US3499529A - Physician's examining table - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1970 J. M. KATZFEY ETAL 3,499,529

PHYSICIAN'VS EXAMINING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f Inz/enZ'Zmx- ZzmesMKaZ' I" lllarrmzlfiezg s g m Original Filed Oct. 11, 1965 March 10, 1970 M, K T ETAL 3,499,529

PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLE Original Filed 001;. 11. 1965 II lI-I I I I l l I I l I l l |l Ill N3 EN Q MW qmw ll'llll'll Illllnllllulllll 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wk 3 NQ 3% g RN 3 March 10, 1970 J. M. KATZFEY ET AL PHYSICIAN'S EXAMINING TABLE Original Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .w%n@ mkkiiiii I I N United States Patent C 3,499,529 PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLE James M. Katzfey and Warren J. Peterson, Two Rivers, Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Original application Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,853, now Patent No. 3,348,893, dated Oct. 24, 1967. Divided and this application Feb. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 617,581

Int. Cl. A61g 13/00 US. Cl. 269--325 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is a division of applicants copending application Ser. No. 494,853, filed Oct. 11, 1965 now patent No. 3,348,893.

This invention relates to a physicians examining table including an articulated upholstered top .and a supporting structure therefor which is designed to raise and lower the upholstered top. The upholstered top is contoured to restrain a patient from accidentally rolling off the top, particularly while the top is being raised and lowered, and to prevent excessive wear at the point of articulation.

Physicians examining tables presently in use usually comprise a cabinet which rests on the floor and an upholstered top which is secured to the top of the cabinet.

The top is frequently provided in two sections which are hingedly connected together.

Such tables have a fixed height, which is usually designed for the convenience of a physician of average height. However, a table of this height is very often inconvenient for a patient because considerable effort may be required of the patient to climb onto it. In the case of a patient suifering from a heart condition, considerable danger to the patients health may be involved, and this may also be true for a very heavy patient. Very frequently, a physician must permit such a patient to rest for, say, fifteen minutes after he has climbed onto the table, until the patients pulse rate settles down, before be ginning his examination.

Similar difficulties are also encountered after the patient is in a sitting position on top of the table and must be placed in a reclining position. For heart patients and very heavy persons, it is often dangerous as well as difficult to go from a sitting position to a reclining position and, later, vice versa while on an examining table.

Further the longitudinal upper edges of the upholstered top of an examining table are usually round and gradually slope downwardly from the upper level of the top. For a very young and also for very old patients, such a contour is not desirable because such a patient may easily roll over an edge and accidentally fall off the table, or at least be fearful that he might do so.

In accordance with the present invention, an examining table is provided including an upholstered top and a supporting structure therefor, wherein the supporting structure includes power operated means for raising and lowering the upholstered top. The top is articulated and a second power operated means is provided for tilting one portion 'ice of the top relative to another portion. A cover is provided over the top, and at the point of articulation of the top, means is provided forming a smooth curve in the top, such smooth curve presenting a good appearance and reducing excessive wear of the cover.

To make a patient comfortable and to restrain him from accidentally rolling 01f the top or at least to give him a feeling of security while reclining upon it, the head end of the top includes a raised pillow portion and the longitudinally extending upper sides of the top are raised.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an examining table embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the foot end of the table;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the table showing an upholstered top thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of the top of the table;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away of the structure shown in FIG. 7.

In greater detail, a Physicians examining table embodying the invention comprises a base 21 which is adapted to rest on the floor, a cabinet 22 which is sup ported by the base 21, and an upholstered top 23 which is secured to the upper surface of the cabinet 22. The cabinet 22 is generally rectangular and preferably has storage space formed therein, such as a plurality of drawers 24 and 25 and a shelf which is closed by a door 27. The cabinet 22 also preferably supports stirrups 28 and 29. An electrical control panel 32 is also mounted in the cabinet 22 for the purpose to be described hereinafter. In addition to the control panel 32, an auxiliary floor control panel 32' may also be provided.

The base 21 comprises two longitudinally extending, laterally spaced pedestals 33 and 34, the two pedestals being parallel and substantially identical, and each being of an inverted T shape and each having a fiat lower surface which rests on the floor. Adjacent both ends of each pedestal are raised portions or projections 36 and 37 having holes formed therethrough adapted to receive screws 39 which pivotally connect the pedestals 33 and 34 to a first power actuated mechanism for raising and lowering the cabinet 22 relative to the pedestals 33 and 34. The projections 36 are located 'at the foot end of the table and the projections 37 are located at the head end of the table. The previously referred to control panels 32 and 32' control the operation of first and second power units which respectively actuate the mechanism for moving the cabinet and a second power actuated mechanism for varying the inclination of a portion of the upholstered top 23 as will be described hereinafter.

The first power unit and mechanism is designed to move the cabinet, when energized, between a lowered position where a patient may sit down on the top of the table, and a raised position where a patient is at a height which is convenient for the examining physician.

The first power actuated mechanism comprises a foot end frame 41 and a head end frame 42 which are pivotally connected to the pedestals 33 and 34 at their lower ends and are pivotally connected to a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced base rails 43 and 44 at their upper ends. The foot end frame 41, comprises a pair of 3 laterally spaced arms 46 and 47 (FIG. 2) and a laterally extending cross brace 48 in the form of a cylindrical tube, and the head end frame 42 comprises similar members. Each of the arms 46 and 47 are rigidly secured as by welding to the associated cross braces 48 and may be made from generally rectangular tubing. The lower end of each arm is pivotally connected to the associated projections 36 and 37 of the pedestals 33 and 34 by the screws 39.

The ends of the cross braces 48 are provided with plates 66 which extend in parallel vertical planes and are securely welded to the ends of the braces 48. Each of the plates 66 extends outwardly beyond the outer surface of the associated brace 48 and a pin 68 is rigidly secured to each of the plates 66, the pins 68 extending laterally of the table outwardly from the sides of the associated plates 66. As shown in FIG. 2, the base rail 43 is pivotally connected to the pins 68 at one side of the table and the base rail 44 is pivotally connected to the pins 68 at the other side of the table. Each of the base rails 43 and 44 (FIG. 7) comprises a generally U-shaped channel member having one vertically extending relatively long arm and a relatively short arm, the long arm being adjacent the plates 66. Holes are formed through the arms and the pins 68 extend through the holes. To attach the cabinet 22 to the first power actuated mechanism, the longitudinally extending, vertical sides of the cabinet 22 are positioned with their lower edges in the rails 43 and 44 as shown in FIG. 2. Notches are provided in the lower edges of the sides of the cabinet adjacent the pins 68 to prevent interference between the pins 68 and the sides 76.

The two frames 41 and 42 are positioned such that the arms 46 and 47 extend parallel to each other, and the two frames 41 and 42 are connected together by a thrust member in the form of thrust tube 81 (FIG. 2) which maintains this parallel relation and which is located adjacent one side of the cabinet. The thrust tube 81 is positioned over the two cross braces 48 and is pivotally connected to the braces 48 by means of two pairs of arms 82. The arms 82 are secured as by welding to the cross braces 48 and extend substantially upwardly therefrom, and the arms 82 are pivotally connected to the ends of the thrust tube 81. The thrust tube 81 extends longitudinally of the table and substantially parallel to the pedestals 33 and 34, and since the tube 81 holds the two frames 41 and 42 in parallel relation, the two pedestals 33 and 34, the frames 41 and 42, and the tube 81 generally form the four sides of a parallelogram.

To swing the two frames 41 and 42 about the axes of the screws 39, and thus raise or lower the base rails 43 and 44 which are suspended from the upper ends of the frames 41 and 42, mechanism is provided including another pair of channel-shaped arms 91 (FIG. 2) which are rigidly secured as by welding to one cross brace 48 and extend generally parallel to the arms 82. Another pair of channel-shaped arms 92 are rigidly secured to the other cross brace 48. While the arms 91 extend generally upwardly and toward the foot and from the associated brace 48, the other arms 92 extend generally downwardly and toward the head end from the other brace 48, the arms 91 and 92 being substantially parallel with each other. Further, the one set of the arms 91 and 92 is longer than the other. In the present instance, the arms 91 are approximately twice as long as the arms 92.

When the frames 41 and 42 are pivoted around the axes of the screws 39, the arms 91 and 92, being rigidly secured to the frames 41 and 42, respectively, also swing about the axes of the screws 39, and since the arms extend in opposite directions, the distance between the outer ends of the arms 91 and 92 changes as the frames 41 and 42 are pivoted. When the frames 41 and 42 are upwardly inclined from the projections 36 and 37, the distance from the outer ends of the arms 91 to the outer ends of the arms 92 is greater than when the frames 41 and 42 are substantially horizontal. Since the cabinet is suspended from the upper ends of the frames, the cabinet will be in its raised position in the former instance and will be in its lowered position in the latter instance. This change in the distance between the outer ends of the arms 91 and 92 is utilized to effect a raising and lowering of the cabinet relative to the base. The unequal lengths of the arms changes the rate of pivotal movement of the frames with change in the distance between the ends of the arms.

A first hydraulic unit, indicated generally by the numeral 93, comprising a cylinder 94 and a longitudinally movable piston (not shown) having a connecting rod 96 secured thereto is provided for moving the ends of the arms 91 and 92 toward and away from each other. A solenoid actuated valve controls the flow of fluid into and out of the cylinder 94. The outer end of the connecting rod 96 is pivotally connected by means of pin 97 to the arms 91 adjacent their outer ends, and the cylinder 94 is pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms 92 by means of a link 98 and a stabilizer arm 99. The link 98 and the arm 99 are pivotally connected to the arms 92 by means of a pin 101, and the other end of the link '98 is connected to the cylinder 94 by means of still another pin. Since the connecting rod 96 may move only longitudinally relative to the cylinder 94, the assembly including the hydraulic unit 93 the link 98 and the stabilizer arm 99 all extend in a straight line between the pins 97 and 101.

When it is desired to raise the cabinet 22, fluid is forced into the cylinder in front of the piston, forcing the piston and the connecting rod 96 longitudinally toward the foot of the table relative to the cylinder. The distance between the pins 97 and 101 is increased, and this increase in distance causes the cabinet 22 to rise.

When the desired height is reached, the fluid in the cylinder is prevented by a valve from leaking out of the cylinder, and consequently the mechanism is locked in the raised position.

To lower the cabinet, the valve is opened and the Weight of the cabinet causes the piston and the connecting rod to move back into the cylinder as the fluid flows out of the cylinder from in front of the piston and into the cylinder at the back of the piston.

The upholstered top 23 is mounted on the upper surface of the cabinet 22, and includes a head end section 111 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) and a foot end section 112, both of the sections 111 and 112 being hingedly connected to the cabinet 22. With reference to FIG. 5, the head end section 111 comprises a substantially flat, generally rectangular support member 113 which may be made, for example, of a sheet of plywood, and two longitudinally extending aprons 114 and 115 which extend adjacent the two longitudinal sides of the member 113, and a laterally extending apron 115 adjacent the head end of the table, the aprons being U-shaped channels which are secured to the underside of the support member 113. Adjacent the head end of the section 111, the support member 113 is cut out as indicated at 116 to provide space for a roll 177 of tissue.

Similarly, the foot end section 112 also includes a support member 117 may also be made of plywood, and two longitudinally extending aprons 118 and 119 which are secured to the underside of the member 117. The aprons 118 and 119 are similar to the aprons 114 and 115 and are positioned, when the head and foot end sections 111 and 112 are horizontally disposed, in end-to-encl alignment with the aprons 114 and 115.

The head and foot end sections 111 and 112 are hingedly fastened to the cabinet 22 by two hinge plates 121 and 122, each of which is in the form of an angle. A horizontal arm of each of the plates 121 and 122 is rigidly secured to the cabinet 22 as by bolts or screws and the other or vertical arm of each of the hinge plates 121 and 122 extends upwardly laterally outside the adjacent ends of the aprons 114, 115, 118 and 119. On the inner face of the vertical arm of each of the hinge plates 121 and 122 is rigidly secured a plate 123 which extends upwardly above the upper edge of the associated plate 121 or 122,

and each of the plates 123 has a pair of longitudinally spaced holes formed therethrough, which receive pivot pins 124 and 126. The pins 124 are also pivotally connected to the aprons 114 and 115 of the head end section 111, by means of fingers 127 which are secured to the aprons 114 and 115 and extend upwardly above the aprons and between the adjacent ends of support members 113 and 117, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The pair of fingers 127 have holes formed therethrough which pivotally receive the pins 124, Similarly, the foot end section 112 is pivotally connected to the mounting brackets 121 and 122 by other fingers 131 which are secured to the aprons 118 and 119 adjacent the brackets 121 and 122. The fingers 131 also extend upwardly above the upper surface of the aprons 118 and 119 and have holes formed therethrough which receive the pins 126. Thus, the foot end section 112 may be pivoted about a horizontal axis defined by two pins 126, and the head end section 111 may be pivoted about another horizontal axis defined by the pins 124.

The table further includes a second power unit and mechanism for varying the inclination of the head end section 111 between a substantially horizontal position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, through an intermediate position, shown in full lines of FIG. 3, and a substantially vertical position, shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 3. The mechanism includes a lever 136 which is pivotally connected to the cabinet 22 and movably connected to the underside of the head end section 111. The lever 136 comprises a pair of parallel arms or rods which are pivotally connected by a pin 137 to two laterally spaced vertically extending walls of a frame 138. The frame 138 is a longitudinally extending member which is secured to the cabinet 22 below the upper surface of the cabinet, as shown in FIG. 3. The pin 137 is located substantially at the lateral center of the top wall of the cabinet, which wall is cut out to receive the frame 138. When the head end section 111 is in the horizontal position, the lever 136 extends, from the pin 137, upwardly and toward the head end of the table. As shown in FIG. 9, the lever 136 is bent substantially midway between its ends such that it bows downwardly when the head end section 111 is in the horizontal position.

At the outer or free ends of the two rods forming the lever 136, a roller 141 is rotatably connected to the lever 136 by a pin 142 (FIG. 3). A longitudinally extending guide 143, in the form of a downwardly opening channel (FIGS. 3 and 4) is secured to the underside of the head end section 111, and the roller 141 rolls along the length of the web of the guide 143 as the head end section 111 is pivoted. The edges of the vertically extending arms of the guide 143 are turned inwardly as indicated at 144, and the ends of the pin 142 normally extend between the portions 144 and the web of the guide 143 while the head end section 111 is inclined so that the head end section may not accidentally become disengaged from the lever 136. At the end of the guide 143 which is adjacent the head end of the table, the vertical arms of the guide 143 are cut away as indicated at 146 (FIGS. 3 and 4), so that the outer ends of the pin 142 may be disengaged from the guide 143 when the head end section 111 is in the horizontal position. Thus, if it is desired to disengage the head end section 111 from the lever 136, the head end section is first moved to horizontal position and then the head end section 111 may be manually lifted upwardly into an inclined position without moving the lever 136.

To pivot the head end section 111 upwardly to an inclined position, using the second power actuated mechanism, a second hydraulic unit 150 (FIG. 3) is connected to the lever 136 to pivot the lever 136 about the axis of the pin 137. The hydraulic unit 150 is similar to the unit 93, and comprises a cylinder 151, a piston (not shown) within the cylinder, a solenoid actuated valve 155 and a connecting rod 152 connected to the piston. The cylinder 151 and the connecting rod 152 extend longitudinally of the table and are positioned within the frame 138. The end of the cylinder 151 which is adjacent the head end of the table is secured to the frame 138. The connecting rod 152 is movable toward and away from the foot end of the table relative to the cylinder 151, and a yoke 156 is secured to the outer end of the connecting rod 152. A link 157 is positioned between the arms of the yoke 156 and one end of the link 157 is pivotally connected to the yoke 156 by a pin 158. The other end of the link 157 is positioned between the arms of the lever 136 and is pivotally connected to the lever 136 by still another pin 159. The connection of the link 157 with the lever 136 is at a point which is approximately one-fourth the distance from the pin 137 to the rollers 141, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, the pin 158 carries a pair of rollers 161 which are connected to the outer ends of the pin 158 on the outside of the arms of the yoke 156.

With reference to FIG. 3, assume that the head end section 111 is initially in the horizontal or lower position shown in the dashed lines, where the connecting rod 152 is retracted into the cylinder 151 and the lever 136 is substantially horizontal. To raise the head end section 111 the valve 155 is opened and a pump motor is energized to force hydraulic fiuid under pressure into the cylinder 151 in front of the piston (at the left end as seen in FIG. 3) to force the piston and the connecting rod 152 toward the foot end of the table. At the same time, fluid flows out of the cylinder from in back of the cylinder. The connecting rod 152 and the rollers 161 move longitudinally toward the front end of the table, the rollers 161 rolling along the bottom wall 162 of the frame 138 during such movement. The end of the link 157, which is connected to the pin 158 also moves longitudinally toward the foot end of the table, and such movement causes the link 157 to exert a force on the lever 136 tending to pivot the lever 136 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3, around the axis of the pin 137. The lever 136 is urged in the clockwise direction because the pin 159 is located above a line drawn between the pins 158 and 137 and the distance between the latter two pins decreases as the connecting rod 152 is moved toward the foot end of the table. Thus, the pin 159 and the lever 136 pivot about the axis of the pin 137 as the connecting rod 152 is forced toward the foot end of table, and upward swinging movement of the rollers 141 connected to the outer end of the lever 136 lifts the head end section 111 and causes it to pivot about the axis of the pin 124. As the head end section 111 is pivoted upwardly, the rollers 141 I011 along the length of the guide 143 and as the head end section 111 approaches a substantially vertical position, the rollers 141 approach the end of the guide 143, which is adjacent the foot end of the table. When the head end section 111 reaches a desired position, the valve 155 is closed and the motor is deenergized thereby locking the section 111 at that position. Subsequent opening of the valve 155 and energization of the pump motor in the opposite direction cause the fluid to be drawn out of the cylinder from in front of the cylinder and to be introduced into the cylinder at the back of the piston. The piston and the connecting rod 152 then retract into the cylinder 151. When the head end section 111 is in the horizontal position, it is supported on the upper wall of the cabinet by a pair of resilient bumpers or cushions 166 (FIG. 3) which are secured to the lower sides of the apron sections 114 and adjacent the head end of a cable.

The foot end section 112 of the top is normally in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 5, and is supported at one end by the pins 126 and adjacent its other end by a pair of resilient cushions 167 (FIGS. 4 and 5). A generally rectangular laterally extending support block 168 is hingedly connected to the upper surface of the cabinet 22 underneath the cushions 167. The width of the block 168 is substantially greater than its thickness, and when the block 168 is placed in one position its uppermost surface under the cushions 167 is relatively low and the foot end section 112 is substantially horizontal. To place the foot end section 112 in a slightly inclined position, the hinged block 168 is pivoted to place it on edge where its uppermost surface is higher than formerly, and the cushions1167 are then supported 'by the block 168 at a higher eve The upper surface of the top 23 is upholstered and covered with a relatively tough wear resistant material such as vinyl and the upholstering is designed to give a patient lying on the top a feeling of security and possibly to restrain a person from accidentally rolling off of the top. Over the support members 113 and 117 is provided a flat rectangular sheet 176 (FIGS. and 6) of resilient material such as foam rubber. The sheet 176 extends from the foot of the table up into a point 179 which is spaced from the head end of the table. Adjacent the head end of the table, at the portion of the support member 113 containing the cutout for the roll 177 of tissue, the support member 113 is built up by placing an additional sheet 178 of a material such as plywood over the top of the sheet 113 and securing it thereto as by gluing. The cutout 116 is thus then formed in both the sheet 113 and the sheet 178, and the sheet 176 of foam rubber extends up to the sheet 178 of the support means. In the lateral direction (FIG. 6), the sheet 176 extends to the points indicated by the numerals 181 and 182 which points are laterally spaced from the longitudinally extending side edges of the support members 113 and 117. As shown in FIG. 5, the

sheet 176 extendsover the gap formed between the adjacent ends of the sheets 113 and 117.

Secured to the upper surface of the sheet 176, as by gluing, is a cover 183 which may be made of a relatively tough material such as vinyl. The sheet 183 extends completely over the upper surface of the sheet 176, and at both longitudinally extending side edges of the sheet 176, the cover 183 includes an upper flap 184 and an inner flap 186 (FIG. 6). Similarly at the head end of the table (FIG. 5), the cover 183 extends beyond the point 179 and includes an upper flap 187 and a relatively short inner flap 188. At the foot end of the table, the cover 183 is sufficiently long to be folded over the end of the sheet 176 and underneath the support member 117.

Between the longitudinally extending side edges of the sheet 176 and the adjacent longitudinal edges of the support members 113 and 117 are positioned two foam rubber wedges 191 and 192 (FIG. 6). After the wedges 191 and 192 have been placed on the support members 113 and 117, the inner flaps 186 are folded over the tops of the wedges 191 and 192 and secured to the upper surfaces of the support members 113 and 117 adjacent the longitudinally extending side edges of the support members, as by stapling the flaps 186 to the support members 113 and 117. Thereafter, additional foam rubber wedges 193 and 194 are positioned over the tops of the inner flaps 186, and the outer flaps 184 are folded over the tops of the wedges 193 and 194, downwardly over the longitudinal side edges of wedges 193 and 194 and the longitudinal side edges of the members 113 and 117, and underneath the bottom surfaces of support members 113 and 117, and are secured to the members 113 and 117 as by stapling. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a bead 196 is preferably formed on the outer flaps 184 and is located such that these flaps are in the proper position to be secured to the undersides of the support members 113 and 117 when the beads 196 are at the lower longitudinal corners of the support members 113 and 117. The bead 196 preferably extends entirely around the cover 183, including the portions of the cover of the head end and at the foot end of the table, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wedges 193 and 194 have a substantial vertical dimension adjacent the side edges of the table, and the construction of the wedges 191 to 194 is such that the upper surface of the cover is highest adjacent the longitudinally extending side edges of the'top and slope downwardly and laterally inwardly to the points 181 and 182. Between the points 181 and 182, the upper surface of the top is substantially fiat, and a patient lying on the top 23 would normally be between the two points 181 and 182. While the wedges 191 to 194 are resilient, they are nevertheless firm enough to provide some resistance in the event a patient tended to roll off the top. Whether or not a patient tended to roll off the top, the presence of the raised sides alone is sufficient to give a patient a feeling or sense of security when reclining on the top.

At the head end of the table, a pillow is formed by a relatively large foam rubber wedge 202 (FIG. 5) which extends laterally of the table on top of the member 178 of the support means 113 and between the point 179 and the head end of the table. Underneath the edge of the wedge 202, which is adjacent the point 179 the member 178 is slanted downwardly and a relatively small foam rubber wedge 203 is positioned over the slanted edge of the member 178, and the inner flap 188 is stretched over the top of the wedge 203 and secured as by stapling to the member 17 8. At the ends of the wedge 202 additional wedges are positioned on top of the member 178, and then the outer flap 187 is laid over the tops of the wedges 202 and the additional wedges at the ends thereof, downwardly over the sides of these wedges, and folded underneath the support means 113 and secured thereto as by stapling. The wedge 202 and the additional wedges at the head end of the table thus provide a pillow which extends laterally across the head end of the top and, as shown in FIG. 1, the raised side edges of the top blend smoothly into the pillow portion.

After the cover 183 has been secured to the support members 113 and 117, a plate 204 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is positioned on the underside of the support member 113 and secured thereto and a plate 205 is positioned on the underside of the support member 117 and secured thereto. The plates 204 and 205 may be sheets of relatively thin, hard plastic, and they overlap the edges of the cover 183 on the underside of the top. The plates 204 and 205 extend longitudinally to the space or gap between the adjacent ends of the support members 113 and 117, and a laterally extending piece 206 of fabric-like material is positioned over the gap at the underside of the top and covers the gap. The aprons and the guide 143 are positioned on the lower side of the plates 204 and 205 and are secured to the support members.

Since the cover 183 extends longitudinally across the gap or space between the two support members 113 and 117, at both the sides and the underside of the top, special precautions must be taken to prevent tearing or excessive wear of the cover 183 at the hinge connection of the sections 111 and 112 with the cabinet. This is especially true in the present construction where the hinge axes for the two sections 111 and 112 are longitudinally spaced apart and are spaced upwardly from the lower surface of the top. To this end, two flexible bridging elements 210 and 211 are provided, which extend across the ends of the gap between theadjustment ends of the support members 113 and 117 at the longitudinally extending side edges of the members 113 and 117. As-shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the side edges of the'two support members 113 and 117, adjacent the gap, are notched as indicated at 212 and 213. The bridging elements have substantiallythe same thickness as the support members 113 and 117, and the width of the notches is substantially equal to the width of the bridging elements. In the present instance the bridging elements are substantially square in cross section as shown in FIG. 6. When the head end and foot end sections 111 and 112 are in the horizontal positions, the bridging elements extend longitudinally of the table and are substantially flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the support members 113 and 117, and flush with the side edges of the support members. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bridging elements 210 and-211 are secured-at their ends to the support members 113 and 117 by relatively long staples 214 which extend laterally inwardly from the side edges of the bridging elements through the bridging elements and into the two support members 113 and 117. Thus, the ends of the two bridging elements are rigidly secured to the support members 113 and 117 but are free to flex in their central portions when one of the two sections 111 or 112 is raised or lowered.

The bridging elements 210 and 211 are made of a material such as vinyl, and are flexible so that they may be bent in a smooth curve. Since the cover 183 overlies the elements at the sides and the underside of the top, the bridging elements and the portions of the cover at the hinge connection will be bent in smooth curves when one or both of the sections 111 or 112 are inclined. Such a smooth curve does not result in areas of the cover 183 which might be likely to wear out rapidly, and it presents a very neat appearance, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, because there is no gap between the two sections 111 and 112 and there is a smooth curve between them when one or both of the two sections are raised.

The power examining table has a principal advantage that the upholstering of the top 23 is such that a patient lying down on it has a sense or feeling of security because of the raised side edges of the top. The foam rubber, while resilient, nevertheless resists a tendency of the patient to roll off of the side, and the presence of the raised sides alone tends to make a patient feel more secure while lying down on the table, which is especially important while the top is being raised or lowered with a patient on it. Furthermore, the construction of the upholstered top at the hinge construction between the foot end and head end sections and the cabinet is such that a very neat appearance is presented and stress or wear areas which might tend to wear more rapidly than other areas are eliminated by the bridging elements at the lower side corners of the upholstered top.

We claim:

1. A physicians examining table comprising a top support, power operated means connected to said top support, for raising and lowering said top support, and an upholstered top positioned over and connected to said top support, said upholstered top including first and second support members longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween and both having upholstering material fixedly secured thereto, at least one of said support members being hinged to said top support at said gap, and said upholstering material extending continuously the full length and width of said first and second support members and across said gap therebetween, the upper surface of said upholstered top having a substantially flat longitudinally extending central portion and slightly raised longitudinally extending side portions to restrain a patient lying on said central portion from rolling olT either side of said upholstered top while said top support and said upholstered top are being raised and lowered by said power operated means.

2. A physicians examining table comprising a top support, and an upholstered top positioned over and connected to said top support, said upholstered top including first and second support members longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween and both having upholstering material fixedly secured thereto, at least one of said support members being hinged to said top support at said gap, and said upholstering material extending continuously the full length and width of said first and second support members and across said gap therebetween, the upper surface of said upholstered top having a substantially flat longitudinally extending central portion and slightly raised longitudinally extending side portions to restrain a patient lying on said central portion from rolling ofi either side of said upholstered top.

3. A table as in claim 2, wherein said support members are relatively rigid and flat, there being a strip of cushion material overlying the longitudinal central portion of said support members, and strips of thicker cushion material overlying the longitudinal side portions of said support members.

4. A table as in claim 3, wherein said strip of thicker cushion material on each side comprises a first layer having its inner longitudinal side substantially equal in height to the strip overlying the central portion of said support members, and a second layer overlying said first layer and having its upper surface slanting upwardly from the height of said strip overlying said central portion.

5. A table as in claim 4, wherein said upholstered top also includes a flexible cover overlying said strip on said central portion and extending laterally over said first layer at each side whereby said cover lies flat on said central portion, said cover having flaps along its longitudinal sides overlying said second layer.

6. A physicians examining table comprising a top sup- 25 port and an upholstered top positioned over said top support, said upholstered top comprising first and second sections, said sections respectively including relatively rigid longitudinally extending first and second support members, said support members being longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap between their adjacent edges, means pivotally connecting at least one of said support members to said top support for swinging movement of said one support member about a laterally extending axis which is adjacent said gap, flexible means extending longitudinally of the table across each end of said gap and secured to said first and second support members, said flexible means being substantially flush with the lower longitudinal corners of said support members at the sides thereof, said upholstered top further including a flexible cover extending over said gap and folded downwardly at the longitudinal sides of and under said support members and said flexible means, said flexible cover being fixedly secured to the underside of said support members, said flexible means bending in a smooth curve when said one support member swings about said axis and thereby maintaining the portions of said cover at the gap in a smooth curve.

7. A table as in claim 6, wherein both of said support members are pivotally connected to said top support on longitudinally spaced axes.

8. A table as in claim 6, wherein said support members are longitudinally notched at their side edges adjacent said gap, and said flexible means comprises two bridging elements mounted in and filling said notches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,161,436 12/1964 Hood.

3,178,169 4/1965 Kanzelberger 269-324 3,188,660 6/1965 Guttman 5-352 X 3,291,530 12/1966 Harrison 5345 X 3,334,951 8/1967 Douglass 312209 ROBERT C. RIGRDON, Primary Examiner LEON GILDEN, Assistant Examiner

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