Abstract:
A support device for releasable connection to an equipment carrier, and for supporting a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload, includes an engagement hook for engaging in an opening on an equipment carrier and a bolt for locking a connection between the engagement hook and an opening in which the engagement hook engages.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an equipment trolley or another equipment carrier and to a support device for mounting on an equipment carrier and for supporting a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload in a medical treatment room. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In operating theaters and other medical treatment rooms, many medical appliances and instruments are often used simultaneously or one after another. A medical equipment carrier, in particular a medical equipment trolley, i.e. a medical equipment carrier that can be moved on wheels, may allow a large number of medical appliances and instruments to be arranged in an economically and ergonomically favorable and flexible way. 
         [0003]    A medical equipment trolley or another medical equipment carrier is intended not only to be robust and to allow easy cleaning and sterilization, but also to be able to be modified or changed (in particular extended) with little effort and to be able to be assembled safely and correctly, as far as possible even by persons without technical training. A medical equipment carrier should be able to be adapted to new tasks, in particular with little effort, by replacing support devices or storage elements or by moving them about. In particular, on the one hand, support devices or storage elements should be able to be assembled and disassembled without tools and, on the other hand, in the assembled state, should be firmly connected in a reliable manner to the medical equipment carrier. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    it is an object of the present invention to make available an improved support device, for mounting on an equipment carrier and for supporting a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload, and an improved medical equipment carrier. 
         [0005]    This object is achieved by the subjects of the independent claims. 
         [0006]    Developments are set forth in the dependent claims. 
         [0007]    A support device for releasable connection to an equipment carrier, and for supporting a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload, comprises an engagement hook for engaging in an opening on an equipment carrier and a bolt for locking a connection between the engagement hook and an opening in which the engagement hook engages. 
         [0008]    The support device is intended in particular to be mounted on a mobile equipment carrier, or an equipment trolley, for medical or non-medical uses or on a stationary equipment carrier for medical or non-medical uses. The engagement hook is intended in particular to engage in one of several openings on an equipment carrier, in order to releasably connect the support device to the equipment carrier in one of several alternative positions. The support device can have one or more further engagement hooks and, on each engagement hook, a bolt can be provided for locking a connection between the further engagement hook and an opening. Moreover, the support device can have one or more pins, lugs or other mechanisms for stabilizing the support device on further openings or steps on the equipment carrier. 
         [0009]    By inserting the engagement hook into an opening on an equipment carrier, the support device can be suspended quickly on an equipment carrier in one position or in one of several alternative positions. The bolt permits a locking of the connection between the engagement hook and an opening in which the engagement hook engages, and it permits subsequent unlocking of the connection without a tool, The support device can therefore be moved about or exchanged quickly and with lithe effort, in order to modify an equipment carrier or adapt it to new tasks. 
         [0010]    In a support device as described here, the engagement hook has in particular a straight portion for engaging in an opening, and a portion which is angled in relation to the straight portion and is for engaging behind an edge of the opening, wherein the bolt is movable, parallel to the straight portion of the engagement hook, between an unlocking position and a locking position. 
         [0011]    The engagement hook thus has in particular an L-shaped configuration. In the intended use of the support device, in particular, the straight portion is arranged horizontally or substantially horizontally, and the portion angled in relation to the straight portion is arranged vertically or substantially vertically. The portion angled in relation to the straight portion is provided and designed in particular for engagement behind a web between two openings in a row of openings. In the locking position, the bolt is in particular arranged such that it suppresses a movement of the engagement hook in a direction orthogonal to the straight portion or parallel or substantially parallel to the angled portion. In this way, in its locking position, the bolt is able to ensure that the portion of the engagement hook angled in relation to the straight portion cannot be moved out of its position engaging behind the edge of the opening. 
         [0012]    The engagement hook and the bolt are designed in particular in such a way that the engagement hook in the opening on an equipment carrier can be moved in a direction orthogonal to a straight portion of the engagement hook only when the bolt is in its unlocking position. In the locking position, the bolt holds the engagement hook in particular in a position, relative to the opening, in which a portion of the engagement hook angled in relation to the straight portion engages behind an edge of the opening. 
         [0013]    In a support device as described here, the bolt is in particular provided and designed such that, in the unlocking position, it is not arranged or not substantially arranged next to the straight portion of the engagement hook and, in the locking position, it is arranged next to the straight portion of the engagement hook. 
         [0014]    In its locking position, the bolt is in particular arranged at least partially inside the same opening in which the engagement hook, in particular optionally the straight portion thereof, is arranged. Alternatively, the bolt can be provided and arranged such that, in its locking position, it engages in another opening, in particular in an adjacent opening. 
         [0015]    In a support device as described here, the bolt is in particular provided and designed such that, in the unlocking position, it does not engage or does not substantially engage in an opening on an equipment carrier in which the engagement hook engages, and, in the locking position, it does engage in an opening on an equipment carrier in which the engagement hook engages. 
         [0016]    A support device as described here in particular also comprises a safety mechanism for holding the bolt in the locking position. 
         [0017]    In a support device as described here, the safety mechanism is in particular designed to hold the bolt locked in the locking position. 
         [0018]    In addition, the safety mechanism can be designed also to hold the bolt in its unlocking position by means of elastic latching or in some other way. The safety mechanism is in particular provided and designed such that, when moving the bolt between its locking position and its unlocking position (and optionally also in the opposite direction), a mechanical resistance has to be overcome. 
         [0019]    The safety mechanism comprises, for example, one or more cams on the bolt, which cams can engage in one or more grooves on the support device when the bolt is located in the locking position. Alternatively, one or more cams can be provided on the support device and one or more grooves on the bolt, or cams can be provided both on the support device and also on the bolt. An elasticity of the cam or cams or of the groove or grooves allows the cams and groove to slide past each other when the elastic counterforce is overcome. 
         [0020]    In a support device as described here, the safety mechanism is in particular designed to generate an at least either tactile or acoustically perceptible signal when the bolt is moved to the locking position. 
         [0021]    The safety mechanism generates in particular a tactile signal that is perceptible to a person manually moving the bolt. Alternatively or in addition, the safety mechanism generates a click or another acoustically perceptible signal when the bolt adopts the locking position. 
         [0022]    A support device as described here in particular also comprises a spar for supporting a medical appliance or a medical instrument or another payload, wherein the spar is connectable to the engagement hook, wherein the bolt is rigidly connected to the spar, wherein the bolt, in the locking position, engages through a bore on the engagement hook, wherein, in the locking position of the bolt, the spar is pivotable between a loose position and a stable position about an axis extending through the bolt, wherein, in the loose position of the spar, the bolt is movable between its locking position and its unlocking position and the spar can be separated from the engagement hook, and wherein, in the stable position of the spar, the spar is mechanically connected to the engagement hook and is loaded with a payload. 
         [0023]    The support device comprises two parts or units which are separate, but which are connected to each other in the stable position of the spar. The first unit comprises the spar and the bolt, which extend in two directions that are in particular parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The second unit comprises the engagement hook and the bore. When the boll is inserted into the bore or engages through the bore, the first unit is pivotable relative to the second unit about an axis which is defined by the bolt and the bore and which in particular is parallel to the bolt and to the spar. To connect the support device to an equipment carrier, the engagement hook is first of all inserted into or suspended in an opening on the equipment carrier. Thereafter, the bolt is brought with a linear movement through the bore on the engagement hook into its locking position, which in particular lies in the same opening or in an adjacent opening, At the end of this linear movement, the first unit is located relative to the second unit in the loose position in which it can be separated again from the second unit by a linear movement in the opposite direction. From the loose position, the first unit can be pivoted to the stable position in which the first part and the second part are connected to each other and in particular can no longer be pulled apart. 
         [0024]    A support device as described here in particular also comprises a first plate, which is rigidly connected to the engagement hook and has the bore, and a second plate, which is rigidly connected to the spar and to the bolt, wherein the first plate and the second plate are connected to each other with a form fit in the stable position. 
         [0025]    The form fit connection of the two plates is effected, for example, by screws or other mushroom-shaped means on one of the two plates which engage in slits on the other plate. 
         [0026]    A support device as described here in particular also comprises a cover cap or a bracket that can be turned over the first plate and the second plate in order to hold the second plate relative to the first plate in the stable position. 
         [0027]    The first plate and the second plate have in particular a similar or substantially identical configuration. For example, the first plate and the second plate are each rectangular with the same linear dimensions. The support device is in particular designed such that the first plate and the second plate lie one over the other substantially congruently in the stable position of the spar. The cover chamber or the bracket bears on opposite edges or on all edges of the first plate and of the second plate and thus holds the second plate relative to the first plate with a form fit and thus also holds the spar in the stable position. 
         [0028]    An equipment carrier for carrying a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload comprises a supporting framework and an opening on the supporting framework, wherein the opening is provided and designed for receiving an engagement hook on a support device. 
         [0029]    The equipment carrier is in particular an equipment trolley for medical or non-medical uses with one or more rollers or wheels for conveying the weight of the equipment carrier into a floor on which the equipment carrier stands, wherein the wheels or rollers permit low-friction movement of the equipment carrier on the floor. Alternatively, the equipment carrier is provided for a stationary medical or non-medical use. The equipment carrier is in particular provided and designed to carry a medical appliance, a medical instrument or another payload indirectly by means of a support device connected to the equipment carrier via the opening. The supporting framework comprises in particular one or more vertical or substantially vertical columns or spars, which can be connected by a base, a bridge and/or other horizontal devices. 
         [0030]    In an equipment carrier as described here, a plurality of openings in particular are provided on the supporting framework, wherein an engagement hook on a support device can engage alternately in one of the plurality of openings. 
         [0031]    The openings are in particular arranged in a row one above the other and with uniform intervals between them, e.g. in a grid. 
         [0032]    An equipment carrier as described here in particular comprises several columns, each one with an opening for receiving an engagement hook on a support device. 
         [0033]    n an equipment carrier as described here, the supporting framework in particular comprises several columns, with several respective openings provided on each of the columns, wherein respective openings with different markings are provided on each column, and wherein openings which receive hook devices of the support device simultaneously, in an intended arrangement of a support device, have identical or corresponding markings. 
         [0034]    An intended arrangement of a support device is in particular a horizontal arrangement or an arrangement of the support device parallel to a floor surface on which the equipment carrier stands. The different markings are in particular differently colored markings. For example, each column has several holding devices, each of these with one or more openings, wherein adjacent holding devices have different colors. 
         [0035]    An equipment carrier as described here in particular also comprises a support device as described here. 
         [0036]    An equipment carrier as described here comprises in particular several columns, each with an opening, wherein several engagement hooks are provided on the support device and are designed to engage simultaneously in a respective opening. 
         [0037]    n an equipment carrier as described here, the openings on the columns and the engagement hooks and the bolts on the support device are in particular designed such that at least either an insertion of the engagement hooks on the support device into a respective opening on the columns or a locking of the connection between an engagement hook and an opening is possible only when the support device adopts one of several intended positions. 
         [0038]    Intended positions of the support device are in particular positions in which the support device is arranged horizontally or parallel with respect to a floor surface on which the equipment carrier stands. The equipment carrier and the support device are thus designed such that an oblique or incorrect connection of the support device to the equipment carrier is not possible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    Embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures, in which: 
           [0040]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a medical equipment trolley; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a vertical section through the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a further schematic view of a vertical section through the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 5 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  shows a further schematic view of a vertical section through the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 6 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 8  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 7 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 9  shows a further schematic view of a vertical section through the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 8 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic view of an equipment rail; 
           [0050]      FIG. 11  shows a schematic view of part of the equipment rail from  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 12  shows a further schematic view of part of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 13  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 to 12 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 14  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 to 13 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 15  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 to 14 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 16  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 to 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0056]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a medical equipment carrier, in particular a medical equipment trolley  10 . The drawing plane of  FIG. 1  is vertical or, in the intended use of the medical equipment trolley  10 , orthogonal to a horizontal floor surface on which the medical equipment trolley  10  stands. 
         [0057]    The medical equipment trolley  10  comprises several surface modules, namely a base  20 , a bridge  60  and a shelf  80  as support device for medical appliances and instruments, and also several columns  30 ,  40 . The surface modules  20 ,  60 ,  80  extend substantially parallel to the floor surface on which the medical equipment trolley  10  stands and therefore orthogonal to the drawing plane of  FIG. 1 . The columns  30 ,  40  extend substantially orthogonally with respect to the surface modules  20 ,  60 ,  80  and parallel to the drawing plane of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0058]    In the intended use of the medical equipment trolley  10 , the base  20  is arranged at the bottom. A roller unit  21  is arranged on the underside of the substantially rectangular base  20 , at each corner of the base  20 . Each roller unit  21  comprises in particular two rollers and is pivotable about a vertical pivot axis  22 , such that the medical equipment trolley can be pushed and rotated in any desired directions with low friction. In the example shown, the bridge  60  forms the upper end of the medical equipment trolley  10 . 
         [0059]    The medical equipment trolley  10  has a front face, which is intended to be directed toward medical personnel and which, in the view n  FIG. 1 , is directed toward the observer. The rear face of the medical equipment trolley lies opposite the front face and, in the view in  FIG. 1 , is directed away from the observer. From the direction of the front face, the shelf  80  can be inserted into the medical equipment trolley  10 , and, from the direction of the front face, access can be made to medical appliances or instruments placed or mounted or stored on or in the medical equipment carrier  10 . 
         [0060]    A first column  30  is arranged centrally on the rear face of the medical equipment trolley  10 . The second columns  40  are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other on the sides of the medical equipment trolley  10 , near the front face of the medical equipment trolley  10 . Each column  30 ,  40  has a plurality of openings  72 , The openings  72  are arranged on each column  30 ,  40  in a regular grid pattern and are each open in the direction of the front face of the medical equipment trolley  10 . 
         [0061]    The shelf  80  has one or more pins  89  and two or more engagement hooks  81 , which are designed facing the openings  72  and are intended to engage in a respective opening  72 . Accordingly, the one or more pins  89  and the engagement hooks  81  in the view in  FIG. 1  are directed away from the observer and are concealed by other parts of the shelf  80 , for which reason they are only indicated in  FIG. 1  by a broken-line contour. The one or more pins  89  are arranged centrally or near the center on the rear edge of the shelf  80  so as to engage in a respective opening  72  in the first column  30 . In a departure from the view in  FIG. 1 , the first column  30  can have two or more vertical rows of openings  72 . The engagement hooks  81  are provided, arranged and designed to engage in a respective opening  72  in the laterally arranged second columns  40 . 
         [0062]    The shelf  80  can be arranged at different heights or at different distances from the base  20  and from the bridge  60 . On one or on both of the engagement hooks  81  and/or on the pin  89 , devices (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) are provided for locking the shelf  80  on the columns  30 ,  40 , which are not shown in  FIG. 1 . In particular, one or both engagement hooks  81  and/or the pin  89  are each locked in an opening  72 , such that the shelf  80  is prevented from accidentally coming loose from its intended position and then falling. 
         [0063]    The medical equipment trolley  10  can be modified by replacing or supplementing the shelf  80  with one or more modules with drawers, and/or open compartments or compartments closable with flaps or doors, and/or further shelves  80 . In the configuration shown, medical appliances, medical instruments and/or other payload can be arranged in particular on the base  20  and on the shelf  80  and optionally also on the bridge  60 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 2  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley  10  from  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows a plan view, i.e. the drawing plane of  FIG. 2  is horizontal or parallel to a floor surface on which the medical equipment trolley  10  stands in its intended arrangement, and therefore orthogonal to the drawing plane of  FIG. 1 . The rear face of the medical equipment trolley  10  facing away from the observer in the view in  FIG. 1  lies at the top in  FIG. 2 , and the front face of the medical equipment trolley  10  facing toward the observer in the view in  FIG. 1  lies at the bottom in the view in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0065]    The rectangular basic shape of the base  20  with a respective roller unit  21  at each corner can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The vertical pivot axes  22  of the roller units  21  are orthogonal to the drawing plane of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0066]    Above the base  20 , the columns  30 ,  40  extend substantially orthogonally with respect to the drawing plane of  FIG. 2 . Each column  30 ,  40  has a substantially polygonal cross section. The first column  30  is arranged centrally on the rear face of the medical equipment trolley. The second columns  40  are designed symmetrically to each other and are arranged symmetrically to each other on the sides of the medical equipment trolley  10 . In the example shown, the second columns  40  are arranged closer to the front face than to the rear face of the medical equipment trolley  10 . In the viewing direction of  FIG. 2 , the columns  30 ,  40  are concealed by the bridge  60 . For this reason, only the outer contours of the cross sections of the columns  30 ,  40  are indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0067]    In the example shown, the bridge  60  has a substantially trapezoidal basic shape and, in the viewing direction of  FIG. 2 , conceals part of the shelf  80 , which is therefore indicated only by broken lines. 
         [0068]    The shelf  80  has engagement hooks  81  which are arranged symmetrically to each other on both sides and which engage in corresponding openings  72  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) in the second columns  40 . Moreover, the shelf  80  has a pin  89 , which engages in a corresponding opening  72  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) in the first column  30 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 3  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley  10  from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The orientation of the drawing plane of  FIG. 3  corresponds to that of  FIG. 2 . In contrast to  FIG. 2 , the bridge  60  is not shown in  FIG. 3 , and the columns  30 ,  40  are shown in section along a horizontal plane. Moreover, parts of the shelf  80  are depicted as transparent in order to reveal their inner structure. 
         [0070]    Toward the front face of the medical equipment trolley  10 , the columns  30 ,  40  each have open channels  37 ,  47 , in which grid bars  70  are arranged. The channels  37 ,  47  are designed such that the grid bars  70  are held with a form fit in the channels  37 ,  47 . Alternatively or in addition, the grid bars  70  can be held by screws, rivets or otherwise in the channels  37 ,  47  of the columns  30 ,  40  with a form fit, a cohesive fit or a frictional fit. Moreover, in a departure from the view in  FIG. 3 , the openings  72  may be formed directly in the columns  30 ,  40 , for example in the form of rows of bores. 
         [0071]    Several grid bars  70  are inserted in each channel  37 ,  47  on a column  30 ,  40 , wherein each grid bar  70  has one or more openings  72 . The grid bars  70  in the channel  37 ,  47  of a column  30 ,  40  have different markings, in particular different colors. This is indicated in  FIG. 1  by different hatchings (i.e. in one case from top left to bottom right, and in the other case from bottom left to top right). The markings are chosen such that corresponding openings  72  on different columns  30 ,  40  are identically marked, i.e. openings  72  in which the engagement hooks  81  and pin  89  simultaneously engage in the intended and in particular horizontal arrangement of the shelf  80 . Upon insertion of the shelf  80 , the markings facilitate the correct insertion of the engagement hooks  81  and of the pin  89  into the openings  72  and reduce the risk of incorrect positioning, in particular oblique positioning, of the shelf  80 . 
         [0072]    The cross sections of the columns  30 ,  40  are shown uniformly and very much simplified in  FIG. 3 . In a departure from the view in  FIG. 3 , the columns  30 ,  40  are formed from or composed of profile parts made of metal and/or plastic, in particular extruded profiles. In the inside of the columns  30 ,  40 , hollow spaces or channels can be provided for the arrangement of fluid conduits and lines for electrical or optical transmission of power and/or data. 
         [0073]    In  FIG. 3 , the shelf  80  is shown in a position in which it is not yet connected to the columns  30 ,  40  of the medical equipment trolley  10 . In particular, the engagement hooks  81  on the sides of the shelf  80  and the pin  89  on the rear edge of the shelf  80  do not yet engage in the openings  72 . Arrows indicate a movement of the shelf  80 , in particular of the engagement hooks  81  and of the pin  89 , into the openings  72 , with which movement the shelf  80  can be connected mechanically to the columns  30 ,  40  and thus to the medical equipment trolley  10 . 
         [0074]    The engagement hooks  81  are formed, for example, by sheet metal strips, in the example shown by bent metal strips. Each engagement hook  81  is rigidly connected to the shelf  80  by means of two rivets  84 . One or more screw heads  88  of screws are arranged between the rivets and between the engagement hook  81  and the shelf  80  in each case, which screws are screwed either into the engagement hook  81  or into the edge of the shelf  80 . The function of this screw head  88  is described with reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8  and, in particular,  FIG. 9 . 
         [0075]    A slide  85  with two bolts  86  is arranged on each engagement hook  81 . The slide  85  is depicted as transparent or is indicated only by its outer contours so that features concealed by it are made visible. Each slide  85  is movable between an unlocking position shown in  FIG. 3  and a locking position. The action of the bolt  86  on the slide  85  is described in particular with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a cross section along the surface A-A indicated in  FIG. 3 . The surface A-A is vertical and therefore orthogonal to the drawing plane of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0077]    The engagement hook  81  has a straight portion  82 , and a portion  83  that is angled in relation to the straight portion  82 . The screw with the screw head  88  is arranged between the rivets  84 . The contour of the screw head  88  and edges of the slide  85 , which are concealed by the structural part forming the engagement hook  81 , are indicated by broken lines. Insofar as it does not form the bolts  86 , the slide  85  has a C-shaped cross section, which engages behind the structural part forming the engagement hook  81 . 
         [0078]    The edges of the slide  85  that are indicated by broken lines form several locking lugs  87 , which interact with the screw head  88 . By virtue of the interaction between the locking lugs  87  on the slide  85  and the screw head  88 , the slide  85  and in particular the bolts  86  are held in the unlocking position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and in the locking position described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0079]    An angled arrow indicates how the engagement hook  81  can be inserted into an opening  72  in a grid bar  70  in the column  40 . A further arrow indicates how at the same time the pin  89  on the rear edge (in  FIG. 4  the right-hand edge) of the shelf  80  can be inserted into an opening  72  in the column  30 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 5  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley  10  from  FIGS. 1 to 4 . The nature of the view and in particular the orientation of the drawing plane correspond to those of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 5  shows the shelf  80  in a position in which the engagement hooks  81  and the pin  89  are already inserted in three corresponding openings in grid bars  70  in the columns  30 ,  40 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 6  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 5 . The nature of the view corresponds to that of  FIG. 4 . The situation shown corresponds to that of  FIG. 5 . The engagement hook  81  engages fully in an opening  72  in a grid bar  70  in a second column  40 , wherein it engages completely through the grid bar  70 . The pin  89  likewise engages in a corresponding opening  72  in the first column  30 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 7  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 6 . The nature of the view corresponds to that of  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Compared to the situation shown in  FIG. 6 , the shelf  80  is lowered according to the arrow in  FIG. 6 , such that the straight portion  82  of the engagement hook  81  bears on a web  73  between two openings  72  in the grid bar  70  in the second column  40 , and the portion  83  of the engagement hook  81  at an angle relative to the straight portion  82  engages behind the web  73 . In this way, a separation of the shelf  80  from the columns  30 ,  40  by a purely horizontal movement is suppressed by a form fit. 
         [0084]      FIG. 8  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 7 . The nature of the view corresponds to that of  FIGS. 3 and 5 . The situation shown in  FIG. 8  differs from that shown in  FIG. 7  in that the slides  85  with the bolts  86  are pushed into a locking position in which the bolts  86  engage in openings  72  in the columns  40 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 9  shows a further schematic view of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 8 . The nature of the view corresponds to that of  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7 . The situation shown corresponds to the situation shown in  FIG. 8 . One of the two bolts  86  on the slide  85  engages in the same opening  72  in which the engagement hook  81  engages. The second bolt  86  engages in an adjacent opening  72 . Each individual bolt  86  already in itself suppresses a movement of the slide  85  and therefore also a movement of the engagement hook  81  in the vertical direction. In this way, the bolts  86  lock the engagement hook  81  in the position shown in  FIG. 9 , in which the portion  83  of the engagement hook  81  at an angle relative to the straight portion  82  engages behind the web  73 . The shelf  80  can no longer be detached from the columns  30 ,  40 . The shelf  80  can be detached again from the columns  30 ,  40  only when the slide  85  with the bolts  86  is pushed back to the unlocking position shown in  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic view of a further support device, namely an equipment rail  90  on a column  30  of the medical equipment trolley from  FIGS. 1 to 9 . The equipment rail  90  can be connected to the medical equipment trolley  10  as an alternative or in addition to the shelf described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 9 . The equipment rail  90  comprises a spar  100  which, in the intended use of the equipment rail  90 , is arranged in particular horizontally or substantially horizontally and therefore orthogonally with respect to the column  30 . The equipment rail  90  comprises several engagement hooks  91 , each with a straight portion  92  and with a portion  93  angled in relation to the straight portion  92 . The engagement hooks  91  are similar to or correspond in particular to the engagement hooks of the shelf described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 9 . The engagement hooks  91  are rigidly connected to a first plate  94 , for example joined by welding or soldering. A bore  95  is provided in the first plate  94 . Two screws  96  are provided on the side of the first plate  94  facing away from the engagement hooks  91 . The screws  96  are inserted into the first plate  94  such that not only their heads  98  but also respectively part of their shank  97  protrudes from the first plate  94 . 
         [0087]    The equipment rail  90  further comprises a second plate  104 , to which the spar  100  is rigidly connected. The screws  96  connected to the first plate  94  engage through slits  107  in the second plate  104 , wherein the shanks  97  of the screws  96  lie in the slits  107 , and the heads  98  of the screws  96  on the one hand and the first plate  94  on the other hand bear on opposite sides of the second plate  104 . A pin  106  is rigidly connected to the second plate  104 , in particular being inserted into a corresponding bore in the second plate  104  and being connected thereto with a frictional fit, cohesive fit and/or form fit. The pin  106  protrudes from the second plate  104  in a direction counter to the spar  100 . The pin  106  is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a horizontal axis  105 . 
         [0088]    The pin  106  engages through the bore  95  in the first plate  94  and into an opening  72  on the column  30 , into which one of the engagement hooks  91  engages in particular at the same time. The pin  106  acts as a bolt which, in its locking position shown in  FIG. 10 , provides a form fit that suppresses a lifting of the engagement hook  91  and therefore a separation of the equipment rail  90  from the column  30 . A cover cap  108  encloses the plates  94 ,  104  and secures their connection described below. 
         [0089]    The way in which the equipment rail  90  can be connected to the column  30  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 16 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 11  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the column  30  and of the first plate  94  with the engagement hooks  91  and the screws  96 . The nature of the view, in particular the sectional plane, corresponds to that of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 11  shows a situation in which the first plate  94  and the engagement hooks  91  are spaced apart from the column  30 . Arrows indicate a movement with which the engagement hooks  91  can be inserted into openings  72  in grid bars  70  in the column  30 . 
         [0092]      FIG. 12  shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of the column  30  and of the first plate  94  with the engagement hooks  91 . The nature of the view, in particular the sectional plane, corresponds to that of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0093]    In  FIG. 12 , the hooks  91  are inserted into openings  72  in accordance with the arrows in  FIG. 11 . For this purpose, the engagement hooks  91  were first of all inserted completely into the openings  72  with a horizontal movement parallel to the straight portions  92  of the engagement hooks  91 , after which, by means of a vertical movement, the portions  93  at an angle in relation to the straight portions  92  were moved behind the webs  73  between the openings  72 , such that the angled portions  93  engage behind the webs  73 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 13  shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of the equipment rail  90  from  FIGS. 10 to 12 . The nature of the view, in particular the sectional plane, corresponds to that of  FIGS. 10 to 12 . 
         [0095]    An arrow indicates how, by means of a horizontal movement of the unit composed of spar  100 , second plate  104  and pin  106 , the pin  106  can be inserted through the opening  95  in the first plate  94  and into an opening  72  in the grid bar  70 . The inherently rigid unit composed of spar  100 , second plate  104  and pin  106  is rotated here about the axis  105  by an angle of approximately  90  degrees with respect to the position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 14  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail  90  from  FIGS. 10 to 13 . The nature of the view corresponds to that of  FIG. 1 , while the situation shown corresponds to the one shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0097]    The second plate  104  has two slits  107  for receiving the shanks  97  (cf.  FIGS. 10 to 13 ) of the screws  96 . After the pin  106  has been inserted fully through the bore  95  in the first plate  94  and into an opening  72 , i.e. when the second plate  104  bears on the first plate  94 , the unit composed of spar  100 , second plate  104  and pin  106  can be pivoted about the axis  105  defined by the pin  106  and the bore  95  (cf.  FIGS. 10 to 13 ) in the first plate  94 . This pivoting movement is indicated in  FIG. 14  by an arrow. 
         [0098]      FIG. 15  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail from  FIGS. 10 to 14 . The nature of the view, in particular the orientation of the drawing plane, corresponds to that of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 15  shows the stable position, also shown in  FIG. 10 , after the unit composed of spar  100 , second plate  104  and pin  106  has been pivoted according to the arrow shown in  FIG. 14 . In this stable position, the shanks  97  (cf.  FIGS. 10 to 13 ) of the screws  96  engage through the slits  107  in the second plate  104 , and the heads  98  of the screws  96  hold the second plate  104  with a form fit on the first plate  94 . The form fit between the screws  96  on the first plate  94 , on the one hand, and the slits  107  of the second plate  104 , on the other hand, permits not only a transfer of forces and moments from the spar  100  to the engagement hooks  91 , it furthermore also holds the pin  106  in its position locking the connection between engagement hook  91  and openings  72 . 
         [0099]      FIG. 16  shows a further schematic view of the equipment rail  90  from  FIGS. 10 to 15 . The nature of the view, in particular the orientation of the drawing plane, corresponds to that of  FIGS. 14 and 15 . In  FIG. 16 , and as is also shown in  FIG. 10 , the cover cap  108  is turned over the plates  94 ,  104 . In the position shown in  FIGS. 10 and 16 , the cover cap  108  can he held by locking lugs (not shown in the figures) or by other mechanisms. The cover cap  108  can be designed to generate a tactile and/or acoustic signal perceptible to humans when the position shown in  FIGS. 10 and 16  is reached. The cover cap  108  holds the second plate  104  in the position shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  15  and  16  relative to the first plate  94  and thus secures the form-fit connection between the two units of the equipment rail  90  and the locking of the connection between the equipment rail  90  and the column  30 . 
       REFERENCE SIGNS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  medical equipment carrier 
           20  base of the medical equipment carrier  10   
           21  roller unit on the base  20   
           22  vertical pivot axis of the roller unit  21  (steerability) 
           30  first column of the medical equipment carrier  10  (rear center) 
           37  channel on the first column  30  for arid bars  70   
           40  second column of the medical equipment carrier  10  (front left, right, arranged with mirror symmetry) 
           47  channel on the second column  40  for arid bars  70   
           60  bridge 
           70  grid bar on a first column  30  or on the second column  40   
           72  opening in the grid bar  70   
           73  web between two openings  72  in the grid bar  70   
           80  shelf (support device) 
           81  engagement hook on shelf  80   
           82  straight portion on the engagement hook  81   
           83  angled portion on the engagement hook  81   
           84  rivet for securing the engagement hook  81  on the support device  80   
           85  slide on the shelf  80   
           86  bolt on the slide  85  for locking the connection between engagement hook  81  and opening  72   
           87  locking lug on the slide  85   
           88  screw head on the engagement hook as mating piece for locking lug  87  on the slide  85   
           89  pin on the shelf  80  for engaging in opening  72   
           90  equipment rail (support device) 
           91  engagement hook on equipment rail  90   
           92  straight portion on the engagement hook  91   
           93  angled portion on the engagement hook  91   
           94  first plate on the engagement hook  91   
           95  bore in first plate  94   
           96  screw on first plate  94  for engaging in slit  107  on second plate  104   
           97  shank of the screw  96   
           98  head of the screw  96   
           100  spar 
           104  second plate at one end of the spar  100   
           105  axis about which the spar  100  and the second plate  104  are pivotable 
           106  pin (bolt) on the second plate  104  for locking the connection between engagement hook  91  and opening  72   
           107  slit in second plate  104  for receiving the screw  96  on first plate  94   
           108  cover cap for holding the spar  100  and the second plate  104  in the stable position