A collapsible apparatus for securing medical oxygen cylinders for aircraft passenger seats

0001A collapsible apparatus for securing medical oxygen cylinders for aircraft passenger seats

<u>Field of the invention</u>

0002The present invention relates to a system for securing medical oxygen cylinders, specifically to systems for securing medical oxygen cylinders for aircraft seats.

<u>Background</u>

0003Persons suffering from respiratory dysfunctions require respiratory assistance from auxiliary oxygen cylinders. When providing medical assistance inside means of transport, how the oxygen cylinders are secured is a matter of great importance in order to deliver oxygen to the patients without any risk of the cylinders moving about or falling onto the patient, as well as to ensure that the cylinders are held in vertical position during the entire journey. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20120139304A"><text>US20120139304</text></patcit> discloses a seat for ambulances or the like which is specifically designed to hold oxygen tanks.

0004In the case of air transport, various systems are currently known for the administration of auxiliary oxygen during decompression events in aircraft, such as those described in <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5154374A"><text>US5154374</text></patcit>, but in the case of medical care aircrafts, the oxygen cylinders must be capable of being removed from the aircraft along with the patient, which requires the provision of adequate systems for securing the cylinders if need be, especially when the patient is seated, in which the securing system can also be applied or removed as required. A fire extinguisher holder is described in <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5975475A"><text>US 5 975 475 A</text></patcit>, which could also be used for securing medical oxygen cylinders.

<u>Summary of the invention</u>

0005The present invention relates to a system for securing medical oxygen cylinders for aircraft seats.

0006The securing system described in claim 1 is a collapsible universal securing system which can adapt to the majority of the seats on the market and is quick and easy to install.

0007The fact that the apparatus is collapsible facilitates the storage and transport thereof when not in use, just like an ordinary suitcase, via a series of pivots of the parts strategically arranged on the apparatus.

0008Moreover, the apparatus enables the attachment of two oxygen cylinders for administration of oxygen to two patients, one on either side of the apparatus.

0009The apparatus for securing medical oxygen cylinders comprises three main parts and a fitting system: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="dash" compact="compact"><li>a base configured such as to be positioned on the passenger seat;</li><li>an intermediate structure for securing the oxygen cylinders which is parallel to the base and connected to the base by three legs, each comprising a first end connected to the intermediate structure, and a second end connected to the base, with at least one of the two ends of each leg comprising a pivot in common with the base or the intermediate securing structure;</li><li>a gripping structure which comprises an opening connected to the intermediate securing structure by at least one pivot in common with the intermediate securing structure.</li></ul>

0010When the apparatus is in the deployed position thereof, the intermediate securing structure is arranged at an intermediate height of the oxygen cylinders and the gripping structure is perpendicular to the base thereof. When the apparatus is collapsed, the intermediate securing structure and the gripping structure are positioned parallel next to the base.

0011The apparatus being fixed to the seat by a fitting system comprising the seatbelt of the passenger's seat and two straps secured from one end to the gripping structure and from the other end to the fitting of the seatbelt to the actual seat.

<u>Brief description of the drawings</u>

0012The following figures are provided as an integral part of the description in order to complement said description and to enable better understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof. The figures show the following, as non-limiting examples: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows a perspective view of an apparatus for attaching oxygen cylinders, according to a preferred embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">figure 2</figref> shows a side view of the apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">figure 3</figref> shows a perspective view of the apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>, deployed without the oxygen cylinders; and</li><li><figref idref="f0004">figure 4</figref> shows a perspective view of the apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>, collapsed.</li></ul>

<u>Detailed description of the invention</u>

0013In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for securing medical oxygen cylinders for aircraft passenger seats, as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004">figures 1 to 4</figref>, comprises a base (1), an intermediate securing structure (2) and a gripping structure (3).

0014The base (1) is positioned on the base of the passenger seat (23), and comprises two cylindrical recesses (12, 12') for the bases of each of the oxygen cylinders (11, 11').

0015The intermediate securing structure (2) for the oxygen cylinders (11, 11') is arranged parallel to the base (1) and comprises two U-shaped recesses (13, 13') and a locking part (14, 14') for each recess (13, 13'), each U-shaped recess (13, 13') and the locking part (14, 14') thereof being configured to encircle each oxygen cylinder (11, 11'). In fact, the locking parts (14, 14'), as shown in <figref idref="f0003">figure 3</figref>, comprise two ends, one of which (16) is stationary with a pivot in common with the U-shaped recess, and the other one of which (17) is extendable, which enables the oxygen cylinder to be placed and, once the cylinder is correctly positioned, the locking part is locked, securing the extendable end thereof, so as to prevent the oxygen cylinder from moving or shifting from the position thereof. The intermediate securing structure also comprises two slots (26, 26') for holding two straps (27, 27') secured from one end to the slots (26, 26') and from the other end thereof to the fitting (28) of the the seatbelt (25) to the actual seat (23).

0016The intermediate securing structure (2) is connected to the base (1) by three legs, (4, 5 and 6) each of which comprises a first end connected to the intermediate structure (2) and a second end connected to the base (1). The first stationary leg (4) comprises a first end connected to the intermediate securing structure (2) by a common pivot, and a second end connected to the base (1) by a pivot (8) in common with said base (1). This first leg also comprises a notch (22) for holding the seatbelt (25) of the passenger seat, when the apparatus is in the deployed position thereof. The second and third legs (5, 6) are extendable and each comprise one end attached to the base (1) by a pivot (8', 8") in common with said base (1) and a second end connected to the intermediate securing structure by a removable pin (9).

0017The gripping structure (3) comprises: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="dash" compact="compact"><li>a main member connected to the intermediate securing structure (2) by two common pivots (7, 7');</li><li>two latches (10, 10') for securing the top of the oxygen cylinders (11, 11');</li><li>an adjustment part (18) which consists of a bolt (19) passing through the gripping structure (3), comprising a first end attached to a cone (21) for resting on the backrest (24) of the seat, configured to rest on the backrest (24) of the seat when the apparatus is in the deployed position thereof, and a second end attached to an adjustment wheel (20) provided on the side of the gripping structure that is opposite the backrest (24) of the seat; and</li><li>a flexible handle (15) which facilitates the transport of the apparatus, in both the collapsed and deployed positioned thereof.</li></ul>

0018When the apparatus is in the deployed position thereof, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">figure 3</figref>, the intermediate securing structure (2) is located at an intermediate height of the oxygen cylinders (11, 11'), and the gripping structure (3) is located perpendicular to the base (1); however, when the apparatus is collapsed, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">figure 4</figref>, the intermediate securing structure (2) and the gripping structure (3) are both located parallel next to the base (1).