Detachable weights for stabilizing intravenous stands

Abstract

A weight member for demountable placement is provided on the wheeled carriage of an intravenous stand for improving the stability of the stand by lowering the center of gravity thereof. The weight member includes a pair of bodies which are movable toward each other into a closed position with a latch for clamping the bodies in circumscribing engagement with the upstanding pole of the intravenous stand.

1 . A weight member for demountable positioning on a mobile intravenous stand for lowering the center of gravity thereof, the stand having a wheeled carriage with a pole extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said weight member comprising: 
 a) a pair of bodies for placement in resting engagement atop the wheeled carriage of the intravenous stand on opposite sides of the pole thereof, said pair of bodies being movable toward each other into a closed position about the pole of the stand; and    b) latch means mounted on said pair of bodies to releasably clamp said pair of bodies in the closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pair of bodies each define a mating surface with a notch formed intermediate to each body's opposite ends, the mating surfaces of said pair of bodies being in contiguous engagement with each other with the notches being in circumscribing engagement with the pole of the intravenous stand when said bodies are mounted on the intravenous stand and are in the closed position.  
   
   
       3 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the mating surface on each of said pair of bodies is of linear configuration and the notches formed therein are semi-circular.  
   
   
       4 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a) said pair of bodies each having a mating surface with a notch formed intermediate the opposite ends thereof; and    b) a liner of resiliently deformable material on the mating surfaces and in the notches formed therein.    
   
   
       5 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pair of bodies are connected to each other by a hinge to form said pair of bodies into a clamshell structure with said bodies being swung toward each into the closed position and swung away from each other into an open position.  
   
   
       6 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pair of bodies are each of planar semi-circular configuration.  
   
   
       7 . A weight member for demountable positioning on a mobile intravenous stand for lowering the center of gravity thereof, the stand having a wheeled carriage with a pole extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said weight member comprising: 
 a) a pair of bodies for placement in resting engagement atop the wheeled carriage of the intravenous stand on opposite sides of the pole thereof, said pair of bodies being movable toward each other into a closed position about the pole of the Intravenous stand;    b) a hinge interconnecting adjacent ends of said pair of bodies to form said pair of bodies into a clamshell structure wherein said pair of bodies are swung toward each other into the a closed position; and    c) a latch at adjacent ends opposite of said ends interconnected by said hinge for releasably clamping said pair of bodies in the closed position.    
   
   
       8 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said pair of bodies are each of planar semi-circular configuration  
   
   
       9 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said pair of bodies have mating surfaces which are in contiguous engagement with each other when said bodies are swung into the closed position.  
   
   
       10 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the mating surfaces of said pair of bodies each have a notch formed intermediate to opposite ends thereof for circumferentially engaging the pole of the intravenous stand when said bodies are mounted thereon and in the closed position.  
   
   
       11 . A weight member as claimed In  claim 10 , wherein the mating surface on each of said pair of bodies is of linear configuration and the notches formed therein are semi-circular.  
   
   
       12 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 7  and further comprising: 
 a) said pair of bodies each having a mating surface with a notch formed intermediate to opposite ends thereof; and    b) a liner of resiliently deformable material on the mating surfaces and in the notches formed therein.    
   
   
       13 . An intravenous stand with a lowered center of gravity, comprising: 
 a) a stand having a wheeled carriage with a pole extending vertically upwardly therefrom,    b) a weight member having a pair of bodies disposed in resting engagement atop the wheeled carriage of the stand on opposite sides of the pole thereof, said pair of bodies being movable toward each other Into a closed position about the pole of the stand; and    c) latch means mounted on said pair of bodies to releasably clamp said pair of bodies in the closed position.    
   
   
       14 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said pair of bodies each define a mating surface with a notch formed intermediate to each body's opposite ends, the mating surfaces of said pair of bodies being in contiguous engagement with each other with the notches being in circumscribing engagement with the pole of the intravenous stand when said bodies are mounted on the intravenous stand and are In the closed position.  
   
   
       15 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the mating surface on each of said pair of bodies is of linear configuration and the notches formed therein are semi-circular.  
   
   
       16 . A Weight member as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising: 
 a) said pair of bodies each having a mating surface with a notch formed Intermediate to opposite ends thereof; and    b) a liner of resiliently deformable material on the mating surfaces and in the notches formed therein.    
   
   
       17 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said pair of bodies are connected to each other by a hinge to form said pair of bodies into a clamshell structure with said bodies being swung toward each into the closed position and swung away from each other into an open position.  
   
   
       18 . A weight member as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said pair of bodies are each of planar semi-circular configuration.