GB2589363A

GB2589363A - Bracket for attaching bottles to a medical workstation

Info

Publication number: GB2589363A
Application number: GB1917359.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hynes John
Original assignee: Keymed Medical and Industrial Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Keymed Medical and Industrial Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-28
Filing date: 2019-11-28
Publication date: 2021-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-28
Also published as: GB2589363B; GB201917359D0

Abstract

A bracket (10) for mounting bottles on a medical workstation comprises a main panel (12) with proximal and distal edges. A mounting flange (14) extends from the proximal edge and is configured for attachment to a workstation. An upturned rim (20) extends from the distal edge. At least one recess (18) is formed in the bracket (10) extending through the rim (20) and into the main panel (12) and configured to receive a neck of a bottle (Figure 2) with a projection on the bottle neck resting on the main panel (12). At least one slot (22) is formed in an edge of the bracket (10) for receiving a tube intended to convey fluid into or out of a bottle mounted on the bracket (Figure 4). Slots may also be formed in the side of the bracket (24).

Description

Bracket for Attaching Bottles to a Medical Workstation The present invention relates to a bracket for holding water bottles on a medical trolley or workstation.

It is common for medical equipment to be mounted on a trolley or workstation so that it can easily be moved from place to place. For medical procedures such as endoscopies, multiple bottles of water or other liquids may be required and these are often placed on the shelves of the trolley. However, space may be limited and bottles may not be held securely and therefore at risk of being dislodged. An example of such a trolley can be found in ON 202637354 U. Various types of clips and bottle holders are known for holding water bottles and for being attached to other items. For example, CN 202005859 U shows a resilient C-shaped clip for holding a bottle and attached to a hook for hooking over another item. ON 303324191 S shows a bottle holder with a tray for holding the base of the bottle and a loop for encircling an upper part of the bottle, both connected to an attachment for fitting to a trolley or wheeled suitcase. Nevertheless, a need remains for a simple means for securely holding multiple bottles on a medical workstation, whilst not inhibiting replacement of bottles as and when required.

The present invention provides a bracket for mounting bottles on a medical workstation, the bracket comprising a main panel with opposed proximal and distal edges, a mounting flange extending from the proximal edge and configured for attachment to a workstation and a rim extending upwardly from the distal edge, wherein at least one recess is formed in the bracket, extending through the rim and into the panel, and configured to receive a neck of a bottle with a projection on the bottle neck resting on the main panel, and at least one slot formed in an edge of the bracket and configured to receive a tube intended to convey fluid into or out of a bottle mounted on the bracket.

Preferably the bracket comprises two recesses for bottle necks, spaced to allow two bottles to be mounted side by side. For each recess, two slots may be provided. The slots are preferably formed in the rim or in sides of the panel extending between the proximal and distal edges.

In preferred embodiments, the rim slopes upwardly away from the main panel.

The or each recess is preferably substantially rectangular and the or each slot is preferably substantially U-shaped. Corners of the rim adjacent to each recess may be curved.

The present invention also provides a workstation comprising a support structure mounted on wheels, the support structure comprising at least one shelf, and a bracket as claimed in any preceding claim secured to the shelf.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1 mounted to a workstation shelf and carrying two bottles; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a bottle mounted in the bracket of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a tube received in a slot in the bracket of Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure 1, a bracket 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body in the form of a substantially flat, rectangular panel 12, typically formed of sheet metal. The panel 12 has opposed proximal and distal edges 12a, 12b and opposing sides 12c, 12d.

At the proximal edge 12a, a portion of the panel 12 is folded at substantially 90 degrees to form a mounting flange 14. The flange 14 includes at least two openings 16 (although only one is visible in Figure 1) allowing the bracket 10 to be attached to a workstation shelf by screws, bolts or the like. In this example, the flange 14 depends downwardly from the panel 12, although it could be formed to extend upwardly instead.

Two or more recesses 18 are formed in the bracket 10 for holding water bottles as described below. As shown, the recesses 18 may be substantially rectangular cut-outs in the panel 12, although the recesses 18 could be substantially U-shaped or other shapes if preferred. The recesses 18 are open at the distal edge 12b and extend through the rim 20 and into the main panel 12.

At the distal edge 12b, a portion of the panel 12 is folded to form an upturned rim 20. Preferably, the rim 20 is not perpendicular to the panel 12 but slopes upwardly and outwardly away from the panel 12. The rim 20 in effect provides a blunt distal edge to the bracket 10. The corners of the rim 20 adjacent the mouth of each recess 18 are curved so that there are no sharp corners which might cause injury to a user, or damage to a bottle.

The bracket 10 is also formed with at least one, and preferably a plurality, of smaller slots 22, 24 which can be used for holding tubes which transfer fluid into or out of the bottles as described below.

Typically, each recess 18 is associated with at least one and preferably two slots 22, 24. In this example, each recess 18 is associated with one slot 22 formed in the upturned rim 20 and another slot 24 formed in an adjacent side edge 12c, d of the panel 12.

In use, the bracket 10 is secured to a vertical edge face 26 of a shelf 28 of a medical workstation by screws or the like passing through the openings 16 and corresponding openings 30 in the edge face 26, as shown in Figure 2. The shelf 28 may have a number of openings 30 along it so that the bracket 10 can be positioned in different locations.

The bottles 32 used for medical procedures are typically plastic moulded bottles, with a square or round body 34 and a neck 36 with screw thread 38 for receiving a cap (not shown). The neck 36 normally includes at least one annular projection or ferrule 40 at the base of the neck 36, below the screw thread 38.

The neck 36 of a water bottle 32 can be received in a recess 18 of the bracket 10. The recess 18 is dimensioned so that its width is just greater than the diameter of the neck 36 but less than the diameter of the annular projection 40. Therefore, parts of the annular projection 40 rest on the top of the panel 12, thereby hanging the bottle 32 in the bracket 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The upturned rim 20 protects against accidental dislodgement of a bottle 32, for example if it is knocked in a direction other than straight into or out of the recess 18. However, when a bottle 34 needs to be replaced, the user can simply move it directly forwards out of the recess 16. There is no barrier to release or any form of clip or biasing means which must be overcome in order to remove the bottle 32 from the bracket 10. 4 -

In use, one or more flexible tubes 42 are provided which pass into a bottle 32, usually through holes in a cap fitted to the bottle 32. The tubes 42 are used to convey gas and/or liquid into and out of the bottle 32. When fitting or replacing a bottle 32, a tube 42 can be removed from the bottle 32 pushed into one of the slots 22,24 in order to hold the tube 42 in place before it can be fitted to a new bottle 32, as seen in Figure 4. The width of the slots 22, 24 is just smaller than the outer diameter of the tubes 42, so that a tube 42 will be slightly compressed by pushing it into a slot 22, 24 and therefore held securely within it. Thus, when not engaged in a bottle 32, any tubes 42 can be held in place and do not fall about, therefore potentially contacting other items and becoming contaminated, or simply getting in the way.

The bracket 10 is simple, sturdy constructions and easy to use. It remains securely fitted in position on a workstation, and is not simply hooked on, but it can be repositioned when and where required on a workstation.

The bracket 10 is preferably configured to hold two water bottles side by side as in Figure 2, and therefore the dimensions of the bracket 10 and the spacing of the recesses 16 are determined accordingly. However, a smaller bracket for holding a single bottle, or a larger bracket for holding more than two bottles is also envisaged.

A bottle 32 can be inserted and removed from the bracket 10 simply by sliding into and out of a recess 18, and it is not necessary to lift a bottle 32 vertically, or to release a latch or overcome a spring force, to engage or disengage it from the bracket 10.

Claims

-CLAIMS: 1. A bracket for mounting bottles on a medical workstation, the bracket comprising a main panel with opposed proximal and distal edges, a mounting flange extending from the proximal edge and configured for attachment to a workstation and a rim extending upwardly from the distal edge, wherein at least one recess is formed in the bracket, extending through the rim and into the panel, and configured to receive a neck of a bottle with a projection on the bottle neck resting on the main panel, and at least one slot formed in an edge of the bracket and configured to receive a tube intended to convey fluid into or out of a bottle mounted on the bracket.
2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, comprising two recesses for bottle necks, spaced to allow two bottles to be mounted side by side.
3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein for each recess, two slots are provided.
4. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slots are formed in the rim or in sides of the panel extending between the proximal and distal edges.
5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upturned rim slopes upwardly away from the main panel.
6. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each recess is substantially rectangular.
7. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each slot is substantially U-shaped.
8. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein corners of the rim adjacent to each recess are curved.
9. A medical workstation comprising a support structure mounted on wheels, the support structure comprising at least one shelf, and a bracket as claimed in any preceding claim secured to the shelf.