US2749197A - Hospital bed table - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1956 L. SMITH HOSPITAL BED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 21, 1952 INVENTOR. ea :5 25/ June 5, 1956 1.. SMITH 2,749,197

HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Fild June 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Ja e 577221 1 June 5, 1956 L. SMITH 2,749,197

HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Filed June 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5, 1956 L. SMETH HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Filed June 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4} lee c5722; Zfi

June 5, 1956 SMlTH HOSPITAL BED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 21, 1952 INVENTOR. lee 22;?

Gi f y United States Patent HOSPITAL BED TABLE Lee Smith, Ludington, Mich., assignor to Carrom Industries, Inc., Ludington, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application June 21, 1952, Serial No. 294,870. D6iviged and this application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 3 8, 48

3 Claims. (Cl. 31140) The present invention relates to hospital accessory and special utility tables and is concerned with articles of this class which are particularly adapted for use by immobilized, bedridden or other in-patients who may be physically restricted or confined under a wide variety of restraints.

The present invention is a division of my copending application Serial No. 294,870.

In order to be conformable with cleanliness and sanitation standards and meet with the latitude of adjustments which are characteristic of hospital type beds, a general purpose accessory table of this kind requires a considerable range of adjustability, facility toward accessibility and ease of regulation. Various special service provisions are needed in order to accommodate for the different requirements during use, both by the confined patient with possible limited ambulatory means and by the bedside attendant or doctor for the sake of efficiency.

Among the general considerations which influence the design and characteristics of an eflicient hospital table construction, cleanliness and the comforts and conveniences of the patient are paramount.

Thus, a totally satisfactory accessory table should have an uninterrupted top surface which can be wiped clean without debris falling through cracks or openingsinto the lifting mechanism, or from such mechanism onto the bed, yet will serve equally well for right or left hand access and be adjustable to different elevations in conformity with hospital beds without being inordinately heavy, bulky or awkward to handle.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a multiple-purpose utility table which serves as a hospital bed accessory and is characterized by an improved raising and lowering mechanism sealed against contamination and escape of material from the mechanism, yet includes an uninterrupted top surface and a wide range of adaptability with a control of utmost simplicity for universal adaptability on either the right or the left hand for universal access by patients in a hospital bed.

With these and other objects in view attention is now directed to the following detailed specification and to the annexed disclosure drawings in both of which corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple utility hospital table having embodied therein various features of the present invention and illustrated with its mirror and back rest board in utility position; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device viewed from an opposite vantage with certain of its concealable accessories shown partially exposed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding with the illustration in Fig. 2 with the mirror back rest acces- Figs. 2 and 4. The crank handle is pinned to means of a transverse key pin as at 47.

A conical thrust spring 48 confined within a circular- "ice Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 5, but showing the inclined back rest in vari ous of its alternative positions of utility;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately on line 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional plan detail view taken approximately on line 99 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional detail view taken approximately on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately on line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a smooth planar uninterrupted table top element 21 which may be made of hardwood veneer plywood or laminated composition, is secured as at 22 to a cast iron, cast aluminum, cast aluminum alloy of .8% copper, 8.0% of zinc, .4% of magnesium and 90.8% of aluminum sold under the trademark Tenzaloy or forged spider bracket 23 by means of recessed-head stud bolts 24. The spider bracket 23 has integrally formed with it a principal socket or hub 25 in which is snugly fitted and preferably welded a length of sturdy tubing 26.

The latter slidably receives an upstanding tubular beam 27 which is securely anchored in a hub formation 28 of a pedestal casting 29 which forms part of a rigid base framework and is matched by a companion pedestal casting 31.

In order to afford abundant stability against unbalancing, the two pedestal castings 29 and 31 are spaced apart and securely integrated by an intermediate tubular length of beam 32 which enters opposed sidewardly projecting hubs 33 and 34 in the castings 29 and 31, respectively.

The two pedestal castings 29 and 31 are contoured in.

gracefully sloping convergence, each from its intermediate or center body portion where it is largest towards its opposite extremities where each pedestal casting receives a swivel mounted caster'roller 35.

The'upstanding beam 27 is vertically slotted with a shallow but accurately milled key-way as at 36, Fig. 11, for the reception of an inwardly depressed portion 37 on the tube 26 produced by shearing the latter member as at 38 and then deforming the portion 37 inwardly. The snug confinement of portion 37 in the groove 36 secures the relative radial disposition of the tube elements 26 and 27 and as a consequence the table top 21 together with all of its carried parts is maintained parallel to the pedestal framework and particularly with beam 32 thereof.

As best revealed in Fig. 10, the top of tubular member 26 is closed by a transversely welded plate 39 having a central journal proportioned to receive the reduced diameter section 41 of a screw shaft 42. An end thrust bearing 43 comprising a frictionless ball bearing is interposed between the underside of plate 39 and the shouldered extremity of screw shaft 42 so that the weight borne by. the- vertical beam elements 27 and 26 may not develop a frictional strain or binding between the screw shaft 42 and a nut 44 on the internal tubular beam 27 which is preferably anchored rigidly in place by means of the pinion screws 45.

Rotation is imparted to the screw shaft 42 by means of a crank handle 46 proportioned as best indicated in shaft 42 by space 49 provided in the table top 21 urges an escutcheon plate 51 resiliently against the hub flange 52 of handle crank 46.

sequently results in acorresponding raising or lowering of the table top 21, which operation is limited in range only by the length of the threaded portion of shaft 42.

In order to provide an upper limit beyond which the table 21 may not be elevated a blocking or cotter pin 53 is provided which is inserted through the lowest opening in shaft 42. Accordingly, when nut 64 encounters the pin 53, the rotation of'shaft 42 in that direction will be arrested. A similar cotter pin 54 is inserted through the upper portion 41 of shaft 42' for the purpose of axially stabilizing the screw shaft with respect to transverse plate 39.

Near its pedestal end the table top 21 is arcuately rounded with relatively large radius curvatures while at its remote end it is correspondingly rounded but with minor radius curvatures. substantially rectangular unit which has an uninterrupted top surface that is easily kept clean in accordance with highest hygienic requirements. Moreover, it is to be noted that the table top 21 is at all times level so that it reliably supports medicine vessels, food dishes or other articles which may be placed upon it by the patient or by the attendants, and that it is comparatively secure against tilting because of its substantial balance throughout as well as because of its rigid pedestal post and height adjustment feature.

For the convenience of patients desiring to read or comb their hair, etc. an accessory built to operate like a drawer is slidably mounted on the bottom of the table top for selective use from either side of the table top. This accessory constitutes a rectangular frame 56, Fig. 9, made of side frame members 57, secured at their ends to front and rear frame members 58 and 59. Sturdiness is assured by the provision of corner blocks 61 shaped so that they flare as at 62 from the narrow heighth of theside frames 57 to the relatively greater height of the rear end frame 59'to provide'vertical as well as angular stability.

The slide frame 56 is supported between a pair of guide rails 63 and 64 which are secured to the undersurfaces of table top 21 as best indicated in Fig. 8. Each rail 63 and 64 is rabbeted along its guide surface with a wide groove 65 preferably located in the upper part thereof in which are placed certain strategically, as more fully described hereafter, located limit stops 66, 67, 68 and 69 (Figs. 2 and 3). The frame rail members 57 rest upon metallic flange plates 71 and 72, Fig. 8, which are offset and secured to the bottom edges of the guide rail and extend across the full width of the table terminating just short of the apron trims 73 and 74'onopposite sides of the table.

On its inner surface the rear rail 59 carries a pair of slide bolts 75 and 76, Fig. 8, frictionally mounted in housings 77 that are secured to the rail at the endsthereof. When extended the ends of bolts 75 and 76 project beyond the side frame members 57 where they are received in the rabbeted grooves 65 to cooperate with the stops 66, 67, 68 and 69. The bolt 75 on one side is disposed higher than the bolt 76 on the other side and is located to move within the upper portion of the groove 65 on that side while bolt 76 moves within the lower Stops 66 and 68 are located at opposite ends in the groove 65 f portion of the groove 65 on the'other side.

posite is true. The stop67" opposite stop 66 .is located in the lower portion of its groove 65, while stop 69at The table top is a smooththe other end is located in the upper portion of its groove 65.

By means of this arrangement full 180 reverseability of the slide frame 56 is attained. That is to say, by withdrawing the bolts 75 and 76 to clear the stops the entire frame 56 may be withdrawn from between the side rails 63 and 64 on one side of the table, turned 180, and reinserted from either side to open from the other side of the table 21, thereby accommodating right or left hand use depending upon which side the patient is when the table is rolled into place from one or the other side of the bed. After the frame 56 is inserted from either side with orientation as indicated in Fig. 5, the bolts are forced outwardly by a persons fingers with access had from the bottom through the open frame. Thereafter, the forward stops 66 and 67 constitute limits for the bolts 75 and 76 to prevent forward removal of the frame while the ends of the aprons overlapping the ends of the grooves 65 serve as back stops. Under these circumstances the bolts 75 and 76 do not encounter the rear stops 68 and 69 but instead permit the frame 56 to be pushed clear into the table until a rail 81 hinged to the front of the frame by hinge elements 84 and 85 comes into alignment with the apron rail 73.

For cushioning the back stops, small resilient pads of felt or rubber 82 are secured to the ends of the aprons where exposed by the grooves 65 to soften the engagement of the projecting bolts 75 and 76. On the other hand with the frame 56 arranged to open on the opposite side of the table as best indicated in Fig. l the bolts 75 and 76 are adapted to encounter the limit stops 69 and 68 inorder to prevent removal of the frame from thatside of the table, under which circumstances they are not interfered with by the limit stops 66 and 67. Thus, the frame may be inserted its full depth under symmetrically opposite conditions.

The hinger rail 81 is part of a second frame which carries amirror 86 and includes (Fig. 6) a backing panel 87, bounded by the hinger rail 81 itself in front, a back rail 88 and side frame elements 89 and 91. Grooves 90 in the rails 81 and 88 slidably receive the mirror edgewise therein'in supported relation as held in place by side braces 80 applied in suitable manner as by screws after the mirror is in place.

The entire mirror panel thus in its reposed position, Fig; 5 occupies very little space and rests snugly on the top of frame 56 so that it may be entirely concealed under the" table top 21'. By withdrawing the frame 56 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 until the rail 88 is clear of the tabletop 21, the mirror 86 may be raised and-then inclined-in any one of many positions of which twohave been illustrated in Fig. 6 in dotted and solid ouflines.

The an'gular'position or tilt imposed at will upon the niirror frame 86 at'an'y time is preserved by the combined positioning of slide frame 56 and the resting of the mirror frame against the edge of the table at the particular angle of inclination imposed on the mirror frame 86. This position is maintain'edand slippage or marring of associated parts is avoided by a pair of thick sponge rubber strips 93 a'nd 94 embedded in the side rails 88 and 91 (Fig. 7) as will now be discussed. V

The rubber strips 93 and'94 are preferably made of thick sponge rubber having a rough surface so astoprovide deep compressibility as well as a surface of a high coefficient of friction. Thus the corner edges 95 or 96 of the tabletop 21 (Pig. 6) bite deeply into the rubber strip at any degree of inclination of the mirror and thereby support the mirror at a given tilt withoutbeing' scarred o'r permittingslippage; Thus, not only do the strips serve' the purpose of preventing any damage, how ever slight, from being done to the table top corners and 96, butmoreo've'r, cooperate cushionwise these cornerst'o'pennifthem to become detents deeply embedded in the rubber to hold a given position. This'makes it possible to place heavy books, magazines or other objects on the mirror panel and use it as a book rest at an angle established to suit the convenience of the patient.

For the purpose of securely anchoring and retaining the rubber strips 93 and 94, the side frame members 89 and 91 are grooved deeply to receive these strips to a limited depth where they are cemented in place. This practice not only prevents the strips 93 and 94 from creeping and curling, but also it permits them to have additional thickness desired to improve their cushioning or compressibility when encountered by the table corners 95 and 96.

Since the tray 56 is insertable from either side of the table top 21, as already explained and since its sliding movement is similarly regulated by the slide bolts 75 and 76 encountering the limit stops 6669 the availability of the book rest mirror tray 86 is rendered universal while being totally concealable when not in use.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the treatment of the ends of the apron rails 73 and 74 are shown. Their ends at the free end of the table are squared and rounded with a finished corner. At the ends nearest the pedestal support the rails are curved as at 97, Fig. 1, with the side edges correspondingly filleted so that the table can be moved over an occupied bed with little, if any, possibility of catching in the bed clothing.

In order to achieve still more utility and efiiciency afforded by this design, the space between the apron rails 73 and 74 at the free end of the table 21'is utilized to capacity to receive stationary or other items of interest to patients. Each of the apron strips 73 and 74 are equipped on their facing side with suitable strips serving as tracks on which the adjacent edges of the drawer 101 is smooth and flush and so dimensioned as to conform artistically with the height and shape of the apron strips 73 and 74, when fully inserted.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to precise embodiments of structural detail, and the attainment of the objects is thereby understood, nevertheless, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hospital bed accessory, the combination of a mobile pedestal having at one end thereof an upstanding beam, a nut having a threaded opening carried at the upper end of the beam, a tube received in telescoping relationship over said beam including a plate closing the upper end of the tube and having an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the threaded opening, spider means carried by said tube, a table top supported on said spider and having an opening therethrough above said plate, a threaded shaft received in said beam through said nut and having an end extending above said plate, a crank received on the upper end of the shaft and having a downwardly facing shoulder at the level of the top of the table top, escutcheon means engaging said shoulder and terminating marginally flush with the upper edges of said opening in the table top, means intermediate said plate and escutcheon means for urging the latter against said shoulder, and means for maintaining said beam and tube against relative rotation.

2. A hospital overbed table comprising a pedestal having at one end thereof an upstanding tubular beam member closed at the top with a threaded opening therethrough, a tube received over said beam member closed at the top with a journal opening therethrough in axial alignment with said threaded opening, a table top supported on the upper end of said tube having an opening thereabove, a threaded shaft received in said tubular member and said threaded opening, said shaft having a reduced end portion journalled in said journal opening and extending into said opening, a shouldered portion beneath said journal opening and end thrust bearing means disposed between said journal opening and said shouldered portion of said shaft, a crank supported upon the upper end of the shaft for rotating said shaft, and an escutcheon plate flush with the top of the table disposed in sealed relationship with said crank.

3. A hospital overbed table comprising a pedestal having at one end thereof an upstanding tubular beam member closed at the top with a threaded opening therethrough, a tube received over said beam member closed at the top with a journal opening therethrough in axial alignment with said threaded opening, a table top supported on the upper end of said tube having an opening thereabove, a threaded shaft received in said tubular member and said threaded opening, said shaft having a reduced end portion journalled in said journal opening and extending into said opening, end thrust bearing means disposed between said journal opening and said shaft, a crank having a hub telescoping over the upper end of said shaft and including a transverse pin interconnecting the hub and the shaft, below the level of the table top, escutcheon means flush with the top of the table disposed in sealed relationship with said crank and resilient means for urging said escutcheon means upwardly to cover said pin, access to said pin for removal of the crank being had by depressing said escutcheon means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,174 Kusterle Mar. 14, 1933 2,249,455 Caldwell July 15, 1941 2,329,902 Hillenbrand Sept. 21, 1943 2,342,631 Hillenbrand Feb. 29, 1944 2,368,748 Doty Feb. 6, 1945 2,628,142 Dubach Feb. 10, 1953 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 2,659,571 Ferguson Nov. 17, 1953

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