One preferred application of the assembly of the present invention is in relation to intravenous fluid support. Intravenous fluid supports generally comprise a support stand having a base with wheels, an upright post, and one or more arms at the upper end of the post to which bags or bottles containing intravenous fluids can be mounted. It is sometimes required that a patient who is using an intravenous fluid be transported from one location to another. It is often necessary that such transport takes place while the patient remains connected to the intravenous fluid source. Generally, this requires two attendants, one for guiding a patient carrier which may be in the form of a trolley, chair or the like, and the other to carry the intravenous fluid container. It will be readily appreciated the requirement for two attendants to perform such an operation is an extremely inefficient.

It has, in the past, been proposed to provide an arrangement by which an intravenous support stand can be connected to the patient carrier. United States Patent Specification No. 4886237 describes such an arrangement. This device however simply connects the intravenous stand to the bed. The bed in this case is not mobile and thus the connection is provided for the purpose of stability. Similar arrangements to the above are described in United States Patent Specifications No. 5355539,4572536,5699988, and 4511158. United States Patent Specification No. 5499721 describes an arrangement whereby intravenous support stands can be releasably fitted to a trolley. The problem with this arrangement is that the stands can only be used in conjunction with the trolley described.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a coupling assembly for enabling transfer of an article from a first support structure which carries the article in a first operating mode to a second support structure, which carries the article in a second operating mode in the absence of the first support structure, the coupling assembly including: a first coupling member which is releasably connectable to the first support structure, said first coupling member being securable to or forming part of the article; a second coupling member securable to the second support structure, said second coupling member being adapted so as to adopt a first receiving position in which can receive or release the first coupling member and a second holding position in which it can hold the first coupling member ; the arrangement being such that when the first coupling member is held by the second coupling member the first support structure can be released from the first coupling member so that the first coupling member is carried by the second coupling member.

As mentioned earlier, one particular application of the present invention relates to its use in connection with intravenous fluids supports. In this particular application, the article may include a part of the intravenous support stand. For example, the stand may comprise a base having wheels, an upright post and arms at the top of the post. Preferably the post is formed in two parts. In this preferred form of the invention, the first mounting member is adapted in one position to be mounted between the two parts of the post so that it forms a connection therebetween. Thus, the lower part of the post and the base form one of the support structures and the upper part of the post and the arms form the article which is to be transferred.

The other support structure may be in the form of a patient support device which is preferably mobile and may be for example, such as a bed, trolley, chair or the like.

In one preferred form, the first mounting member comprises a main body having mounting apertures at opposite ends thereof, each being adapted to receive a portion of the first support structure and the article respectively, With reference to the particular

application of the invention described above, one of the mounting apertures is adapted to receive the lower part of the post and the other aperture is adapted to receive the upper part of the post. Preferably, the apertures are axially aligned. The main body of the first mounting member may be generally circular in cross section with the apertures being disposed at the opposite ends thereof. A collar may be provided at one of the ends of the body for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent. Fasteners such as screws or the like may be provided to releasably retain the portions of the post within the respective apertures.

In one preferred form, the second mounting member comprises a clamp like element having a body with two limb sections which are hinged together for movement between an open position and a closed holding position. One of the limbs is adapted to be secured to the support structure which in the particular application of the invention described above will be in the form of a bed, trolley, chair or the like.

Preferably, the limbs of the body include recessed portions which together define a mounting recess for the body of the first mounting member. When the first mounting member is received by the second mounting member in the closed holding position, the collar is adapted to limit axial movement of the first mounting member relative to the second mounting member. Lock means is provided for holding the two hinged limbs in the mounting position. The lock means may be in the form of a pin which is pivotally connected to one of the limbs and movable into a position wherein it retains the two parts in the closed position.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transferring an article from a first support structure which carries the article in a first operating mode to a second support structure which carries the article in a second operating mode including the steps of providing a coupling assembly as described above with the first coupling member being releasably connected to the first support structure and the second coupling member being secured to the second support structure ; causing the second coupling member to adopt said first receiving position, positioning the article so

that it is received by the second coupling member, causing said second coupling member, causing said second coupling member to adopt said second holding position and thereafter releasing and removing the article from said first support structure.

In the preferred embodiments, the article includes part of an intravenous fluid support stand, the first support structure includes a base of an intravenous fluid support stand having ground engaging wheels and the second support structure includes a mobile patient carriage, the method includes the step of wheeling the base and article carried thereon into a position whereby the first coupling member can be received by the second coupling member.

Preferably, the position of the first and second coupling members can be adjusted relative to one another so that the first coupling member can be received by the second coupling member.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an intravenous support stand incorporating one of the mounting members of the coupling assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mounting member shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a further side elevation of the mounting member shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the second mounting member of the assembly; Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Figure 4 with the mounting member shown in an open position; Figure 6 is a similar view to Figures 4 and 5 showing the first mounting member

positioned within the second mounting member; and Figures 7 to 9 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the coupling assembly according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an intravenous support stand 10 comprising a base portion 11 having wheels 12 thereon and a post section 15. The stand 10 further includes an upper section 16 and a support arm 17 to which intravenous fluid containing bags 18 can be attached.

The coupling assembly 20 is shown in an assembled position in Figure 6, and includes a first coupling member 22 in the form of a elongated body 23 of circular cross section having mounting apertures 24 and 25 at its upper and lower ends which extend into the main body. The mounting apertures are adapted to receive respectively upper and lower portions 15,16 of the post 14 of the intravenous fluid support stand. Fastening receiving aperture 27 and 28 are provided for fastenings for releasably retaining the portions of the post within the apertures. The fastenings (not shown) for releasable securing the upper portion 16 of the post 14 within aperture 24 may be in the form of grub screws. The fastening for releasably securing the lower portion 15 of the post 14 to the aperture 25 includes a threaded pin operable by turning knob 29 at one end thereof. A collar or flange 21 is disposed at one end of the body of member 22.

The coupling assembly further includes a second coupling member 30 in the form of a clamping body 31 comprising two limbs 32 and 33. One of the limbs of the body is mounted to a frame member 40 of a patient support such as a bed, trolley or chair. The two limbs are hinged together by hinge element 35 so that they can swing relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. Each of the limbs has a recessed portion 36 and 37 which in the closed position forms a mounting recess for the first mounting member. A locking pin 38 having manually operating knob 39 is arranged to hold the two limbs of the clamp body in the closed position.

The operation of the assembly will hereinafter be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. In one mode of use, the first coupling member 22 forms part of the intravenous support stand 10 providing an interconnection between the separable upper and lower sections 15 and 16 of the post 14. The support stand 10 is positioned adjacent the second mounting member 30 which may be attached to the bed which may, for example, be a mobile bed.

When a patient is required to be moved the height of the bed is adjusted preferably to its lowermost position so that the member 30 is at about the same level as the member 22.

The limbs 32 and 33 of clamping body 31 is moved to the open position by releasing locking pin 38. The support stand 10 is then wheeled into a position where member 22 is positioned within the mounting recess defined by recessed portions 36 and 37. Once positioned the limbs are swung into the closed holding position shown in Figure 6 and loclcing pin 38 tightened by knob 39 to firmly hold the two limbs of the clamping body 31 together. The collar 21 rests on the top surface of the clamping body 31 to ensure that it cannot move axially in one direction. The knob 29 is then turned to release the member 22 from the lower portion 15 of the post 14. The bed is then raised so that the member 22 and the upper portion of the post are disconnected from the lower portion 15 of the post 15. On arrival at the required destination a lower portion of a further stand would be available so that the member 22 and the upper portion of the post could be connected to the further stand by reversing the procedure described above.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.