GB2158349A

GB2158349A - Overbed table

Info

Publication number: GB2158349A
Application number: GB08412161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Barnes
Original assignee: Doherty & Sons Ltd Edward
Current assignee: Doherty & Sons Ltd Edward
Priority date: 1984-05-11
Filing date: 1984-05-11
Publication date: 1985-11-13
Also published as: GB2158349B; GB8412161D0

Abstract

A cantilever overbed table for use by patients in hospitals and nursing homes comprises an upright telescopic post and a table top mounted on the upper end of the post, the post being composed of inner and outer telescopic members (24, 26) one of which supports wheels (32) arranged to move along respective tracks (36) on the other telescopic member. Each track (36) is so designed as to embrace peripheral portions of its respective wheel (32) on both sides of the rotational axis of the latter to an extent such that lateral pivoting movement of the table top about the longitudinal axis of the post is substantially prevented. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Overbed table This invention relates to cantilever overbed tables for use by patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

Overbed tables comprise, in many instances, a wheeled chassis or some other form of floor support which carries an upright post having a table top at its upper end. Frequently the upright post is of telescopic form so that the height of the table top can be adjusted.

Where a telescopic form of post is used, it has been found difficult in the past to prevent twisting movement of the outer telescopic member with respect to the inner telescopic member. This means that the outer part of the table top, i.e., the part remote from the upright post, can often be swivelled laterally through quite a large angle. This is not really acceptable as the table top ought to be as rigid as possible when it is extended over a patient's bed.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a telescopic post in an overbed table which is so constructed as to inhibit such lateral swinging movement of the table top.

With this aim in view, the invention is directed to an overbed table having a telescopic post which supports a table top at its upper end, in which either the inner telescopic member of the post or the outer telescopic member of the post is provided with at least one wheel which moves along a track in the other telescopic member as the post is extended or retracted, the track being so designed as to embrace peripheral portions of the wheel on both sides of its axis to an extent such that lateral pivoting movement of the table top is substantially prevented.

An example of an overbed table in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of the table; Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line Il-Il in Fig. 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of one of the wheels provided in the telescopic post of the bed; Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line V-V in Fig. 3; and Figure 6 is a rear view of the wheel shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The overbed table shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upright telescopic post 10, a table top 1 2 mounted at the upper end of the post, a cross-plate 14 attached to the lower end of the post, and two parallel support members 1 6 and 1 8 provided with castors 20 and 22, respectively. As will be seen, the post 10 joins the table top 1 2 at one end of the latter so that the table top is supported in cantilever fashion. This permits the post 10 to be brought near to the side of a bed with the table top extending over the bed.

The telescopic post 10 comprises an inner telescopic member 24 connected at its lower end to the cross-plate 14, and an outer telescopic member 26 the upper end of which is connected to the table top 1 2. Both these members 24 and 26 are of hollow section.

The provision of a telescopic post such as this enables the height of the table top 1 2 to be varied according to the height of the bed and the needs of the patient. The means by which the telescopic post is held in any particular extended or retracted position do not form part of the present invention and are not therefore shown in the drawings.

A disadvantage of existing overbed tables having telescopic posts is that a certain amount of twisting movement can take place between the inner and outer telescopic members 24 and 26. The result is that the outer end 28 of the table top, i.e., the end remote from the telescopic post 10, can frequently be swung laterally through quite a large angle.

Such lateral swinging movement of the table top 1 2 is unsatisfactory as the table top should naturally be as stable as possible when in position over a patient's bed.

In order to overcome this disadvantage while permitting relative movement between the inner and outer telescopic members 24 and 26 longitudinally of the post 10, the inner telescopic member 24 has a throughshaft 30 on the ends of which are supported two wheels 32 made of nylon. These wheels have hub portions 34 of substantial length (see Fig. 4) which tightly embrace the shaft 30 so that lateral twisting movement of the wheels 32 on the shaft 30 is excluded.

Each wheel 32 is arranged to move along a respective track 36 which is so designed as to embrace peripheral portions 38 of the wheel on both sides of its axis of rotation to an extent such that lateral pivoting movement of the table top 1 2 is substantially prevented. As can be seen from Fig. 2, each track 36 has rounded portions 40 which correspond in shape to the rounded peripheral surface of the wheel 32.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the inner telescopic member 24 is of hollow rectangular shape and is made of metal such as steel or aluminium alloy. The outer telescopic member 26 is generally barrel-shaped in section and is preferably an aluminium or aluminium-alloy extrusion. It might also be possible however for the outer telescopic member to be made of an extruded synthetic plastics material provided the latter is one of the tougher forms of plastics available on the market.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides a simple means for preventing undesirable lateral swinging movement of the table top 12.

Claims

1. An overbed table having a telescopic post which supports a table top at its upper end in cantilever fashion, in which either the inner telescopic member of the post or the outer telescopic member thereof is provided with at least one wheel which moves along a track in the other telescopic member as the post is extended or retracted, the track being so designed as to embrace peripheral portions of the wheel on both sides of its axis to an extent such that lateral pivoting movement of the table top about the longitudinal axis of the telescopic post is substantially prevented.

2. An overbed table according to claim 1 having two such wheels mounted one on each side of the inner telescopic member and supported on a shaft which passes through the inner telescopic member.

3. An overbed table according to claim 2, in which the wheels have hub portions of substantial length which tightly embrace the shaft so that lateral twisting movement of the wheels on the shaft is excluded.

4. An overbed table according to any one of claims 1-3, in which the track or tracks for the wheel or wheels have rounded portions when seen in section which correspond in shape to a rounded peripheral surface on the wheel or each wheel.

5. An overbed table according to any preceding claim, in which the inner telescopic member is of hollow generally rectangular shape and is made of metal such as steel or aluminium alloy.

6. An overbed table according to any preceding claim, in which the outer telescopic member is generally barrel-shaped in section and comprises an aluminium, aluminium alloy or synthetic plastics extrusion.

7. An overbed table according to any preceding claim, in which the lower end of the telescopic post is mounted on a wheeled chassis.

8. An overbed table substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.