FASTENING CLAMP FOR ATTACHING HOLDERS FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS IN A STERILISATION MESH BASKET, AND ARRANGEMENT HAVING A STERILISATION MESH BASKET AND A FASTENING CLAMP

Abstract

An arrangement includes a sterilization tray and a fixing clip configured for tool-free mounting on a perforated corrugated bottom of the sterilization tray. The fixing clip has a main section, on which two rows of arms are arranged opposite to one another with respect to a center axis. Each row of arms has a first holding arm and a second holding arm, on which a snap-in nose is respectively formed. The snap-in noses of the two holding arms of each row of arms point towards one another. A first edge extends on the main section between the first two holding arms and a second edge extends between the second two holding arms. A recess or notch is formed on each of the two edges, into which crosspieces can immerse.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A fastening clamp that is adapted and configured for attachment without tools to a perforated undulating base of a sterilization sieve basket, wherein the fastening clamp has a main portion on which two rows of arms are arranged opposite each other with respect to a central axis, wherein each row of arms has a first retaining arm and a second retaining arm, on each of which a respective latching nose is formed, wherein the latching noses of the two retaining arms of each row of arms face toward each other, and wherein a first edge extends on the main portion between the two first retaining arms and a second edge extends between the two second retaining arms, characterized in that a cutout or recess is formed on each of the two edges.

17. The fastening clamp according to claim 16, wherein the two cutouts or recesses extend transversely to the central axis over at least one third of a respective width of the main portion or of a respective distance of the opposite retaining arms.

18. The fastening clamp according to claim 16, wherein the two cutouts or recesses along the central axis each extend over at least one-eighth of a length of the main portion.

19. The fastening clamp according to claim 16, wherein a respective intermediate arm is provided between the two retaining arms of a row of arms, and wherein a further recess is provided approximately in the center of the main portion, which is configured as a passage recess.

20. The fastening clamp according to claim 19, wherein holding portions, preferably at least three holding portions, are formed on free end portions of the intermediate arms and/or on first retaining arms and/or on second retaining arms.

21. The fastening clamp according to claim 20, wherein the holding portions are provided opposite each other in pairs, preferably facing each other in pairs.

22. The fastening clamp according to claim 19, wherein a further latching nose is provided on each of the two intermediate arms, which extends counter to the latching nose of the first retaining arm.

23. The fastening clamp according to claim 19, wherein the intermediate arm is a tab on which a respective straight edge portion is formed opposite the latching noses of the two adjacent retaining arms.

24. The fastening clamp according to claim 19, wherein the passage recess is substantially rectangular.

25. The fastening clamp according to claim 16, wherein insertion chamfers are formed above the latching noses.

26. An arrangement comprising at least one fastening clamp according to claim 16 and a sterilization sieve basket, wherein an undulating base of the sterilization sieve basket comprises a perforated grid, wherein respectively four crosspieces of the perforated grid form crosspiece junctions, wherein the crosspiece junctions are arranged at two different heights of the undulating base, wherein the at least one fastening clamp is clippable or clipped to the undulating base.

27. The arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the crosspiece junctions are arranged in crosspiece junction rows which are alternately arranged on the two different heights of the undulating base, wherein the crosspiece junction rows extend along the entire undulating base and parallel to an edge of the undulating base or of the sterilization sieve basket.

28. The arrangement according to claim 27, wherein in each case one or two crosspiece junctions of a crosspiece junction row is or are arranged between the two retaining arms of each row of arms, and wherein the crosspiece junction or the two crosspiece junctions abut on the latching noses.

29. The arrangement according to claim 28, wherein two or three crosspiece junctions of a lower crosspiece junction row adjacent to each other each dip into a recess of the main portion.

30. The arrangement according to claim 29, wherein the crosspieces of the undulating base are angled at 45 to an edge of the undulating base or of the sterilization sieve basket, and wherein the respective central axis of the at least one fastening clamp is arranged approximately parallel to the edge of the undulating base or of the sterilization sieve basket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above illustrating an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a further illustration of the first embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a view of a fixing clip according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a side view of an arrangement of the second embodiment of the fixing clip from FIG. 3;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a further illustration of the second embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 4 from below;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a view of a fixing clip according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view of an arrangement of the third embodiment of the fixing clip from FIG. 6;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a further representation of the third embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 7 from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Three embodiments of the present disclosure are described below based on the associated figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. It has a sterilization tray 1, of which only one of its edges 2 and a section of its corrugated bottom 3 are shown. The corrugated bottom 3 has a perforated grid formed from webs 4 arranged at right angles to one another (in a top view). The webs 4 are preferably set at 45 to the edge 2. Four webs 4 each form a crosspiece 6.

[0037] Parallel to the edge 2 of sterilization tray 1, rows of crosspieces 8a, 8b extend at two different heights, with a lower row of crosspieces 8a and an upper row of crosspieces 8b always being provided alternately. Consequently, it is of course possible to deviate from the indicated angle, both upwards and downwards, as long as a corresponding waveform results.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, a larger version of the fixing clip 10 as disclosed is inserted through the perforated grid openings at right angles (when seen in a top view) and clipped. More specifically, a first row of arms and a second row of arms extend in parallel to the rows of crosspieces 8a, 8b and to the edge 2, each row of arms having a first holding arm 12, an intermediate arm 14 formed as a lug, and a second holding arm 16. The two intermediate arms 14 are designed to be so narrow that they extend through a respective opening in the perforated grid without direct contact with the webs 4 or the crosspieces 6. The four holding arms 12, 16 each have a snap-in nose 18, which rests against the upper side of a crosspiece 6. Thus, the fixing clip 10 is clipped to the corrugated bottom 3 of the sterilization tray 1.

[0039] On the four holding arms 12, 16, respective lead-in chamfers 21 are formed above the respective snap-in nose 18. This forms an insertion aid for each of the four crosspieces 6 concerned.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a further representation of the first embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 1, viewed along the rows of crosspieces 8a, 8b. Holding sections 19 are formed on the upper end sections of holding arms 12, 16 and of intermediate arms 14, which embrace a silicone bar of the instrument holder (not shown), which is thus also arranged in parallel to the rows of crosspieces 8a, 8b.

[0041] According to FIG. 2, the fixing clip 10 is clipped onto two lower rows of crosspieces 8a, so that a flat main section 22 of the fixing clip 10 is arranged under the corrugated bottom 3. This so-called lower mounting position of the fixing clip 10 is also possible.

[0042] If, on the other hand, an upper mounting position is selected it is possible that the main section 22 is arranged above the lower row of crosspieces 8a and thus completely immerses in the corrugated bottom 3. FIGS. 4 and 7 respectively show fixing clips 110, 210 in the upper mounting position.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a representation of a fixing clip 110 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] First, the features corresponding to the fixing clip 10 of FIG. 1 are explained: The fixing clip 10, 110 is a bent sheet metal part. Two rows of arms, each with a first holding arm 12, an intermediate arm 14, 114 and a second holding arm 16, extend along a center axis 20, which is an axis of symmetry. The main section 22 is located between the two rows of arms. Three recesses 24a, 24b are provided in the main section 22, into each of which a crosspiece 6 of a lower row of crosspieces 8a can immerse from above. More specifically, two outer recesses 24a and a further recess 24b formed as a central through recess are provided. The two outer recesses 24a are U-shaped and arranged at the edge of the main section 22.

[0045] In contrast to the first embodiment of fixing clip 10 from FIG. 1, the second fixing clip 110 according to FIGS. 3 to 5 not only has snap-in noses 18 on the holding arms 12, 16, but also has a further snap-in nose 18 on each intermediate arm 114 on both sides. Each snap-in nose 18 of the intermediate arm 114 extends against a snap-in nose 18 of a holding arm 12, 16.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a side view of an arrangement with the corrugated bottom 3 from FIG. 1 and with the second embodiment of fixing clip 110 from FIG. 3, in which the four snap-in noses 18 of a row of arms are clearly shown. Thus, each row of arms can come into contact with two crosspieces 6 and hold the crosspiece 6 on both sides.

[0047] On the four holding arms 12, 16 and on the two intermediate arms 114, respective lead-in chamfers 21 are formed above the snap-in noses 18. This creates a v-shaped insertion funnel for each of the four crosspieces 6 concerned.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a further representation of the second embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 4 from below. Here the main section 22 is shown in full, with a crosspiece 6 of the lower row of crosspieces 8a being received in each of the three recesses 24a, 24b. Thus, the upper mounting position is obtained, in which the main section 22 does not affect the storage position of the sterilization tray 1, even if it has no feet.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a representation of a fixing clip 210 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. It is the so-called smaller version, which is shorter along the central axis 20 than the two larger versions shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In the third embodiment, the two intermediate arms 14 have been omitted.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a side view of an arrangement with the third embodiment of the fixing clip 210 from FIG. 6. It is to be recognized that the two holding arms 12, 16 of each row of arms directly receive only one crosspiece 6 between them.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a further representation of the third embodiment of the arrangement from FIG. 7 from below. In the third embodiment, the further recess 24b on the main section 22 is omitted, since only two crosspieces 6 of the lower row of crosspieces 8a have to immerse in a respective recess 24a.

[0052] FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 show the fixing clips 110; 210 in the preferred higher mounting position on the corrugated bottom 3 of the sterilization tray 1, in which the two rows of arms each are operatively connected to an upper row of crosspieces 8b, while the recesses 24a, 24b receive crosspieces 6 of a lower row of crosspieces 8a.

[0053] In summary, the above embodiments hence show a fixing clip that is laid out for tool-free mounting on the perforated or grid-like corrugated bottom 3 of a sterilization tray. For this purpose, the fixing clip has at least the following features: [0054] A preferably plate-shaped or tongue-shaped main section or base plate 22, on which two rows of arms are arranged or formed opposite each other with respect to a center or longitudinal axis 20 of the tongue-shaped (in top view essentially rectangular) main section. That is to say, a plurality of preferably plate-shaped arms are formed or arranged on each longitudinal side of the tongue-shaped main section which each are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the main section. [0055] Each row of arms has at least a first holding arm 12 and a second holding arm 16, which extend essentially perpendicularly or at an angle of about 90 to the plate-/tongue-shaped main section 22. [0056] A snap-in nose 18 or snap-in projection is formed on the side edges facing each other of at least two of the arms of each longitudinal side/row of arms, which lie opposite each other and point towards each other. [0057] A first edge extends along the main section 22 between the first two holding arms 12 and a second edge extends between the second two holding arms 16, with a recess 24a or notch being formed on each of the two edges. In other words, preferably rectangular recesses 24a or notches are formed on the longitudinally spaced end edges of the (plate-/tongue-shaped) main section 22, which extend in the longitudinal direction. The corners of the preferably rectangular recesses 24a are preferably rounded.

[0058] This means that the fixing clip has at least four clip arms 12, 16 with snap-in noses 18 opposite each other, which are formed or arranged on the common base plate (main section) 22 and extend away at an angle of about 90 (plus/minus) 20, with at least two clip arms always being arranged, longitudinally spaced apart from one another, on two opposite longitudinal sides of the base plate 22. At least one, preferably rectangular, recess 24a, 24b is formed in the base plate 22. This can be formed as a hole-like recess 24b, closed all around, in a central area of the base plate 22 and/or as a partially open notch-like recess 24a on at least one end edge (transverse side) connecting the two longitudinal sides or on both end edges (transverse sides) of the base plate 22.

List of Reference Signs

[0059] 1 Sterilization tray [0060] 2 Edge of sterilization tray [0061] 3 Corrugated bottom [0062] 4 Web [0063] 6 Crosspiece [0064] 8a Lower row of crosspieces [0065] 8b Upper row of crosspieces [0066] 10 Larger version of fixing clip (first variant) [0067] 12 First holding arm [0068] 14 Intermediate arm [0069] 16 Second holding arm [0070] 18 Snap-in nose [0071] 19 Holding section [0072] 20 Center axis [0073] 21 Lead-in chamfer [0074] 22 Main section [0075] 24a Recess [0076] 24b Further recess [0077] 110 Larger version of the fixing clip (second variant) [0078] 114 Intermediate arm [0079] 210 Smaller version of the fixing clip