. When the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28, the support legs 24 of the equipment support 20 move, as a result of a force of gravity, to a collapsed position, where the support legs 24 extend generally vertically downwardly as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. Suitable stop mechanisms, therefore, are provided on the equipment support 20 to establish the angled positions of the support legs 24 when the equipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 28.

[0066] To transfer the equipment support 20 from a position where the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30 to a position where the equipment support 20 is lowered onto the floor 28, the sequence of steps is reversed. Thus, the outer tube 254 of the lift 250 carrying the equipment support 20 is lowered until equipment support 20 is fully supported on the support legs 24 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. After the equipment support 20 is lowered onto the floor 28, the equipment support 20 can be rolled along the floor 28 to another location. When the equipment support 20 is supported on the floor 28, the support legs 24 extend generally horizontally outwardly.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-10, the width of the equipment support 20, the width of the support structure 200, and the width of the lower frame 150 are about equal. In other embodiments, however, the width of the equipment support 20 is less than the width of the support structure 200 and the width of the support structure 200 is less than the width of the lower frame 150. Attachment of the equipment support 20 to the lower frame 150, instead of the upper frame 152, allows the equipment support 20 to be taller than some prior art equipment supports which enables it to have an increased number of patient care devices 22. In addition, by having the equipment support 20 carried by the lower frame 150, instead of the upper frame 152, the movement of the upper frame 152 to Trendelenburg and reverse-Trendelenburg positions, or other tilted positions, does not affect the orientation of the equipment support 20.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 5, the wall arm system 32 includes a generally vertically-disposed support structure 350 that extends upwardly from the floor 28. A telescoping arm 352 is mounted to the support structure 350 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical axis 354. The arm 352 comprises an outer tube 356 and an inner tube 358 coupled to the outer tube 356 and configured to telescope relative to the outer tube 356. Non-telescopic arms are contemplated by this disclosure as well. Also contemplated by this disclosure are devices with some or all of the vertically-disposed support structure 350 omitted, such as, for example, ceiling or wall-mounted arms. A service head 360 is coupled to a distal end of the inner tube 358. The service head 360 includes a plurality of electrical outlets 364, a plurality of gas outlets 366, a plurality of accessory mounting tracks 368, a plurality of accessory mounting rails 370, and a handle 372 coupled to an accessory mounting track 368. The pivoting movement of the arm 352 about the vertical axis 354 and the horizontal telescoping movement of the arm 352 allow the service head 360 to be positioned at any desirable location within a range of movements. The wall arm system 32 shown in FIG. 5 is, of course, just one illustrative example of the type of a device that could be used with the equipment support 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of devices, such as a floor-supported stand, a wheeled cart or dolly, a headwall, a wall of a hospital room, and the like, may very well be used with the equipment support 20.

[0069] FIGS. 11-17 show a second embodiment 400 of the equipment support transfer system 100 comprising the bed 30, the wall arm system 32 and an equipment support 420. The bed 30 shown in FIGS. 11-16 is similar to the bed 30 shown in FIGS. 2-10, except that the support structure 200 shown in FIGS. 2-10 is replaced with a support structure 500 shown in FIGS. 11-16. The wall arm system 32 shown in FIGS. 11-14 is similar to the wall arm system 32 disclosed in FIGS. 2-5, except that the service head 360 shown in FIG. 5 is replaced with a service head 560 shown in FIGS. 11-14.

[0070] The equipment support 420 is transferable from a position where the equipment support 420 is carried by the wall arm system 32 as shown in FIG. 11 to a position where the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIGS. 12-13. The equipment support 420 can be lifted off the floor 28 either by the bed 30 as shown in FIGS. 14-16 or by the wall arm system 32 as shown in FIG. 11. In addition, the equipment support 420 is directly transferable from the bed 30 to the wall arm system 32 and from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30 without first lowering the equipment support 20 onto the floor 28.

[0071] As shown generally in FIGS. 11-16 and particularly in FIG. 15, the equipment support 420 comprises a rectangular, box-shaped housing 410 having a front wall 422, a back wall 424 (FIG. 11), a left wall 426, a right wall 428, a top wall 430 and a bottom wall 432. Two support legs 434 having floor engaging wheels 436 are pivotably coupled to the bottom wall 432 of the equipment support 420 on a left side 416 thereof by respective pivot pins 438. Two support legs 434 having floor engaging wheels 436 are pivotably coupled to the bottom wall 432 of the equipment support 420 on a right side 418 thereof by respective pivot pins 438. When the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30 or by the wall arm system 32, the support legs 434 move, as a result of a force of gravity, to a collapsed position, where the support legs 434 extend generally vertically downwardly as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14-16. When the equipment support 420 is lowered onto the floor 28, however, the support legs 434 move, as a result of the weight of the equipment support 420 and the angled orientation (FIGS. 11 and 14-16) of the support legs 434 in the collapsed position, to a deployed position, where the support legs 434 extend generally horizontally outwardly as shown in FIGS. 12, 13. Suitable stop mechanisms, therefore, are provided on the equipment support 420 to establish the angled positions of the support legs 434 when the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28.

[0072] Two IV pole support arms 440 are coupled to the left wall 426 of the equipment support 420 by associated brackets 442 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical pivot axis (not shown). The two IV pole support arms 440 coupled to the left wall 426 support an IV pole 446. Likewise, two IV pole support arms 440 are coupled to the right wall 428 of the equipment support 420 by associated brackets 442 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical pivot axis (not shown). The two IV pole support arms 440 coupled to the right wall 428 support an IV pole 446. The pivotable mounting of the IV poles 446 to the associated side walls 426, 428 allows the IV poles 446 to be pivoted from a position adjacent a front 412 of the equipment support 420 to a position adjacent a rear 414 of the equipment support 420 in an arc. Pivot locks (not shown) are provided to lock the IV pole support arms 440 in place. Each IV pole 446 has a handgrip (not shown) made of soft rubber or plastic to provide a comfortable grip.

[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11-16, the IV pole 446 coupled to the right wall 428 of the equipment support 420 supports a plurality of IV pumps 448. The IV pumps 448 typically have an internal power supply. Each IV pole 446 includes a plurality of hooks 449 for hanging IV bags (not shown). As shown in FIG. 15, the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 is formed to include two compartments 450 for receiving oxygen cylinders 452. An equipment support shelf 454 is coupled to the top wall 430 of the equipment support 420 for supporting patient care equipment 22, such as a monitor 456. The monitor 456 may be secured to the shelf 454 by latching brackets (not shown). The monitor 456 typically has an internal power supply. The shelf 454 is movable between an elevated position illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 11-16, and a lowered position (not shown).

[0074] As shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of electrical outlets 458 are coupled to the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420. Some of the electrical outlets 458 are powered only when the equipment support 420 is plugged into a wall outlet. On the other hand, some of the outlets 458 are automatically powered by an onboard battery (not shown) when the equipment support 420 is unplugged from the wall outlet. The patient care equipment 22 requiring power during transport must therefore be plugged into these outlets 458 for an uninterrupted power supply from the onboard battery. In other embodiments, however, all electrical outlets 458 receive power from a wall outlet when the equipment support 20 is plugged thereto and then automatically switch over to receive power from the onboard battery when the equipment support 20 is unplugged therefrom. The onboard battery is recharged when the equipment support 20 is plugged into a wall outlet. Suction equipment (not shown) may be coupled to the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 to provide suction during transport of a critical care patient.

[0075] The IV pumps 448, the oxygen cylinders 452, the monitor 456 and the suction equipment (not shown) are, of course, just some of the examples of the type of equipment that could be carried by the equipment support 420. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other types of equipment associated with the care of a patient may be carried by the equipment support 420 in addition to, or in lieu of, the illustrative equipment shown, for example, in FIG. 15.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 15, the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 has upper and lower pin-receiving cavities or pockets 460, 462. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 17, downwardly-facing walls 461, 463 of the upper and lower pockets 460, 462 are formed to include downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464 466, respectively. The downwardly-opening sockets 465, 467 are spaced outwardly from back walls 465, 467 of the respective pockets 460, 462. The downwardly-opening sockets 465, 467 are configured to removably receive upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 17) of the wall arm system 32, respectively, when the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the wall arm system 32 as shown, for example, in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 17, the downwardly-opening sockets 465, 467 are vertically aligned. Likewise, the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 are vertically aligned.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 11-12, the back wall 424 of the equipment support 420 has four upper and lower hooks 474, 476 which have associated downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 to removably receive four laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 carried by a telescoping column or lift 510 of the bed 30, respectively, when the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIG. 14-16. The four upper and lower hooks 474, 476 are arranged in two rows, with two hooks 474 in an upper row and two hooks 476 in a lower row. The upper and lower hooks 474, 476 on the left side 416 are vertically aligned and the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 on the right side 418 are vertically aligned. Likewise, the four upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are arranged in two rows, with two pins 524 in an upper row and two pins 526 in a lower row. The upper and lower pins 524, 526 on the left side 166 are vertically aligned and the upper and lower pins 524, 526 on the right side 168 are vertically aligned.

[0078] The bed 30 shown in FIGS. 11-16 is similar to the bed 30 shown in FIGS. 2-10, except that the support structure 200 shown in FIGS. 2-10 is replaced with a support structure 500 shown in FIGS. 11-16. As shown in FIG. 16, the support structure 500 includes a flange or shelf 502 that extends generally horizontally outwardly from the head end 162 of the lower frame 150. A turntable 504 is mounted on the flange 502 for pivoting movement about a generally vertical pivot axis 506. An arm 508 is coupled to the turntable 504 for pivoting movement therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm 508 is non-telescopic. In some embodiments, however, the arm 508 is telescopic. Illustratively, the arm 508 is manually pivoted about the pivot axis 506. In some embodiments, however, the pivoting movement of the arm 508 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver. The arm 508 is pivotable between a position (not shown) on the left side 166 of the bed 30 and a position on the right side 168 of the bed 30 as shown in FIG. 16, through an intermediate position near the head end 162 of the bed 30 as shown in FIGS. 11-15.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 16, the lift 510 of the support structure 500 comprises an inner tube 512 extending upwardly from a terminal portion 516 of the arm 508 and an outer tube 514 sleeved over the inner tube 512 and configured to telescope relative thereto under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver (such as the actuator 256 shown in FIG. 20) housed in the inner tube 512. In other embodiments, however, this arrangement of the inner/outer tubes of the lift 510 may be reversed. The lift 510 is supported by the arm 508 outside a footprint of the upper frame 152.

[0080] A pair of C-shaped push handles 518 extend outwardly from opposite sides of an upper portion 520 of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510. Each push handle 518 has a handgrip 522 made of soft rubber or plastic to provide a comfortable grip. The handgrips 522 are grippable by a caregiver to maneuver the bed 30 along the floor 28. In the illustrated embodiment, one or both push handles 518 are coupled to one or more load cells or other types of force sensors (such as the load cells 190 shown in FIG. 19) to provide one or more input signals to the controller 192 (FIG. 19) associated with the motorized traction system 188 (FIG. 19). As previously indicated, the motorized traction system 188 is operable to propel the bed 30 along the floor 28.

[0081] In the illustrated embodiment, the lift motor (such as the actuator 256 shown in FIG. 20) is actuated by user controls (such as the user controls 310 shown in FIG. 7) mounted on a control panel (not shown) located on the upper portion 520 (FIG. 16) of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510. Alternatively and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the user controls are located on a wired or wireless remote control device (not shown). Illustratively, the user controls include a column Up-button (such as the column Up-button 314 shown in FIG. 7) to raise the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 and a column Down-button (such as the column Down-button 316 shown in FIG. 7) to lower the outer tube 514 of the lift 510. Also, the user controls include a foot section extension button (such as the foot section extension button 318 shown in FIG. 7) to increase the length of the foot section 160 (FIG. 18) and a foot section retraction button (such as the foot section retraction button 320 shown in FIG. 7) to decrease the length of the foot section 160.

[0082] In embodiments where the arm 508 is telescopic and the telescoping movement of the arm 508 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver, the user controls may include an arm In-button to cause the arm 508 to retract to move the lift 510 and the equipment support 420 closer to the bed 30 and an arm Out-button 300 to cause the arm 508 to extend to move the lift 510 and the equipment support 420 away from the bed 30. Also, in embodiments where the pivoting movement of the arm 508 is under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver, the user controls may include an arm Left-button to cause the arm 508 to pivot to the left side 166 of the bed 30 and an arm Right-button to cause the arm 508 to pivot to the right side 168 of the bed 30.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 11-13, the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 has laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 which are configured to be removably received in the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 when the equipment support 420 is carried by the bed 30 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 14-16. The laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 are sized for close fit sliding reception into the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 when the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30. The downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 are flared outwardly to compensate for any misalignment between the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 and the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 as the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the bed 30.

[0084] As shown in FIGS. 11-12, the four upper and lower pins 524, 526 are arranged in two rows, with two pins 524 in the upper row and two pins 526 in the lower row. The upper and lower pins 524, 526 on the left side 166 are vertically aligned and the upper and lower pins 524, 526 on the right side 168 are vertically aligned. The upper and lower pins 524, 526 extend horizontally outwardly from the sides 166, 168 of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510. Likewise, the four upper and lower hooks 474, 476 are arranged in two rows, with two hooks 474 in the upper row and two hooks 476 in the lower row. The upper and lower hooks 474, 476 on the left side 416 are vertically aligned and the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 on the right side 418 are vertically aligned.

[0085] The horizontal spacing between the hooks 474, 476 and the horizontal spacing between the pins 524, 526 are about equal. The horizontal spacing between the hooks 474, 476 is slightly greater than the width of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 so that the hooks 474, 476 are disposed on the opposite sides of the outer tube 514 when the equipment support 420 is moved to a position where the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 are positioned generally above the respective laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 as shown in FIG. 13. In addition, the vertical spacing between the hooks 474, 476 and the vertical spacing between the pins 524, 526 are about equal so that the weight of the equipment support 420 is equally shared by the four pins 524, 526 when the equipment support 420 is carried by the bed 30. Also, the vertical spacing between the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 is sufficient to allow the upper pins 524 to move to a position between the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 prior to the lift 510 being operated to raise the upper and lower pins 524, 526 for reception into the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476.

[0086] In some embodiments, the back wall 424 of the equipment support 420 has vertically-aligned horizontally-extending upper and lower pins (not shown) and the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 has vertically-aligned upper and lower hooks (not shown) having upwardly-opening slots which are configured to removably receive the respective horizontally-extending upper and lower pins of the equipment support 420. In other embodiments, the back wall 424 of the equipment support 420 has vertically-aligned upper and lower collars (not shown) having associated openings and the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 has vertically-aligned upper and lower upwardly-extending pins (not shown) which are configured to be removably received in the respective openings in the upper and lower collars of the equipment support 420. In still other embodiments, the back wall 424 of the equipment support 420 has vertically-aligned downwardly-extending pins (not shown) and the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 has vertically-aligned upper and lower collars (not shown) having associated openings which are configured to removably receive the respective upper and lower downwardly-extending pins of the equipment support 420. The upwardly and downwardly-extending pins and/or the associated openings or sockets may be tapered in some embodiments.

[0087] The wall arm system 32 shown in FIGS. 11-14 is similar to the wall arm system 32 disclosed in FIGS. 2-5, except that the service head 360 shown in FIG. 5 is replaced with a service head 560 shown in FIGS. 11-14. As shown generally in FIGS. 11-14 and particularly in FIGS. 13-14, the service head 560 comprises an elongated upper body section 562 and a lift 580 that extends downwardly from the elongated upper body section 562. The elongated upper body section 562 includes a plurality of electrical outlets (not shown), a plurality of gas outlets 566, a plurality of accessory mounting tracks (not shown), a plurality of accessory mounting rails (not shown), and a handle (not shown) coupled to an accessory mounting track (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 13-14, in the illustrated embodiment, the lift 580 has an inner tube 582 that extends downwardly from the elongated upper body section 562 and an outer tube 584 sleeved over the inner tube 582 and configured to telescope relative to the inner tube 582 under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver (such as the linear actuator 256 shown in FIG. 20) housed in the inner tube 582. In other embodiments, however, this arrangement of the inner/outer tubes of the lift 580 may be reversed.

[0088] As shown on FIGS. 13-14, a pair of upper and lower flanges 595, 597 extend outwardly from a bracket 598 attached to the outer tube 584 of the lift 580. A pair of upper and lower pins 594, 596 extend upwardly from the respective flanges 595, 597. The upper and lower pins 594, 596 are vertically aligned as shown in FIG. 17. The upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 are configured to be removably received in the downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464, 476 located in the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462 formed in the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 when the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28 by the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 as shown, for example, in FIG. 11. The upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 and/or the associated downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 may be tapered in some embodiments.

[0089] The flanges 595, 597 carrying the upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the wall arm system 32 are positioned within the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462 formed in the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 when the equipment support 420 is moved to a position where the downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 in the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462 are located generally above the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the wall arm system 32. In some embodiments, the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 has vertically-aligned downwardly-extending upper and lower pins (not shown) and the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 has vertically-aligned upper and lower flanges or collars (not shown) having openings for receiving the downwardly-extending upper and lower pins of the equipment support 420. The downwardly-extending upper and lower pins and/or the associated openings in the upper and lower collars may be tapered in some embodiments.

[0090] The vertical telescoping movement of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 permits the equipment support 420 to be: 1) lifted off the floor 28 and attached to the lift 580, 2) detached from the lift 580 and lowered onto the floor 28, 3) detached from the lift 580 and attached to the bed 30, and 4) detached from the bed 30 and reattached to the lift 580. The pivoting movement of the arm 352 about the vertical axis 354, the horizontal telescoping movement of the arm 352, and the vertical telescoping movement of the lift 580 allow the equipment support 420 to be positioned at any desirable location within a range of movements. In the illustrated embodiment, a user control (not shown) for operating the lift 580 is located on the service head 560. Alternatively, the lift 580 may be operated by a wired or wireless remote control (not shown).

[0091] When the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28, the equipment support 420 can be lifted off the floor 28 either by the lift 510 of the bed 30 or by the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32. To transfer the equipment support 420 from a position where the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 12 to a position where the equipment support 420 is carried by the lift 510 of the bed 30 as shown in FIGS. 14-16, the equipment support 420 is moved to a position where the oppositely-disposed laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are positioned generally below the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 as shown in FIG. 13 and the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 is raised to lift the equipment support 420 off the floor 28 as shown in FIGS. 14-16. When the equipment support 420 is lifted off the floor 28, the support legs 24 extend generally vertically downwardly as shown in FIGS. 14-16.

[0092] To transfer the equipment support 420 from a position where the equipment support 420 is carried by the lift 510 of the bed 30 as shown in FIGS. 14-16 to a position where the equipment support 420 is lowered onto the floor 28 as shown in FIGS. 12-13, the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 carrying the equipment support 420 is lowered until the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are located below the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and the equipment support 420 is fully supported on the floor 28. When the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are located below the upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIGS. 12-13, the equipment support 420 can be rolled along the floor 28 to another location. When the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28, the support legs 24 extend generally horizontally outwardly as shown in FIGS. 12-13.

[0093] To transfer the equipment support 420 from a position where the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 13 to a position where the equipment support 420 is carried by the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 as shown in FIG. 11, the equipment support 420 is moved to a position where the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are positioned generally below the downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464, 466 in the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462 formed in the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 as shown in FIG. 17 and the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 is raised to lift the equipment support 420 off the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 11. The flanges 595, 597 carrying the upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the wall arm system 32 are positioned within the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462 formed in the front wall 422 of the equipment support 420 when the equipment support 420 is moved to a position where the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are positioned generally below the downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464, 466 in the respective upper and lower pockets 460, 462.

[0094] To transfer the equipment support 420 from a position where the equipment support 420 is carried by the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 as shown in FIG. 11 to a position where the equipment support 420 is lowered onto the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 12, the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 carrying the equipment support 420 is lowered until the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are located below the downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464, 466 as shown in FIG. 17 and the equipment support 420 is fully supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 12. When the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are located below the downwardly-opening upper and lower sockets 464, 466 and the equipment support 420 is supported on the floor 28 as shown in FIG. 12, the equipment support 420 can be rolled along the floor 28 to another location as shown in FIG. 13.

[0095] The equipment support 420 can be transferred directly from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30 by either raising the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 of the bed 30 carrying the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 or by lowering the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 carrying the equipment support 420 (or by a combination of the two) after moving the wall arm system 32 to a location where the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are located generally below the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420. Transfer of the equipment support 420 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30 by raising the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 of the bed 30 carrying the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 will be described first. Transfer of the equipment support 20 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30 by lowering the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 carrying the equipment support 420 will be described next.

[0096] To transfer equipment support 420 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30, the wall arm system 32 is moved to a position where the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 of the bed 30 are located generally below the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 carrying the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 is raised. As the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 moves upwardly, the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 enter the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and, when this initially occurs, the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 are still seated firmly in the downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 of the equipment support 420. Further upward movement of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 causes the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 to seat firmly in the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and causes the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 to disengage from the downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 of the equipment support 420. After the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are lowered sufficiently relative to the respective downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 of the equipment support 420, the wall arm system 32 can then be pulled away from the bed 30 (or the bed 30 pulled away from the wall arm system 32), with the bed 30 carrying the equipment support 420. In such embodiments, where raising of the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 effects transfer of the equipment support 20 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30, the wall arm system 32 need not have the lift 580 for raising and lowering the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596.

[0097] Alternatively or additionally, to transfer the equipment support 420 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30, the wall arm system 32 is moved to a position where the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 of the bed 30 are located generally below the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 carrying the equipment support 420 is lowered to a position where the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526 of the lift 510 are seated firmly in the downwardly-opening slots 478, 480 in the respective upper and lower hooks 474, 476 of the equipment support 420 and the upwardly-extending pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 are positioned below the downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 of the equipment support 420. The wall arm system 32 can then be pulled away from the bed 30 (or the bed 30 pulled away from the wall arm system 32), with the bed 30 carrying the equipment support 20. In such embodiments, where lowering of the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 effects transfer of the equipment support 420 from the wall arm system 32 to the bed 30, the bed 30 need not have the lift 510 for raising and lowering the laterally-extending upper and lower pins 524, 526.

[0098] To transfer the equipment support 420 from the bed 30 to the wall arm system 32, the sequence of steps is reversed. The equipment support 420 can be transferred from the bed 30 to the wall arm system 32 by either lowering the outer tube 514 of the lift 510 of the bed 30 or by raising the outer tube 584 of the lift 580 of the wall arm system 32 after moving the service head 560 to a location where the upwardly-extending upper and lower pins 594, 596 of the lift 580 are positioned generally below the downwardly-opening sockets 464, 466 of the equipment support 420.

[0099] The bed 30 shown in FIG. 18 is similar to the bed 30 shown in FIGS. 2-10, except that the telescoping column or lift 250 shown in FIGS. 2-10 is replaced with a lift 600 shown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 18, the lift 600 comprises an inner tube 602 extending upwardly from the terminal portion 218 of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 and an outer tube 604 sleeved over the inner tube 602 and configured to telescope relative thereto under the power of an electric motor or other suitable driver (not shown) housed in the inner tube 602. In other embodiments, however, this arrangement of the inner/outer tubes of the lift 600 may be reversed. The vertically-aligned upper and lower couplers 264, 266 are attached to the outer tube 604 of the lift 600. The upper and lower couplers 264, 266 are configured to be detachably coupled to the respective upper and lower couplers 54, 56 (FIG. 1) of the equipment support 20 when the equipment support 20 is carried by the bed 30.

[0100] The lift 600 is supported by the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 outside a footprint of the upper frame 152 as shown in FIG. 18. The outward and inward movement of the inner tube 214 of the arm 210 as the arm 210 pivots around the head end 162 of the bed 30 allows the lift 600 and the attached equipment support 20 to be swung away from the head end 162 of the bed 30 to provide improved access to a patient lying on the bed 30 while maintaining the equipment support 20 and the patient care equipment 22 close to the head end 162 of the bed 30.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 18, an upper portion 606 of the outer tube 604 of the lift 600 extends upwardly and forwardly. A pair of push handles 608 are coupled to a forwardly-facing wall 610 of the upper portion 606 of the outer tube 604 for pivoting movement about respective pivot pins 612. The push handles 608 are movable between a use position (not shown) where the push handles 608 extend generally horizontally outwardly and a storage position shown in FIG. 18 where the push handles extend generally vertically downwardly. Each push handle 608 has a handgrip 614 made of soft rubber or plastic to provide a comfortable grip. The handgrips 614 are grippable by a caregiver to maneuver the bed 30 along the floor 28. In the illustrated embodiment, one or both push handles 608 are coupled to one or more load cells or other types of force sensors (such as the load cells 190 shown in FIG. 19) to provide one or more input signals to the controller 192 (FIG. 19) associated with the motorized traction system 188 (FIG. 19). As previously indicated, the motorized traction system 188 is operable to propel the bed 30 along the floor 28.

[0102] In the illustrated embodiment, the lift motor (such as the actuator 256 shown in FIG. 20) is actuated by user controls (such as the user controls 310 shown in FIG. 7) mounted on a control panel (not shown) located on the upper portion 606 (FIG. 18) of the outer tube 604 of the lift 600. Alternatively and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the user controls are located on a wired or wireless remote control device (not shown). Illustratively, the user controls include a column Up-button (such as the column Up-button 314 shown in FIG. 7) to raise the outer tube 604 of the lift 600 and a column Down-button (such as the column Down-button 316 shown in FIG. 7) to lower the outer tube 604 of the lift 600. Also, the user controls include a foot section extension button (such as the foot section extension button 318 shown in FIG. 7) to increase the length of the foot section 160 (FIG. 18) and a foot section retraction button (such as the foot section retraction button 320 shown in FIG. 7) to decrease the length of the foot section 160.

[0103] The bed 30 and the wall arm system 32 merely illustrate the environment for the operation of the equipment support 20, 420. It will be understood that the bed 30 may very well be replaced with any one of the following: a stretcher, a surgery table, an ambulatory care chair, a wheeled carriage, and the like. Likewise, the wall arm system 32 may very well be replaced with any one of the following: a wheeled stand, a wheeled cart or dolly, and the like.

[0104] While the features or aspects of various inventions have been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the respective inventions are desired to be protected.