Abstract: A patient-support apparatus is provided, the patent-support apparatus having a patient support deck, a lowered central portion of the patient-support deck, and an x-ray tray carried by the central portion of the patient-support deck beneath the mattress support and between tray-guiding walls. The x-ray tray is slidable relative to the patient support deck.

Abstract: A flame containment and suppression baffle architecture for a card cage of an electronic circuit cabinet includes a baffle structure having a pivotable flap that is retained by a meltable solder attachment in an open position, that normally allows cooling air, either convection or forced fed, to exit the card cage housing. In the event of a fire in the card cage, any flame or heat therefrom is steered by a set of guide rails along a canted baffle deflector, to the solder attachment. This focusing of heat upon the solder attachment causes the solder to melt quickly, so that the flap is released and rotates downwardly to a second (vertical) position against the air vents, closing the only exit for the flame and smoke. Smoke soon backs up until it starves the flame of oxygen and extinguishes the flame. Where the card cage is equipped with a forced air system, a microswitch may be located above the baffle roof with its actuator passing through a slot in the baffle and resting on the flap.

Abstract: A printed circuit board card cage contains upper and lower perforated sheet metal plates, having a plurality of mutually opposed staggered patterns of bumps, that are configured to form guide channels for guiding printed circuit boards into engagement with respective card slot backplane connectors, thereby eliminating the need for attachment of a separate set of card guides. The patterns of card guide bumps or ‘upsets’ are arranged so as to direct, yet constrain, the travel paths of printed circuit boards from their points of insertion through grooves in rails at the front of the chassis to the backplane connectors, while providing minimal interruption of a gridwork of cooling air flow perforations through the sheet metal plates. The upsets themselves do not penetrate the sheet metal plates, and the size of the perforations are such that there are no EMI leaks, thus eliminating the need for and assembly of additional perforated plates.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus comprising a base, and a patient-support assembly supported above the base including a patient-support deck having longitudinally spaced-apart ends and an elevation mechanism for moving one of the ends of the patient-support deck relative to the other of the ends and relative to the base. The elevation mechanism including a transversely-extending threaded shaft, a pair of blocks threadedly coupled to the shaft, and a linkage coupled to the pair of blocks and extending upwardly therefrom to support the end of the patient support deck to be moved by the elevation mechanism, the pair of blocks moving transversely in response to rotation of the threaded shaft, and the linkage having horizontally extending pins being configured to move the end of the patient-support deck relative to the base in response to transverse movement of the blocks.

Abstract: A humidifier module is provided for a patient support apparatus which includes an opening into which the module is inserted, an electrical service connector, an air inlet port, and an air outlet port. The humidifier module includes a water reservoir and a heater configured to heat water in the reservoir. An air chamber with an air inlet port and an air exhaust port for mating with air inlet and outlet ports of the patient support apparatus and an electrical connector for mating with the electrical service connector of the patient support apparatus is included in the humidifier module. When the humidifier module is inserted into the patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus is provided with a humidified environment for a patient.

Abstract: A low profile electronics cabinet for a computer workstation or personal computer formed of structural foam includes a plurality of ribs forming a support grid molded into the bottom, internal surface of the cabinet top and a plurality of vertical supports molded into the top, internal surface of the cabinet base. When assembled, the support grid rests upon the vertical supports, the support grid and vertical supports functioning to transfer the weight of a load placed on top of the cabinet to the cabinet base.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism which is located at the front of an electronic unit and converts the push-on, push-off action of a switch to a sliding action. By converting the actuating action from an in-and-out pushing motion to a transverse sliding motion, inadvertent actuation of this switch is all but eliminated. This conversion is provided in a simple, cost effective mechanism.

Abstract: A standoff and retainer for use in mechanically and electrically connecting two or more printed circuit boards in a parallel spaced type arrangement. The metallic standoff is constructed in the form of a sleeve partially closed at one end. The plastic retainer is also formed in the shape of a sleeve but includes a male connector at one end. The standoff is attached to a printed circuit board by advancing the connector end of the retainer into the open end of the standoff until the connector snaps into engagement with the hole in the partially closed end wall of the standoff and a mounting hole in the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The subject invention is a device for joining and separating first and second printed circuit boards connectable by a socket on one of the boards and a plurality of pins projecting from the other of the boards. The device comprises a screw held captive to the first board but rotatable therein, and a spacer fastened to the second board and having a threaded hole for receiving the screw. The pins are inserted into and withdrawn from the socket by the engagement and disengagement, respectively, of the threaded hole by the screw.

Abstract: The subject invention is a separation device for first and second generally parallel printed circuit boards connectable by a plurality of pins projecting normally thereto. The separation device comprises a first member attachable to the first board and having a hole extending laterally therethrough. The device also comprises a second member having a shaft mateable with the hole, an eccentric body, and means for rotating the second member. When rotated, the eccentric body provides a separation force on the boards.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for quickly coupling together two cabinets or the like, or disconnecting two such coupled cabinets from each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a first coupling unit is secured across the lower right side of a first cabinet, while a second coupling unit is secured across the upper left side of a second cabinet. Locking members protrude from each of the first and second coupling units. First keyholes in a first orientation are disposed across the upper right side of the first cabinet adjacent to associated ones of the locking members of the second coupling unit. Similarly, second keyholes in a second orientation are disposed across the lower left side of the second cabinet adjacent to associated ones of the locking members of the first coupling unit.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rigid U-shaped bracket having its end portions projecting along a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the bottom of the U-shape. Brackets are provided for pivotally mounting the U-shaped bracket to a cabinet in a position proximate the cables and the electronic equipment served by the cables, such that the cables are positionable between the U-shaped bracket and a portion of the cabinet with substantially a 90.degree. bend. A pull on any, or all, of the cables positioned under the U-shaped bracket will cause the bracket to rotate around the pivot axis, toward the cabinet, creating a clamping action on the cable. The clamping action prevents the transmission of the pull to connectors connecting the cables to the equipment within the cabinet.

Abstract: An air cooling assembly in an electronic system enclosure having an upper wire rack and a lower wire rack. A plurality of logic module cassettes are located between the upper and lower wire racks and are provided with openings so that cooling air drawn through parallel rods in the wire racks pass through the logic module cassettes. An intake plenum is located under the lower wire rack, and an exhaust plenum is located over the upper wire rack. A fan is located in the exhaust plenum for drawing cooling air through the logic module cassettes.

Abstract: A heat transfer and mounting device having a cross-bar member and at least one leg member. A fastener receptacle is positioned in the cross-bar member for a fastener to affix a heat generating device to the surface of the cross-bar member opposite the at least one leg member. Another fastener receptacle is positioned in the cross-bar member for receiving a fastener to affix a circuit board to the surface of the cross-bar member from which the leg member projects. An additional fastener opening is positioned through the cross-bar member and the leg member for receiving a fastener for attaching the heat conducting body to a heat sink.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selectively controlling the insertion, retention and extraction of card cassettes into, in and from associated channels of a card cage. A pair of first and second levers are pivotally mounted at the top and bottom of each channel. Each of the card cassettes includes upper and lower glides, with each glide including a pin at the front of the glide. Each card cassette if freely slideable in its associated channel of the card cage until the pins in its upper and lower glides become seated into detents in the first and second levers in that channel just before a first set of connectors on that card cassette engage a mating second set of connectors in that channel of the card cage. Rotation of the first and second levers in that channel in a first set of directions pushes the pins in the glides of that card cassette horizontally, forcing the first set of connectors on the card cassette to engage the second set of connectors in that channel.

Abstract: A two piece hand-manipulated variable fit fastener is disclosed comprising an elongated fastener member having a reduced axially extending portion permitting the fastener member to be folded on itself prior to being inserted through aligned apertures located in a pair of mating surfaces and a retainer element having a plurality of locking surfaces, the retainer element being slidably mounted on the fastener member. After insertion through the aligned apertures in the mating surfaces, the fastener element is unfolded to a position engaging one of the locking surfaces in the retainer element to lock the fastener member in the unfolded position. The positioning of the fastener member in the unfolded position also allows a pair of end shoulder portions to engage one of the mating surfaces and the retainer element to fasten the mating surfaces together.

Abstract: A low cost, self locating auxiliary keyboard assembly is disclosed for changing the key configuration and classification of the keyboard of a data terminal device, the assembly including a cover member having a plurality of apertures which overlie associated control keys on the keyboard of the data terminal device. A classification indicia card having a plurality of predetermined positioned apertures is placed on the cover member, the apertures in the indicia card overlying certain of the apertures in the cover member to allow a removable auxiliary key member to be inserted within the aligned apertures of both the indicia card and the cover member to engage the top portion of the associated control key on the keyboard of the data terminal device for operation thereby.

Abstract: There is disclosed a checkout system for use in a supermarket or other retail merchandise store or the like. The checkout system includes a stand alone label scanner device for scanning data bearing labels on the merchandise items and a bag supporting cart pivotally secured at one end to the floor adjacent the scanning device for supporting bags in an open position to receive merchandise items. Associated with the bagging cart is a counter shelf member pivotally attached to the cart. Slidably mounted on the shelf member is a shelf extension member. In one mode of operation the cart is positioned adjacent the discharged end of the scanning device to allow the checkout operator to move in one motion the merchandise items past the scanning device and into a bag located on the cart.

Abstract: An automatic checkout system for a supermarket, or other retail merchandise store or the like. The system includes a checkout counter and a bagging cart movably mounted to the rear of the checkout counter for supporting bags orientated to receive items from the checkout counter. In one mode of operation, the cart is positioned to allow the operator to both check out and load merchandise items into the bags on the cart. In another mode of operation, the cart is rotated away from the checkout counter and a counter shelf is positioned between the cart and the checkout counter to allow a bagger to continue to receive and load items from the checkout counter into the same bags. The construction of the checkout counter and the bagging cart allows transition from one mode of operation to the other to occur without interrupting the checkout operation.