MEDICAL OR ORGANIZATION CART

Abstract

Disclosed is a medical or organization cart with a cart body which is in particular essentially formed in the shape of a straight prism, and at least one corner post which may at least be indirectly fixed vertically to the cart body. At the corner post, at least one cross strap and/or one adapter, in particular made out of plastic, for attaching accessories at the medical or organization cart may be mounted. The adapter may be mounted both at the corner post and at the cross strap and/or the cross strap at the corner post, without using tools, in particular by clamping, and may be detached from the latter. The cross strap and/or the adapter may, when mounted at the corner post, be swiveled horizontally around the corner post.

Claims

1. A medical or organization cart with a cart body which is formed in particular essentially in the shape of a straight prism, wherein the cart body is provided with at least one corner post which is fixable to the cart body via at least one screw, clamping, and/or plug connection, wherein the corner post is provided with at least one guide element which extends peripherally at the corner post, at least one strap element and/or one adapter may be mounted at the corner post or detached therefrom, for the purpose of attaching accessories at the medical or organization cart, wherein the strap element and/or the adapter is provided, for the connection with the corner post, with a connection element at its an end which is adjacent to the corner post, which may be clamped to the corner post, wherein the connection element is engaged with the guide element and may be swiveled around the corner post, and wherein the connection element at least partially encloses the corner post at an angle larger than 180, in particular larger than 200.

2. The medical or organization cart according to claim 1, wherein the corner post is provided with guide elements in discrete locations along its vertical extension to provide a tongue-and-groove combination and/or a magnetic coupling between connection element and corner post, with the help of which the connection element may be attached to the corner post, in particular clipped on or clamped to the latter.

3. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element may be slipped onto the corner post in a radial direction, and is detachable from the corner post by means of traction in a radial direction as well.

4. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element is configured substantially U-shaped when viewed in the top view, and at least the side legs of the U are configured from an elastically resilient material having a non-destructive movability of at least 10% of the inside diameter of the connection element.

5. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner post comprises a guide groove as a guide element and the connection element comprises a projection or that the connection element comprises a guide groove and the corner post comprises a projection as a guide element.

6. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the connection element of the strap element and/or of the adapter for the connection with the corner post is smaller, in the state separated from the corner post, than the outside diameter of the corner post, in particular by approx. 2 mm, such that when the strap element and/or the adapter is connected with the corner post by means of clamping, a preload is provided at the inside of the connection element.

7. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner post is provided with at least one groove at corner post's radial outer side which extends in particular circumferentially, and that the connection element is provided with a projection which fits into the groove at least in part, in particular as an at least dot-shaped projection, in particular corresponds to the cross section of the groove, and which forms a positive connection of the strap element and/or the adapter with the corner post.

8. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein by means of a horizontal snapping-in of the connection element at the corner post, the strap element and/or the adapter may be snapped close or open at the corner post.

9. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 5, wherein by means of a vertical snapping-in of the projection of the connection element into the groove of the corner post, the strap element and/or the adapter may be engaged with the corner post.

10. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner post is provided with a plurality of grooves at corner post's radial outer side, which are arranged on top of each other, and which in particular extend each horizontally in a circumferential fashion.

11. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap element is provided with a strap body which extends in the longitudinal direction and which is in particular a hollow profile, and wherein that the strap body is linked with the connection element.

12. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein, using the same adapter, accessories may be mounted to either the corner post or the strap element.

13. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is provided with at least one fastening element at which the accessories may be mounted.

14. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two corner posts are provided which extend vertically in parallel to each other and may at least be indirectly fixed to the cart body, as well as between which and at which at least one cross strap may be mounted for attaching accessories horizontally at the medical or organization cart.

15. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the same time at least two adapters are mounted at the strap element or the cross strap, respectively, or at the corner post, or at least one adapter is mounted at the strap element or the cross strap, respectively, and at least one further adapter is mounted at the corner post, which adapters commonly accommodate accessories.

16. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection element may be slipped onto the corner post in a radial direction by means of clamping or clipping.

17. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least the side legs of the U are configured from an elastically resilient material having a non-destructive movability of at least 20% of the inside diameter of the connection element.

18. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 11, wherein the strap body comprises a light metal.

19. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least two corner posts are insertable into the cart body.

20. The medical or organization cart as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged at a uniform vertical distance from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] Further advantages, details and features result from the subsequent description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention with the help of the drawings which show:

[0065] FIG. 1 a schematically depicted embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 the embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention according to FIG. 1, observed in the direction V;

[0067] FIG. 3a the adapter of the embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention according to FIG. 1 in a schematically depicted fashion;

[0068] FIG. 3b the adapter of the embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention according to FIG. 1 in a further schematically depicted fashion;

[0069] FIG. 3c the adapter of the embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention according to FIG. 1 in a further schematically depicted fashion;

[0070] FIG. 4 a further schematically depicted embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention;

[0071] FIG. 5 a further schematically depicted embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention; and

[0072] FIG. 6 a further schematically depicted embodiment of the medical or organization cart in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0073] The embodiment of the medical or organization cart 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is provided with a cart body 2, a corner profile 4 and a corner post 10. Cart body 2 is only schematically depicted in part in FIG. 1. Corner profile 4 is provided with a fastening channel 6 which extends vertically and engages with corner post 10 and is fixedly attached there.

[0074] This embodiment of medical or organization cart 100 in accordance with the invention is additionally provided with a strap element 20 and an adapter 30 for accommodating accessories. Strap element 20 is mounted at corner post 10 with the help of a connection element 22 made out of plastic. Connection element 22 of strap element 20 is detachably linked with a strap body 24 which extends in the longitudinal direction of strap element 20. At or on strap element 20, respectively, adapter 30 is mounted. Accessory part 1 is attached to adapter 30.

[0075] In accordance with the invention, adapter 30 may be mounted at strap element 20 and strap element 20 at corner post 10 without using any tools, by means of clamping, and is as well detachable from the latter without using any tools. As a result, a faulty assembly of strap element 20 and adapter 30 is avoided as far as possible, and at the same time the attachment of accessories at the cart is accelerated.

[0076] In accordance with the invention, it is favorable that strap element 20, in particular connection element 22 made out of plastic and clamping to corner post 10, may be horizontally swiveled around corner post 10.

[0077] During the transport of cart 100, it is of importance to keep the balance as far as possible. For this purpose, strap element 20 may be swiveled horizontally inwards. As a result, accessory part 1 does not remain at the side of cart 100 during transport any longer, but is positioned above worktop 8, which prevents lateral collisions.

[0078] For working on worktop 8 of cart 100, strap element 20 may be swiveled outwards around corner post 10, in accordance with the invention, in order to make the space above worktop 8 accessible.

[0079] The handling of medical or organization carts is surprisingly improved thanks to the swivelability of strap element 20.

[0080] In a hospital, it is important that medical or organization carts may be strung together, if required. A known medical or organization cart is provided with a rail system for attaching accessories at the side of the cart body, and due to the rail system attached at the side, with the accessory parts mounted at that, it is hardly possible to carry out an immediate stringing-together of the carts.

[0081] In contrast to this, with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, corner post 10 is inserted into corner profile 4 of cart 100, and strap element 20 which is mounted at corner post 10 may be swiveled horizontally inwards in order to leave the spaces to the sides of the cart free for stringing together cart 100.

[0082] In accordance with the invention, strap element 20 may be mounted at any location of corner post 10 in the longitudinal direction of corner post 10, and adapter 30 may be mounted at any location of strap element 20 in the longitudinal direction of strap element 20. In combination with the swivellability of strap element 20 at corner post 10, a clearly more flexible attachment of accessories, compared with the state of the art, is possible.

[0083] Corner post 10 is provided with a plurality of grooves 12 at its radial outer side, each of which extends horizontally around corner post 10. Connection element 22 of strap element 20 is provided with a projection which is not depicted in FIG. 1 and which corresponds to groove 12 and forms a positive connection of strap element 20 with corner post 10.

[0084] In accordance with the invention, the strength of the mounting of strap element 20 at corner post 10 is considerably increased as a result of this positive connection.

[0085] It is particularly advantageous that during the transport of cart 100 this positive connection avoids as far as possible vibrations of strap element 10, which vibrates during transport as a result the leverage at corner post 10 and, if applicable, also as a result of its elastic connection element 22 made out of plastic. Adapter 30 at strap element 20 also contributes to this, which adapter 30 exerts a preload onto strap element 20.

[0086] For the formation of a positive click-in connection of strap element 20 with corner post 10, strap element 20, which is, connection element 22 which is made out of plastic and is approximately U shaped or horseshoe-shaped, is attached at any location between two adjacent grooves 12 of corner post 10 in the horizontal direction, and is snapped in there.

[0087] The projection of strap element 20 is frequently between two grooves 12 at the outer surface of corner post 10, and not yet exactly clicked into the desired groove 12 at this time. There remains a gap between the outer surface of corner post 10 and the inner surface of U-shaped connection element 22.

[0088] If necessary, connection element 22 is then moved slightly up or down until the projection of connection element 22 clicks into the desired groove 12.

[0089] As a result, the positive click-in connection has been formed. Since in this embodiment, the outside diameter of corner post 10 is, for instance, approx. 2 mm larger than the inside diameter of connection element 22, a firm click-in connection in combination with a stable clamping connection is possible.

[0090] Strap body 24 is a hollow profile made out of a light metal in this embodiment. Thus, a sufficiently strong strap with low weight of strap element 22 may be put into practice, the load capacity of which has been optimized.

[0091] Strap body 24 may be linked with connection element 22 easily by means of slipping it on and may be removed from it. Thus, strap elements 20 of different lengths may be employed at cart 100 for different potential uses.

[0092] In accordance with the invention, an accommodation space 32 of adapter 30 is provided which may accommodate a further accessory part, in particular by means of clamping, when adapter 30 is mounted at strap element 20.

[0093] In FIG. 2, the connection of accessory part 1 with adapter 30 is visible. Accessory part 1 is attached at adapter 30 with the help of two screws 34.

[0094] Connection element 22 of strap element 20 is clamped to corner post 10 and is virtually horseshoe-shaped when looked on from above. The connection element is provided with a wrap-around angle 26 which amounts to approximately 240 according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2. With such a wrap-around angle, a sufficiently large clamping surface is put into practice. A detaching force of at least 10 kg is therewith guaranteed.

[0095] Connection element 22 is made out of plastic and is approx. 7 cm high in this embodiment.

[0096] Details of adapter 30 are visible from FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c.

[0097] Adapter 30 is an injection-molded part made out of plastic and is provided with two U-shaped clamping elements or retaining noses 36a which form each a recess 36. With the help of retaining noses 36a, adapter 30 may be slipped on strap element 20. The width of U-shaped recesses 36 is 2 mm smaller than the thickness of strap body 24 in this embodiment in order to guarantee a sufficiently large clamping force.

[0098] Two lateral legs 36b of U-shaped retaining noses 36a form a rectangular-shaped back element 37 of adapter 30. At back element 37, two internal threads 38 are provided for the screw connection with accessory part 1.

[0099] In the embodiment of cart 100 depicted in FIG. 4, adapter 30 is mounted directly at corner post 10 by means of clamping. For the purpose of clamping, the inside diameter of the accommodation space 32 of adapter 30 is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of corner post 10.

[0100] Adapter 30 is provided with a projection which is not depicted and which, like the projection of connection element 22 of strap element 20 in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, corresponds to the groove 12 of corner post 10 and forms a positive click-in connection of adapter 30 with corner post 10.

[0101] If adapter 30 is positively attached to corner post 10, the stability of the mounting of adapter 30 is considerably increased in accordance with the invention.

[0102] In accordance with the invention, adapter 30 made out of plastic may be swiveled around corner post 10. It is to be understood that adapter 30 could also be swiveled around a corner post 10 without grooves 12 even if it did not have the projection.

[0103] In FIG. 5, a further embodiment of the medical or organization cart is provided with a worktop 8 with a corner hole 9. Worktop 8 consists in part of plastic and is fixedly attached on the cart body by means of clamping.

[0104] Corner hole 9 runs vertically through worktop 8. Corner post 10 engages with the fastening channel 6 of corner profile 4 via corner hole 9 of worktop 8. The top surface of worktop 8 is larger than the top surface of the cart body which is adjacent to corner profile 4.

[0105] In this embodiment, two further strap elements 21 and 23 are mounted at corner post 10. The strap elements or cross straps 20 and 21 are respectively provided each with a further connection element 25 which is linked with the end of cross straps 20 and 21 which is remote from corner post 10, and is connected with a further post 11 which is shorter compared with corner post 10. Further connection elements 25 are the same injection-molded parts as connection elements 22. Further post 11 ends above the cart body or worktop 8, respectively.

[0106] As a result, the stability of the mounting of cross straps 20 and 21 with the accessories which are accommodated thereat/thereon, but are not depicted in FIG. 5, is further improved. The ends of cross straps 20 and 21 which are remote from corner post 10 are namely mounted at second post 11 and no longer sway in the air. Besides, the medical staff may easily grip second post 11 for swiveling the cross strap, which post ends above the cart body or worktop 8, respectively, and then exert a force towards the inside or outside.

[0107] Cross straps 21 and 23 are each provided with a projection for positively connecting with the grooves 12 of corner post 10, which are positioned adjacently to and above each other.

[0108] In accordance with the invention, the height of connection elements 22 of cross straps 21 and 23 is determined in such a fashion that the two cross straps 21 and 23 may simultaneously form positive connections with the adjacent grooves 12 above one another.

[0109] In FIG. 6, a further preferred embodiment of cart 100 is depicted which is provided with two corner posts 10. The two corner posts 10 extend vertically in parallel with each other and are fixedly attached to corner profiles 4 of cart 100 via worktop 8. Between the two corner posts 10 and at them, two cross straps 20 and 21 are mounted which are positioned in parallel to each other and above one another and serve for the purpose of attaching accessories at cart 100.

[0110] As a result, the strength of the mounting of cross straps 20 and 21 at the cart is further increased since the two ends 22 and 25 of cross straps 20 and 21 are each mounted at one corner post 10 which is fixedly attached to cart 100.

[0111] Furthermore, in this embodiment relatively long cross straps 20 and 21 are provided for accommodating large or broad accessories, respectively, and/or a number of accessory parts.