Fail-safe release mechanism for use with patient positioning support apparati

A fail-safe release mechanism for use with a patient positioning support apparatus having a patient support structure removably attached to a base structure of the apparatus by a connection subassembly, the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:

• a) a reversibly engageable first attachment lock having engaged and disengaged positions, wherein the first attachment lock includes a first attachment between the base structure and the connection subassembly;
• and
• b) a reversibly engageable second attachment lock having engaged and disengaged configurations, wherein the second attachment lock includes a second attachment between the connection subassembly and the patient support structure;
• wherein
• c) engagement of the second attachment lock substantially blocks disengagement of the first attachment lock.

A fail-safe release apparatus for use with a patient positioning support apparatus having a patient support structure removably hingeably attached to a base structure by a removable connection pin, the patient positioning support apparatus having a connection subassembly including a pair of longitudinally aligned spaced arms, each of the arms having inner and outer sides and an array of apertures extending between the inner and outer sides, the apertures being spaced along a length of the respective arm, each aperture of a first of the arms being paired with an opposed aperture of a second of the arms, the paired apertures cooperating so as to enable receipt of a connection pin through both of the cooperating opposed apertures, the received connection pin having an orientation, transverse to a longitudinal axis of each of the arms;

• the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:
• a) a pair of locking members, each locking member being attached to the outer side of one of the arms, each of the locking members having
• i) an inner surface slidingly engaging an outer surface of the respective attached arm;
• ii) a top end with a U-shaped notch;
• ii) an array of through-bores downwardly spaced from the notch and also spaced along a length of the locking member, the through-bores being spaced so as to be alignable with the apertures of the respective attached arm;
• and
• b) a pair of connection pins receivable in the pairs of apertures, each pin including at least one circumferential key member portion, a first of the pins joining the arms with the connection subassembly;
• wherein
• c) disposition of a second of the pins in a lower pair of cooperating apertures, at least one of the U-shaped notches matingly engages the at least one key member portion of the first pin.

A method of using a fail-safe release apparatus with a patient positioning support apparatus having a patient support structure removably hingeably attached to a base structure by a removable connection pin, the patient positioning support apparatus having a connection subassembly including a pair of longitudinally aligned spaced arms, each of the arms having inner and outer sides and an array of apertures extending between the inner and outer sides, the apertures being spaced along a length of the respective arm, each aperture of a first of the arms being paired with an opposed aperture of a second of the arms, the paired apertures cooperating so as to enable receipt of a connection pin through both of the cooperating opposed apertures, the received connection pin having an orientation transverse to a longitudinal axis of each of the arms;

• the method comprising:
• a) providing a pair of arms, each arm having a locking member attached to an outer side thereof;
• b) providing a pair of connection pins;
• c) inserting a first of the pins through an uppermost aperture of each of the arms and a through-bore of a rotation subassembly, so as to attach the arms to the rotation subassembly;
• d) inserting a second of the pins in a lower pair of cooperating arm apertures, wherein one of the apertures is located on each arm;
• e) matingly engaging a U-shaped notch in at least one of the locking members with a key member portion of the first pin, thereby substantially blocking removal of the first pin.

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a) a base, the base having a pair of spaced opposed vertically telescoping upright end supports;
• b) an elongate patient support structure, the patient support structure having a pair of independent and spaced opposed hinges, the opposed hinges being directly activated and moved by a force so as to cause the patient support structure to angulate into various orientation relative to a head end portion and a foot end portion connected by the pair of opposed hinges of the patient support structure;
• c) a first connection subassembly connecting the head end portion of the patient support structure to one of the upright supports near a top thereof;
• and
• d) a second connection subassembly connecting the foot end portion of the patient support structure to the other of the upright supports near a top thereof;
• wherein
• e) at least one connection subassembly cooperates with the upright end supports and the patient support structure to provide pitch, roll and yaw therebetween;
• and
• f) the upright end supports, the connecting subassemblies and the patient support structure cooperate to provide for a length adjustment therebetween so as to maintain and keep constant a distance separating the upright end supports when the upright end supports are independently raised and lowered vertically and the patient support structure is angulated by synchronized movement of the hinges when the hinges are directly activated by the force.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use in conjunction with a medical patient support structure wherein at least a first end of the patient support structure is raisable and the fail-safe release mechanism prevents inadvertent falling of the first end;

• the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:
• a) a first attachment structure that releaseably secures the first end in a raised position thereof;
• and
• b) a releaseable second attachment structure cooperating with and the first attachment structure when the first end is in the raised position and preventing release of the first attachment structure until the second is released.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use in conjunction with a medical patient support structure wherein at least a first end of the patient support structure is raisable and the fail-safe release mechanism prevents inadvertent falling of the first end;

• the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:
• a) a first attachment structure that releaseably secures the first end in a raised position thereof;
• and
• b) a releaseable second attachment structure cooperating with and interconnected with the first attachment structure when the first end is in the raised position and preventing release of the first attachment structure until the second is released.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use in conjunction with a medical patient support structure that is attachable and detachable to a base, wherein at least a first end of the patient support structure is raisable and the fail-safe release mechanism prevents inadvertent release and falling of the first end from the base;

• the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:
• a) a first attachment structure that is releaseably secured to an end of the base;
• and
• b) a releaseable second attachment structure cooperating with and attachable to the first attachment structure and preventing release of the first attachment structure until the second is released.

A fail-safe release mechanism for use with a patient positioning support apparatus having a patient support structure with outer ends, the patient support structure suspended above a floor, the outer ends being removably attached to a base structure of the apparatus by a removable connection subassembly at both outer ends, the fail-safe release mechanism comprising:

• a) the connection subassembly reversibly engageable base in engaged and disengaged positions by a removable first attachment structure between the base structure and the connection subassembly;
• and
• b) a reversibly engageable and removable second attachment structure having engaged and disengaged configurations, wherein the second attachment structure includes a second attachment between the removable connection subassembly and the patient support structure outer end;
• wherein
• c) engagement of the second attachment structure with the connection subassembly substantially blocks disengagement of the first attachment structure.