초록

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and supporting the frame above a floor, a push handle coupled to the frame, and an IV pole coupler coupled to the push handle.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A patient support apparatus for use with an IV pole supported on wheels, the apparatus comprising a patient support frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and supporting the frame above a floor, a push handle coupled to the frame, and an IV pole coupler coup

The invention claimed is: 1. A patient support apparatus for use with an IV pole supported on wheels, the apparatus comprising a patient support frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and supporting the frame above a floor, a push handle coupled to the frame, and an IV pole coupler coupled to the push handle, wherein the push handle and IV pole coupler constructed as one piece having a generally J shape and are configured to be grasped by a user's hand simultaneously when the IV pole of the IV pole supported on wheels is received by the IV pole coupler to permit the IV pole supported on wheels to be transported in tandem with the patient support with the casters of the plurality of casters of the patient support apparatus and the wheels of the IV pole supported on wheels rolling along a floor simultaneously, wherein the IV pole coupler is devoid of any spring-loaded clamping elements and is devoid of any adjustment screws. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the IV pole coupler comprises a hook that hooks around the IV pole. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle has a generally upwardly extending first portion, a handle post extending laterally inwardly relative to the first portion, and the IV pole coupler extends laterally outwardly relative to the first portion. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a deck supported above the frame, wherein the IV pole coupler has a portion that extends outwardly past a side edge of the deck. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the IV pole coupler has a generally vertically-extending groove configured to receive the IV pole. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the generally vertically-extending groove opens laterally inwardly toward a vertical plane passing through a longitudinal centerline of the frame. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the IV pole coupler has a flange portion that is configured to wrap around the IV pole when the IV pole is received in the vertically-extending groove. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a top wall of the flange portion tapers downwardly toward a free end thereof. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a lower frame and an upper frame supported by the lower frame, the push handle is coupled to the upper frame, and the push handle is movable between a use position in which the IV pole coupler is located above the upper frame and a storage position in which the IV pole coupler is located below the upper frame. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the IV pole coupler has a first portion and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion between a first position coupling the IV pole to the handle and a second position allowing the IV pole to be decoupled from the handle. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second portions of the IV pole coupler engage first and second portions of the IV pole when the second portion is in the first position. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second portions have complementary generally vertically-extending grooves such that the grooves are located on the opposite sides of the IV pole when the IV pole is received in a cavity defined by the grooves and the second portion is in the first position. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein walls forming the grooves define an inner profile that generally corresponds to an outer profile of the IV pole. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a latch movable between a latched position in which the second portion is held in the first position and an unlatched position in which the second portion is movable between the first and second positions. 15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a ring that is movable along the first portion between a locked position in which the second portion is held in the first position and an unlocked position in which the second portion is movable between the first and second positions. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the IV pole coupler comprises a flexible flap that is configured to deformingly wrap around the IV pole. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a flap coupler to retain the flexible flap in a wrapped condition around the IV pole. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the flap coupler comprises a headed pin secured to the push handle and a hole in the flexible flap that receives the headed pin. 19. A patient support apparatus for use with an IV pole supported on wheels, the apparatus comprising a patient support frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and supporting the frame above a floor, and a push handle coupled to the frame and having integrated as one piece therewith an IV pole coupler, the push handle and the IV pole together forming a general J shape with a generally vertically-extending groove for receiving the IV pole so that a caregiver can grip the push handle and the IV pole with one hand as the caregiver maneuvers the patient support apparatus and the IV pole along the floor such that the IV pole supported on wheels is transported in tandem with the patient support with the casters of the plurality of casters of the patient support apparatus and the wheels of the IV pole supported on wheels rolling along a floor simultaneously, wherein the IV pole coupler is devoid of any spring-loaded clamping elements and is devoid of any adjustment screws. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the push handle comprises first and second push handles, and the IV pole coupler with the vertically-extending groove for receiving the IV pole is arranged in the first push handle so that a caregiver can grip the first push handle and the IV pole with one hand and grip the second push handle with the other hand as the caregiver maneuvers the patient support apparatus and the IV pole along the floor. 21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the push handle has a proximal end coupled to the frame and a distal end defining a handle post, and the IV pole coupler with the generally vertically-extending groove is arranged in the handle post. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, comprising a deck supported above the frame, wherein the handle post has a portion that extends outwardly past a side edge of the deck, and the generally vertically-extending groove is arranged in the outwardly extending portion of the handle post. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the handle post has a generally vertically-extending portion and a generally horizontally extending portion that extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the patient support apparatus, and the IV pole coupler with the generally vertically-extending groove is arranged in the generally vertically-extending portion of the handle post. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the generally vertically-extending portion of the handle post has a flange portion that is configured to wrap around the IV pole when the IV pole is received in the vertically-extending groove. 25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the frame comprises a lower frame and an upper frame supported above the lower frame, the push handle has a proximal end coupled to the upper frame and a distal end defining a handle post, and the push handle is movable between a use position in which the handle post is located above the upper frame and a storage position in which the handle post is located below the upper frame. 26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the push handle is located on a right hand side of the patient support apparatus. 27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the generally vertically-extending groove faces a caregiver as the caregiver maneuvers the patient support apparatus and the IV pole along the floor.