Fixture to mount a device

Abstract

A screw is used as part of a securing mechanism with a fixture, particularly with a swiveling arm, for a support system to secure, in particular, a medical or salon-technical device, with a holding part and a mounting part mounted on the holding part. The screw is screwed into the holding part or the mounting part, wherein the screw head projects into a groove of a bushing of the other part, i.e., of the mounting part or the holding part, and wherein the screw head can move freely in the groove when there is a relative rotation between the holding part and the mounting part, and wherein the groove is bordered by an upper surface. If there is a failure in the connection between the holding part and the mounting part, for example, if the securing ring fails, the surface impacts the screw head. In this manner, the holding part is held on the mounting part (FIG. 1).

Description

The object of the application is based on a fixture, in particular, with a swiveling arm for a support system to mount a medical or salon-technical device.

A multitude of tripod stands, ceiling mounts, and wall systems are well known to which medical devices, for example, supply stations or salon-technical devices, e.g., drying hoods or infrared radiation devices, are mounted. In many cases, a swiveling arm is used to swivel the device to a specific location. Essentially, this type of device comprises a holding part and a mounting part mounted on the holding part. The holding part is connected to a stationary support, in particular, a tripod stand leg of a ceiling mount or a wall mount. The mounting part is rotatably connected to the holding part, which holds the device. The device places a load on the mounting part and therefore the holding part.

This may result in the connection between the holding part and the mounting part becoming damaged due to long-term use, meaning that the holding part comes loose from the mounting part. In order to prevent an accident or damage to the device in such a case, it is typical to provide a securing mechanism to secure the mounting part with respect to the holding part.

It is known from European Patent No. EP 1 283 969 that the securing mechanism has a screw with a screw head, and the screw extends into the holding part to support the securing mechanism.

The known fixture has the disadvantage in that the securing mechanism increases friction of the fixture if the holding part is rotated relative to the mounting part.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution for this disadvantage.

Subsequently, the screw is screwed into the holding part or the mounting part. The screw head projects into a groove of a bushing of the other part, that is, of the mounting part or the holding part. In this process, the screw head can move freely in the groove with a relative rotation between the holding part and the mounting part. The groove is bordered by an upper surface against which the screw head impacts if the connection between the holding part and the mounting part fails.

The suggested fixture has the advantage that the securing mechanism does not disturb the movements of the fixture if there is a functional connection, because the screw head can move back and forth freely in the groove. The holding part is not held by the screw head at the mounting part until there is a failure in the connection, when the holding part lowers with respect to the mounting part. Thus, when the holding part is rotated relative to the mounting part, the fixture becomes difficult to move, because the screw head supports the device, and the device places a load on the screw head via the upper surface of the groove. The surface moves with a great amount of friction via the screw head. In this process, the thread of the screw is not stressed to any great extent. The person using the fixture notices the connection failure/joint failure due to the fixture's lack of ease in movement and due to the visible gap, which is caused by the resulting travel movement between the holding part and the mounting part.

The term screw should be understood within the scope of its technical equivalents. A bolt, a pin, a rivet, or other miscellaneous retaining elements will also fulfill the function of a screw with thread even if one of such retaining elements does not have a thread. An end of the retaining element that projects outwards corresponds to the screw head. An MLF screw is particularly suitable.

The screw can be mounted via a slot bordering the groove, whereby the screw can be screwed into an inner thread or a retaining element is partially inserted into a drilled hole.

If there is a securing ring in a holder of the holding part, upon which the bushing of the mounting part is supported, then the bushing slipping downwards after the securing ring fails can be held by the screw head.

If the screw head has a wedge-shaped edge, then the screw head is wedged on the surface of the groove when the securing mechanism is used. It can then be concluded that a particularly great amount of difficulty in moving the fixture means there is damage to the fixture.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to Figures that show two exemplary embodiments. The following is shown:

FIG. 1, in a vertical section, shows a vertically aligned holding part, upon which a mounting part having a horizontal arm is supported via a securing ring, and wherein a screw head of a screw, screwed into the holding part, can be moved in a groove cut into the mounting part when the arm is swiveled.

FIG. 2, in a vertical section, shows the object of FIG. 1, however, with a failed securing ring, a piece on the holding part with the mounting part slipping downwards together with the arm, and with a screw head impacting the upper, horizontally aligned surface of the groove, with said head being part of a securing mechanism.

FIG. 3, in a vertical section, shows another mounting part on another holding part, wherein a screw is also provided for securing the mounting part on the holding part, however, the screw is screwed-in in the mounting part, and the screw head projects into a groove of the holding part.

With a fixture 1 with a swiveling arm 2 of a support system to mount a medical device, a holding part 3 with a ceiling mount and a mounting part 4 are rotatably connected to the holding part 3 (FIG. 1). The device places a load on the mounting part 4 and thus the holding part 3. A securing mechanism 5 is used to secure the mounting part 4 on the holding part 3. The securing mechanism 5 has a screw 7 with a screw head 8. The screw 7 engages with the inner thread 13 of the holding part 3 and, in this manner, is screwed into the mounting part 4. The screw head 8 projects into a groove 9 of a bushing 14 of the mounting part 4. The screw head 8 can therefore move freely in the groove 9 when the mounting part 4 is rotated around the holding part 3. The groove 9 is bordered by a horizontally aligned surface 6. A slot 10 is used to insert the screw 7.

Acting as a connection between the holding part 3 and the mounting part 4, a securing ring 11 in a holder 12 of the holding part 3, upon which the bushing 14 of the mounting part 4 and therefore the mounting part 4 together with the arm 2 are supported, is provided.

If the securing ring 11 fails after the fixture 1 has been used for a long period of time, and it falls out (FIG. 2), then the mounting part along with the arm 2 slips downwards a few millimeters along the holding part 3. However, this does not result in the mounting part 4 coming loose from the holding part 3, because the screw 7, as a part of the securing mechanism 5, prevents this. Thus, the surface 6 impacts the screw head 8 during this slippage downwards. Said screw head has a line-shaped, wedge-type tapered edge 15, which digs into the surface 6 or places itself between the surface 6 and the holding part 3. This results in difficulty of movement when the arm is rotated whereby the occurred damage is noticed.

The art is similar in the second embodiment example (FIG. 3). The holding part 3 and the mounting part 4, however, connect two arms 2, which are linked together with a joint, with each arm swiveling in a horizontal plane. Contrary to the first embodiment example, the screw 7 is screwed into the mounting part 4, and the screw head 8 can be moved in a groove 9 of the holding part 3. Should the connection between the holding part 3 and the mounting part 4 become loose, the screw 7 secures the fixture 1 precisely as described in the first embodiment example.

• 1 Fixture
• 2 Arm
• 3 Holding part
• 4 Mounting part
• 5 Securing mechanism
• 6 Surface
• 7 Screw
• 8 Screw head
• 9 Groove
• 10 Slot
• 11 Securing ring
• 12 Holder
• 13 Inner thread
• 14 Bushing
• 15 Edge

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A fixture, particularly with a swiveling arm, for a support system to secure, in particular, a medical or salon-technical device, with a holding part and a mounting part mounted on the holding part, wherein the holding part is connected to a stationary support, in particular, a ceiling mount or a wall mount, the mounting part is rotatably connected to the holding part, the device places a load on the mounting part and therefore the holding part, a securing mechanism is provided to secure the mounting part with respect to the holding part, the securing mechanism has a screw with a screw head, and the screw extends into the holding part, wherein the screw is screwed into the holding part or the mounting part, and wherein the screw head projects into a groove of a bushing of the other part, i.e., of the mounting part or of the holding part, and wherein the screw head can move freely in the groove when there is a relative rotation between the holding part and the mounting part, and wherein the groove is bordered by an upper surface.

2. Fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein a securing ring is provided in a holder of the holding part upon which the bushing of the mounting part is supported.

3. Fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the screw head has a wedge-shaped edge.

4. Fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein a slot bordering the groove is provided for inserting the screw into an inner thread and for tightening.