OVERBED TABLE

• US 3,854,428 A
• Filed: 05/14/1973
• Issued: 12/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene Henry Fullenkamp
• Original Assignee: Eugene Henry Fullenkamp
• Inventors: Fullenkamp, Eugene Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Frazier, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marquette, Darrell
• Application Number:
  US05/359,980
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 108/146,144,136 248/407,408,409,423
• US Class Current: 108/146
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/046 C-shaped bed tables, e.g. foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20

Abstract

A table including a base carrying a vertical telescopic support for a horizontal, cantilevered, table surface. The telescopic support includes a locking mechanism for vertically positioning the table surface and includes friction means for automatically disengaging itself to permit upward movement without undesirable sound, and for positive reengagement upon downward movement. To permit such downward movement, a manual unlatch means is provided to override the positive engagement feature, and is operable only in an upward direction.

Claims

1. In a hospital table having a base vertically supporting a first member with a second member telescopically mounted thereon and having a table cantilevered from said second member, the improvement comprising:

a. Surface means having spaced notches vertically carried by one of said members;

b. A detent mechanism carried by said other member and having a pawl means engageable with said notches for normally precluding downward telescopic movement of said second member and friction means continuously engaging said pawl means and said surface means for automatically disengaging the pawl means upon upward telescopic movement of said second member;

c. Mechanical unlatch means carried by the other member and attached to said pawl means for manually unlatching said detent mechanism for downward telescopic movement of second member.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said detent mechanism comprises:

a. A housing having an open area through which the pawl means extends for engagement with said notches; and

b. A shaft supported by said housing and pivotally mounting said pawl means.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 in which said friction means comprises discs mounted on said shaft and having a flat surface engaging said pawl means and having a portion of its circumference engageable with said surface means.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which said detent mechanism includes resilient means mounted on said shaft for biasing said pawl means towards said notches and for biasing said discs against said pawl means.

5. A locking assembly for telescopic members comprising:

a. A rack having teeth means caRried by one of said telescopic members;

b. A detent mechanism carried by said other member and having a pawl for engaging the teeth means of said rack to lock same against telescopic movement in one direction and having friction means carried adjacent said pawl and engaging said rack for automatically disengaging said pawl to permit free movement in the other direction without undesirable sound; and

c. Mechanical means for unlatching said detent for movement in said one direction.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 in which said detent mechanism comprises:

a. Pivotal means mounted on said other member for pivotally supporting said pawl;

b. Resilient means carried by said detent mechanism for biasing said pawl to an engaging position with said teeth means; and

c. Friction discs engaging said pawl and said rack for disengaging said pawl to permit movement without undesirable sound in the other direction.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 in which said detent mechanism comprises:

a. A housing;

b. A shaft carried by said housing for pivotally supporting said pawl;

c. Friction means on said shaft frictionally engaging said rack and said pawl for pivotal movement therewith;

d. Spring means biasing said pawl outwardly, but permitting pivotal movement thereof in response to a rotational force directed against said friction means.

8. A hospital table comprising:

a. A base;

b. Lower and upper telescopic members vertically supported on said base;

c. A flat surface member carried by said upper member;

d. A rack and pivotal pawl for engaging same carried by said upper and lower telescopic members respectively, for locking the upper member against downward telescopic movement, and for permitting upward telescopic movement, said pawl carrying means continuously engaging said rack for causing automatic disengagement of said pawl upon upward telescopic movement;

e. Lever means carried by said upper member for pivotal movement in a vertical plane for disengaging said pawl for permitting downward telescopic movement of the upper member only upon upward vertical movement of said lever.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 in which said means for causing automatic disengagement includes friction discs engaging said pivotal pawl and said lower member.

10. In a table having a base vertically supporting a first member with a second member telescopically mounted thereon and having a table cantilevered from said second member, the improvement comprising:

a. A detent mechanism carried by one of said members and having engagement means for normally engaging a surface of the other member for precluding downward telescopic movement of said second member;

b. Friction means carried adjacent said engagement means and coacting with a surface of the other member for automatically disengaging the engagement means upon upward telescopic movement of said second member; and

c. Unlatch means carried by one of said members and attached to said engagement means for unlatching said detent mechanism for downward telescopic movement of said second member.