The present disclosure relates to features of patient support apparatuses such as hospital beds. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to patient control arms having user inputs that a patient uses to control features and functions of hospital beds, as well as supporting and charging personal digital assistants, such as tablet computers, for example.
Handheld personal phones, aka smartphones, and other personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as tablet computers are owned by a large percentage of the population. Patients in healthcare facilities prefer to have their phones and PDAs accessible while admitted to a healthcare facility. However, current patient support apparatuses on the market today do not adequately address patients' desire for ease of use of their smartphones while confined to a patient support apparatus. Some patient's and caregivers may wish to interact with one another via the patient's phone or PDA. Other aspects of a patient's care while in a healthcare facility may be enhanced if a patient has access to their PDA. Allowing patients better ergonomic use of their personal PDAs while confined to a hospital bed, for example, may improve their experience while in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
The present disclosure includes one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a user interface for a patient support apparatus comprises a frame including a first side and a second side, and a support structure positioned on the second side. The support structure is configured to support personal digital assistants of varying sizes. The support structure includes a fixed base and a movable clamp, the movable clamp movable relative to the fixed base with a locking mechanism resisting movement of the movable clamp away from the base.
In some embodiments, the movable clamp includes an actuator that releases the movable clamp for movement away from the base.
In some embodiments, the movable clamp comprises a first bias member that biases the locking mechanism to a locked position and second bias member that biases the locking mechanism to a released position.
In some embodiments, first bias member has a bias that is greater than the second bias member.
In some embodiments, the first bias member may be overcome by a user to disengage the bias of the first bias member from the locking mechanism.
In some embodiments, the first bias member may be overcome by a user to disengage the bias of the first bias member from the locking mechanism.
In some embodiments, the movable clamp comprises a first bias member that biases the locking mechanism to a locked position and second bias member that biases the locking mechanism to a released position.
In some embodiments, the first bias member has a bias that is greater than the second bias member.
In some embodiments, the first bias member may be overcome by a user to disengage the bias of the first bias member from the locking mechanism.
In some embodiments, the first bias member may be overcome by a user to disengage the bias of the first bias member from the locking mechanism.
In some embodiments, the first bias member is a torsional spring.
In some embodiments, the second bias member is integral formed in the locking mechanism.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a lock that has a pair of arms, the arms formed to include catches, and the locking mechanism further includes guides that are each engaged by the respective arms.
In some embodiments, the guides include serrations engaged by the catches on the arms.
In some embodiments, the torsional spring is coupled to an actuator that is movable into and out of engagement with the arms.
In some embodiments, when the actuator is out of engagement with the arms, the second bias member disengages the catches from the serrations.
In some embodiments, the actuator includes a pair of posts, each post engaging with a respective arm of the lock.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a lock that has a pair of arms, the arms formed to include catches, and the locking mechanism further includes guides that are each engaged by the respective arms.
In some embodiments, the guides include serrations engaged by the catches on the arms.
In some embodiments, the movable clamp comprises a first bias member that biases the arms to a locked position and second bias member that biases the arms to a released position.
In some embodiments, the user interface comprises a dedicated charging port positioned on the first side.
In some embodiments, the dedicated charging port is provided with two modes of patient protection from electrical faults.
In some embodiments, the dedicated charging port is monitored for faults.
In some embodiments, the dedicated charging port is controlled by a dedicated charging port controller.
In some embodiments, the dedicated charging port is a USB charging port.
In some embodiments, the fault monitor includes two modes of patient protection from electrical faults.
In some embodiments, the user interface device further comprises at least one user input device positioned on the first side.
In some embodiments, the at least one user input device is a nurse call activation switch.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an overhead arm assembly for a patient support apparatus includes a user interface device of the first aspect of the disclosure.
In some embodiments, the overhead arm assembly includes a coupler configured to couple the overhead arm assembly to a frame of the patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the coupler includes a detent to control the position of the coupler relative to the patient support apparatus.
In some embodiments, the overhead arm assembly includes first portion pivotable relative to the patient support apparatus, a second portion pivotable relative to the first portion, and a third portion pivotable relative to the second portion.
In some embodiments, the user interface is pivotable relative to the third portion.
In some embodiments, the pivoting of the second portion relative to the first portion is mechanically limited.
In some embodiments, the pivoting of the third portion relative to the second portion is mechanically limited.
In some embodiments, the pivoting of the user interface relative to the third portion is mechanically limited.
In some embodiments, the first portion includes to a pivot base and the second portion includes a pivot member that pivots relative to the pivot base.
In some embodiments, the overhead arm assembly includes a first motion control assembly for controlling motion of the second portion relative to the first portion.
In some embodiments, the first motion control assembly includes a brake ring that is fixed to the second portion and frictionally engages the first portion.
In some embodiments, the overhead arm assembly further comprises a second motion control assembly for controlling motion of the third portion relative to the second portion.
In some embodiments, the second motion control assembly includes a brake ring that is fixed to the second portion and frictionally engages the third portion.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an overhead arm assembly for a patient bed may be provided. The overhead arm assembly may include a first L-shaped arm that may have a first bottom end that may be configured to couple to the patient bed, a second L-shaped arm, a third arm that may pivotably interconnect the first and second L-shaped arms, and a patient interface unit that may be suspended from a bottom region of the second L-shaped arm. The overhead arm assembly may have a use position in which the first and second L-shaped arms may be pivoted with respect to the third arm such that the patient interface unit is suspended for use by a patient on the patient bed. The overhead arm assembly may have a transport position in which the first and second L-shaped arms may be collapsed together such that the patient interface unit may be situated adjacent a substantially vertical portion of the first L-shaped arm. The overhead arm assembly may have a T-shaped configuration in the transport position.
In some embodiments, the overhead arm assembly may further include a clip that may be coupled to the substantially vertical portion of the first L-shaped arm. A substantially vertical portion of the second L-shaped arm may be received by the clip when the overhead arm assembly is in the transport position.
If desired, the third arm may be situated above the first and second L-shaped arms. A first pivot joint assembly may be provided at a first end of the third arm to pivotably interconnect the third arm and the first L-shaped arm. A second pivot joint assembly may be provided at a second end of the third arm to pivotably interconnect the third arm and second L-shaped arm. Optionally, a first flexible pad may be attached to the first pivot joint assembly and a second flexible pad may be attached to the second pivot joint assembly. The first and second pads may serve as anti-skid feet when the overhead arm assembly is detached from the patient bed and turned upside down and resting on a floor for storage.
In some embodiments, a strain relief may be attached to the substantially vertical portion of the first L-shaped arm. An electrical cable may be routed from the patient interface unit through the first and second L-shaped arms and the third arm and may exit the substantially vertical portion of the L-shaped arm behind the strain relief. A first connector may be provided at a distal end of the cable. The first connector may be configured to mate with a second connector that may be included on the patient bed. The first connector may be a 90 degree male D-sub connector, for example. The second connector may be a female connector that may be situated on a downwardly facing surface of the bed such that the first connector may be moved upwardly to mate with the second connector.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, an overhead arm assembly for use with a patient bed may include a plurality of interconnected pivotable arms. A free end of a first arm of the plurality of arms may be configured to couple to the patient bed. A patient interface unit may be suspended from a second arm of the plurality of arms. The patient interface unit may have a first flex circuit overlay attached thereto. The first flex circuit overlay may be selected from a plurality of different flex circuit overlays. The first flex circuit overlay may have buttons for controlling a first set of features of the patient bed.
In some embodiments, the first flex circuit overlay may include a dead front nurse call button that may be illuminated and visible in response to the patient bed being in communication with a nurse call system and that may not be illuminated and substantially not visible in response to the patient bed not being in communication with the nurse call system. Optionally, each flex circuit overlay of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include a dead front nurse call button that may be illuminated and visible in response to the patient bed being in communication with a nurse call system and that may be not illuminated and substantially not visible in response to the patient bed not being in communication with the nurse call system.
Alternatively or additionally, the first flex circuit overlay may include a stay in bed indicator that may be illuminated in response to a bed exit or patient position monitoring system of the patient bed being enabled and that may not be illuminated in response to the bed exit or patient position monitoring system of the patient bed not being enabled. Optionally, each flex circuit overlay of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include a stay in bed indicator that may be illuminated in response to a bed exit or patient position monitoring system of the patient bed being enabled and that may not be illuminated in response to the bed exit or patient position monitoring system of the patient bed not being enabled.
If desired, the first flex circuit overlay may include a stand assist button that may be pressed by a patient to move deck sections of the patient bed to a position conducive for exiting a side of the bed. In some embodiments, each flex circuit overlay of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include a stand assist button that may be pressed by a patient to move deck sections of the patient bed to a position conducive for exiting a side of the bed.
It is contemplated by this disclosure that some flex circuit overlays of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include mattress control buttons for inflating and deflating at least one mattress bladder to increase and decrease, respectively, mattress firmness and others of the flex circuit overlays may not include mattress control buttons. Alternatively or additionally, some flex circuit overlays of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include lighting control buttons for turning on and off a room light or a reading light and others of the flex circuit overlays may not include lighting control buttons. Further alternatively or additionally, some flex circuit overlays of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include television control buttons for controlling a television in a patient room and others of the flex circuit overlays may not include television control buttons. If desired, each flex circuit overlay of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may include deck section control buttons that may be pressed by a patient to move deck sections of the patient bed. Further optionally, each flex circuit overlay of the plurality of flex circuit overlays may have back lighting turned on for each button corresponding to a controllable function and may have back lighting turned off for each button corresponding to a function that is not controllable.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an overhead arm assembly for use with a patient bed may include a plurality of interconnected pivotable arms. A free end of a first arm of the plurality of arms may be configured to couple to the patient bed. A patient interface unit may be suspended from a second arm of the plurality of arms. The patient interface unit may have a reading light with a touch sensor. The touch sensor may be touched by a patient to change an intensity or brightness level at which the reading light emits light.
In some embodiments, the reading light with touch sensor may be located at a bottom of a patient interface unit. The intensity or brightness levels may include low, medium, high, and off levels, for example.
Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), such as those listed above and/or those listed in the claims, can comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the embodiments as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring to
The view shown in
The hospital bed 10 includes a base frame 20 which supports a lift system 22. The lift system 22 engages the base and an upper frame 24 such that the lift system 22 moves the upper frame 24 vertically relative to the base frame 20. The lift system 22 includes a head end linkage 27 and a foot end linkage 29. Each of the linkages 27 and 29 are independently operable and may be operated to cause the hospital bed 10 to move into a tilt position which is when the head end 14 of the upper frame 24 is positioned lower than the foot end 12 of the upper frame 24. The hospital bed 10 may also be moved to a reverse tilt position with the foot end 12 of the upper frame 24 is positioned lower than the head end 14 of the upper frame 24.
The upper frame 24 supports a load frame 26. The load frame 26 supports a head deck 28 (sometimes referred to as a head section) which is movable relative to the load frame 26. The load frame 26 also supports an articulated seat deck 30 (sometimes referred to as a thigh section), also movable relative to the load frame 26 and a fixed seat deck 32 (sometimes referred to as a seat section). Also supported from the load frame 26 is a foot deck 34 (sometimes referred to as a foot section) that is articulated and moveable relative to the load frame 26. The foot deck 34 in the illustrative embodiment of
The foot deck 34 includes a first portion 36 and a second portion 38, which moves relative to the first portion 36 to vary the size of the foot deck 34. The second portion 38 moves generally longitudinally relative to the first portion 36 to vary the longitudinal length of the foot deck 34 and, thereby, the longitudinal length of the hospital bed 10.
A foot panel 40 (sometimes referred to as a footboard) is supported from the second portion 38 and extends vertically from an upper surface 42 of the second portion 38 to form a barrier at the foot end 12 of the hospital bed 10. A head panel 44 (sometimes referred to as a headboard) is positioned on an upright structure 46 of the base frame 20 and extends vertically to form a barrier at the head end 14 of the hospital bed 10. A left head siderail 48 is supported from the head deck 28 and is moveable between a raised position shown in
The hospital bed 10 also includes a left foot siderail 58 and a right foot siderail 60, each of which is supported directly from the load frame 26. Each of the siderails 48, 50, 58, and 60 are operable to be lowered to a position below the upper surface 52 of the respective head section 28 or seat section 32 as the case may be. It should be noted that when the head deck 28 is moved, the head siderails 48 and 50 move with the head deck 28 so that they maintain their relative position to the patient. This is because both of the head siderails 48 and 50 are supported by the head deck 28.
The overhead arm assembly 100 is supported from the upright structure 46 and received in a socket 62 formed therein. A coupler 64, shown in
The coupler 64 is formed to include a throughhole 76 into which a plunger 78 is positioned. The plunger 78 extends beyond the surface of the base 72 at the location identified by arrow 80. The through-hole 76 is formed to include a counter-sink (not shown) with a flat surface which is engaged by an annular flange 82 of the plunger 78. The flange 82 is urged against the surface of the countersink by a spring 84. The spring 84 engages (e.g., touches, contacts, or presses against) a plug 86 that is threaded into the through-hole 76 to bias the spring 84 against the plunger 78 to urge a plunger tip 88 of plunger 78 to extend beyond the surface of the base 72 at the opposite side of through-hole 76 (i.e., the side of through-hole pointed to generally by arrow 80 but that cannot be seen in
Arm 66 is generally L-shaped and includes a substantially vertical portion 66a, a substantially horizontal portion 66b, and a curved transition portion 66c that interconnects a top of portion 66a with portion 66b. An end portion 66b of the post 66 is secured to a pivot base 90 by a weld. The pivot base 90 is formed to include a tubular axle 92 that extends upwardly from a frame 93. The axle 92 of the pivot base 90 supports a generally horizontal pivot arm 94 that includes a pivot member 96 which is secured to one end of a tubular arm portion 98 of arm 94 by a weld. The pivot member 96 rests on a bearing assembly 99 through which the axle 92 extends. The bearing assembly 99 includes a thrust bearing 102 positioned between two thrust washers 104, 104 so that a lower edge 106 of pivot member 96 engages the upper thrust washer 104 and the lower thrust washer 104 engages the pivot base 90. The axle 92 extends through a flange 112 (see
A motion control assembly 108 is positioned on the axle 92 above the flange 112 formed in the pivot member 96. The motion control assembly 108 is tuned to provide pliable resistance to the rotation of the pivot arm 94 about the axle 92 so that the pivot arm 94 will be retained in position when it is moved relative to the pivot base 90 and post 66. When enough force is applied to overcome the resistance of the motion control assembly 108, the pivot arm 94 can be repositioned, but will retain the new position when the force is removed. The retention in the new position is caused by the motion control assembly 108.
The motion control assembly 108 includes a brake ring 114 that is positioned over the axle 92 and is clamped to the axle 92 by a screw 116 and nut 118 to provide a gripping action on the axle 92 as shown in
Referring again to
The pivot member 96 is formed to include a motion limiter or tab 136, as shown in
The pivot arm 94 includes a second pivot member 140 positioned at an end of tube 98 opposite the pivot member 96. Pivot member 140 is welded to tube 98. The pivot member 140 engages another pivot base 142 in a manner similar to that discussed above with regard to the interaction of pivot member 96 and pivot base 90, so the discussion of the relevant structure will not be duplicated and the same reference numbers are used for like structure.
The pivot base 142 supports a flexible arm assembly 144 (sometimes referred to herein as just arm 144) that is secured to a tubular arm 146 of the pivot base 142 by a pair of screws 148, 148 as suggested in
The flexible arm assembly 144 includes a rigid collar 152 which is secured to a curved tubular flexible arm 154. A rigid leg 156 is secured to the curved tubular flexible arm 154 and a tubular flexible leg 158 is secured to the rigid leg 156. The flexible arm 154 and flexible leg 158 are “gooseneck” structures that are pliable to allow for adjustment of the shape of the flexible arm 154 and flexible leg 158 to allow a user interface unit 160 to be adjusted as will be discussed in further detail below.
In another embodiment shown in
The user interface unit 160 has a side 162, shown in
The user interface unit 160 includes a first frame member 175 and a second frame member 178. A pair of handles 180, 182 are each captured between the frame members 175, 178 when the frame members 175, 178 are secured together by a number of screws 184 that pass through the second frame member 178 and holes 186 formed in the handles 180, 182, the screws 184 being threaded into the first frame member 175. The screws 184 are received in counterbores (not shown) of frame member 175 and are covered by plugs 189. A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 188 is positioned between the frame members 175, 178, with an LED light assembly 190 being positioned in the bottom of the user interface unit 160 and positioned between the frame members 175, 178. A light cover 192 is positioned over the LED light assembly 190 and is secured to the frame members 175, 178 with a pair of screws (not shown).
The USB charging port 164 is coupled to a cable 194 that is, in turn, connected to the PCBA 188 with the USB charging port 164 being secured to the frame member 175 by a screw 195. A USB overlay 296 is positioned on the frame member 178 and provides indicia indicative of the operation of the USB charging port 164. A flex circuit overlay 196 is positioned on the frame member 175 on side 162; the flex circuit overlay 196 being configured to provide various user input devices in the form of membrane switches (not shown). The membrane switches may include various functions that are of interest to a patient on the hospital bed 10. Various examples of flex circuit overlays 196a-d are described below in connection with
The support structure 168 for supporting the PDA 170 in
The adjustable clamp 176 includes a grip 216 that is formed to include flanges 218, 220 (best seen in
The adjustable clamp 176 further includes a flexible lock 240 that is positioned on the grip 216 as shown in
Referring now to
Once the PDA 170 is positioned on the bases 172, 174 and positioned below the adjustable clamp 176, a user releases handle 271 and pushes down on the grip 216 (see
A user can position the user interface unit 160 with the PDA 170 facing toward them or rotate the user interface unit 160 to have access to the other side 162 of unit 160. Rotation of the user interface unit 160 about an axis 282 (see
In a medical application, where a patient may be exposed to an electrical signal, isolation is needed to insure that even with failure; the patient is not exposed to any electrical current. To accomplish this, a minimum of 2 means of patient protection (MOPP) is needed. This is governed by IEC60601 with specific details on allowable boundary materials, their ratings and any allowable leakage currents, modes of isolation or separation. In the illustrative design, 2 MOPP of isolation between the AC mains and the bed electronics is provided. There is also 2 MOPP provided between the bed 28 VDC bus and the USB charging port 164. This approach leaves the AC mains wiring local to the main electrical system of the bed 10 while only a lower DC voltage is distributed in the bed 10 and in overhead arm assembly 100.
Referring now to
Referring now to
To move arm assembly to the transport position from the use position shown in
Referring now to
Cable 510 terminates at a male electrical connector 520 which, in the illustrative example, is a 9-pin, 90 degree D-subminiature (aka D-sub) connector 520. In
Referring now to
Overhead arm assembly 100 is shown leaning up against a wall in
Referring now to
Still referring to
In some embodiments, LED 556 is illuminated to indicate the status of the bed exit/PPM system when enabled. For example, if the patient is properly positioned in bed 10, LED 556 is illuminated green. If the patient exits the bed or is out of position on the bed, LED 556 is illuminated amber or red and, in some embodiments, flashes. If a caregiver suspends the bed exit/PPM system from alarming while the patient is out of bed 10, LED 556 may be illuminated amber or red without flashing in some embodiments. For details regarding suspension of a bed exit/PPM system with an automatic re-enable feature, see U.S. Pat. No. 8,717,181 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure which shall control as to any inconsistencies.
Flex circuit overlay 196a of
In the illustrative embodiment, nurse call button 558 is configured as a “dead front” indicator which means that when backlighting behind button 558 is turned off, the nurse call button 558 cannot be seen on the overlay 196a. The backlighting is turned off when bed 10 is not successfully communicating with a nurse call system, for example, such as in those healthcare facilities that don't link bed 10 with a nurse call system. By hiding or rendering button 558 invisible (or at least substantially invisible), a patient will not press button 558 thinking a nurse call signal has been placed when bed 10 is not linked with a nurse call system. In some embodiments, stay in bed indicator 554 is also a dead front indicator that is not visible if the bed exit/PPM system of bed 10 is not enabled.
In response to the patient pressing nurse call button 558, LED 562 is illuminated yellow to indicate that a nurse call has been successfully placed to the nurse call system. In some embodiments, a single beep will also sound to indicate that a successful nurse call has been placed. Alternatively or additionally, a verbal message stating, “the care team has been called” will sound in those embodiments of bed 10 having voice alert capabilities. In response to a communication line from the nurse's station of the nurse call system being opened to the bed 10, LED 560 is illuminated green to indicate that the patient is able to talk with a caregiver at the nurse's station.
Referring now to
Overlay 196b has a mattress firm button 564 that is pressed to command the pneumatic system of bed 10 to further inflate the patient support bladder(s) of the mattress and a mattress soft button 566 that is pressed to command the pneumatic system of bed 10 to deflate the patient support bladder(s) of the mattress. The mattress includes multiple zones, in some embodiments, with each zone having its own bladder(s). Pressing button 564 results in additional inflation of the bladder(s) of each zone and pressing button 566 results in deflation of the bladder(s) of each zone.
Overlay 196b includes a bar graph 568 to indicate the firmness level of the mattress. In the illustrative example, five bars are provided in bar graph 568 but other embodiments may have a different number of bars. The bar on graph 568 that generally corresponds to the firmness level of the mattress is illuminated and the others are not. Alternatively, the bar on graph 568 that generally corresponds to the firmness level of the mattress is illuminated a first color (e.g., amber or red) and the others are illuminated a second color (e.g., green). A firm indicia 570 is situated above graph 568 and a soft indicia 572 is situated beneath graph 568. Indicia 570, 572 convey to the patient that pressing button 564 makes the mattress firmer and pressing button 566 makes the mattress softer.
Referring now to
Overlay 196c of
Referring now to
Referring now to
Main control board 602 includes an MCB Port 608 to which cable 510 is attached. Port 608 provides connectivity using a serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and also provides 28 Volt Direct Current (VDC) and 5 VDC power from bed 10 to electrical system 600. Port 608 is electrically coupled to a SPI bus interface circuit 610 which is, in turn, electrically coupled to a pendant interface circuit 612. A pendant interface port 614 is also coupled to the pendant interface circuit 612. Overlays 196a-d each have a connector that mates with port 614. Overlays 196a-d of unit 160 are the same overlays 196a-d which are used with a hand held controller pendant of bed 10. In some embodiments, bed 10 may include overhead arm assembly 100 and the hand held controller pendant for control of the features and functions of bed 10.
It is possible that overhead arm assemblies 100 having overlays 196b-d may be attached to a bed 10 that does not have all of the features and functions that correspond to the buttons and indicators of the respective overlay 196b-d. Under such circumstances, MCB 606 communicates the available features and functions of bed 10 (e.g., whether the bed 10 has an air mattress with one or more bladders, whether bed 10 is coupled to a nurse call system, or whether bed 10 is permitted to control lighting or a TV) to circuit 612. Circuit 612 then determines which of the buttons of overlays 196b-d are to be backlit. Thus, each button of overlays 196a-d is individually back lit with a corresponding LED, for example. The backlighting is turned off for any features of overlays 196a-d that are not available for control.
MCB port 608 is also electrically coupled to a PED charge circuit 616 which, in turn, is coupled to a PED charger port 618. Charger port 618 is the electrical connector portion of structure 164 which is referred to as USB charging port 164 elsewhere in the present application. Thus, personal electrical devices (PED's) such as tablet computers, smart phones, music players, and the like can be recharged by plugging them into PED charger port 618. PED charge circuit 616 controls the voltage and/or current through port 618 to charge the associated PED coupled to port 618.
As also shown in
Although this disclosure refers to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the subject matter set forth in the accompanying claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/389,790, filed Jul. 30, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,850,196, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/976,984, filed May 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,103,398, which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of US Provisional Application Nos. 62/572,922, filed Oct. 16, 2017, and 62/507,727, filed May 17, 2017, each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2607881 | Anderson | Aug 1952 | A |
3243497 | Kendall | Mar 1966 | A |
3358957 | Lindenmuth | Dec 1967 | A |
3757363 | Langlais | Sep 1973 | A |
3889914 | Torme | Jun 1975 | A |
3977645 | Deely | Aug 1976 | A |
4023757 | Allard | May 1977 | A |
4141524 | Corvese, Jr. | Feb 1979 | A |
4183015 | Drew | Jan 1980 | A |
4183489 | Copher | Jan 1980 | A |
4410158 | Maffei | Oct 1983 | A |
4465255 | Hill | Aug 1984 | A |
4591124 | Hellenbrand | May 1986 | A |
4794675 | Bisconti | Jan 1989 | A |
4846434 | Krogsrud | Jul 1989 | A |
5072906 | Foster | Dec 1991 | A |
5100091 | Pollak | Mar 1992 | A |
5211367 | Musculus | May 1993 | A |
5230289 | George et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5542138 | Williams | Aug 1996 | A |
5592153 | Welling | Jan 1997 | A |
5787528 | Antinori | Aug 1998 | A |
6131868 | Welling | Oct 2000 | A |
6213481 | Marchese | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6351678 | Borders | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6486792 | Moster | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6560492 | Borders | May 2003 | B2 |
6560798 | Welling et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6658680 | Osborne et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6704956 | Riley et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6728985 | Brooke et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6761344 | Welling et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6781517 | Moster et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6973688 | Barker | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7008269 | Riley et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7010369 | Borders et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7017243 | Carnevali | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7019464 | Nevins | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7200882 | Heimbrock | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7789187 | Zerhusen et al. | Sep 2010 | B2 |
7990288 | Marchetto | Aug 2011 | B2 |
8258973 | Newkirk | Sep 2012 | B2 |
8334779 | Zerhusen et al. | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8499384 | Zerhusen | Aug 2013 | B2 |
8561959 | Matsuoka | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8565934 | Rawls-Meehan et al. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8572778 | Newkirk et al. | Nov 2013 | B2 |
8583144 | Kavounas | Nov 2013 | B2 |
8756735 | Heimbrock | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8833716 | Funk | Sep 2014 | B2 |
8869328 | Rawls-Meehan | Oct 2014 | B2 |
8910333 | Wu | Dec 2014 | B2 |
9259371 | Zerhusen | Feb 2016 | B2 |
9492341 | Huster et al. | Nov 2016 | B2 |
9717344 | Rawls-Meehan | Aug 2017 | B2 |
9737155 | Rawls-Meehan | Aug 2017 | B2 |
10028875 | Hatch | Jul 2018 | B2 |
10363182 | Zerhusen | Jul 2019 | B2 |
10400946 | Bennett | Sep 2019 | B2 |
10517784 | Zerhusen | Dec 2019 | B2 |
10959805 | Bally | Mar 2021 | B1 |
11103398 | Zerhusen et al. | Aug 2021 | B2 |
11723822 | Zerhusen | Aug 2023 | B2 |
11850196 | Zerhusen et al. | Dec 2023 | B2 |
20020085344 | Fields | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20030056293 | Brooke et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030076238 | Moster et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030195644 | Borders et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20030230702 | Welling | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040157496 | Riley et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040212314 | Nevins | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20050007258 | Moster et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050172404 | Diller | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050172405 | Menkedick | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20060056616 | Heimbrock | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060058587 | Heimbrock et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060117482 | Branson | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060162083 | Heimbrock | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060260054 | Lubbers et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20070180616 | Newkirk et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20080037232 | Schroetlin | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20080120780 | Genaro | May 2008 | A1 |
20090121660 | Rawls-Meehan | May 2009 | A1 |
20100038508 | Stoelinga | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100132122 | Hollingshead | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20100195295 | Wilkolaski | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20100229304 | Heimbrock et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20110071368 | Baker, Jr. | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20110115635 | Petrovski | May 2011 | A1 |
20110214234 | Herman | Sep 2011 | A1 |
20110247139 | Tallent | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20120073054 | O'Keefe | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120102434 | Zerhusen et al. | Apr 2012 | A1 |
20120117730 | Lemire | May 2012 | A1 |
20130131870 | Zerhusen et al. | May 2013 | A1 |
20130198959 | Wu | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130206942 | Trotsky | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20140042285 | Carnevali | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140209777 | Klemin et al. | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20150196443 | Tarquinio | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20160008197 | Zerhusen | Jan 2016 | A1 |
20160120329 | Zerhusen | May 2016 | A1 |
20170049525 | Bally et al. | Feb 2017 | A1 |
20170209323 | Kelch | Jul 2017 | A1 |
20180161225 | Zerhusen | Jun 2018 | A1 |
20180333317 | Zerhusen et al. | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20190015276 | Bhimavarapu | Jan 2019 | A1 |
20200253805 | Fouts | Aug 2020 | A1 |
20200275877 | Fitzgibbons | Sep 2020 | A1 |
20210353480 | Zerhusen et al. | Nov 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3225793 | Jan 1984 | DE |
1534200 | Nov 1979 | GB |
Entry |
---|
Extended European Search Report for European Patent Application No. 18172177.0; dated Sep. 3, 2018; 6 pages. |
Partial European Search Report mailed by the European Patent Office on Jul. 2, 2024, for European Patent Application No. 24166477.0 (12 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20240082085 A1 | Mar 2024 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62572922 | Oct 2017 | US | |
62507727 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 17389790 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 18510769 | US | |
Parent | 15976984 | May 2018 | US |
Child | 17389790 | US |