Connector arrangement

Abstract

A connector arrangement for detachably interconnecting sections of an operating table. The arrangement includes a first component ( 1 ) for associating with a first section of the operating table and a second component ( 3 ) for associating with a second section of the operating table. The first component ( 1 ) includes a housing ( 5 ) having an aperture ( 17 ) therein, and a latch assembly ( 7 ) having a latch member ( 18 ) biased to extend into the aperture ( 17 ). The second component ( 3 ) includes a projecting leg ( 9 ) adapted to be received within the aperture ( 17 ). The leg ( 9 ) includes a restraining surface ( 33 ) engageable with the latch member ( 19 ). The second component ( 3 ) further includes a release mechanism ( 13 ) for moving the latch member ( 19 ) between a locked position in which the latch member ( 19 ) engages with the restraining surface ( 33 ) to prevent withdrawal of the projecting leg ( 9 ), and an unlocked position in which the latch member ( 19 ) is disengaged from the restraining surface ( 33 ) thereby enabling separation of the components ( 1, 3 ).

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A connector arrangement for detachably interconnecting sections of an operating table, the arrangement including a first component for associating with a first section of the operating table and a second component for associating with a second section of the operating table, the first component including a housing having an aperture therein, and a latch assembly having a latch member biased to extend into the aperture, the second component including a projecting leg adapted to be received within the aperture, the leg including a restraining surface engageable with the latch member, the second component further including a release mechanism for moving the latch member between a locked position in which the latch member engages with the restraining surface to prevent withdrawal of the projecting leg, and an unlocked position in which the latch member is disengaged from the restraining surface thereby enabling separation of the components. 
   
   
       22 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  1  wherein the release mechanism is in part located within a recess in the projecting leg. 
   
   
       23 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  2  wherein the recess is a tunnel within the projecting leg and a main body of the second component. 
   
   
       24 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  3  wherein the release mechanism includes a release rod housed within the tunnel. 
   
   
       25 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  4  wherein the release rod includes an end section for moving the latch member to the unlocked position. 
   
   
       26 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  5  wherein the release rod is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the release rod to push the latch member to the unlocked position. 
   
   
       27 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  5  wherein the end section of the release rod includes a release notch engageable with an end surface of the latch member. 
   
   
       28 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  4  wherein the release rod is rotatable between inactive and active positions, wherein the latch member remains in the locked position when the release rod is in the inactive position and the unlocked position when the release rod is in the active position. 
   
   
       29 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  8  wherein the latch member moves from the locked position to the unlocked position when the release rod is rotated from the inactive to the active position. 
   
   
       30 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  4  wherein the longitudinal axis of the release rod is offset from a longitudinal axis of the projecting leg. 
   
   
       31 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  1  wherein a longitudinal axis of the latch member is offset from a transverse axis of the release rod. 
   
   
       32 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  11  wherein the restraining surface lies in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch member. 
   
   
       33 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  1  wherein an end of the projecting leg includes a lip member over which the latch member rides during insertion of the projecting leg into the aperture. 
   
   
       34 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  13  wherein the restraining surface is a side wall of the lip member. 
   
   
       35 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  14  wherein the lip member includes a top surface which intersects the restraining surface at an edge. 
   
   
       36 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  15  wherein the edge is aligned with an end surface of the latch member when the latch member is in the unlocked position. 
   
   
       37 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  8  wherein the release mechanism further includes a rod biasing means for biasing the release rod to the inactive position. 
   
   
       38 . An arrangement as claimed in claim  1  wherein the first component is integrally formed with the first section and the second component is integrally formed with the second section. 
   
   
       39 . An operating table including a first and second section interconnected with an arrangement as claimed in claim  1 .