SUSPENSION DEVICES
This invention relates to suspension devices and in particular to devices for suspending articles from a rail. The present invention will be illustrated herein with special reference to devices which can be used to suspend items of medical equipment (including drip-bags, blood-bags and catheters) from a rail, although it is not to be construed as being limited to such uses.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for demountably suspending an article from a rail, the device comprising a first portion adapted, in use, to engage the rail and a second portion adapted, in use, to engage the article to be suspended, in which the first and second portions are each made from the same material and are formed integrally with each other.
Preferably, the device is made from a thermoformable material, for example a thermoformable plastics material.
Suitably, the thermoformable plastics material is an injection-mouldable plastics material, such as polypropylene, high-density polypropylene or high-density polyethylene. Alternative injection-mouldable plastics materials include phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins and polyurethane-based resins.
Preferably, the first portion comprises a clip, for example a spring-clip or a snap-on-clip.
In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second portion comprises an elongate shaft extending at an angle of about 45°
relative to the first portion, with a neb at the distal end of the shaft, relative to the first portion.
Preferably, the neb is provided with arcuate or similar edging, so as to minimise the possibility of damaging an article suspended therefrom.
Suitably, the neb makes an angle of about 30° relative to the elongate shaft.
A device according to this first preferred embodiment of the present invention is desirably provided with spacer means extending between the first portion and the elongate shaft. The spacer means may, for example, comprise a triangular or rectangular plate or one or more bars or rods. Conveniently, the spacer means is integrally formed with, and made of the same material as, the other portions of the device.
In use, a device according to this first preferred embodiment of the present invention may be deployed with the elongate shaft extending downwardly relative to the first portion. For example, the first portion may be engaged with a curtain rail adjacent a bed (e.g. in a hospital), the second portion being used to suspend a drip-bag or similar item therefrom.
In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second portion comprises a hook extending at an angle of about 45° relative to the first portion.
In use, a device according to this second preferred embodiment of the present invention may be deployed with the hook extending upwardly relative to the first portion. For example, the first portion may be
engaged with a rail of a bed (e.g. in a hospital), the second portion being used to suspend a blood-bag, urine-bag or similar item therefrom.
In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second portion comprises a stud extending at an angle of about 90° relative to the first portion.
Two or more devices according to this third preferred embodiment of the present invention may be demountably joined together by means of bars or rods adapted to engage the device, in a manner known per se.
In use, one or more devices according to this third preferred embodiment of the present invention may be deployed with the stud extending substantially horizontally relative to the first portion. For example, the first portion may be engaged with a rail of a bed, (e.g. in a hospital) , the second portion being used to suspend a catheter bag or similar item therefrom.
The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings .
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of devices according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, the suspension device 10 comprises a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, the portions 11 and 12 being integrally formed from a mouldable plastics material such as polypropylene.
The second portion 12 consists of an elongate shaft 20 extending at an angle x from the first portion 11, with a neb 21 at the distal end of the shaft 20, relative to the first portion 11.
The neb 21 has arcuate edging and makes an angle y with the elongate shaft 20.
Suitably, angle x is about 45° and angle y is about 30°.
The device further includes a spacer plate 30, which is integrally formed with portions 11 and 12 and which imparts stability to the device.
In use, the device illustrated in Figure 1 may conveniently be deployed by engaging the first portion 11 with a curtain rail adjacent a hospital bed, so that the second portion 12 extends downwardly from the first portion 11 and a drip-bag can be suspended from the neb 21 , in convenient proximity to a patient.
Figure 2 shows a suspension device 40 comprising a first portion 21 and a second portion 42, the portions 41 and 42 being integrally formed from a mouldable plastics material such as polypropylene.
The second portion 42 comprises a hook which extends at an angle of about 45° relative to the first portion 41.
In use, the device illustrated in Figure 2 may conveniently be deployed by engaging the first portion 41 with a rail of a hospital bed, so that the second portion 42 extends upwardly from the first portion 41 and can be used to suspend a blood-bag or urine-bag in convenient proximity to a patient.
Referring now to Figure 3, a pair of suspension devices, 51 and 52, is shown. Each device comprises a first portion (510 and 520 respectively) and a second portion (511 and 521 respectively) , the first and second portions being integrally formed from a mouldable plastics material such as polypropylene.
The portions 511 and 521 each comprise a stud (512 and 522 respectively) which extends at an angle of about 90°, relative to its first portion.
If desired, adjacent devices 51 and 52 may be demountably joined together by means of one or more bars or rods (not shown in Figure 3) .
In use, one or more devices illustrated in Figure 3 may conveniently be deployed by engaging portions 510 and/or 520 with a rail of a hospital bed, so that portions 511 and/or 521 extend substantially horizontally from their respective portions 510 and/or 520. In such a deployment, studs 512 and/or 522 can be used to suspend a catheter bag or similar item therefrom, in convenient proximity to a patient.