IV pole with interior drag brake

An IV pole comprising:

• a first tubular IV pole;
• a second tubular IV pole operable to telescope into and out of said first tubular pole;
• and
• an IV rod operable to telescope into and out of said second tubular pole and including means mounted on an upper end thereof adapted to support one or more bags of IV solution thereon;
• said second pole and rod each having on respective lower ends thereof a ring of a first stiffness and a collar of a second stiffness encircling said ring, said second stiffness being greater than said first stiffness, the resilience of said ring forcing said collar against said first pole and preventing said collar from taking a permanent set, said rings and collars being operable to selectively prevent free fall or allow controlled downward movement of said second pole and rod and any IV bags supported thereon due to gravitational acceleration.

An IV pole comprising:

• a first tubular pole;
• a second tubular pole operable to telescope into and out of said first tubular pole;
• and
• a rod operable to telescope into and out of said second tubular pole and adapted to support one or more bags of IV solution thereon;
• said second pole and rod each having on respective lower ends thereof an interior drag brake comprising:
• a spool having a circumferential groove therein;
• a ring of a first stiffness disposed in said groove and encircling said spool;
• and
• a collar of a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness encircling said ring, each said collar having an outer diameter friction surface associated therewith, each said ring being operable to urge each said friction surface against a surface of said first and second poles, respectively, in frictional relation thereto and to prevent said collars from taking a permanent set.

An IV pole comprising:

• a first IV pole member;
• at least a second IV pole member operable to telescope into and out of said first pole member, said second pole member including means mounted on an upper end thereof for supporting IV fluid bags thereon;
• seal means disposed between said first and second pole members and operable to create an air cushion beneath said second pole member and within said first pole member;
• and
• an adjustable valve means for selective and controlled bleeding off of air between said first and second pole members;
• whereby said second pole member and any IV fluid bags supported thereby have a predetermined rate of descent with respect to said first pole member due to said adjustable valve.