Security latch for user interface housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12115115-B2
Application number	US-202318211368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2023
Priority date	Jul 10, 2019
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a frame having a head end and a foot end. A support arm is operably coupled to the head end of the frame. A cord is coupled to the support arm. A user interface housing is operably coupled to the cord and configured to retain a user interface. The user interface housing includes a locking body coupled to a body of the user interface housing and has a flange configured to engage an edge of the user interface. A latch mechanism includes a flexible body coupled to a rear side of the locking body. The latch mechanism is configured to selectively secure the locking body in a position. A shelf is coupled to a lower portion of the body of the user interface housing. The shelf has stoppers operably coupled to the shelf. The stoppers are adjustable along a horizontal plane to define different widths.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
a frame having a head end and a foot end;
a support arm operably coupled to the head end of the frame;
a cord coupled to the support arm; and
a user interface housing operably coupled to the cord and configured to retain a user interface, the user interface housing including:
a locking body coupled to a body of the user interface housing and having a flange configured to engage an edge of the user interface;
a latch mechanism including a flexible body coupled to a rear side of the locking body, the latch mechanism configured to selectively secure the locking body in a position;
a shelf coupled to a lower portion of the body of the user interface housing, the shelf having stoppers operably coupled to the shelf, wherein the stoppers are adjustable along a horizontal plane to define different widths; and
a button defining a first rib and a second rib that extend from a rear side thereof, the first and second ribs extending through an aperture defined by the locking body, wherein the button is operably coupled to first and second shafts to selectively limit movement of the locking body, each of the first and second shafts is disposed between the first and second ribs.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible body includes first and second projections spaced apart from one another and coupled to one another via a connecting portion.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein an upper portion of the locking body defines an access notch for receiving a tool configured to apply a force to the connecting portion of the flexible body.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the latch mechanism is adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the force applied by the tool adjusts the latch mechanism to the retracted position.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible body includes first and second flexible tabs operably coupled with the first and second shafts, respectively, each of the first and second flexible tabs extends at least partially between the first and second shafts.

6. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
a frame;
a support arm operably coupled to the frame;
a cord coupled to the support arm; and
a user interface housing coupled with the cord, the user interface housing including:
a body;
first and second ribs coupled to the body, the first and second ribs having first and second channels, respectively;
a shelf coupled to a lower portion of the body;
a locking body slidable within the first and second channels, wherein a position of the locking body is adjustable to secure a user interface between the locking body and the shelf;
a latch mechanism coupled to a rear side of the locking body, the latch mechanism operable between an extended position to secure the locking body in position and a retracted position to adjust the position of the locking body; and
a button having ribs extending from a rear side thereof and into an aperture defined by the locking body, wherein the ribs engage shafts that are operably coupled with the latch mechanism, and wherein the ribs limit movement of the shafts and, consequently, movement of the latch mechanism.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the shelf includes stoppers operably coupled to the shelf, and wherein the stoppers are adjustable along a horizontal plane to define different widths.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the locking body defines a recess for receiving an edge of the user interface.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first and second channels each includes a plurality of vertically spaced teeth, wherein the latch mechanism includes a flexible body with projections that engage sloped surfaces of the teeth to form a pawl.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the locking body defines first and second apertures adjacent to the first and second channels, and wherein, in the extended position, the projections extend outwardly from the first and second apertures to engage the teeth and catch on the sloped surfaces to prevent motion toward an upper portion of the body, and further wherein, when in the retracted position, the projections are withdrawn from the first and second apertures.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the ribs are disposed at opposing side edges of the aperture and the shafts are disposed between the ribs, and wherein tabs of the latch mechanism are disposed between and adjacent to the shafts.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the button has a continuous arcuate outer surface.

13. A user interface housing for a patient support apparatus, comprising:
a body having an upper portion and a lower portion;
first and second ribs extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the first and second ribs defining first and second channels, respectively, wherein the first and second ribs are sized to extend a height of the aperture;
a locking body slidably engaged with the first and second ribs and adjustable between the upper and lower portions, the locking body defining an aperture;
a button operably coupled with the locking body, wherein the button includes at least one rib configured to extend through the aperture on the locking body to selectively limit movement of the locking body; and
a latch mechanism coupled to a rear side of the locking body, wherein the first and second ribs are operably coupled with first and second shafts that are configured to adjust the latch mechanism to a retracted position to slidably adjust the locking body in the first and second channels, and further wherein the first and second ribs limit movement of the first and second shafts.

14. The user interface housing of claim 13 , further comprising:
a latch mechanism including a flexible body coupled to a rear side of the locking body, the latch mechanism configured to selectively secure the locking body in a position along the first and second channels.

15. The user interface housing of claim 13 , wherein an upper end of the locking body is curved and extends outwardly from a planar portion.

16. The user interface housing of claim 15 , wherein the button defines a shape complementary to a shape of the upper end, and wherein the button has a continuously arcuate outer surface.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Zerhusen Robert Mark
• Moenter Jonathan Keith

Classifications

• H04M1/04 Primary

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• A61B2560/0456

  Apparatus provided with a docking unit · CPC title

• A61G2203/78

  for clamping · CPC title

• B60R11/02

  for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof · CPC title

• F16B2/18

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title