Connecting device

Abstract

To provide a coupling device capable of performing pulling at a height closer to centroid on a pulled side such as a drip stand for suspending a medical apparatus regardless of a structure of a pulling side such as a wheelchair.SOLUTION: A coupling device for coupling a mobile body with a small medical apparatus stand to follow the mobile body includes: a pulling side attachment part 4 to be attached to the mobile body; a following side attachment part 5 to be attached to the small medical apparatus stand; and a nearly bar-shaped coupling part 6 for coupling the pulling side attachment part with the following side attachment part. The pulling side attachment part includes: a long-sized fixing support part 9a where an insertion side cylindrical body is inserted to an inside from an upper end side of an inserted side cylindrical body and which is extendable in a longitudinal direction; and a height and angle adjustment part 10 capable of adjusting the coupling part to be movable in an axial direction of the fixing support part and also to be rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and performing fixing to the insertion side cylindrical body in a post-adjustment state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling device that connects a small medical equipment stand, such as an IV stand, an oxygen cylinder mobile stand, a gastrostomy treatment mobile stand, or an enterostomy treatment mobile stand, to a mobile object such as a pushed wheelchair, bed, or walking aid in order to tow the small medical equipment stand. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device having an auxiliary member that can be attached to a bed, a stretcher, or a wheelchair, a first attachment member that can be attached detachably to the auxiliary member, a second attachment member that can be engaged with the support pole of an IV stand, and a connecting member that connects the first attachment member and the second attachment member, wherein the connecting member is flexible, and the second attachment member has a frame-shaped main body portion that has an opening that allows the support pole to enter and exit and engages with the support pole, and is rotatably attached to the main body portion at one end side of the opening, and its tip is engaged with the inner surface of the main body portion at the other end side of the opening. and an opening / closing member, wherein the first mounting member comprises a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, a cylindrical elastic bulging member fitted into the threaded portion, and a nut that screws onto the bolt and presses the bulging member longitudinally between the bolt and the head, thereby increasing or decreasing the outer diameter of the bulging member; the bulging member is inserted into a pipe provided on a bed, stretcher, or wheelchair, and the bulging member is expanded by adjusting the distance between the head and the nut, and is fixed by frictionally engaging the bulging member with the pipe.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a connecting device for attaching and fixing a wheeled stand that can be equipped with infusions and medical equipment to a wheelchair, which comprises a main body, a connecting arm connected to the rear of the main body, and a stand fixing part that fixes the support part of the wheeled stand connected to the rear of the connecting arm, the front part of the main body being connected and fixed to a frame on the back side of the wheelchair, the connecting arm being able to expand and contract in the front-to-back direction and / or bend at its middle part, and the stand fixing part connected to the rear part of the connecting arm being able to connect and fix to the support part of an IV stand.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a connector for an IV stand comprising: a first clamp that can be detachably connected to an IV stand; a second clamp that can be detachably connected to a mobility device; a first connecting rod; a second connecting rod; a single-axis rotation part that supports one end of the first connecting rod and one end of the second connecting rod so that they can rotate about one axis; a first free rotation part that is attached to the other end of the first connecting rod and rotates freely; a second free rotation part that is attached to the other end of the second connecting rod and rotates freely; and a one-lock mechanism that simultaneously turns on and off the locks of the single-axis rotation part, the first free rotation part, and the second free rotation part, wherein the first clamp is connected to the first free rotation part and the second clamp is connected to the second free rotation part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6186034 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-94043 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-29581 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The IV stand has a hanging hook at the top end of a long rod-shaped body suspended from the center of a cart with three to five casters, and is used by hanging a blood transfusion pump, urine pack, drain bag, low-pressure continuous suction device, chest drone, syringe pump, oxygen cylinder, etc. When a heavy object is hung on the hanging hook, the center of gravity becomes higher and moves away from the axis of the rod-shaped body in the direction in which the heavy object is hung, making the IV stand unstable and prone to tipping over when towed.

[0007] The means for fixing the connecting jig to the mobile body in Patent Document 1 is a structure in which a vertical pipe auxiliary member additionally attached to the frame of a bed, stretcher, or wheelchair is inserted through an opening at the upper end thereof, causing an expanding member to expand and engage with the frame through frictional engagement, thereby achieving fixation. As shown in Figure 8 of Patent Document 1, the means for fixing the auxiliary member to the frame is a band-shaped member that is roughly U-shaped in plan view, which contacts the outer periphery of the tubular frame of the wheelchair, fits into the frame from the opening side of the roughly U-shaped portion, and is fastened with screws. However, since the fastening force is weak, for example, if the IV stand collides with the corner of a hospital corridor or an elevator door, and the impact force exceeds the screwing force, the auxiliary member may rotate and slip off the tubular frame. As a result, the installation height of the connecting jig is such that the auxiliary member falls near the lower end of the vertical pipe frame of a wheelchair or the like, and the height of the connecting jig is significantly lower than the height of the center of gravity of the IV stand, which has a higher center of gravity when a heavy object is hung from it, causing the problem that it is prone to tipping over due to the inertial force that tries to maintain a stopped state at the center of gravity or the inertial force that tries to move forward, and the pulling force at a height significantly lower than the center of gravity of the IV stand.

[0008] Furthermore, because the connecting member is made of a flexible material, the IV stand tends to swing left and right while being towed. For example, when the IV stand is being towed by a wheelchair, the IV stand may spread outward in the left and right directions, potentially hitting other people in the hospital corridor, or the IV stand may move left and right toward the wheelchair, potentially hitting the wheelchair or the person pushing the wheelchair.

[0009] The coupling device in Patent Document 2 is roughly U-shaped in plan view and is fitted into the vertical pipe-shaped frame of the wheelchair from the opening side and fastened with screws, so the fastening force is weak, and if the force of the collision exceeds the fastening force when the IV stand collides with the corner of a hospital corridor or an elevator door, for example, the coupling device may slip down from the frame or rotate left and right.As a result, there is a problem that the telescopic arms of the four-bar link mechanism, which are attached to the vertical frame at the rear of the wheelchair and deform up and down and telescope back and forth, extend rearward within the left and right handles of the wheelchair, and therefore there is a high possibility of them colliding with the person pushing the wheelchair.

[0010] The IV stand connector of Patent Document 3 locks the first free rotation part by pressing part of the sphere of the first free rotation part with the end face of the narrow rod of the first pressure shaft, so the pressing force is weak; for example, if the IV stand collides with the corner of a hospital corridor or an elevator door, the force of the collision may exceed the pressing force, causing slippage between the sphere and the rod, making the IV stand connector on the IV stand side more likely to rotate downward or left and right from the first free rotation part, resulting in a collision with the person pushing the wheelchair.

[0011] Furthermore, the means for fixing to the frame has a V-shaped contact portion that clamps the pipe-shaped frame, and the first and second plastic grippers, which have jagged surfaces on the flat surfaces of the four pieces that form the V, are gripped and fastened with screws. As the contact area is linear, the pressing force is weak, and for example, if the first clamp is gripped on a vertical frame, and the IV stand collides with the corner of a hospital corridor or an elevator door, the force of the collision exceeds the pressing force, causing the contact portion to slide left and right relative to the frame, causing the IV stand connector to rotate left and right relative to the frame, potentially hitting the person pushing the wheelchair.

[0012] On the other hand, when the first clamp is gripped on the front-to-rear frame, the attachment height of the IV stand connector is limited to the height of a high handle or a low tipping lever, which makes it difficult to adjust the height of the IV stand connector to the height of the center of gravity of the IV stand according to the weight of the hanging small medical device.As a result, when the IV stand connector is attached to a position far away from the raised center of gravity of the IV stand from which a heavy small medical device is hanging and is towed, the inertial force of the IV stand comes into play, causing the IV stand to easily tip over when the towing starts or when hitting steps in the hospital corridor during towing.

[0013] The present invention was devised in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a connecting device that can adjust the installation height to a height close to the center of gravity of the small medical equipment installation stand, such as an IV stand with a small medical equipment hanging from it, regardless of the structure of the towing mobile body, such as a wheelchair, bed, or walking aid, and that can achieve strong fixation to the towing mobile body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The connecting device according to claim 1 is a connecting device for connecting a moving body and a small medical equipment installation stand that is made to follow the moving body, and comprises a pulling-side mounting part that is attached to the moving body, a following-side mounting part that is attached to the small medical equipment installation stand, and a connecting part that is a substantially rod-shaped body that connects the pulling-side mounting part and the following-side mounting part, wherein the pulling-side mounting part has a long fixed support part, and a height / angle adjustment part that can adjust the connecting part so that it is movable in the axial direction of the fixed support part and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and is fixable to the fixed support part, and the height / angle adjustment part is inserted into a through hole formed by arranging two semicircular cross-section bodies facing each other in a pair so as to sandwich the fixed support part, and moves in the axial direction along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support part. and a height / angle fixing part integrally connected to the slide and swivel part, the height / angle fixing part having a plurality of segment pieces attached at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the fixed support part, the segment pieces having an arc-shaped cross section with a radius substantially the same as the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the fixed support part, and a lever-tightened ring clamp attached so as to surround the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of segment pieces and fixing the plurality of segment pieces to the outer circumferential surface of the fixed support part by pressing them against the outer circumferential surface of the fixed support part, wherein the slide and swivel part fixes the slide and swivel part to the fixed support part by the height / angle fixing part after adjusting the axial position and the rotation angle in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0015] The connecting device of claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the fixed support part is in form A, in which a long inserting cylindrical body to which the height / angle adjusting part is attached is inserted into the inside from the upper end side of a long inserted cylindrical body and is freely expandable in the longitudinal direction, or in form B, in which a single long cylindrical body to which the height / angle adjusting part is attached.

[0016] The connecting device described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, the base of a lever-tightened clamp that can be opened and closed by operating a lever is rotatably supported on an axis inserted into a through hole of a bearing part that protrudes longitudinally from the upper end of the fixed support part and / or on an axis inserted into a through hole of a bearing part that protrudes longitudinally from the lower end of the fixed support part, and the lever-tightened clamp is swivelable so that it can be fixed at any angle to the moving body.

[0017] The connecting device described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 3, the form of the connecting portion of the approximately rod-shaped body is a first form having a member that can be bent only laterally in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to restore to a linear shape, a second form having a member that can be bent in the radial direction 360° without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to restore to a linear shape, or a third form having a rod-shaped member that has rigidity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The connecting device described in claim 1 can attach the connecting part at a height near the center of gravity of small medical equipment installation stands such as an IV stand, oxygen cylinder mobile stand, gastrostomy treatment mobile stand, or enterostomy treatment mobile stand, regardless of the structure of the mobile object being pushed by a person, such as a wheelchair, bed, or walking aid, and therefore has the effect of eliminating the risk of the small medical equipment installation stand, such as an IV stand, tipping over when the towing of the small medical equipment installation stand begins or is being carried out.

[0019] The height of the connecting part can be easily adjusted by gripping one of the slide and swivel parts with one hand to bring it close to the height of the center of gravity of the small medical equipment installation stand, and the horizontal angle can be adjusted to change the direction so that it does not get in the way of the person pushing the connecting part. This has the effect of making it easy to fix the slide and swivel part by simply pushing the lever-tightened ring clamp in the closing direction.

[0020] Since the connecting part can be rotated 360° horizontally, it can be attached to either the right or left side of a moving body, such as a wheelchair, and the direction of the connecting part can be changed at a horizontal angle so as not to get in the way of the person pushing the wheelchair and it can be fixed to the moving body.

[0021] The sliding and swiveling unit is fixed to the fixed support part by applying pressure to a plurality of segmented pieces that are attached at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction so as to surround the outer periphery of the fixed support part and have an arc-shaped cross section with approximately the same radius as the radius of the outer periphery of the fixed support part, and the segmented pieces press while contacting the outer periphery of the fixed support part over a wide area, thereby providing an extremely high pressing force and achieving a strong fixation, thereby preventing the sliding and swiveling unit from shifting relative to the fixed support part when it collides with a corner of a hospital corridor, an elevator door, etc. The fixed support part is attached to the wheelchair by holding its upper end with a handle that is approximately in the front-to-rear direction and its lower end with a tipping lever that is also approximately in the front-to-rear direction using connecting clamps that are lever-tightening ring clamps, so that the fixed support part does not shift up and down or left and right when it collides with a corner of a hospital corridor, an elevator door, etc.

[0022] Furthermore, when not in use, the connecting portion can be changed in direction from an approximately horizontal state to an approximately vertical state, and can be stored compactly below the handle in a plan view. This has the effect that, for example, when folding the wheelchair from the left or right side when not in use, the wheelchair can be easily folded from the left or right side without removing the connecting device of the present invention from the wheelchair.

[0023] In the connecting device described in claim 2, form A of the extendable fixed support part is suitable for simultaneous attachment to parts where the vertical distance between the graspable parts is long, such as both the handle and tipping lever of a wheelchair, or both the legs and rails of a bed, while form B of the non-extendable fixed support part is suitable for simultaneous attachment to parts where the vertical distance between the graspable parts is short, such as attachment to the rails of a bed.

[0024] The connecting device described in claim 3 has the effect that, for example, the handle portion at the top of a wheelchair is curved in three dimensions, but even in such a three-dimensionally changing portion, the lever-type clamp can be rotated to firmly grasp the curved portion of the handle portion of the wheelchair at a right angle to the diagonal of the curved portion.

[0025] The connecting device described in claim 4 has three types of connecting part, and any of the types of connecting part can be attached. For example, in places where the corridors and elevator cabins are wide and there is little traffic of nurses, doctors, and hospitalized patients within the hospital, a third type of connecting part equipped with a rigid rod-shaped member can be used. In places where the corridors and elevator cabins are narrow and there is a lot of traffic of nurses, doctors, and hospitalized patients within the hospital, a first type of connecting part equipped with a member that can bend in only one radial direction without twisting deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear state, making it easy to bring the small medical equipment installation stand close to a wheelchair, bed, or walking aid, or a second type equipped with a member that can bend in a 360° radial direction without twisting deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear state, and is inexpensive, can be used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view of a right side of a coupling device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a left side view of an outline of a coupling device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged view of the height / angle adjusting section. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the height and angle fixing part taken along the line B-B in Figure 3. However, the lever-tightened ring clamp is not shown in cross section, but the split piece and the insertion side cylindrical body are shown in cross section. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the slide and swivel section taken along the line CC in Figure 3. However, the connecting section is not cross-sectional, and only the slide and swivel section is shown in cross section. [Figure 6]3 is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 2, illustrating the state in which the inserting cylindrical body is inserted into the receiving cylindrical body, with the lever-type clamp omitted; (a) is an external view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in (a). [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory view showing the expansion and contraction of the fixed support part which expands and contracts by moving the inserting cylindrical body relative to the inserted cylindrical body. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the height / angle adjusting part is slid up and down relative to the inserted cylindrical body. FIG. [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram of the situation when the height / angle adjustment part is rotated left and right relative to the inserted cylindrical body, where (a) shows the state when it is rotated to a straight angle backward, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of the state when it is rotated from the angle of (a) in the rotation direction. [Figure 10] These are explanatory diagrams of the rotation of lever-type clamps, where (a) is an explanatory diagram of a form in which only the lever-type clamp at the upper end of the inserting cylindrical body can rotate, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of a form in which the lever-type clamps at both the upper end of the inserting cylindrical body and the lower end of the inserted cylindrical body can rotate. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram of the configuration for expanding and contracting the fixed support part in the longitudinal direction, and is an explanatory diagram of a spring part that has a biasing force in the direction of inserting the inserting side cylindrical body into the inserted side cylindrical body, and a lever-tightened ring clamp part that stops the insertion due to this biasing force. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the state in which a wheelchair and an IV stand are connected using the connecting device of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a comparative example in which the mounting height of the connector is near the bottom end of the vertical pipe-shaped frame of the wheelchair. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a second embodiment in which the connecting portion is provided with a member having a biasing force that can bend in the radial direction 360° without twisting deformation in the circumferential direction and can restore to a linear shape, where (a) is an external view and (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. [Figure 15]1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a first embodiment in which the connecting portion is provided with a member that can bend only laterally in the radial direction without undergoing torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear state; (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a built-in chain that can be bent only laterally, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing a coil spring that has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear state and is provided on the outside of the chain. [Figure 16] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a third embodiment in which the connecting portion includes a rod-shaped member having rigidity. FIG. [Figure 17] 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of the swing mechanism of the lever-type clamp, where (a) is an enlarged view of part T1 in FIG. 1, and (b) is an enlarged view of part T2 in FIG. [Figure 18] An explanatory diagram of the storage of the connecting part, where (a) is an explanatory diagram of a locking device for the connecting part provided on the fixed support part, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the connecting part has been rotated downward and is locked to the locking device in a parallel state to the fixed support part. [Figure 19] FIG. 18(b) is an explanatory diagram of the state after being attached to the wheelchair. [Figure 20] These are explanatory diagrams of the plan view of the coupling device when attached to the right side of the wheelchair, where (a) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the coupling part is straightened outwards and (b) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the coupling part is rotated outwards so as not to get in the way of the person pushing the wheelchair. [Figure 21] These are explanatory diagrams of the plan view of the coupling device when attached to the left side of the wheelchair, where (a) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the coupling part is rotated outward so as not to get in the way of the person pushing the wheelchair, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the coupling part is straightened outwards. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the fixed support part in form B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] As shown in FIG. 12, when moving a mobile object 2 such as a wheelchair, bed, or walking aid, a person may grab the small medical equipment installation stand 3, which is the object to be moved, such as an IV stand, an oxygen cylinder mobile stand, a mobile stand for gastrostomy treatment, or a mobile stand for enterostomy treatment, by hand and move it together.At this time, the coupling device 1 couples the small medical equipment installation stand 3 to the mobile object 2 so that it can be towed, eliminating the need for the person to grab the small medical equipment installation stand 3 by hand.

[0028] 1, 2, 12 or 22, a connecting device 1 for connecting a moving body 2 and a small medical equipment installation stand 3 that is made to follow the moving body 2, and includes a pulling-side attachment part 4 attached to the moving body 2, a following-side attachment part 5 attached to the small medical equipment installation stand 3, and a substantially rod-shaped connecting part 6 that connects the pulling-side attachment part 4 and the following-side attachment part 5, the pulling-side attachment part 4 having a long fixed support part 9 and a height / angle adjustment part 10 that can adjust the connecting part 6 so that it is movable in the axial direction of the fixed support part 9 and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and can be fixed to the fixed support part 9, and the height / angle adjustment part 10 is inserted into a through hole formed by arranging two semicircular cross-sectional bodies 21 facing each other in a pair so as to sandwich the fixed support part 9, as shown in FIGS. a height / angle fixing unit 30 integrally connected to the sliding and rotating unit 20, the height / angle fixing unit 30 having a plurality of divided pieces 31 attached at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit 9 and having an arc-shaped cross section with substantially the same radius as the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit; and a lever-tightened ring clamp 32 attached so as to surround the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of divided pieces 31 and pressingly fixing the plurality of divided pieces 31 to the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit 9. After the sliding and rotating unit 20 adjusts its axial position and rotation angle in the direction perpendicular to the axis, the sliding and rotating unit 20 is fixed to the fixed support unit 9 by the height / angle fixing unit 30.

[0029] The mobile body 2 refers to equipment used by patients or those requiring care, such as a wheelchair 2a, a bed, or a walking aid, and the small medical equipment installation stand 3 refers to a wheeled transport means on which small medical equipment 52 that must be moved along with the patient or person requiring care when moving around or during treatment, such as an IV drip stand 3a, an oxygen cylinder mobile stand, a gastrostomy treatment mobile stand, or an enterostomy treatment mobile stand, is hung.

[0030] The connecting device 1 comprises a towing side mounting portion 4 that is attached to the moving body 2, a following side mounting portion 5 that is attached to the small medical equipment installation stand 3, and a connecting portion 6 that is approximately rod-shaped and connects the towing side mounting portion 4 and the following side mounting portion 5.

[0031] First, a description will be given of the towing side mounting portion 4. The towing side mounting portion 4 is a portion that is mounted on the moving body 2. The towing side mounting portion 4 has the fixed support portion 9 and the height / angle adjustment portion 10.

[0032] The fixed support part 9 is a means for fixing the connecting part 6 to a moving body 2 such as a wheelchair 2a, and the height / angle adjustment part 10 is a means for adjusting the height of the connecting part 6 to a height near the height of the center of gravity of a small medical equipment installation stand 3 such as an IV stand 3a, and for changing the horizontal orientation of the connecting part 6 so as not to get in the way of a person pushing the moving body 2.

[0033] The fixed support part 9 may take the form of a fixed support part 9a of type A, in which the long inserting cylindrical body 7 to which the height / angle adjusting part 10 is attached is inserted into the inside from the upper end side of the long inserted cylindrical body 8, allowing it to freely expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 1, or a fixed support part 9b of type B, in which the height / angle adjusting part 10 is attached to a single long cylindrical body, as shown in FIG.

[0034] First, the fixed support part 9a of Form A will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the fixed support part 9a includes an inserting-side cylindrical body 7 on the upper side having a connecting clamp 12a at its upper end, and an inserted-side cylindrical body 8 on the lower side having a connecting clamp 12b at its lower end, and the inserting-side cylindrical body 7 is inserted into the hollow inside the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 from the upper end side. As shown in Fig. 6, the shape of the inner peripheral wall of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 is formed so that the inserting-side cylindrical body 7 does not rotate left and right inside the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 and can slide up and down. The shape of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 and the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 can be configured so that the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 does not rotate horizontally by, for example, providing a portion where the distance from the axis of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 to the inner peripheral surface in the short direction is shorter than the radius of the arc-shaped portion 23 of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 in the short direction.The shape is not limited to the shape shown in Figure 6 and may be any shape as long as the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 does not rotate left and right inside the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 and can slide up and down.In addition, the height / angle adjustment unit 10, which has a circular inner peripheral surface, can rotate smoothly left and right along the arc-shaped portion 23 of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7.

[0035] 11 and 17, a string 17 is tied to both ends in the vertical direction of a spring 16 that has a biasing force in the contraction direction, and these ends are tied to shaft 14a that connects the upper end of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 and the base of connecting clamp 12a, and shaft 14b that connects the lower end of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 and the base of connecting clamp 12b, so that a force is constantly acting to shorten the gap between the upper end of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 and the lower end of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8. Therefore, in order to stop the insertion of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7, a lever-tightened ring clamp 15 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7, and the lever-tightened ring clamp 15 is prevented from being inserted into the inserted-side cylindrical body 8 when the lever is closed. Since the fixed support part 9 is always biased in the direction of shortening, the inserting side cylindrical body 7 will not jump out from the inserted side cylindrical body 8 when the connecting device 1 is carried alone.

[0036] Therefore, when extending the fixed support part 9a, the insertion side cylindrical body 7 is grasped and extended by hand, and the lower end of the lever-tightening clamp 15 is brought into contact with the upper end of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8, and the lever is closed. This prevents the insertion of the insertion side cylindrical body 7, and the length between the upper and lower ends of the fixed support part 9a is fixed. On the other hand, when shortening the fixed support part 9a, the insertion side cylindrical body 7 is grasped and inserted by hand, and the length between the upper and lower ends of the fixed support part 9a is shortened to a predetermined length. Then, the lower end of the lever-tightening clamp 15 is brought into contact with the upper end of the inserted-side cylindrical body 8, and the lever is closed. This prevents the insertion of the insertion side cylindrical body 7, and the length between the upper and lower ends of the fixed support part 9a is fixed. In this way, the length between the upper and lower ends of the fixed support part 9a of the connecting device 1 can be adjusted according to the size of the wheelchair 2a, etc.

[0037] As shown in the left diagram of Fig. 7, the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 can be fully inserted to place the fixed support part 9a in the most shortened state, and as shown in the right diagram of Fig. 7, the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 can be fully pulled out to place the fixed support part 9a in the most extended state, and the length of the fixed support part 9a can be adjusted within the range of length M. In this way, since the vertical length of the fixed support part 9a can be changed, the fixed support part 9a can be easily fixed to the movable body 2 even if the structure of the movable body 2, such as a wheelchair 2a, bed, or walking aid, or the vertical spacing between pipes varies.

[0038] As shown in Figures 10 and 17, the bases of lever-tightened connecting clamps 12a, 12b that can be opened and closed by operating a lever are rotatably supported on shaft 18a inserted into the through hole of bearing portion 13a protruding longitudinally from the upper end of the inserting side cylindrical body 7 and / or on shaft 18b inserted into the through hole of bearing portion 13b protruding longitudinally from the lower end of the inserted side cylindrical body 8, and the connecting clamps 12a, 12b are swivelable so that they can be fixed at any angle relative to the movable body 2.

[0039] As shown in Figure 10(a), there is a configuration in which only the connecting clamp 12a on the upper end side of the inserting side cylindrical body 7 is swivellable, and as shown in Figure 10(b), there is a configuration in which both the connecting clamps 12a, 12b on the upper end side of the inserting side cylindrical body 7 and the lower end side of the inserted side cylindrical body 8 are swivellable. For example, if the handle of wheelchair 2a has a three-dimensional bend, the upper lever-tightened connecting clamp 12a can be swiveled to easily grip firmly at right angles to the handle pipe, and if the tipping lever at the bottom of wheelchair 2a has a three-dimensional bend, the lower lever-tightened connecting clamp 12b can be swiveled to easily grip firmly at right angles to the tipping lever pipe.

[0040] Next, we will explain the fixed support part 9b of Form B, which is a component of the connecting device 1. As shown in Figure 22, the fixed support part 9b is a single, long, non-stretchable cylindrical body, and has the same shape as the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 of the fixed support part 9a of Form A. The height / angle adjustment part 10 has a connecting clamp 12a at its upper end and a connecting clamp 12b at its lower end, and has a circular inner circumferential surface, so it can rotate smoothly along the arc-shaped part 23 on the outer circumferential surface of the fixed support part 9b.

[0041] 22, a base of a lever-fastened connecting clamp 12a that can be opened and closed by lever operation is rotatably supported on a shaft 18a inserted into a through-hole of a bearing portion 13a that protrudes longitudinally from the upper end of the fixed support portion 9b, and the connecting clamp 12a is swivelable so that it can be fixed at any angle to the movable body 2. Also, a base of a lever-fastened connecting clamp 12b that can be opened and closed by lever operation is rotatably supported on a shaft 18b inserted into a through-hole of a bearing portion 13b that protrudes longitudinally from the lower end of the fixed support portion 9b, and the connecting clamp 12b is swivelable so that it can be fixed at any angle to the movable body 2. The overall length of the fixed support portion 9b can be shorter than that of the fixed support portion 9a, so it can be attached to a bed rail.

[0042] Next, the height / angle adjustment unit 10 will be described. The height / angle adjustment unit 10 allows the connecting unit 6 to be adjusted so that it is movable in the axial direction of the fixed support units 9a and 9b and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and allows the connecting unit 6 to be fixed to the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 in the adjusted state. The height / angle adjustment unit 10 has the function of moving and fixing the connecting unit 6 so that its height matches the height near the center of gravity of a small medical device installation stand 3, such as an IV stand 3a. The configuration of the height / angle adjustment unit 10 is the same for both the fixed support unit 9a and the fixed support unit 9b, so the height / angle adjustment unit 10 will be described below when attached to the fixed support unit 9a. The fixed support unit 9b has approximately the same configuration as the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 of the fixed support unit 9a.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the height / angle adjustment unit 10 includes a sliding / rotating unit 20 that is adjustable so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction along the outer circumferential surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 (fixed support unit 9), which is inserted into a through-hole formed by arranging two semicircular cross-section bodies 21 facing each other so as to sandwich the fixed support unit 9 (in the case of the fixed support unit 9a, this corresponds to the insertion-side cylindrical body 7, and in the case of the fixed support unit 9b, substantially the same form as the insertion support body 7). The sliding / rotating unit 20 is mounted at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 (fixed support unit 9) and has a cross section that is slidable in the axial direction along the outer circumferential surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 (fixed support unit 9). and a height / angle fixing part 30 integrally connected to the sliding and rotating part 20, the height / angle fixing part 30 having a plurality of divided pieces 31 forming an arc shape with a radius approximately the same as the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 (fixed support part 9), and a lever-tightened ring clamp 32 attached so as to surround the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of divided pieces 31 and pressingly fixing the plurality of divided pieces 31 to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 (fixed support part 9). After the sliding and rotating part 20 adjusts the axial position of the sliding and rotating part 20, which is the height direction of the connecting part 6, and the rotation angle in the direction perpendicular to the axis, which is the horizontal orientation of the connecting part 6, the sliding and rotating part 20 is fixed to the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 by the height / angle fixing part 30.

[0044] The sliding and rotating unit 20 and the height and angle fixing unit 30 are integrated, and rotate left and right together and slide up and down together. The integration structure can be a means for connecting and integrating a part of the sliding and rotating unit 20 with a part of the height and angle fixing unit 30, as shown in Figure 3, but any structure that allows integration is acceptable. For example, a protrusion 11 can be provided on the semicircular cross-sectional body 21 of the sliding and rotating unit 20, and a lever-tightened ring clamp 32 of the height and angle fixing unit 30 can be attached to the protrusion 11.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the sliding and rotating section 20 has a through hole formed by arranging a pair of semicircular cross-sectional bodies 21 facing each other so as to sandwich the insertion side cylindrical body 7, and the insertion side cylindrical body 7 is inserted into the through hole, so that it can be adjusted to move freely in the axial direction along the outer surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7, i.e., to slide freely up and down, and to rotate freely in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, i.e., to rotate freely left and right.

[0046] After the fixed support part 9a is fixed to, for example, a wheelchair 2a using the sliding and rotating part 20, if a small medical device 52 such as a urine bag is light and the center of gravity G of the IV stand is low, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 8, the height of the connecting part 6 can be adjusted to be near the low center of gravity G and the device can be attached. Alternatively, if a small medical device 52 such as a blood transfusion pump is heavy and the center of gravity G of the IV stand is high, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 8, the height of the connecting part 6 can be adjusted to be near the high center of gravity. As shown in FIG. 8, the sliding and rotating part 20 allows the attachment height of the connecting part 6 to be adjusted in the vertical direction within a range of length N. The height of the center of gravity G is determined to be the height near the center of gravity when the device is grabbed and pulled by hand and is unlikely to tip over.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), two semicircular cross-sectional bodies 21, each having a circular inner peripheral surface and arranged in a pair opposite each other along the outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7, can be rotated left and right to adjust the left and right angle, which is the orientation of the connecting portion 6.

[0048] Therefore, since the connecting part 6 can be rotated 360° horizontally, it can be oriented straight backward in the front-to-back direction, which is the same direction as the handle 65, as shown in Figure 20(a) or Figure 21(b), and as shown in Figure 20(b) or Figure 21(a), the connecting part 6 can be rotated and fixed in an outward direction so as not to get in the way of the person pushing the moving body 2.Therefore, whether the connecting part 6 is attached to the right or left side of the wheelchair 2a, the connecting part 6 can be attached and fixed in an orientation so as not to get in the way of the person pushing the wheelchair 2a.

[0049] Next, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the height / angle fixing portion 30 is composed of a plurality of divided pieces 31, for example, four divided pieces 31, each of which has an arc-shaped cross section with a radius approximately the same as the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support portion 9 (in the case of fixed support portion 9a, this corresponds to the insertion side cylindrical body 7, and in the case of fixed support portion 9b, this corresponds to approximately the same shape as the insertion support body 7), attached at a predetermined interval 33 along the circumferential direction of the insertion side cylindrical body 7, and the plurality of divided pieces 31 can be fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7 (the fixed support portion 9) with a lever-tightened ring clamp 32.

[0050] For example, as shown in Figure 4, in the case of four divided segments 31, the four segments 31 are placed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7 (the fixed support part 9) while forming gaps 33 between the segments 31, and the inner surfaces of the four segments 31 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7 (the fixed support part 9) so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7 (the fixed support part 9).When pressure is applied with a lever-tightened ring clamp 32 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the segments 31, the gaps 33 narrow and the inner surfaces of the segments 31 come into contact with the entire outer peripheral surface of the insertion side cylindrical body 7 over a wide area, thereby obtaining a high pressing force.

[0051] The inventors tried fixing means such as screwing in a bolt, or pressing a piece with a circular arc-shaped cross section having a slit, and found that the greatest pressing force was obtained by using a plurality of divided pieces 31 that formed an arc shape with a radius approximately the same as the radius of the outer surface of the insertion side support 7 (fixed support part 9). This resulted in the effect that the sliding and rotating part would not shift relative to the insertion side support 7 (fixed support part 9) when, for example, the IV stand 3a being towed collides with the corner of a hospital corridor or an elevator door.

[0052] After adjusting the axial position and the rotation angle perpendicular to the axis of the sliding and rotating unit 20, the sliding and rotating unit 20 is fixed to the insertion-side cylindrical body 7 by the height and angle fixing unit 30. As a result, as shown in Figure 12, the connecting unit 6 can be attached not at a predetermined height depending on the structure of the wheelchair 2a, but at a height near the center of gravity G of the small medical equipment installation stand 3, for example, on the IV stand 3a side. This eliminates the risk of the IV stand 3a tipping over due to being pulled.

[0053] As shown in Figure 12, the connecting device 1 of the present invention is compared with a comparative connecting device, as shown in Figure 13, which is attached at a predetermined height depending on the structure of the wheelchair 2a. The small medical device 52 hanging from the IV stand 3a is heavy, and its center of gravity G is located above the IV stand 3a and at a distance R rearward from the axis of the IV stand 3a. In this case, the position g of the center of gravity G on the floor surface is within the range H defined by the four casters 51. If the position g moves outside the range H, the IV stand 3a will tip over.

[0054] The connecting device 1 of the present invention is attached at a height near the center of gravity G of the IV stand 3a regardless of the structure of the wheelchair 2a, so even if the IV stand 3a is pulled by the wheelchair 2a, the position g of the center of gravity G is within the range H formed by the casters 51, so it will not tip over.

[0055] On the other hand, in the comparative example, when the connecting part 70 is attached at a height near the tipping lever at the bottom of the wheelchair 2a, when the wheelchair 2a tows the IV stand 3a, the IV stand 3a is towed at a height lower than the center of gravity G. Therefore, when the wheelchair 2a is towed forward F, the center of gravity G, which is at a position higher than the towing height, shifts relatively backward R, and the position g of the center of gravity G goes outside the range H formed by the casters 51, causing the wheelchair to tip over.

[0056] In this way, the connecting device 1 of the present invention can be attached near the height of the center of gravity of the IV stand 3a regardless of the structure of the wheelchair 2a, so by towing it at a height near the center of gravity G of the towed side, it is possible to prevent the towed item, for example the IV stand 3a, from tipping over.

[0057] Next, the connecting portion 6 will be described. The connecting portion 6 is in the form of the connecting portion 7 having a substantially rod-like body, and may be in a first form 41 having a member that can bend only laterally in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a biasing force that allows it to recover to a linear state, as shown in Figures 15(a) and (b), a second form 42 having a member that can bend 360° in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a biasing force that allows it to recover to a linear state, as shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), or a third form 43 having a rigid rod-like member, as shown in Figure 16.

[0058] The connecting portion 6 of the first form 41 uses, for example, a chain 55 as a member that can bend only laterally in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction, as shown in Figure 15(a), and uses, for example, a coil spring 56 as a member that has a biasing force that allows it to restore to a linear shape, as shown in Figure 15(b).

[0059] As shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), the connecting portion 6 of the second form 42 is a member 57 that can be bent radially 360° without circumferential torsional deformation. Examples of such a member 57 include a cylindrical body having a roughly cylindrical reinforcing layer made by crossing and weaving thin materials in a direction symmetrical to the longitudinal center line, a rod-shaped body having a stranded material laminate structure in which two stranded materials are twisted so that the direction of the twisted wires is symmetrical to the longitudinal center line, and one cylindrical stranded material is inserted into the through-hole of the other cylindrical stranded material, and a cylindrical body having a cross-structure twisted body in which multiple twisted wires are twisted so that the direction of the multiple twisted wires is symmetrical to the longitudinal center line and the multiple twisted wires are twisted so that they cross each other.

[0060] Furthermore, examples of the biasing member 58 having a biasing force that can restore a linear shape include a coil spring into which the entire bendable member can be inserted and which has a biasing force in a linear direction over the entire length of the bendable member, a rod-shaped or plate-shaped spring material, rubber material, glass fiber or carbon fiber that is attached over the entire length of the bendable member and has a biasing force in a linear direction over the entire length of the bendable member, a rod-shaped or plate-shaped spring material or rubber material that can be inserted into a through-hole in the tubular bendable member and has a biasing force in a linear direction over the entire length of the bendable member, or a torsion spring that is provided at a bendable joint.

[0061] In the first form 41 and the second form 42, for example, when the IV stand of the small medical equipment installation stand 3 is to be pulled toward the wheelchair of the moving body 2 to prevent collisions with people passing by in a narrow corridor in a hospital, or when the IV stand needs to be pulled toward the wheelchair when getting on an elevator, the IV stand can be easily pulled toward the wheelchair.

[0062] Furthermore, because the member has a spring force that allows it to return to a straight line, even if it has a bendable member when towing, it can autonomously return to a straight line, allowing it to be towed safely without coming into contact with the person pushing it.

[0063] As shown in Figure 16, the connecting part 6 of the third form 43 has a rigid body 59 that is either a straight cylindrical body or a straight rod-like body, but an aluminum pipe, for example, is preferable for weight reduction. The third form 43 is suitable for cases where the corridors in a hospital are wide or the elevator is large enough to accommodate a bed, for example, because it is not necessary to pull the IV stand toward the wheelchair.

[0064] Next, we will explain how to store the connecting part 6 when not in use. After the connecting part 6 is used with the connecting part 6 facing rearward in a substantially horizontal direction as shown in Figure 18(a) in the used state, when not in use, it can be changed from a horizontal state to a vertical state with the axis 61 as the center of rotation as shown in Figure 18(b) and brought close to the fixed support part 9a, so that it can be made compact below the handle 65 in a plan view as shown in Figure 19. Therefore, for example, when folding the wheelchair 2a from the left or right side when not in use, there is an effect that the connecting device 1 of the present invention does not need to be removed from the wheelchair 2a.

[0065] Next, the follower-side attachment part 5 will be described. The follower-side attachment part 5 includes, for example, a lever-tightening type connecting clamp 12c attached to the free end side of the connecting part 6, which is attached to the small medical equipment installation stand 3. The follower-side attachment part 5 may be any clamp that can grip pipes or rods that make up the small medical equipment installation stand 3, such as an IV stand 3a, an oxygen cylinder mobile stand, a gastrostomy treatment mobile stand, or an enterostomy treatment mobile stand.

[0066] In the connecting device 1 of the present invention, the fixing means attached to, for example, the pipes of the wheelchair 2a or the pipes of the IV stand 3a are all means for fixing by pressing, with the ring-shaped clamp reducing the diameter of the ring when the lever is closed with the finger, so that the device can be easily fixed by tightening and applying pressure by hand. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Connecting device 2. Mobile 3. Small medical equipment installation stand 4 Towing side mounting part 5. Follower side mounting part 6 Connecting part 7 Insertion side cylindrical body 8 Cylindrical body on the inserted side 9 Fixed support part 10 Height and angle adjustment section 11 Protrusion 12 Connecting clamp 13 Bearing section 14 axes 15 Lever tightening clamp 16 springs 17 String 18 axes 20 Slide and swivel section 21 Semicircular cross section 23 Arc-shaped part 30 Height and angle fixing part 31 Split piece 32 Lever tightening ring clamp 33 spacing 41 First Form 42 Second Form 43 Third Form 51 Caster 52 Small medical devices 55 Chain 56 coil spring 57 Bendable member 58 biasing member 59 Rigid body 60 Locking device 61 axes 65 Handle 70 Connection part G center of gravity H range

Claims

1. A coupling device for coupling a moving body and a small medical equipment installation stand that follows the moving body, a pulling-side mounting portion attached to the moving body, a following-side mounting portion attached to the small medical device installation stand, and a connecting portion having a substantially rod-like body connecting the pulling-side mounting portion and the following-side mounting portion, The towing side mounting portion has an elongated fixed support portion, a height / angle adjustment unit that can adjust the connecting portion so that it is movable in the axial direction of the fixed support portion and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and that can be fixed to the fixed support portion; The height and angle adjustment unit is a sliding and rotating part that is adjustable so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction along an outer peripheral surface of the fixed support part, the sliding and rotating part being inserted into a through hole formed by arranging two semicircular cross-section bodies in a pair opposite to each other so as to sandwich the fixed support part; a height / angle fixing unit integrally connected to the sliding / rotating unit, the height / angle fixing unit having a plurality of divided pieces attached at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit, the divided pieces having an arc-shaped cross section with a radius substantially the same as the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit, and a lever-tightened ring clamp attached so as to surround the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of divided pieces and pressing the plurality of divided pieces against the outer peripheral surface of the fixed support unit, A coupling device characterized in that the sliding / rotating part is fixed to the fixed support part by the height / angle fixing part after adjusting the axial position and the rotation angle in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

2. The connecting device described in claim 1, characterized in that the fixed support part is in the form of form A, in which a long, inserting cylindrical body to which the height / angle adjustment part is attached is inserted into the inside from the upper end side of a long, inserted cylindrical body and is freely expandable in the longitudinal direction, or form B, in which a single long, cylindrical body to which the height / angle adjustment part is attached.

3. A coupling device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base of a lever-tightened clamp that can be opened and closed by operating a lever is rotatably supported on an axis inserted into a through hole of a bearing portion that protrudes longitudinally from the upper end of the fixed support portion and / or on an axis inserted into a through hole of a bearing portion that protrudes longitudinally from the lower end of the fixed support portion, and the lever-tightened clamp is swivelable so that it can be fixed at any angle relative to the movable body.

4. A connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting portion of the approximately rod-shaped body is in a first form having a member that can be bent only laterally in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear shape, a second form having a member that can be bent 360° in the radial direction without torsional deformation in the circumferential direction and has a spring force that allows it to return to a linear shape, or a third form having a rod-shaped member that has rigidity.

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