Interlocking module system

US5431509A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• Jerald W. Anderson · La Petite Bellangeraie, US
• Tighe M. Belden · Minneapolis, US
• Philip C. Dretzka · Cleveland Heights, US
• Leonard J. Gramse · Windom, US
• Gerald L. Oja · Woodbury, US
• Kent R. Struble · Woodbury, US
• Daniel M. Sutherland · Windom, US
• Mark A. Toycen · Colfax, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 1994
• Grant date: Jul 11, 1995
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T403/61
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system for interlocking a plurality of modules, such as medical instrument modules (e.g., infusion pumps), in side-by-side relationship such that not more than one module can be mounted on each side of a center module. The modules are interchangeable in that any module of the system can be a center module or a side module. In the preferred embodiment, latching arms on a module are automatically moved as the module is mounted on a pole stand to allow other "side" modules to be mounted on that "center" module. The latching arms of the "side" modules prevent additional modules from being mounted on the side modules. Other embodiments are described as well.