초록 ▼

An arm is pivotally coupled to a support structure at one end and a patient care equipment support, such as a service head, is pivotally coupled to the arm at the other end. The arm has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the fir

An arm is pivotally coupled to a support structure at one end and a patient care equipment support, such as a service head, is pivotally coupled to the arm at the other end. The arm has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion. Brakes are provided to brake the extension and retraction of the portions of the arm, to brake the pivoting movement of the arm relative to the support structure, and to brake the pivoting movement of the patient care equipment support relative to the arm. Each of the brakes is releasable.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An arm system comprising: a support structure configured to be coupled to at least one of a wall and a ceiling of a room,a telescoping first arm having (i) a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and (ii) a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extensi

1. An arm system comprising: a support structure configured to be coupled to at least one of a wall and a ceiling of a room,a telescoping first arm having (i) a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and (ii) a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extension and refraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a plurality of service delivery lines positioned within the first and second portions of the telescoping first arm, anda first brake positioned within the telescoping first arm, wherein the first brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, wherein the first brake includes a brake member engaged with the first portion when the first brake is in the braking position and disengaged from the first portion when the first brake is in the releasing position, wherein the first brake is positioned within and coupled to the first portion, wherein the first brake includes a second brake member, and wherein the first and second brake members are spring-biased to clamp around an inwardly-extending leg of the first portion in the braking position. 2. The arm system of claim 1, wherein the first brake is spring-biased to the braking position to normally impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and the first brake is movable to the releasing position in response to the actuation of a brake release switch to allow the longitudinal, telescoping movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. 3. The arm system of claim 1, wherein the first brake includes a solenoid which, when energized, causes the first and second brake members to disengage from the first portion against the spring-bias in order to move the first brake to the releasing position. 4. The arm system of claim 1, wherein the telescoping first arm includes an upper roller coupled to and positioned between the first and second portions and a lower roller coupled to and positioned between the first and second portions. 5. The arm system of claim 1, further comprising a first service head coupled to the second portion for longitudinal movement therewith, wherein the plurality of service delivery lines extend from the support structure, through the first portion of the first arm, through the second portion of the first arm, and into the first service head. 6. The arm system of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a proximal end directly coupled to the support structure to pivot about a first axis, and the arm system further comprising a second brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis. 7. The arm system of claim 6, wherein the first and second brakes are normally biased to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion and the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis, and the first and second brakes allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion and the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis in the presence of a first user input. 8. The arm system of claim 6, further comprising a first service head coupled to the second portion for longitudinal movement therewith and to pivot about a second axis and a third brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis, wherein the first service head has a first plurality of service connectors coupled to the associated service delivery lines routed through the first arm. 9. The arm system of claim 8, further comprising a controller that signals the first, second and third brakes to move to their respective releasing positions in response to the actuation of a first brake release switch. 10. The arm system of claim 8, wherein the first and second axes each extend generally vertically. 11. The arm system of claim 1, further comprising (i) a telescoping second arm having a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis, (ii) a second brake positioned within the telescoping second arm, wherein the second brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion of the second arm relative to the first portion of the second arm, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion of the second arm relative to the first portion of the second arm, and (iii) a second plurality of service delivery lines positioned within the first and second portions of the telescoping second arm. 12. The arm system of claim 11, further comprising (i) a first service head coupled to the second portion of the first arm and configured to pivot about a first vertical axis, (ii) a second service head coupled to the second portion of the second arm and configured to pivot about a second vertical axis, (iii) a first service head brake coupled to the first service head and movable from a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first service head about the first vertical axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first service head about the first vertical axis, and (iv) a second service head brake coupled to the second service head and movable from a braking position to impede pivoting movement of the second service head about the second vertical axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the second service head about the second vertical axis, wherein the first and second service head brakes are each biased to the braking position. 13. The arm system of claim 12, further comprising a controller that signals the first and second service head brakes to move to their respective releasing positions in response to the actuation of a brake release switch, wherein the second service head has a handle and the brake release switch is extending from an inwardly-facing surface of the handle of the second service head. 14. The arm system of claim 1, further comprising a first service head coupled to the second portion of the first arm, wherein the first service head has a handle, a first brake release switch extends from an inwardly-facing surface of the handle, and the first brake moves to the releasing position in response to the actuation of the brake release switch. 15. An arm system comprising: a first arm coupled to a support structure to pivot about a first axis, the first arm having a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a patient care equipment support coupled to a distal end of the second portion,a first brake positioned within and coupled to both the first and second portions, wherein the first brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, wherein the first brake is biased to the braking position, anda second brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis, wherein the second brake is normally biased into the braking position, wherein the first brake is positioned within and fixed to the second portion, and wherein the first brake includes first and second brake members biased to clamp around an inwardly-extending leg of the first portion in the braking position. 16. The arm system of claim 15, wherein the patient care equipment support comprises a first service head coupled to the second portion for longitudinal movement therewith and to pivot about a second axis, and further comprising a third brake movable in response to a first user input between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis, wherein the first service head has a first plurality of service connectors coupled to associated service delivery lines routed through the first arm. 17. The arm system of claim 15, wherein the second brake includes a pinion coupled to the first arm, a plunger coupled to the pinion for rotation therewith, and first and second brake members clamped around a plate mounted to the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger in the braking position. 18. The arm system of claim 15, wherein the first brake further includes a first spring biasing the first brake member toward the inwardly-extending leg of the first portion and a second spring biasing the second brake member toward the inwardly-extending leg. 19. The arm system of claim 18, wherein the first brake further includes a solenoid which, when energized, causes the first and second brake members to move away from the inwardly-extending leg of the second portion. 20. An arm system comprising: a support structure configured to be coupled to at least one of a wall and a ceiling of a room,a telescoping first arm having (i) a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and (ii) a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a plurality of service delivery lines positioned within the first and second portions of the telescoping first arm,a first brake positioned within the telescoping first arm, wherein the first brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion has a proximal end directly coupled to the support structure to pivot about a first axis,a second brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis,a first service head coupled to the second portion for longitudinal movement therewith and to pivot about a second axis and a third brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first service head about the second axis, wherein the first service head has a first plurality of service connectors coupled to the associated service delivery lines routed through the first arm, anda controller that signals the first, second and third brakes to move to their respective releasing positions in response to the actuation of a first brake release switch. 21. An arm system comprising: a support structure configured to be coupled to at least one of a wall and a ceiling of a room,a telescoping first arm having (i) a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and (ii) a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a plurality of service delivery lines positioned within the first and second portions of the telescoping first arm,a first brake positioned within the telescoping first arm, wherein the first brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion,a telescoping second arm having a first portion directly coupled to the support structure, and a second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a second brake positioned within the telescoping second arm, wherein the second brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion of the second arm relative to the first portion of the second arm, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion of the second arm relative to the first portion of the second arm,a second plurality of service delivery lines positioned within the first and second portions of the telescoping second arm,a first service head coupled to the second portion of the first arm and configured to pivot about a first vertical axis,a second service head coupled to the second portion of the second arm and configured to pivot about a second vertical axis,a first service head brake coupled to the first service head and movable from a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first service head about the first vertical axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first service head about the first vertical axis,a second service head brake coupled to the second service head and movable from a braking position to impede pivoting movement of the second service head about the second vertical axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the second service head about the second vertical axis, wherein the first and second service head brakes are each biased to the braking position, anda controller that signals the first and second service head brakes to move to their respective releasing positions in response to the actuation of a brake release switch, wherein the second service head has a handle and the brake release switch is extending from an inwardly-facing surface of the handle of the second service head. 22. An arm system comprising: a first arm coupled to a support structure to pivot about a first axis, the first arm having a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion along a longitudinal axis,a patient care equipment support coupled to a distal end of the second portion,a first brake positioned within and coupled to both the first and second portions, wherein the first brake is movable between a braking position to impede the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, and a releasing position to allow the longitudinal movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, wherein the first brake is biased to the braking position, anda second brake movable between a braking position to impede the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis and a releasing position to allow the pivoting movement of the first arm about the first axis, wherein the second brake is normally biased to in the braking position, wherein the second brake includes a pinion coupled to the first arm, a plunger coupled to the pinion for rotation therewith, and first and second brake members clamped around a plate mounted to the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger in the braking position. 23. The arm system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first and second brake members of the second brake is biased in a direction toward the plate mounted to the plunger. 24. The arm system of claim 23, wherein the second brake further includes a solenoid which, when energized, causes at least one of the first and second brake members of the second brake to move away from the plate.