FR2759560A3 - Hand-held controller, especially for hospital furnishings - Google Patents

Abstract

The controller includes a casing (1) and at least one operating element (2), whereby the function of the at least one operating element can be locked. A key detector (9) is arranged in the casing, by device of which the manual control can be brought into a programming mode.A magnetic key (6) is brought into a measuring area of the key detector, whereby, if the manual control is in the programming mode, the at least one operating element is locked and/or unlocked. The casing is completely closed, and devices for positioning the magnetic key are preferably arranged at the casing

Description

MANUAL HYGIENIC CONTROL, ESPECIALLY FOR

HOSPITAL FURNITURE

  The present invention relates to manual control.

  hygienic, in particular for electrically actuable hospital furniture, comprising a housing and at least one actuating element, the function of the actuating element provided at least being able to be locked.

  Manual controls for hospital furniture, no-

  especially for hospital beds, must be able to offer

  frir the possibility of locking certain functions.

  This helps prevent untimely movement of the hospital bed.

  tal. Appropriate locking mechanisms, provided for this purpose in known solutions, allow the actuation elements of the control to be locked. A manual control of this kind is described in patent application EP-A-480 221.

  However, commands of the type mentioned in the introduction

  tion must meet relatively severe hygienic requirements to which known solutions, based on

  mechanical principles, only satisfy conditionally-

  nelle. Therefore, the object of research consists in providing

  a manual control of the type mentioned in the introduction, which satisfies

  also meet severe hygiene requirements while

  being, however, of a simple actuation.

  According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the housing contains a key detector by means of which the manual control can be brought to a programming mode in

  placing a magnetic key in a measurement area of said detector

  tor, the actuating element, provided as a minimum, which can then be respectively locked or unlocked when

  manual control is in programming mode.

  Because the manual control can be brought to a programming mode by means of a magnetic switch,

  mechanical interventions are not necessary, in the apparatus

  reil, to lock or unlock action items-

  ment. The corresponding housing openings, slots, keyholes and the like, which would be required for mechanical locking, therefore become redundant. Thus, the case has a smoother surface whose cleanliness can be maintained more

  simple. The case can even be completely closed, and present

  ter only one opening respectively intended for a cable

or has a mounting groove.

  The housing preferably has configurations allowing precise positioning of the key, which simplifies actuation of the device. Two or more blind holes, into which corresponding nipples of the key are introduced,

  are preferably provided for this purpose in the housing.

  The key can be fitted with one or more permanent magnets, by means of which one or more relays

  with sealed contacts is (are) actuated in the ma-

  nuelle. The housing preferably contains at least two

  sealed contact leashes that are distant from each other and must be operated together, which reduces the risk

unlawful manipulation.

  Furthermore, in accordance with the invention: - means for positioning the magnetic key can advantageously be housed on the housing;

  - Preferably, the key detector has at least one inter-

  magnetic breaker or an electric or mechanical magnetic sensor

  nique, in particular at least one relay with sealed contacts, in

  to detect at least one permanent magnet in the magnetic key

tick;

  - said detector can also, advantageously, pre-

  feel two magnetic switches or magnetic sensors distant from each other, in order to detect the permanent magnet provided at least in the magnetic key; and - the manual control can judiciously comprise several actuating elements, each actuating element possibly

  be respectively locked or unlocked by interven-

tion in programming mode.

  The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an elevation in front of the manual control in accordance with the invention;

  Figure 2 is an elevation from behind of the control

manual according to Figure 1;

  Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of the

  gure 2, illustrating an engaged magnetic key; and

  Figure 4 is an elevation of the magnetic key.

  Figures 1 and 2 show an order in accordance with the

  vention used, in particular, in an electrically movable hospital bed. It has a housing 1 composed, for example, of two plastic half-shells rigidly connected

  by welding. Several keys 2 are placed on the front side

  of the case, as actuating elements. Where is it-

  They look like a soft sheet keyboard, apparently

  firmly welded to the housing. In its lower marginal region,

  the box 1 is connected to a connection cable or arm 3.

  The various drives of the hospital bed can be actuated using the keys 2. Thus, two keys are for example provided for the inclination of the region of the head,

  and two keys for tilting the leg region.

  In certain circumstances, however, it must be

  prevented the patient from using certain functions of his bed.

  This is ensured by a key command, described below.

  As highlighted in particular by an observation of FIGS. 2 and 3, two cylindrical blind holes 4 are made on the rear face of the housing. These blind holes 4 are used to

  receive two cylindrical pins 5 with a magnetic key 6.

  Two permanent magnets 7 are embedded in this key 6. When the key 6 is introduced into the blind holes 4 by the pins, the magnets 7 are applied to the external face of the

housing 1.

  Two relays 9 with sealed contacts are housed in the space

  this internal of the housing 1, more precisely so that they are actuated by the permanent magnets 7 of the key 6 engaged.

  The operating mode of the control is explained below.

  after. In normal service, key 6 is not engaged. In this case, keys 2 are used to actuate the motors of the hospital bed. Nevertheless, the electronic circuit of the manual control is designed in such a way that it memorizes, for each key, whether or not the latter is locked. When a

  locked key is pressed, the device does not respond.

  Only the unlocked keys can be used.

  If it is necessary to modify the key lock, the magnetic key 6 is introduced by its pins 5 into the blind holes 4. Thanks to the connection by concordance of shapes between the housing and the key, the latter is then precisely positioned , and actuates the two relays 9 with sealed contacts. As soon as the two relays are actuated, the electronic circuit of

  the command switches to a programming mode which is maintained until

  until the magnetic key 6 is removed again. The fact

  that two remote relays must be actuated makes it more dif-

  prevents illicit or involuntary manipulation using a

magnet.

  When the electronic circuit of the control is in programming mode, the actuation of a locked key

  unlocks the latter, and activates it

  ment of an unlocked key implies that it is locked. In this way, the locked state of each key can

to be modified.

  After removal of the magnetic key 6, the control is again in normal service and the keys not locked

  can be used for movement of the hospital bed.

  Appropriate indicator lights may be provided in the keyboard area to indicate whether a key

is locked or not.

  Due to the structural arrangement in accordance with the invention

  tion, the housing 1 is essentially smooth and closed on its outer face. It can therefore be cleaned thoroughly in a simple manner, so that the desired hygiene is guaranteed, also

ment in a hospital environment.

  Since the apparatus according to the invention does not

  without any mobile and complicated mechanical device, it is

  maintenance-free and can be welded.

  Instead of the blind holes 4, there may also be provided an adequate groove or a similar configuration in which the key is engaged. The key can also be configured

  so that it can be placed over a corner of the wood

tier, thus being positioned.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the manual control described and shown,

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

-R E V E ND I C AT I O N S-

  1. Hygienic manual control, especially for mobile-

  electrically actuable hospital link, comprising a

  housing (1) and at least one actuating element (2), the function

  tion of the actuating element (2) provided at least which can be locked, control characterized in that the housing (1) contains a key detector (9) by means of which the manual control can be brought to a programming mode in

  placing a magnetic key (6) in a measurement area of said de-

  guard (9), the actuating element (2), provided at a minimum, which can then be respectively locked or unlocked

  when the manual control is in program mode

mation.

  2. Manual control according to claim 1, character-

  laughed at by the fact that the housing (1) is a closed housing.

  3. Manual control according to any one of the res-

  dications previous, characterized in that means (4) for positioning the magnetic key (6) are housed on

the housing (1).

  4. Manual control according to claim 3, character-

  laughed at by the fact that at least two blind holes are made

in the housing (1).

  5. Manual control according to any one of the res-

  previous indications, characterized in that the detection

  key reader (9) has at least one magnetic switch or an electrical or mechanical magnetic sensor, in particular at least one relay (9) with sealed contacts, in order to detect at

  minus a permanent magnet (7) in the magnetic key (6).

  6. Manual control according to claim 5, character-

  laughed at by the fact that the key detector (9) has two

  magnetic switches or magnetic sensors distant from each other, in order to detect the permanent magnet (7) provided for

minimum in the magnetic key.

  7. Manual control according to any one of the res-

  dications preceding, characterized in that it comprises several actuating elements (2), each actuating element (2) being able to be respectively locked or

  unlocked by intervention in programming mode.