US3409287A - Heel stirrup assemblies - Google Patents

Description

G. R. CHERVENKA HEEL STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES Nov. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOR GEORGE R. CHERVENKA WNW 5, 1968 G. R. CHERVENKA 3,409,287

HEEL STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOR GEORGE R. CHERVENKA ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,409,287 HEEL STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES George R. Chervenka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Afliliated Hospital Products, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,345 16 Claims. (Cl. 269328) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heel stirrup assembly mounted on a physicians examining table. The assembly includes a channel-like track secured to the table and having a slide mounted therein. A bar is connected to the slide at one end for movement about two axes, and at its other end is provided with a hinge-mounted heel stirrup. A height adjuster element is mounted on the table beyond the end of the track, and it includes a pair of legs of different heights which are rigidly affixed to one another so as to form a right angle. The height adjuster element is shiftable between two positions, one in which the long leg is presented vertically and the other in which the short leg is presented vertically. The legs are provided with upwardly opening notches for reception of the bar, while the bar is provided with downwardly presented notches for reception of the vertically presented leg.

This invention relates in general to heel stirrup assemblies for physicians examining tables or other medical furniture and, more particularly, to heel stirrup assemblies adaptable for use with patients of varying sizes.

Heretofore, for the diagnosis and treatment of female disorders, it has been common practice to equip physicians examining tables with heel stirrups which are presented in outwardly and upwardly spaced relation to the table for reception of the patients heel. If the stirrup is rigidly secured to the table, it not only interferes with the physicians movements when not in use, but also becomes a dangerous protuberance. Tables have been developed having stirrups which fold back and downwardly out of the way, thereby obviating the aforementioned defect. Tables equipped with such stirrups, however, often cannot adequately accommodate patients of varying stature. For example, such stirrups may be too high and widely spaced for a short patient, while being too low and close together for a tall patient. Thus, the patient must often assume a position which is not only uncomfortable, but also does not lend itself to proper diagnosis.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide physicians examining tables having heel stirrups which are capable of assuming a plurality of spaced positions beyond the examining table.

It is another object of the present invention to provide heel stirrup assemblies of the type stated which, when not in use, can be stored within the examining table so as not to obstruct the physicians movements.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide heel stirrup assemblies of the type stated which are attractive in appearance, rugged and durable in construction, and economical to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a physicians examining table showing the heel stirrup assemblies, constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, mounted thereon, the right heel stirrup being operatively positioned so as to accommodate a patients right heel, and the left heel stirrup being in the retracted position;

3,409,287 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the right heel stirrup assembly constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partially broken away and in section, of a left heel stirrup assembly constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, and showing the bar engaging the outer notch in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a heel stirrup assembly forming part of the present invention, and showing the heel stirrup folded downwardly on top of the bar in dotted lines;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a heel stirrup assembly forming part of the present invention and showing the bar in an elevated position; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates heel stirrup assemblies which are secured to an examining table T, the table T being illustrated and described in a co-pending application pertaining to such tables. For convenience of reference, however, examining table T includes a cabinet section 1 having a top cover 2. Hingedly secured to cabinet section 1 in upwardly spaced relation to top cover 2 '15 a body supporting means 3 including a seat section 4.

Each of the stirrup assemblies A includes a track or slide channel 5 having top and bottom walls 6, 7, respectively, connected along one of their transverse margins by a bight portion or vertical wall 8. Along their opposite transverse margins the top wall 6 and bottom wall 7 are provided with co-planar opposed vertical flanges 9. Near each of its ends, the top wall 6 is provided with a downwardly projecting pin 10, for purposes presently more fully appearing. Rigidly secured to the outwardly pressented face of vertical wall 8 is a support channel 11 which, in turn, is bolted or otherwise fastened to the top face of top cover 2.

By reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that two slide channels 5 are secured to the top cover 2 in parallel relation to the transverse side margins thereof and beneath the seat section 4 in close proximity to the transverse side margins thereof. It should be noted that the slide channels 5 may be fastened to the top cover 2 by any suitable method, the support channel 11 being described only for convenience of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Since one stirrup assembly A is merely a mirror image of the other, the description of the stirrup assemblies A will continue by using reference numerals directed to the left stirrup assembly A, that is to say, the one adapted to receive the patients left heel when he patient sits on the seat section 4, it being assumed that anyone skilled in the art could, without difiiculty, construct a right stirrup assembly A by reference to the description and FIG. 2 which is a plan view thereof.

The slide channel 5 accommodates a slide 12 including a moveable channel 13 having a vertical bight portion 14 provided along its transverse margins with spaced parallel flanges 15. As will be noted by reference to FIG. 6, the bight portion 14 and flanges 15 are sized respectively to fit vertically and laterally in the slide channels 5 whereby to permit longitudinal sliding therein, but to preclude lateral removal of the slide 12 therefrom. Facewise welded to the outwardly presented face of bight portion 14 of moveable channel 13 and projecting outwardly therefrom between the opposed flanges 9 of slide channels 5 is a spacer element 16. Welded to the opposite face of spacer element 16 so as to be presented in outwardly spaced parallel relation to the opposed flanges 9 is a bar 3 17. Slide 12 is centrally drilled in the provision of a bore 18 which rotatably accepts a hinge stud 19.

Hinge stud 19 includes an enlarged body portion 20 provided with two opposed parallel flattened lands 21 which are centrally drilled to accept a pin 22. Projecting from body portion 20 perpendicular to the axis of the pin 22 in the formation of a shoulder 23 is a threaded shank 24 which is sized to fit rotatably within the bore 18, the shoulder 23 being in rotatable abutment with the outer face of the bar 17. The hinge stud 19 is held within the slide 12 by spring Washer 25 and a nut 26, which fit within the confines of slide channels 5 and moveable channel 13. Thus, slide 12 with hinge stud 19 projecting outwardly therefrom is free to move longitudinally within slide channels 5, endwise removal thereof being prevented by pins 10 which strike the upper flange 15.

Hingedly secured to the hinge stud 19 by pin 22 is a stirrup bar 27 provided with a yoke 28 which slidably receives the lands 21 and is drilled to accommodate the pin 22. At its opposite end on each of its laterally presented side faces, the bar 27 is provided with upwardly presented fork-forming elements 29 which are fitted with a pin 29, the axis of the pin 29 being in spaced perpendicular relation to the axis of the pin 22. Intermediate its ends the bar 27 is bent slightly inwardly toward the plane defined by the vertical wall 8 of slide channels 5 and on its downwardly presented face, that is to say, the downwardly presented face as seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a plurality of notches 30 for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Journaled on the pin 29 for limited rotation thereon above the bar 27 is a heel stirrup 31 provided with an aperture 32 sized to accommodate a patients heel and integrally including a shank 33 which fits slidably between the fork-forming elements 29 where it receives the pin 29'. At its free end the shank 33 is squared off in the formation of an abutment 34 which bears against the upper face of bar 27 whereby to preclude rotation of the stirrup beyond an angle approximately 90 to the centerline of bar 27. As illustrated in FIG. 4, heel stirrup 31 folds down onto the upper face of bar 27, when not 1n use.

Provided for cooperation with bar 27 is a stirrup height adjuster 35 which is operatively secured to the upper face of top cover 2 beyond, but in close proximity to, the end of slide channels 5. Stirrup height adjuster 35 includes hinge leaves 36, 37 which are joined by a hinge pin 38, the hinge leaf 36 being bolted or otherwise securely fastened to the top cover 2 so that the axis of hinge pin 38 is perpendicular to the plane defined by the vertical wall 8. Rigidly fastened to the moveable leaf 37, is an angled adjuster element 39 having a short plate or leg 40 and a long plate or leg 41, the legs 40, 41 being perpendicularly disposed to each other. The common margins of the legs 40, 41 are parallel and in close proximity to the hinge pin 38 as best seen in FIG. 5. Opposite their common margins the legs 40, 41 are provided with a plurality of notches 42 which are sized to receive the bar 27.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be observed that the height adjuster 35 is capable of assuming two positions, that is to say, a first position wherein the short leg 40 is presented vertically, and a second position wherein the long leg 41 is presented vertically. In the first position hinge leaves 36, 37 are in facewise abutment, while in the second position the short leg 40 is in facewise abutment with the top cover 2. Since the bar 27 is partially supported on the height adjuster 35, its height must necessarily depend on the position of adjuster element 39.

At this juncture it should be noted that the right heel stirrup assembly A is a mirror image of the left heel stirrup assembly A. The differences, which become obvious when one compares FIGS. 2 and 3, are slight and limited to an opposite bend in stirrup bar 27 and an opposite disposition of slide channels 5 and support channel 11 on the top cover 2.

When stirrup assembly A is not in use, the heel stirrup 31 is folded down on the top face of bar 12, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and the bar 27 is pushed inwardly on the slide 12 until the heel stirrup 31 is beneath the seat section 4. The adjuster element 39 is set so that the short leg 38 is presented upwardly and the bar 27 is permitted to engage the center notch of the notches 42. In such position the stirrup 31 and the bar 27 are housed beneath the seat section 4 and, consequently, do not protrude beyond the end of the table where they would otherwise interfere with the movement of the physician.

When the physician desires to use heel stirrup assembly A, he need only pull the bar 27 outwardly from its retracted position until one of the notches 42 of adjuster element 39 engages the notches 30 of bar 27. The heel stirrup 31 is then swung upwardly until the abutment 34 bears against the upper face of bar 27. Subsequently, the position of heel stirrups 31 in space beyond the end of examining table T is adjusted by using various combinations of notches 30 and 42. For example, to increase the lateral distance between the left and right heel stirrups 31, the bars 27 are placed in the outer notches 42. To increase the distance which the stirrups 31 are presented beyond the end of the table T, the notches 30 on the bar 27 which are closer to the hinge stud 19 are used. The height of stirrup 31 above the floor can be raised by using the notches 42 of the long leg 41 or, in other words, having the long leg 41 presented vertically. Thus, the heel stirrups 31 are capable of assuming a multitude of positions in space beyond the end of examining table T whereby to correctly accommodate patients of varying stature.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the heel stirrup assemblies may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slide and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and a support carried by the furniture for engaging the bar in spaced relation to the slide so that said heel stirrup is held in spaced relation to said furniture.

2. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slide and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and a support mounted on the furniture and adapted to engage the bar in spaced relation to the hinged juncture of the slide and bar so that the heel stirrup is held in spaced relation to said furniture.

3. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and adjusting means carried by the furniture for engaging the bar in a plurality of locations thereon which are located in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the slide and bar so that said heel stirrup is held in any one of a plurality of positions in spaced relation to said furniture.

4. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slide for movement about two axes, said bar being provided with a heel stirrup at its other end, and adjusting means mounted on the furniture and having a plurality of upwardly opening notches adapted to receive the bar in spaced relation from the hinged juncture of the bar and slide so that said heel stirrup is held in any one of a plurality of positions in spaced relation to said furniture.

5. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said examining table, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide, a heel stirrup secured to said bar at its opposite end, said bar being provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of notches, and adjusting means for optionally holding said heel stirrup in a plurality of positions in spaced relation to said table, said adjusting means being adapted to engage said notches.

6. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and an upstanding plate secured to said table for supporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being provided with a plurality of upwardly presented notches for engaging said bar.

7. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, said bar being provided with a plurality of notches intermediate its ends, and an upstanding plate secured to said table for supporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being sized to engage said notches.

8. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and an upstanding plate secured to said table for supporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to preclude pivotal movement of said bar on said plate, said bar being provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said upstanding plate whereby to preclude longitudinal movement of said bar on said slide means.

9. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, a hinge means secured to said table, and a height adjuster element fastened to said hinge means for supporting said bar intermediate its ends, said height adjuster element including first and second legs, said height adjuster element being adapted to move on said hinge means from a first position wherein said first leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table to a second position wherein said second leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table whereby to support said stirrup at different heights in spaced relation to said table.

10. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 9 in which said first and second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar.

11. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 9 in which said first and second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar, and said bar is provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said first leg or second leg, whichever is upstanding, whereby to preclude longitudinal movement of said bar on said slide means.

12. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a substantially straight track secured to said examining table, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide and provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, a hinge including first and second leaves held together by a hinge pin, said first leaf being rigidly fastened to said table in close proximity to said track so that the axis of said hinge pin is perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the longitudinal centerline of said track, and a height adjuster element fastened to said second leaf for supporting said bar inter-mediate its ends, said height adjuster element including first and second legs, said height adjuster element being adapted to move on said hinge from a first position wherein said first leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table to a second position wherein said second leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table whereby to support said stirrup at different heights in spaced relation to said table.

13. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 12 in which said first and second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar.

14. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 12 in which said first and second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar, and said bar is provided with a plurality of notches sized to engage said first leg or second leg, whichever is upstanding with respect to said table, whereby to preclude longitudinal movement of said bar on said slide means.

15. A heel stirrup assembly for a physicians examining table; said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to the examining table, a slide slidably carried by the track, a bar pivotally secured at one end to the slide, a heel stirrup hingedly connected to the opposite end of the bar, and adjusting means for optionally holding the heel stirrup in a plurality of positions in spaced relation to the table.

16. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture; said heel stirrup assembly comprising a bar, a heel stirrup On one end of the bar, mounting means on the furniture and being in engagement with the bar, the mounting means affording extensible movement of the bar with respect to the furniture, and an upstanding adjusting member carried by the furniture in spaced relation to the mounting means for engagement with the bar, the adjusting member having a plurality of upwardly opening notches adapted to receive the bar, said bar being provided with a plurality of downwardly opening notches which engage the adjusting member whereby the heel stirrup can be supported in a plurality of positions in spaced relation to the furniture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1957 Spielberg 269--328 8/1963 Adolphson 297--430

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