Electrical connectors – With flaccid conductor and with additional connector spaced...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-06-19
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With flaccid conductor and with additional connector spaced...
C174S0720TR, C248S068100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247963
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection unit for connecting two units which are spatially removed from each other, the unit having at least one connecting line. The invention also relates to the use of such a connection unit in a medical workplace for connecting two spatially separated medical units.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The connection of two spatially separated units, such as the electrical connection of two electrically operated units by means of electrical cables, is well known. The electrical cables which connect the units are either laid permanently between the units (i.e., the cables can not be manually removed, or can be removed only with difficulty) or they are fixed against a wall with clamps, for example, or the cables are free (i.e. they do not have any mounts at all).
German OS 36 16 649 describes a cable harness which is provided for integration in a household device and which comprises cable bundles, which are joined to cable confiners at discrete points. The cable confiners, in the form of injected-molded plastic rings, are provided with fixing elements by means of which the cable harness can be fixed at walls of the household device, for example.
German PS 42 07 666, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,939, teaches a device for fixing structural elements which has at least two enclosure elements for fixing the structural elements. The enclosure elements can be fixed to an assembly surface by means of pin-shaped connecting elements which extend through the enclosure elements. Each pin-shaped connecting element has an expanding head at one end, which can be inserted into a locking element that is arranged in a bore of the assembly surface. The end of a connecting element situated opposite the expanding head is provided with a thread which engages a nut. A tightening of the nut effects a longitudinal displacement of the connecting element, thereby effecting the expansion of the locking element in the bore and thus fixing the device at the assembly surface. The enclosure elements are also held against each other, thereby fixing the structural elements between the enclosure elements.
In specific fields of application, for example in the operating room of a hospital, this fixed type of connection of two medical units can prove disadvantageous or unsuitable, to the extent that the course of the fixedly laid cable can not be adapted to different situations, for example, to the varied spatial orientation of the two medical units to be connected. Furthermore, due to their being fixed, the cables can be sterilized only with difficulty, if at all. Free cables are easier to sterilize and, due to their lack of being fixed, can (within certain limits) be adapted to varied situations with respect to their course, but they can not generally be held as desired relative to the units to be connected. The cables are therefore often located in the area of movement of people, where they have a disruptive effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection unit of the type initially described above which still allows the course of the connecting lines of the connection unit between two connected units to be modified easily.
This object is inventively achieved in a connection unit for connecting two units which are spatially removed from each other, having at least one connecting line and at least two fixtures for holding and guiding the connecting line, the fixtures having elements which can be repeatedly fixed (tightened) and loosened, with arbitrary frequency, mating components that match the elements, it being possible to displace the fixtures relative to one another even when a connecting line is accepted therein. By the fixtures of the connection unit, the connecting line (and, more commonly, connecting lines) of the connection unit are appropriately held and led, it being possible to fix the elements of the fixtures in the mating components cooperating with the elements such that the course of the connecting lines between two connected units can be influenced depending on the attachment point of the mating components, i.e., the course can be adapted to the particular situation for the two spatially separated units to be connected. The position the orientation and the attachment location of the fixtures can be modified without complications. The elements of the fixtures and the mating components for the elements are constructed such that the fixtures can be fixed in the mating components and loosened again by means of the elements with arbitrary frequency. If the connection unit is provided for the connection of two units in a sterile environment, for example, in an operating room of a hospital, then, on the basis of its inventive construction, the connection unit can be sterilized without complications and used in a sterile environment. Since the fixtures can be displaced relative to each another, the lengths of the connecting lines between two fixtures is adjustable.
Depending on the manner in which the course of the connecting lines between the units to be connected is to be influenced, two or more fixtures for holding and leading the connecting lines can be provided. The connecting lines usually have terminals at each end with which they can be connected to the units which are to be connected.
According to a variation of the invention, the fixtures have gripping handles. This is particularly advantageous if the connection unit is provided for the connection of two medical units, in an operating room, for example. When the connection unit has been sterilized completely, the connecting lines can be led as desired from one unit to the other by means of the gripping handles of the fixtures, without touching the lines directly, which would render them at least partly unsterile, and the elements of the fixtures can be fixed in corresponding mating components which are arranged at or in the region of the units.
In an embodiment of the invention, each fixture has a chamber for each connecting line for holding and leading the respective connecting lines, thereby improving the leading of the connecting lines, particularly in the mutual displacement of the fixtures.
According to a variation of the invention, connecting lines can be added to the fixtures and removed from them. In this way, the connection unit can be configured with connecting lines for different instances of use. According to a further variation of the invention, the connection unit has connecting lines in the form of electrical connecting cables and/or light waveguides and/or compressed air lines and/or gas lines.
The connection unit is preferably provided for utilization in a medical workplace having a device center for medical-technical devices, applicators of the medical-technical devices and a patient support apparatus. The connection unit thus connects the medical-technical devices to their applicators, so that, preferably, one apparatus, by means of its element, can be fixed at or in the region of the device center, and another apparatus, by means of its element, is fixed at or in the region of the patient support apparatus, in corresponding mating components. In this way, not only are the connecting lines between the device center and the applicators, which are usually arranged at or in the region of the patient support apparatus, appropriately led, but also the device center and the applicators are connected easily to one another.
In a further embodiment of the invention provides a number of mating components for accepting the elements of the fixtures are provided at or in the region of the patient support apparatus, so that the fixtures can be fixed relative to the patient support apparatus according to the respective treatment situation; i.e., the course of the connecting lines can be adapted by means of the fixtures according to the placement of the applicators at or around the patient support apparatus.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1292716 (1919-01-01), Cox
patent: 2997531 (1961-08-01), Oldham et a
Nasri Javaid
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Sircus Brian
LandOfFree
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