What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible folding table assembly, comprising:
first and second top members hingedly attached together by a first hinging means to form a foldable table top;
first and second base members hingedly attached together by a second hinging means to form a foldable table base; and
a plurality of foldable leg assemblies each including two or more leg sections pivotally attached together, with one end of each leg assembly being pivotally attached to one of said top members and an opposing end of each leg assembly being pivotally attached to one of said base members, said leg assemblies being foldable in a manner so as to allow the table top to be transitioned from an extended position remote from the base to a collapsed position proximate the base, and to further allow the table top and the table base to be respectively folded about the first hinging means and the second hinging means into a compacted configuration.
2. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg assemblies include means for securing said leg sections in an extended position.
3. A collapsible folding table as recited in claim 1 wherein said top members include planar rectangular sheets of material affixed to bordering frames such that when said table assembly is in said compacted configuration said sheets of material and said frames define an envelope enclosing said legs and said first and second base members.
4. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said first hinging means is attached to one side of the bordering frame of both said top members.
5. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said one sides of said bordering frames are relieved to receive second hinging means and the hinged together extremities of said first and second base members when said table assembly is in said compacted configuration.
6. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said foldable table base when in its unfolded configuration is generally X shaped.
7. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 3 and further comprising handle means affixed to at least one of said frames to facilitate carriage of said table assembly when it is in said compacted configuration.
8. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 7 and further comprising latching means affixed to said frames to lock said table assembly in said compacted configuration.
9. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each said leg assembly includes 3 elongated leg sections hingedly joined together to form a series linkage having an upper end hingedly affixed to one of said top members and a lower end hingedly affixed to one of said base members.
10. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein the upper end of each said leg assembly is affixed to its associated top member by a bracket having an elongated slot for receiving a pivot pin affixed to the upper end of said leg assembly, said pin being pivotal within and slideable along said slot as said table assembly is transitioned between said extended position and said collapsed position.
11. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said slot includes one or more pin receiving notches for holding the upper end of said leg in a particular position along the length of said slot.
12. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 9 and further comprising stabilizing means for securing the middle leg sections of said leg assemblies in fixed positions relative to each other when said table top is in said extended position.
13. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each said first hinging means includes a bracket to which a corresponding foldable leg assembly is pivotally affixed, and having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, and bracing means having one end affixed to said corresponding leg assembly and an opposite end having a post selectively slideably or lockingly engaging said slot to hold said corresponding leg assembly in a selected position.
14. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said leg sections in an extended position includes hinges having spring loaded detent means adapted to lockingly engage detent receiving apertures when said leg assemblies are in a predetermined unfolded configuration.
15. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg assemblies are made of tubular material.
16. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg assemblies are made of extruded plastic material.
17. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg assemblies are made of wood.
18. A collapsible folding table assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg assemblies are made of metal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. An apparatus adapted for fluid administration to a patient comprising:
a reservoir containing fluid to be administered;
a length of fluid administration tubing;
an in-line fluid heater;
a fluid heater controller;
a temperature probe;
and
a temperature feedback line
wherein the temperature probe is located at or about an end of the fluid administration tubing nearest the patient.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 which additionally comprises an optional drip chamber.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 which additionally comprises an optional fluid delivery pump and a controller.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature feedback line is integral to the fluid administration tubing.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the temperature feedback line is co-extruded into the fluid administration tubing.
6. A method of controlling the temperature of fluid administered to a patient comprising the steps of:
heating the fluid with an in-line heater;
controlling the amount of heat added to the fluid with a heater controller;
administering the heated fluid to the patient through a length of tubing;
sensing the fluid temperature at or near to the patient; and
feeding back the fluid temperature to the heater controller.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the desired set temperature at the heater controller is measured by the temperature sensor near the patient comprising the step of heating the fluid to a temperature greater than said set temperature whereby the fluid reaches the body at said set temperature after being cooled in said length of tubing.
8. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of utilizing gravity to feed the fluid to the patient.
9. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of pumping the fluid to the patient.
10. An apparatus adapted for fluid administration to a patient comprising:
a reservoir containing a volume of fluid to be administered;
a length of fluid administration tubing comprising an I.V. fluid lumen; and
a distributed heating system to heat the fluid to be administered.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said distributed heating system comprises:
at least one lumen in said fluid administration tubing running parallel to said I.V. fluid lumen;
one or more heat exchange manifolds;
one or more flow shunts;
a volume of heating fluid;
a circulating fluid pump;
a heat exchange fluid heater;
a heater controller; and
one or more control and power lines;
wherein said heating fluid is circulated through said lumen running parallel to said I.V. fluid lumen.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises:
a temperature probe; and
a feedback to the heater controller from said temperature probe.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said distributed heating system comprises:
one or more resistive heating elements disposed axially along or within the fluid administration tubing and running parallel to the I.V. fluid lumen;
a heater controller; and
one or more power control lines.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fluid administration tubing is insulated from the environment to at least some degree.
15. A method of delivering temperature controlled fluids to a patient comprising the steps of:
providing a volume of fluid to be administered;
delivering said volume of fluid to the patient through a length of fluid administration tubing that comprises an I.V. fluid lumen;
heating said fluid using a heating system distributed along at least part of the length of the fluid administration tubing.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said distributed heating comprises the step of pumping heated fluids through lumens in the fluid administration tubing that run parallel to the I.V. fluid lumen in the fluid administration tubing.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said distributed heating comprises the step of heating said fluid in said I.V. fluid lumen using resistive heating elements disposed parallel to said I.V. fluid lumen.
18. The method of claim 15 additionally comprising the step of measuring the temperature of said fluid at or near the patient and using this temperature to control the distributed heating.