US3089743A - Overbed table - Google Patents

Description

y 14, 63 L. w. HEYL 3,089,743

OVERBED TABLE Filed Sept. 2. 1960 2 Sets-$heet 1 ATTORNEYS.

L. W. HEYL OVERBED TABLE May 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 galbn Yp ATTORNEYS.

IN NTOR. qewzflf 4 BY Filed Sept. 2. 1960 Patented May 14, 1963 3,089,743 OVERBED TABLE Leo W. Heyl, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Institutional Industries, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,821 4 Claims. (Cl. 312227) This invention relates to an overbed table, and more specifically, to an overbed table having an improved table top construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide an overbed table equipped with a concealed tray and constructed in such a way that a user need not remove articles from the table top when the tray is to be used. Another object is to provide an overbed table in which the usable table top area does not diminish when the tray and mirror are exposed, unlike conventional overbed tables wherein a portion of the table top is hinged and is rendered unusable as a supporting surface when it is in its raised or inclined position. A further object is to provide an overbed table having a smooth and unbroken table top surface. In this connection, it is a specific object to provide an overbed table having a one-piece table top without the usual cracks or crevices which are found in the tops of conventional overbed tables and which pose problems in the effective cleaning and sterilization of such tables. A still further object is to provide an overbed table in which the article or articles placed within a storage tray or compartment beneath the table surface will be fully protected by the table top when that top is in its retracted position.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an overbed table embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the table illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the mirror in one of its raised positions;

FIGURE 4 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the mirror in another of its positions;

FIGURE 5 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 but showing the mirror in still an other of its raised positions;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the table showing the structure when viewed from above with both the table top and the vanity removed;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE l but showing the table top in retracted position.

In the illustration given, the numeral 10 generally designates an overbed table having a standard 11, base 12 and table assembly 13. Base 1 2 includes a leg 14 which is adapted to extend beneath a bed and which is equipped at its end with a foot element 15. If desired, a wheel or caster may be secured to or substituted for the foot 15. The base is generally T-shaped in configuration, the leg 14 constituting the stem of the T and cross member 16 constituting the cross portion of the T. Prefera bly, the legs of the cross member are equipped at their ends with casters 17.

The standard is rigidly secured at its lower end to base 12 and contains a screw member (not shown) having an operating handle 18 at its upper end. Frame 19 of the table top assembly slidably receives the standard and is threadedly supported by said screw so that upon rotation of said handle the elevation of the table assembly may be adjusted.

The present invention is concerned primarily with the table top assembly 116. This assembly essentially comprises a frame 19 adjustably secured to the standard, a vanity 20 removably supported by the frame, and a smooth imperforate table top 21 slidably carried by the frame.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be observed that the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected longitudinal and transverse horizontal members. Specifically, the frame has a pair of side members 22 bridged by an end member 23 and a pair of longitudinallyspaced transverse members 24- and 25. The connecting portion 26 of the frame which connects that frame to the standard is bolted or otherwise secured to a pair of longitudinal frame elements 27. Elements 27 are spaced closer together than side members 22 and are disposed between transverse members 24 and 25.

In the illustration given, transverse members 24- and 25 are formed integrally with a base plate '28- which extends beneath longitudinal elements 27 and also projects laterally beyond the side members 22. Those portions of transverse members 24- and 25 which also project laterally beyond the side members are apertured, as indicated in FIGURES 2 through 5, for slidably receiving the support bars 29 of the sliding top structure 21.

Transverse members 23 and .25 and side members 22 define a compartment for removably receiving vanity 20. Looking to FIGURE 6, it will be observed that both of the transverse members 23 and 25 are provided with opposing channel-shaped members 30 and 31. The two channel members are tipped on their sides so that they face each other. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 7, member 31 is provided with a top wall or flange 32 and a lower wall or flange 33. Similarly, member 30 has an upper flange 34 and a lower flange 35. A horizontal strap 36 extends longitudinally between the channel members and bridges the lower flanges 33 and 35 respectively. As shown in FIGURE 7, the strap, along with flanges 33 and 55, supports the tray 37 of the vanity.

Within channel member 31 is a leaf spring 38 having a pair of spring arms facing the other channel member 39. The distance between the opposing inner surfaces of the two channel members is greater than the maximum longitudinal dimensions of the tray 37 so that the tray may be moved longitudinally against the force of spring 38 when it is in the mounted position of FIGURE 7. It will be noted that the range of longitudinal movement of the tray is greater than the overhang of flange 34 so that when the tray is urged longitudinally against spring 38 the opposite edge of the tray will be released from beneath flange 34 and the tray may be easily removed from its compartment. Conversely, the tray may be easily slipped into position by urging one of its edges beneath flange 3-2 of the channel member 31, then moving the tray horizontally to compress the spring 3 8, and finally lowering the opposite edge of the tray beneath the flange 3-4- of the other channel member while at the same time releasing the tray for movement under the'influence of the leaf spring. I

Vanity 20 comprises the tray 37 and a mirror 39 con nected to the tray by pivot arms 40. As shown in FIG- URES 3 through 5, this arrangement permits the mirror to assume a variety of positions and, accordingly, it may be adjusted to suit the needs or preferences of the user. Links 40 are pivotally secured at their lower ends to the sides of tray 87 and are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the sides of mirror 39. In FIGURE 3, the weight of the mirror rests upon the tray and the arms serve as braces to prevent the mirror from dropping rearwardly. The mirror may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (when viewed as in FIGURE 3) until the parts assume the relative positions illustrated in FIGURE 5. In addition, the arms may then be urged rearwardly about their pivotal connections to the tray so that the center of gravity of the mirror is disposed beyond the trays outer limits, as shown in FIGURE 4. As already pointed out, the entire vanity is readily removable from the sup porting frame and, if desired, it may be reversed in position within its compartment so that the overbed table may be used with equal facility from either side.

The top structure 21 for the overbed table comprises a generally rectangular top member 41 providing a smooth, uninterrupted and imperforate table surface. The horizontal top member is spaced above frame 13 by depending legs 42 secured to the opposite ends of support rods or bars 29. Rods 29 are disposed in parallel relation on opposite sides of frame 13 (FIGURE 6) and are slidably received within the openings of transverse members 24 and 25 so that the entire top structure 21 may be slid between the extended position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the retracted position shown in FIGURES 3-5 and 8. It will be noted that legs 42 are of suflicient length so that top member 41 clears operating handle 18, frame 13 and collapsed vanity 20 as it is slid between its two positions.

When the top structure is in its extended position it overlies the frame and vanity and, since the top member is imperforate, protects the vanity as well as any articles contained therein from damage which might otherwise be caused should liquids or particulate matter drop through cracks or openings in the top surface. Thus, a user may place articles within the tray of the vanity and then proceed to use the top member of the extended top structure 21 as a supporting surface without fear that the articles might become damaged through seepage or leale age through the top.

When use of the vanity is required, the patient or nurse simply urges the top structure into its retracted position so that it overlies the standard and reveals the folded mirror. The mirror may then be raised for use in any of the three positions shown in FIGURES 3-5. The patient has full access to the tray and mirror without any loss of table top space. The top structure has been simply displaced or moved longitudinally and, as a result, any articles supported upon that top before movement into retracted position may remain undisturbed on that surface.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the invention in considerable detail it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, a table structure mounted upon said standard, said structure comprising a frame extending horizontally from one side of said standard adjacent the upper end thereof and being aflixed at one end thereof to said stand ard, said frame being provided with an open-topped compartment spaced laterally from said standard, a unitary table top mounted upon said frame for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety between a first position and a second position, and a mirror carried by said frame adjacent said compartment and movable between raised and lowered positions, said mirror when in lowered position being disposed below the level of said table top, said top when in said first position covering said compartment and lowered mirror and when in said second position being disposed above said standard and exposing said mirror and said compartment.

2. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, and a table structure mounted upon said standard, said table structure comprising a frame extending horizontally from one side of said standard adjacent the upper end thereof, an open-topped tray removably carried by said frame adjacent the free end thereof, a unitary table top mounted upon said frame for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety between a first position covering said tray and a second position revealing the same, and a mirror hingedly mounted adjacent said tray for movement between raised and lowered positions, said mirror when in lowered position extending generally horizontally below the level of said table top and being concealed by the table top when the same is in its first position.

3. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, a table structure mounted upon said standard, said structure comprising a horizontal frame and a unitary table top providing a smooth unbroken top surface, said table top being mounted for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety upon said frame, said table top being provided with a pair of horizontal parallel slide bars disposed therebelow, said frame being provided with apertured lateral members slidably receiving said bars for movement of said table top, said frame also being provided with a mirror and an open-topped compartment, said mirror being hingedly mounted for movement between lowered and raised positions, said mirror when in lowered position extending generally horizontally below the level of said slidable table top, said table top being slidable between a first position covering said mirror when the same is lowered and a second position exposing said mirror for movement into raised position.

4. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, and a table structure mounted upon said standard, said table structure comprising a frame etxending horizontally from one side of said standard adjacent the upper end thereof, an open-topped tray removably carried by said frame adjacent the free end thereof, a unitary table top mounted upon said frame for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety between a first position covering said tray and a second position revealing the same, and a mirror hingedly connected to said tray for movement between a lowered position therein and any of a plurality of selected raised positions, said removable tray and the mirror connected thereto being reversibly mounted upon said frame for use from either side of said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,581 Boule Dec. 22, 1903 2,535,112 Woody Dec. 26, 1950 2,547,642 Heuser Apr. 3, 1951 2,609,261 Parker Sept. 2, 1952 2,733,110 Berner et al. Jan. 31, 1956 2,749,197 Smith June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 739,507 France Nov. 3, 1932

Claims (1)

1. 2. IN AN OVERBED TABLE, A BASE, A STANDARD MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE, AND A TABLE STRUCTURE MOUNTED UPON SAID STANDARD, SAID TABLE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FRAME EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARD ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, AN OPEN-TOPPED TRAY REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE FREE END THEREOF, A UNITARY TABLE TOP MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION COVERING SAID TRAY AND A SECOND POSITION REVEALING THE SAME, AND A MIRROR HINGEDLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID TRAY FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, SAID MIRROR WHEN IN LOWERED POSITION EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TABLE TOP AND BEING CONCEALED BY THE TOP WHEN THE SAME IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION.

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