Fracture frame mounting apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6216293
  • Patent Number
    6,216,293
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, April 20, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 17, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A patient-support apparatus comprises a frame, a patient-support surface supported by the frame, and at least one mounting bracket coupled to the frame. The at least one mounting bracket includes a portion that is adapted to couple to a fracture frame.
Description




BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a mounting apparatus and particularly, to an apparatus for mounting a fracture frame to a patient-support apparatus, such as a hospital bed. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mounting apparatus that permits a hospital bed without a fracture frame to be upgraded to one that has a fracture frame attached thereto.




Fracture frames are commonly used in conjunction with hospital beds to support various types of traction equipment such as cables, pulleys, reels, hooks, straps and weights, just to name a few. It is also known to couple patient-positioning equipment such as trapeze bars to fracture frames. Conventional fracture frames may be either floor-supported or mounted directly to the hospital bed and usually include frame members that are positioned above a mattress of the hospital bed. Some floor-supported fracture frames cannot be moved simultaneously with movement of the hospital bed between locations. Many conventional fracture frames have multiple bed attachment points and thus, a variety of mounting devices for attaching fracture frames to hospital beds are known. It is desirable for fracture frame mounting devices to connect and disconnect from a hospital bed quickly and easily.




According to one aspect of the present invention, a patient-support apparatus includes a frame and a patient-support surface supported by the frame. The patient-support surface defines a footprint when projected downwardly onto a floor on which the patient-support apparatus sets. A mounting bracket is coupled to the frame beneath the patient-support surface and within the footprint. The mounting bracket includes a portion outside the footprint that is adapted to couple to a fracture frame.




In preferred embodiments, the mounting bracket includes an arm having a socket that receives a portion of a fracture frame to be coupled to the patient-support apparatus. A first mounting plate is coupled to the arm and extends therefrom and a second mounting plate is coupled to the arm and extends therefrom in spaced, parallel relation with the first mounting plate. The first and second mounting plates are spaced apart by a sufficient distance to allow a frame member of the patient-support apparatus to be received therebetween. In addition, the first and second mounting plates each include at least one aperture as does the frame member. The mounting bracket couples to the frame member by inserting a pin or bolt through the apertures of the mounting plates and frame member.




According to another aspect of the present invention, four mounting brackets are coupled to the frame of the patient-support apparatus such that sockets of the four mounting brackets define corners of a rectangle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting brackets are constructed so as to have substantially the same size and shape.




According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a patient-support apparatus includes a frame and a patient-support deck supported relative to the frame. The patient-support deck includes a deck section that pivots relative to the frame between a first position and a second position. A pair of mounting brackets are coupled to the frame. Each mounting bracket includes an arm extending from the frame and each arm includes a portion to which a fracture frame couples. A deck-receiving space is defined between the arms. At least a portion of the deck section is positioned to lie in the deck-receiving space between the arms when the deck section is in the second position.




Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a hospital bed showing a fracture frame mounted to the hospital bed with a plurality of mounting brackets in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective of one of the mounting brackets showing an L-shaped structural member, a pair of horizontal mounting plates appended to a first end of the L-shaped structural member, and a vertical socket tube appended to a second end of the L-shaped structural member;





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view, with portions broken away, showing the mounting bracket of

FIG. 2

arranged for attachment to an intermediate frame of the hospital bed, a pair of bolts arranged for insertion through apertures formed in the mounting plates and apertures formed in the intermediate frame, a pair of wing nuts arranged beneath the mounting bracket, and a lower portion of a fracture frame member arranged for insertion into the vertical socket tube of the mounting bracket;





FIG. 4

is a diagrammatic top plan view of a plurality of mounting brackets mounted to the intermediate showing the socket tubes arranged to form a rectangular pattern;





FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view, with portions broken away, showing an alternative embodiment mounting bracket having an L-shaped structural member, a pair of horizontal mounting plates appended to a first end of the L-shaped structural member, a vertical socket tube appended to a second end of the L-shaped structural member, an end plug arranged for insertion into an end of the L-shaped structural member, and a pair of mounting pins tethered to the L-shaped structural member with chains;





FIG. 6

is a top plan view showing the alternative embodiment mounting bracket of

FIG. 5

attached to the intermediate frame of the hospital bed; and





FIG. 7

is a sectional view taken along line


7





7


of

FIG. 6

showing one of the mounting pins received in apertures formed in the mounting plates of the alternative embodiment mounting bracket and received in apertures formed in the intermediate frame and showing a lower portion of a fracture frame member received in the vertical socket tube of the alternative embodiment mounting bracket.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A patient-support apparatus


10


, such as a hospital bed


12


, may have a fracture frame


14


attached thereto by a plurality of mounting brackets


16


in accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG.


1


. Hospital bed


12


includes a base frame


18


and, in preferred embodiments, has a plurality of casters


20


coupled to base frame


18


so that bed


12


can be rolled along the floor on which bed


12


sets. Hospital bed


12


further includes an intermediate frame


22


and an elevation mechanism (not shown) coupling intermediate frame


22


to base frame


18


. The elevation mechanism is operable to selectively raise, lower and tilt intermediate frame


22


relative to base frame


18


.




Hospital bed


12


includes an articulated patient-support deck


24


which, in the illustrated embodiment, has a head section


26


, a seat section


28


, a thigh section


30


, and a foot section


32


. Seat section


28


is fixed to intermediate frame


22


and head section


26


is coupled to seat section


28


for pivoting movement about a transverse axis


34


between a horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. In addition, thigh section


30


is coupled to seat section


28


for pivoting movement about a transverse axis


36


and foot section


32


is coupled to thigh section


30


for pivoting movement about a transverse axis


38


. Although illustrative bed


12


includes four deck sections


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


, it is within the scope of the invention as presently perceived for bed


12


to have a different number of deck sections.




Hospital bed


12


includes a mattress


40


having an upwardly facing patient-support surface


42


on which a patient rests as shown in FIG.


1


. Mattress


40


includes a head portion


44


, a seat portion


46


, a thigh portion


48


, and a foot portion


50


. Portions


44


,


46


,


48


,


50


are supported by deck sections


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


, respectively. Hospital bed


12


further includes drive mechanisms (not shown) that operate to articulate sections


26


,


30


,


32


(and corresponding portions


44


,


48


,


50


) relative to seat section


28


and relative to intermediate frame


22


. Deck sections


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


can be moved to a multitude of positions including a flat, horizontal position in which the portions of surface


42


associated with respective mattress portions


44


,


46


,


48


,


50


are substantially coplanar and a chair position in which head section


26


extends substantially vertically upwardly from seat section


28


and in which foot section


32


extends substantially vertically downwardly from thigh section


30


.




It will be appreciated that various mechanical and electromechanical actuators and drivers may be used to raise and lower intermediate frame


22


relative to base frame


18


and to articulate deck sections


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


. It is well-known in the hospital bed art that electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic actuators in combination with various types of transmission elements including lead screw drives and various types of mechanical linkages may be used to create relative movement of portions of hospital beds and other patient-support apparatus. As a result, the terms “elevation mechanism(s)” and “drive mechanism(s)” is intended to cover all types of mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic mechanisms, including manual cranking mechanisms of all types, and including combinations thereof such as hydraulic cylinders in combination with electromechanical pumps for pressurizing fluid received by the hydraulic cylinders.




Illustrated hospital bed


12


includes a pair of first siderails


52


coupled to head section


26


and a pair of second siderails


54


coupled to seat section


28


as shown in FIG.


1


. Each of siderails


52


,


54


is independently movable between a raised position extending above patient-support surface


42


of mattress


40


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, and a lowered position (not shown) positioned below patient-support surface


42


. Bed


12


also includes a footboard


55


coupled to foot section


32


and extending upwardly therefrom. Additional details of hospital bed


12


, as well as alternatives thereof, can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,454,126; 5,479,666; 5,630,238; 5,682,631; 5,692,256; 5,715,548; 5,724,685; 5,732,423; 5,745,937; 5,771,511; 5,781,949; and 5,790,997; each of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.




Fracture frame


14


includes a plurality of frame members, including vertical frame members


56


, longitudinal frame members


58


, and transverse frame members


60


as shown in FIG.


1


. At least portions of each of illustrative frame members


56


,


58


,


60


are hexagonal in cross section which is a well-known shape for fracture frame members in the healthcare industry. Fracture frame


14


further includes couplers


62


that couple frame members


56


,


58


,


60


to one another. It will be appreciated that frame members having shapes and cross sections that differ from those of illustrative frame members


56


,


58


,


60


may be mounted to bed


10


with brackets


16


without exceeding the scope of the invention as presently perceived. In addition, it is understood that any type of suitable couplers for coupling one of frame members


56


,


58


,


60


to any other of frame members


56


,


58


,


60


may be used in lieu of couplers


62


.




Various types of traction equipment (not shown) such as cables, pulleys, reels, hooks, straps and weights may be coupled to fracture frame


14


. Such equipment may also be coupled to a patient's limbs, head, or torso so as to immobilize the patient on bed


12


or so as to exert a force on the patient in a desired manner. Frame members


56


,


58


,


60


cooperate with the traction equipment so that forces exerted on the patient are directed in the proper directions. Other equipment such as a trapeze bar


64


may be coupled to fracture frame


14


with a suitable coupler


66


as shown in

FIG. 1. A

patient may grip trapeze bar


64


for assistance while entering or exiting bed


12


and also may grip trapeze bar


64


for purposes of repositioning while remaining in bed


12


.




Mounting brackets


16


in accordance with the present invention each include an arm


68


and a pair of mounting plates


70


coupled to arm


68


as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. Arm


68


illustratively includes a structural member


71


, and a socket tube


72


. Socket tube


72


is coupled to structural member


71


and is spaced apart from mounting plates


70


. Illustratively, structural member


71


is an L-shaped structure having a first portion


74


and a second portion


76


. In the illustrated embodiments, portions


74


,


76


are made from pieces of metal tube stock having rectangular cross section. A beveled end


78


of first portion


74


is appended, such as by welding or any other manner of coupling, to a beveled end


80


of second portion


76


so that horizontal surfaces


82


of first portion


74


are substantially coplanar with horizontal surfaces


84


of second portion


76


and so that vertical surfaces


86


of first portion


74


are substantially perpendicular to vertical surfaces


88


of second portion


76


.




First portion


74


includes a distal end


90


spaced apart from beveled end


78


and second portion


76


includes a distal end


92


spaced apart from beveled end


80


. Mounting plates


70


are appended, such as by welding or any other manner of coupling, to respective surfaces


82


adjacent to distal end


90


. Mounting plates


70


extend from first portion


74


in a direction opposite to the direction that second portion


76


extends from first portion


74


as shown

FIGS. 2 and 3

. Socket tube


72


is appended, such as by welding or any other manner of coupling, to distal end


92


of second portion


76


. In addition, socket tube


72


includes end edges


94


that are substantially coplanar with surfaces


82


,


84


, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, and mounting plates


70


each include an edge


96


that is substantially coplanar with one of surfaces


86


, as shown best in FIG.


3


. In preferred embodiments, mounting plates


70


are flat and therefore, each mounting plate


70


has upper and lower surfaces


71


,


73


that are parallel with surfaces


82


,


84


.




Although arm


68


includes L-shaped structural member


71


and socket tube


72


appended thereto, it is within the scope of the invention as presently perceived for structural member


71


to have other configurations. For example, arm


68


may have other shapes and fracture frame members may couple to arm


68


by some manner other than a socket tube. In addition, arm


68


may have a receptacle formed directly therein without the need to provide a separate structural member and socket tube.




Mounting plates


70


extend from first portion


74


in substantially parallel relation with one another and each mounting plate


70


is formed to include a pair of apertures


98


that, in the illustrated embodiment, are square shaped. Each aperture


98


of the pair of apertures


98


associated with one of mounting plates


70


is aligned with a corresponding aperture


98


of the pair of apertures


98


associated with the other of mounting plates


70


as shown, for example, in FIG.


2


. Illustrative socket tube


72


is formed to include a cylindrical bore


100


extending through socket tube


72


between end edges


94


thereof. It is, however, within the scope of the invention as presently perceived, for any suitable receptacle to be formed in arm


68


.




Illustrative intermediate frame


22


of bed


12


comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members


110


and a pair of transverse frame members


112


as shown diagrammatically in FIG.


4


. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that intermediate frames of hospital beds may include one solid frame or may consist of separate frame subassemblies that are coupled together. For example, intermediate frames including a first frame and a weigh frame that is coupled to the first frame by load cells having output signals indicative of the weight supported by the weigh frame relative to the first frame are known. In addition, intermediate frames having a first frame and a retracting second frame that retracts and extends relative to the first frame are also known. Thus the phrase “intermediate frame” or “frame” as used in the specification and in the claims is intended to cover all types of frames including one piece frames and including frames having multiple frame subassemblies.




In preferred embodiments, frame members


110


,


112


are made of tubular bar stock having either rectangular or square cross section as shown best in

FIG. 3

with reference to one of frame members


110


. Preferred frame members


110


,


112


, therefore, have horizontal surfaces


114


and vertical surfaces


116


. Mounting brackets


16


are configured such that the spacing between mounting plates


70


is slightly larger than the spacing between surfaces


114


of frame members


110


,


112


so that mounting brackets


16


can be arranged having the respective frame member


110


,


112


positioned to lie between mounting plates


70


with a minimal amount of clearance therebetween.




Frame members


110


and the frame member


112


adjacent the foot section


32


of bed


12


are each formed to include a suitable number of pairs of apertures


118


, shown in

FIG. 3

, extending therethrough between horizontal surfaces


114


to allow attachment of mounting brackets


16


. When apertures


98


formed in mounting plates


70


are aligned with apertures


118


formed in the respective frame member


110


,


112


, a pair of bolts


120


are inserted through apertures


98


,


118


to couple the respective mounting bracket


16


to intermediate frame


22


of bed


12


. Bolts


120


each include a threaded portion


122


, a head


124


, and a square-shaped lug


126


. Square-shaped apertures


98


are sized so that lugs


126


are received therein. A wing nut


128


is threadedly coupled to each respective threaded portion


122


to secure the corresponding mounting bracket


16


to frame


22


. Receipts of lugs


126


in apertures


98


prevents bolts


120


from turning during tightening of wing nuts


128


.




Mounting bracket


16


includes socket tube


72


having cylindrical bore


100


as previously described. Each vertical frame member


56


of fracture frame


14


includes a cylindrical lower portion


130


as shown best in FIG.


3


. After attachment of mounting bracket


16


to intermediate frame


22


, lower portion


130


of vertical frame member


56


is inserted into bore


100


thereby coupling fracture frame


14


to mounting bracket


16


. A shoulder surface


132


extending radially outwardly from portion


130


abuts one of end edges


94


of socket tube


72


under the force of gravity to maintain fracture frame


14


in place relative to mounting bracket


16


and relative to intermediate frame


22


. Optionally, additional components, such as latches, pins, nuts, or bolts, may be provided to further secure frame member


56


to mounting bracket


16


although it has been found that, with respect to the illustrated embodiments, suitable coupling of fracture frame


14


to mounting brackets


16


is achieved without such additional components.




Each socket tube


72


defines a vertical axis


134


as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. By appropriately configuring arms


68


of mounting brackets


16


and by appropriately locating apertures


118


formed in frame members


110


,


112


of intermediate frame, vertical axes


134


cooperate with one another such that, when viewed from above (or below), a rectangle is formed having sides


136


and ends


138


and having the corners thereof at the respective vertical axes


134


as shown in FIG.


4


. When lower portions


130


of vertical frame members


56


of fracture frame


14


are received in socket tubes


72


, frame members


56


extend vertically along vertical axes


134


which allows transverse frame members


60


of fracture frame


16


to each have a common first length and which allows longitudinal frame members


58


to each have a common second length.




The arms


68


of mounting brackets


16


that are coupled to intermediate frame


22


adjacent to foot section


32


define a deck-receiving space


135


therebetween as shown in FIG.


4


. Patient-support deck


24


of hospital bed


12


is movable between the flat, horizontal position and the chair position as previously described. When deck


24


moves toward the chair position from the horizontal position, foot section


32


pivots relative to intermediate frame


22


from a first position outside of deck-receiving space


135


to a second position in which at least a portion of foot section


32


is positioned to lie in deck receiving space


135


.




When deck


24


is in the horizontal position, patient-support surface


42


defines a footprint


139


, shown in

FIG. 4

, when projected downwardly onto a floor surface on which bed


12


sets. Footprint


139


is bounded by double-dashed perimeter lines


140


. Mounting brackets


16


are each coupled to intermediate frame


22


within footprint


139


(meaning inside a volume defined between the floor, the patient-support surface


42


, and vertical planes passing through perimeter lines


140


). Socket tubes


72


are each positioned to lie outside footprint


139


(meaning outside the volume defined between the floor, the patient-support surface


42


, and vertical planes passing through perimeter lines


140


) and vertical frame members


56


are, therefore, positioned to lie outside footprint


139


as well. Thus, mounting brackets


16


are configured such that fracture frame


14


will not interfere with movement of deck


24


between the horizontal and chair positions.




It will be appreciated that any mounting brackets which are configured so that the points of attachment of frame


14


to frame


22


form a rectangular pattern, having the corners of the rectangle outside footprint


139


, are within the scope of the invention as presently perceived. As shown in

FIG. 4

, four mounting brackets


16


, each being constructed of similar size and shape, are attached to frame


22


so as form the rectangular pattern. Each mounting bracket


16


is simply oriented in the proper manner and then attached to frame


22


as previously described. However, it is not necessary that each mounting bracket be constructed of similar size and shape. For example, the mounting brackets attached to frame


22


adjacent foot section


32


may be sized and shaped differently than the mounting brackets attached to frame


22


adjacent head section


26


. Mounting brackets


16


adjacent to head section


26


could be altered such that both first portions


74


thereof are lengthened, or alternatively shortened, by an equivalent amount and a rectangular pattern will still be maintained. In a similar fashion, mounting brackets adjacent to foot section


32


could be altered such that both second portions


76


thereof are lengthened, or alternatively shortened, by an equivalent amount and a rectangular pattern will still be maintained.




An alternative embodiment mounting bracket


216


is shown in

FIGS. 5-7

. Mounting bracket


216


is substantially the same as mounting bracket


16


and therefore, like reference numerals are used to denote like components. A pair of coupling pins


218


are tethered to mounting bracket


216


by chains


220


. Of course, other types of tethers would also work in lieu of chains


220


. One link of each chain


220


is coupled to a respective small plate


221


. Each small plate


221


is formed to include an aperture


223


and arm


68


is formed to include a threaded aperture


225


in portion


74


as shown in

FIG. 5. A

small bolt


227


extends through apertures


223


of plates


221


and is threadedly received by aperture


225


to couple chains


220


to mounting bracket


216


, thereby coupling pins


218


to mounting bracket


216


. Each mounting bracket


216


also includes a cosmetic end plug


229


which closes the open end (not shown) of portion


74


of arm


68


.




Each pin


218


includes a tubular shank


222


having a lower cylindrical portion


224


, an enlarged upper portion


226


, and a head portion


228


as shown in FIG.


5


. One link of each chain


220


is attached to respective head portion


228


. Each pin


218


further includes a push rod


230


received for axial movement within the bore of tubular shank


222


. An upper end of each push rod


230


extends beyond the respective head portion


228


and a recess


232


, shown in

FIG. 7

(in phantom), is formed adjacent a lower end of each push rod


230


. Push rods


230


are spring-biased toward an upward position in a conventional manner.




Each tubular shank


222


includes a small hole formed in a lower portion thereof and each pin


218


includes a detent ball


234


, a portion of which projects radially outwardly from shank


222


when push rod


230


is in its upward position. Pushing downwardly on the upper end of push rod


230


causes recess


232


to align with detent ball


234


which permits detent ball


234


to retract into recess


232


such that ball


234


no longer projects from shank


222


. When the upper end of push rod


230


is released, rod


230


is automatically spring-biased upwardly and movement of rod


230


upwardly automatically forces ball


234


back to the position having a portion of the ball


234


projecting from shank


222


.




To couple mounting bracket


216


to frame


22


, mounting bracket


216


is arranged so that frame


22


is received between mounting plates


70


having apertures


98


of mounting plates


70


aligned with respective apertures


118


of frame


22


. Upper ends of push rods


230


are then pressed and pins


218


are inserted downwardly through apertures


98


,


118


. After insertion of pins


218


through apertures


98


,


118


, the upper end of push rods


230


are released and detent balls


234


project from shank


222


beneath the lower mounting plate


70


of bracket


216


as shown in FIG.


7


. Projection of balls


234


beyond respective shanks


222


beneath the lower mounting plate


70


prevents pins


218


from being pulled out of apertures


98


,


118


. After mounting brackets


216


are coupled to frame


22


, fracture frame


14


is coupled to mounting brackets


216


by insertion of lower ends


130


of frame members


56


into bore


100


of socket tubes


72


as was described above with reference to mounting brackets


16


.




Mounting brackets


16


and mounting brackets


216


permit easy attachment of fracture frame


14


to hospital bed


12


. Brackets


16


are quickly and easily coupled to frame


22


with bolts


120


and wing nuts


128


that are hand tightened to secure brackets


16


to frame


22


. Brackets


216


are quickly and easily coupled to frame


22


with pins


218


having push rods


230


that are manipulated manually to secure brackets


216


to frame


22


. After attachment of either of brackets


16


,


216


to bed


12


, fracture frame


14


is easily coupled to brackets


16


,


216


by insertion of ends


130


of frame members


56


into bores


100


of respective socket tubes


72


. Each of brackets


16


and


216


also quickly and easily detaches from hospital bed


12


. Thus, mounting brackets


16


,


216


in accordance with the present invention allow attachment and removal of fracture frame


14


relative to hospital bed


12


without the use of tools.




Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A patient-support apparatus comprisinga frame, a patient-support surface supported by the frame and defining a footprint when projected downwardly onto a floor surface beneath the frame, and a mounting bracket coupled to the frame beneath the patient-support surface and within the footprint, the mounting bracket including a portion outside the footprint that is adapted to couple to a fracture frame.
  • 2. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes an arm and a pair of mounting plates coupled to the arm, the mounting plates are coupled to the frame within the footprint, and the arm includes a portion adapted to couple to a fracture frame member.
  • 3. The patient-support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the frame includes a frame member, one of the mounting plates is positioned to lie above the frame member and the other of the mounting plates is positioned to lie below the frame member.
  • 4. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pair of mounting plates each are formed to include a first aperture, the frame member is formed to include a second aperture, and the mounting bracket further includes a pin received by all of the first and second apertures to couple the mounting bracket to the frame member.
  • 5. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pair of mounting plates each are formed to include a first aperture, the frame member is formed to include a second aperture, and the mounting bracket further includes a bolt received by all of the first and second apertures to couple the mounting bracket to the frame member.
  • 6. The patient-support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the arm includes a structural member and a socket tube, the socket tube is coupled to the structural member, and the mounting plates are coupled to the structural member.
  • 7. The patient-support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the structural member includes a first end and a second end, the socket tube is coupled to the first end of the structural member, and the mounting plates are coupled to a second end of the structural member.
  • 8. The patient-support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the arm has a first horizontal surface and a second horizontal surface spaced apart from the first horizontal surface, one of the mounting plates is coupled to the first horizontal surface, and the other of the mounting plates is coupled to the second horizontal surface.
  • 9. A patient-support apparatus comprisinga frame, a patient-support deck supported relative to the frame, the patient-support deck including a deck section that pivots relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, and a pair of mounting brackets coupled to the frame and adapted to couple to a fracture frame, a deck-receiving space being defined between the mounting brackets, and at least a portion of the deck section is positioned to lie in the deck-receiving space when the deck section is in the second position.
  • 10. The patient-support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deck section overlies the deck-receiving space when the deck section is in the first position.
  • 11. A patient-support apparatus comprisinga frame, a patient-support surface supported by the frame and having a first width and a first length, and four mounting brackets coupled to the frame below the patient-support surface, each mounting bracket including a socket adapted to receive a fracture frame member, each socket defining a socket axis, the four mounting brackets being arranged on the frame such that a rectangle is defined by the sockets, each corner of the rectangle being located at a respective one of the socket axes, the rectangle having a second width larger than the first width and a second length shorter than the first length.
  • 12. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the patient-support surface defines a footprint when projected downwardly onto a floor beneath the frame and each of the socket axes are vertical and located outside the footprint.
  • 13. The patient-support apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the four mounting brackets includes a portion positioned to lie within the footprint.
  • 14. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11, wherein each mounting bracket of the four mounting brackets is constructed of similar size and shape.
  • 15. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a plurality of frame members, each mounting bracket of the four mounting brackets includes a portion positioned to lie above at least one of the frame members, and each mounting bracket of the four mounting brackets includes a portion positioned to lie below at least one of the frame members.
  • 16. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member spaced apart from the first longitudinal frame member, and a transverse frame member coupled to the first and second longitudinal frame members and extending therebetween, and wherein two of the four mounting brackets are coupled to the transverse frame member.
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