Operating unit for manual control of a plurality of functions in different apparatuses

• US 5,239,300 A
• Filed: 10/16/1990
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telehotel-Tv-Systeme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Telehotel-Tv-Systeme GmbH
• Inventors: Borgens, Markus, Berger, Reimar
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/601,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 455/128, 379/53, 379/110, 358/254
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/20 Color codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/12 Adjustable supports, e.g. extensible

Abstract

An operating unit for the manual control of a plurality of functions of different apparatuses, especially for hospitals or hotels, has a modular design and comprises a box-like main module and at least one slat-like submodule. At least one device, the function of which is controlled by manual key operation, is arranged in or at the main module. Accessory devices can be arranged within the submodules. The unit is characterized by comfortable handling and great versatility.

Claims

1. An operating unit for manual control of a plurality of functions of different devices comprising:

a housing which is of a modular design at least partially movable relative to an operator thereof;

wiring in said housing for transmission of signals to said devices;

a box-like main module formed within said housing;

a plurality of function keys for control located on said main module;

at least one replaceable slat-like submodule formed within said housing and adapted to be removably fastened to a lateral surface of said main module in end-to-end relationship therewith, said submodule being formed either as an intermediate or as an end module;

at least one device being disposed within said main module, said device being controlled by manual key operation through one of said function keys; and

a further device being disposed within said submodule, said further device being controlled through a manual key operation with another one of said function keys or being an independent accessory device, said main module and submodule being fastened to one another by means of projecting clamping flanges and cooperating depressions, said flanges and depressions being arranged along respective lateral surfaces of said main module and submodule, said submodule having an approximately C-like cross-sectional shape and being formed with edge flanges along a perimeter thereof, said edge flanges gripping over said clamping flanges projecting from said lateral surface of said main module, and said submodule being spaced from an edge of said lateral surface so that said edge flanges of said submodule and of front and back faces of said main module are flush.

2. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein said edge flange merge into an end wall or cover wall for the formation of said submodule as said end module.

3. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein said edge flanges perpendicularly merge into an intermediate wall which is provided with corresponding projecting clamping flanges at a location spaced from said edge to allow formation of said module as said intermediate module.

6. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein said submodule is formed as a telephone with a holding device.

4. An operating unit for manual control of a plurality of functions of different devices comprising:

a housing which is of a modular design at least partially movable relative to an operator thereof;

wiring in said housing for transmission of signals to said devices;

a box-like main module formed within said housing;

a plurality of function keys for control located on said main module;

at least one replaceable slat-like submodule formed within said housing and adapted to be removably fastened to a lateral surface of said main module in end-to-end relationship therewith, said submodule being formed either as an intermediate or as an end module, said replaceable slat-like module having the same height as said main module and, after fastening to said main module, being in alignment with the main module along a top and bottom to form substantially continuous surfaces with said main module along said top and bottom;

at least one device being disposed within said main module, said device being controlled by manual key operation through one of said function keys; and

a further device being disposed within said submodule, said further device being controlled through a manual key operation with another one of said function keys or being an independent accessory device, said main module being designed on both lateral sides thereof for mounting of said submodules, said operating unit further having holding plates with screw bores, said plates being provided along sides of at least one of said main module and submodule for receipt of screws.

5. An operating unit for manual control of a plurality of functions of different devices comprising:

a housing which is of a modular design at least partially movable relative to an operator thereof;

wiring in said housing for transmission of signals to said devices;

a box-like main module formed within said housing;

a plurality of function keys for control located on said main module;

at least one replaceable slat-like submodule formed within said housing and adapted to be removably fastened to a lateral surface of said main module in end-to-end relationship therewith, said submodule being formed either as an intermediate or as an end module, said replaceable slat-like module having the same height as said main module and, after fastening to said main module, being in alignment with the main module along a top and bottom to form substantially continuous surfaces with said main module along said top and bottom;

at least one device being disposed within said main module, said device being controlled by manually key operation through one of said function keys; and

a further device being disposed within said submodule, said further device being controlled through a manual key operation with another one of said function keys or being an independent accessory device, said main module comprising a TV screen, at least one loudspeaker or headphone terminal, said function keys and a card input/output unit.

7. The operating unit according to claim 5 wherein said submodule is formed as a lamp holding device with a lamp.

8. The operating unit according to claim 5 wherein said end module is formed as a handle.

9. An operating unit for manual control of a plurality of functions of different devices comprising:

a housing which is of a modular design at least partially movable relative to an operator thereof;

wiring in said housing for transmission of signals to said devices;

a box-like main module formed within said housing;

a plurality of function keys for control located on said main module;

at least one replaceable slat-like submodule formed within said housing and adapted to be removably fastened to a lateral surface of said main module in end-to-end relationship therewith, said submodule being formed either as an intermediate or as an end module, said replaceable slat-like module having the same height as said main module and, after fastening to said main module, being in alignment with the main module along a top and bottom to form substantially continuous surfaces with said main module along said top and bottom;

at least one device being disposed within said main module, said device being controlled by manual key operation through one of said function keys; and

a further device being disposed within said submodule, said further device being controlled through a manual key operation with another one of said function keys or being an independent accessory device, said operating unit, further comprising a means for fastening said housing onto a wall and which is formed as a hinge linkage.

10. The operating unit according to claim 9 wherein said hinge linkage has four hinges.

11. The operating unit according to claim 9 wherein said housing is connected with said hinge linkage by means of a double hinge enabling turning of said housing about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

12. The operating unit according to claim 9 wherein said housing is fastened to said hinge linkage by means of said end module, said linkage being rotatably mounted with a pivot pin in an axial bore of said end module.

13. The operating unit according to claim 9 wherein said holding device for fastening to a wall is formed as a bendable tube.