Over-bed table

July 15, 1941.

2,249,455

J. B. CALDWELL

OVER-BED TABLE

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July 15, 1941.

2,249,455

J· B. CALDWELL OVER-BED TABLE

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A)

Patented July 15, 1941

2,249,455

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,249,455 OVER-BED TABLE John Bigelow Caldwell, Buffalo, N. Y. Application. July 3,1940, Serial No. 343,815

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in overbed tables of that type which have a top adapted to be supported crosswise over a bed by upright legs or supports at the opposite ends of the table, arranged to straddle the bed so that the table can be moved or rolled on the floor over an end of the bed to place the top in a desired position over the bed. - Such tables also usually include elevating means for raising and lowering the table top to adjust it to an elevation suitable for con- 10 venient use for one or another purpose by an invalid or person occupying the bed, as for instance, for supporting food, tableware or other articles, when eating, making one’s toilet or performing other operations.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an over-bed table of this type which is of a desirable and practical, novel construction. Other objects of the invention are to provide an overbed table which is of strong and rigid but simple, relatively light and inexpensive construction; and which is of stable, attractive and pleasing appearance.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will -appear from the following specification of two slightly different embodiments of the invention, illustrated in -the accompanying drawings, .and the novel· features of the· invention are set forth, in the appended claims.

. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, on a reduced scale, of one embodiment-of my invention, showing by full and broken lines -different vertical adjustments of the table top.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional plan of one end 35 thereof, on an enlarged-scale, on-the plane of line 2—2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the top frame of the table, the table top being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing a slightly modified embodiment of the invention. .

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view- of the modified construction, on line 5—5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, slightly enlarged, on line B—S, Fig. 2, showing the elevating means for the table top.

Fig. 7 is a broken, longitudinal, sectional elevation on an enlarged-scale, on lineΊ—7, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a transverse,-sectional elevation on line 8—8, Fig. 7.

In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings,’ the· table comprises two -upright end supports er standards -disposed at-opposite ends of the table so as to-straddle a (Cl. 311—39) bed, and a vertically adjustable frame which carries the table top and is provided with upright end panels or portions which are slidable vertically on the end standards to enable the frame to be adjusted by suitable screw or other elevating or adjusting means to place the top at different desired elevations.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3 and 6, each of the two end supports or standards comprises a horizontal base bar or member 10, which is supported from the floor, preferably by swivelled casters 11, of any suitable type, and vertical, outer guide members i 2 and an inner tube or member 13 disposed centrally between and parallel with the outer members 12. The vertical members 12 and 13 are rigidly secured at their lower ends by welding or otherwise to the base 18, and the base and vertical members 12 and 13 may be, and 20 preferably are of hollow or tubular sheet metal construction, and each of the vertical tubes 12 and 13 may be of the square, round or rectangular cross-sectional shape shown.

The vertically adjustable frame which supports 25 or carries the table top, in the form illustrated, includes a horizontal top frame having parallel side rails 14 and end rails 15 rigidly connected to the ends of the side rails. These rails may be metal channel bars, and may be rigidly connected 30 to each other by welding or otherwise. 16 indicates a transverse rail of angle or other form extending between and rigidly connected to the side rails 14 intermediate of the end rails for strengthening the top frame.

Vertical end panels or frame parts 17, preferably formed by sheet metal plates, are rigidly attached to and extend downwardly from the top frame at the opposite ends of the table, and each panel is provided at its inner side with outer vertical tubular guide members 18, located at the opposite vertical edges of the panel, and a central, vertical tubular member 19. Said members 18 and 13, respectively telescopically engage or are slidable vertically on the outer and central 45 members 12 and 13 of the upright end supports.

As shown in Fig. 2, the vertical edge portions of the panel· plate 17 are bent to form the outer, tubular members 18, which conform in cross sectional shape to and are adapted to surround and 50 slidably engage the outer guide members 12 of the adjacent end support, the edges of these bent portions being secured, as by spot welding, to the inner face of the panel plate 17. The central tubular member 19 may consist of a metal tube which may, if desired, be welded or otherwise

2,249,455 rigidly secured on the inner side of the panel plate, said tube being of a cross sectional shape conforming to and adapted to slide on the central member 13 of the end support. Preferably the upper portions of the panel plates 17 extend upwardly outside of the end bars 15 of the top frame to the top thereof, and have their top end portions 20 (see Figs. 3 and 7), bent inwardly into abutment with the end bars 15, and the outer tubular members 18 are notched at their upper ends, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 7, to receive the top end bars 15. The end bars 15 may be welded to the contacting portions of the tubular members and the intmned top edges 20 of the panel plates to form rigid and finished connections between the top frame and the vertical ends or panels of the adjustable frame.

This adjustable frame is further stiffened and strengthened by braces 22 located in the corners between the horizontal top frame and the panel plates 17 . and rigidly attached thereto. Each brace 22 is preferably formed by a sheet metal plate bent into a channel form, having an inclined bottom wall 23 and parallel vertical walls 24, the outer edge portions of which straddle the central tubular member 19 and may be welded thereto. The two corner braces 22 at opposite ends of the table are preferably also connected, as by welding, to the opposite ends of a transverse tubular member 27. The space between each end of the tubular member 27 and the adjacent transverse end frame member 15 is preferably closed bythe horizontal top wall 25 of aninverted U-shaped cover member 26. This member has spaced parallel side walls 28 which extend downwardly and overlap the side walls 24 of the braces 22. If desired, self-tapping screws 29 may be extended through the abutting walls 28 and 24 to secure the cover memberin position. The inner ends of the top walls 25 of the cover members preferably extend over and rest upon the adjacent end portions of the tubes 27, while the outer ends of said wall portions 25 are extended beneath the lower flanges of the top frame members 15. Thus, the adjustable frame, although of comparatively light weight, is nevertheless of strong and rigid construction, and with the telescopic engagement of the tubular members with the vertical members of the end supports, it forms a firm connection between the two end supports, which results in a stable, rigid table which will stand firmly without weaving ot relative angular motion of its parts, notwithstanding the wide separation and considerable height of its end supports, which are connected only by the vertically adjustable frame.

The elevating mechanism shown for adjusting the frame vertically comprises vertical screw shafts 30, one housed in the central telescoping tubular members 13 and 19 at each end of the table. Each screw shaft 39 turns in the threaded opening of a nut 31 fixed in the upper portion of the support member 13 and turns and is held from endwise movement in a suitable bearing 32 fixed in the tubular frame member 19, so that by appropriately turning the two screw shafts, the frame may be raised or lowered and supported in the desired position. The two screw shafts 30 may be rotated simultaneously and correspondingly by a horizontal shaft 33 extending through ' and adapted to rotate in suitable bearings 34 in the horizontal tube 27 of the frame and having fixed thereon bevel pinions 35 each meshing with a bevel pinion 36 fixed on the upper end of one of the screw shafts 30. At one end, the horizontal :

G5 operating shaft 33 extends out through an opening 37 in the vertical end panel 17 at one end of the table and may be turned by a crank or handle 38 applied to the projecting end of the shaft. The crank or handle preferably has a removable operating engagement with the end of the shaft so that it can be removed and hidden from view when not in use.

The braces 22 and the corresponding cover i members 26, together form enclosures or gear boxes which enclose the opposite outer or extended ends of the shaft 33 and conceal the bevel gears 35 and 36.

Now referring to the modified construction shown in Figs. 4-8, this is similar to· that illustrated in Figs. 1-3, and above described, except in the following particulars.

The vertical end panel plates 17α of the adjustable frame are of less height or shorter vertically, and the tubular members of the frame extend downwardly below the lower ends of the panels and are constructed and secured to the panels as follows: The outer tubular members 18α are formed by metal tubes separate from the panel plate, and the side edge portions 40 of each panel plate are bent first inwardly and then laterally parallel t₀ the plate, so as to embrace each tube !8a at three sides thereof, and the tubes may be secured by welding in these bent embracing portions of the panel plate. In this construction also, an inner vertical plate 41 is nrovided which extends from the inner side of one tHh!^ri^ta^Ube ‘!^{a t0 fclle inner side of the other} outer tube 18α and is provided with outbent flanges 42 ^e,^xt8nd the inner plate to the outer Panel plate at the inner faces of the tubes 18α lhe corners between the body and outbent ^pⁿK^Sf m ^{he inner plate 4}‘ ^{abut agains}t and are prefeiabiy welaed to the inner vertical edges of the bent tuoe-embracing portions of the outer ‘'% ™^{S inner plate} forms an additional strengthening and bracing connection Pd^snff^ ^tubular members 18α at the outer and thP ί?® νΓ¹⁰*^{1 ends of the} adjustable frame and the box-like structure formed of the corner substanti«r^an^ ^thi^{e C0}-^Ver members 26α which are substantially similar in formation and function o the braces 22 and covers 26 formerly described Ss Sin th^{le Side WallS 28 of the cover} memw. ^{2 case exten}d into vertical open^th8 mner Plates 41 and have flanges 43 41 pt tb °^{Uier vertlcal edges} engaging the plates ⁴ at the outer sides thereof. This construction is particularly desirable for tables in which it may othpr^eSrpp^d’ ^{as a} matter of appearance, or for other reasons, to have the end panels 17α of less height than in the construction first described

A table top of any usual or desired material and construction may be provided and secured in any fremp^{Pnate manner on top} °f the adjustable 11 cLITlc»