Massage table with secure lock legs

• US 20060260516A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earthlite, LLC
• Original Assignee: Earthlite Massage Tables, Inc.
• Inventors: Chow, William W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,256,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/009 Physiotherapeutic tables, beds or platforms; Chiropractic or osteopathic tables with incorporated massage means A61H2201/0138
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/105 Portable, foldable or collapsible tables, e.g. for surgery or treatment portable, foldable or collapsible chairs for surgery or dental treatment A61G15/002

Abstract

A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage includes a table top assembly and a leg assembly. The table top assembly supports the person. The leg assembly is secured to the table top assembly and supports the table top assembly above the surface. The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs. At least at least one of the legs includes (i) a first leg section that is attached to the table top assembly, (ii) a second leg section that is movable relative to the first leg section to adjust the position of the table top assembly relative to the support, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section. In one embodiment, the section attacher includes a section stop and a section clamp. The section stop inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. The section clamp also selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. With this design, in certain embodiments, the leg is designed to inhibit relative movement between the leg sections to insure quiet use of the massage table.

Claims

1. A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage, the massage table comprising:

a table top assembly; and

a leg assembly that is secured to and supports the table top assembly above the surface, the leg assembly including a plurality of legs, wherein at least one of the legs includes (i) a first leg section that is attached to the table top assembly, (ii) a second leg section that is movable relative to the first leg section to adjust the position of the table top assembly relative to the support, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section, the section attacher including a section stop that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section, and a section clamp that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section.

2. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the first leg section includes a first aperture and the section stop includes a button, and wherein a portion of the button is designed to fit through the first aperture.

3. The massage table of claim 2 wherein the first leg section includes a second aperture and wherein the section clamp includes a threaded stud that fits through the second aperture.

4. The massage table of claim 3 wherein the section clamp further includes an internally threaded surface that is secured to the second leg section, and wherein the threaded stud is threaded into the internally threaded surface.

5. The massage table of claim 4 wherein the distance between the internally threaded surface and the button along a first axis is approximately equal to the distance between the first aperture and the second aperture along the first axis.

6. The massage table of claim 2 wherein the button includes an internally threaded surface and wherein the section clamp includes a threaded stud that is threaded into the internally threaded surface of the button.

7. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the section clamp includes a threaded stud that can be threaded into an internally threaded surface that is coupled to the second leg section.

8. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the section clamp deforms a portion of at least one of the leg sections to inhibit substantially all relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section.

9. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the leg assembly includes four spaced apart legs and each of the four legs includes a first leg section, a second leg section, and a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section, for each leg, the section attacher includes a section stop that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section, and a section clamp that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section.

10. The massage table of claim 1 wherein a portion of the second leg section fits and moves within the first leg section.

11. The massage table of claim 1 wherein each of the legs is pivotally secured to the table top assembly.

12. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the table top assembly includes a first table top, a second table top, and a hinge assembly that pivotable secures the first table top to the second table top.

13. A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage, the massage table comprising:

a table top assembly including a first table top, a second table top, and a hinge assembly that pivotable connects the table top sections together; and

a leg assembly that is secured to and supports the table top assembly above the surface, the leg assembly including a four space apart legs, wherein each of the legs includes (i) a first leg section that is attached to the table top assembly, (ii) a second leg section that is movable relative to the first leg section to adjust the position of the table top assembly relative to the support, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section, the section attacher including a section stop that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section, and a section clamp that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section.

14. A method for making an adjustable-height massage table, the method comprising:

providing a table top assembly; and

supporting the table top assembly with a support assembly that is secured to the table top assembly, the support assembly including a leg assembly having a plurality of legs, wherein at least one of the legs includes (i) a first leg section, (ii) a second leg section, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section, the section attacher including a section stop that selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section along a first axis, and a section clamp that selectively inhibits substantially all relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of supporting includes the first leg section having a first aperture and the section stop having a button, wherein a portion of the button is designed to fit through the first aperture.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of supporting further includes the first leg section having a second aperture and the section clamp having a threaded stud that is designed to fit through the second aperture.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of supporting includes securing an internally threaded surface to the second leg section and threading the threaded stud into the internally threaded surface.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of supporting includes securing an internally threaded surface to the second leg section and threading the threaded stud into the internally threaded surface.