Medical accessory support

Abstract

An accessory support apparatus for use with a patient support includes a handle positioned adjacent an end of the patient support. A coupler is configured to couple the handle to the patient support. An accessory is coupled to the handle.

1 . An apparatus for use with a patient support, the apparatus comprising: 
 a push handle;    a stop, coupled to the push handle; and    a grip portion to be used by a caregiver to move the patient support, the grip portion coupled to the push handle and configured to move relative to the push handle, the grip portion including a first position determined by the caregiver when being used and a second position determined by the stop when not being used by the caregiver.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion moves to the second position under the force of gravity upon not being used by the caregiver.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the grip portion is located around the push handle and slides freely with respect thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a coupler, coupled to the patient support and to the push handle.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first position is variable as determined by the caregiver applying a force thereto.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the push handle comprises an outer member and an inner member, wherein the inner member is movable relative to the outer member to adjust a position of the inner member relative to the outer member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the grip portion is disposed around the outer member and slides freely with respect thereto.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the inner member comprises an accessory support.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the inner member comprises an IV pole.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for use with a patient support, the apparatus comprising: 
 an outer member;    an inner member, disposed in the outer member, wherein the inner member is movable relative to the outer member to adjust a position of the inner member relative to the outer member; and    a handle, for use by a caregiver to move the patient support, the handle being positioned around the outer member and including a first position and a second position, the first position being determined by the caregiver when being used and the second position being determined by the force of gravity when not being used by the caregiver.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second position it located below the first position, wherein the handle slides freely from the first position to the second position under the force of gravity.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a stop coupled to the outer member, the stop preventing further downward movement of the handle when moving from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a support, coupled to the outer member, the support being rotatably coupled to the patient support.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a latch, coupled to the support, the latch being configured to lock the support in a plurality of discretely spaced positions, wherein one of the discretely spaced positions permits the caregiver to apply a moving force to the handle in the first position to move the patient support.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the inner member comprises an accessory support.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein another of the plurality of discretely spaced positions permits the caregiver to locate the accessory support relative to a patient.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the outer member comprises a longitudinal axis along which the handle slides freely.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises a longitudinal axis, the outer member and the handle sharing the same longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the caregiver grips the handle around the longitudinal axis to apply a moving force to the patient support.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a longitudinal axis around which a caregiver grips the handle to apply a moving force to the patient support.