Intravenous Pole Base Having Tessellating Elements

Abstract

An IV pole base is configured to couple in a tessellating manner to at least one other like IV pole base. The IV pole base can comprise a horizontal rectangular plate having four side edges and a given thickness (at least along the aforementioned side edges). This plate has a plurality of tessellating elements comprising each of a blank and a tab formed at each of the four side edges. The IV pole base further comprises a stabilizing thickening element disposed at a periphery of at least one of the tessellating elements to locally increase the thickness of the IV pole base beyond the thickness of the plate to thereby increase tessellation stability. The plate also includes an IV pole coupler formed centrally thereto, the IV pole coupler being configured to receive and hold an IV pole such that the IV pole extends outwardly perpendicularly to the plate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An intravenous (IV) pole base configured to couple in a tessellating manner to at least one other like IV pole base comprising:
 a base footing having a side edge and a plurality of tessellating elements comprising at least each of a first blank and a first tab formed at opposing sides of the side edge;   an IV pole coupler formed central to the base footing and configured to receive and hold an IV pole such that the IV pole extends outwardly perpendicularly to the base footing.   
     
     
         2 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the base footing comprises a plate. 
     
     
         3 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the base footing comprises at least one of a metal and a plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the base footing has rounded corners. 
     
     
         5 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the side edge of the base footing comprises a plurality of blanks and a plurality of tabs formed thereat. 
     
     
         6 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the base footing has a cup formed therein that includes the IV pole coupler. 
     
     
         7 . The IV pole base of  claim 6  wherein the cup extends below a bottom surface of the base footing. 
     
     
         8 . The IV pole base of  claim 6  wherein the cup has inclined cup walls. 
     
     
         9 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of rolling members disposed on an underside of the base footing. 
 
     
     
         10 . The IV pole base of  claim 10  wherein the rolling members comprise casters. 
     
     
         11 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein each of the tessellating elements has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         12 . The IV pole base of  claim 11  where the arcuate shape comprises a circular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The IV pole base of  claim 1  wherein the IV pole base is configured to partially overlay the other like IV pole base to thereby facilitate engaging the tessellating elements of both IV pole bases by tilting the base footing by at least 6 degrees with respect to the base footing of the other like IV pole base.