Litter attachment bracket

Abstract

A modular bracket assembly is provided for use with a field hospital portable bed or a NATO litter. The assembly includes a clamp that can be releasably attached to the pole of a litter. The clamp is formed with a mounting aperture. The assembly also includes a lower support that can be mounted in the mounting aperture of the clamp or in attachment holes of field hospital portable beds or the socket that is formed within each hinge when a collapsible litter. An accessory mount is provided on the lower support and can receive a mounting flange affixed to a medical accessory. An upper support can be mounted on the top end of the lower support and can be used to support medical equipment items and/or IV solutions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular bracket assembly for mounting medical accessories to a bed or litter, the modular bracket assembly comprising:
 a lower support having a rod with a first end for mounting to the bed or the litter and a second end opposite the first end; and   at least one accessory attachment for mounting at least one accessory to the lower support.   
     
     
         2 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp configured for clamped engagement to the litter, the clamp having a mounting aperture configured for receiving the end of the rod. 
     
     
         3 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising means for preventing rotation between the lower support and the clamp. 
     
     
         4 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the means for preventing rotation between the lower support and the clamp comprises a clamp keyway in the clamp, a lower support keyway in the rod of the lower support and a pin removably engaged in the clamp keyway and the lower support keyway. 
     
     
         5 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising means for preventing rotation between the lower support and the litter or bed. 
     
     
         6 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment includes an accessory mount formed with an upwardly open dovetail shaped receptacle for receiving a mounting flange of a medical accessory. 
     
     
         7 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the accessory mount further includes an upper support releasably engaged with the second end of the rod of the lower support. 
     
     
         8 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising means for preventing rotation between the lower support and the upper support. 
     
     
         9 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for preventing rotation between the lower support and the upper support comprises keyways in the upper and lower supports and a pin removably engaged in the keyways. 
     
     
         10 . The modular bracket assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising hooks projecting from the upper support at a position above the lower support.