Medical examination table cover system having sterilizing means therefor

• US 4,003,704 A
• Filed: 03/26/1975
• Issued: 01/18/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark Medical Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mark Medical Supply Incorporated
• Inventors: Bull, Elmer G., Zurolo, Gabriel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolk, Morris O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garris, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US05/562,220
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 21/81, 21/91, 21/102 R, 21/54 R, 21/DIG. 2, 250/453-456, 250/492 R, 128/376, 128/377, 269/322-326, 297/221, 5/317 R, 312/209
• US Class Current: 250/455.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/0018 Physician's examining tables

Abstract

A medical examination table cover system wherein an endless web of sanitary cover material having a length several times the unit length of the table to be covered is guided on a course such that an area which has been used is moved into a sterilizing zone and retained there long enough for effective sterilization, while other areas are successively used and, in turn, subjected to sterilization; the movement of the web being effected by a motor controlled to advance the web by one unit length at a time, and the sterilization being effected by irradiation by fluorescent germicidal lamps.

Claims

1. A medical examination table cover system comprising an examination table having a patient-supporting upper surface and an enclosed chamber below said upper surface, an endless web of cover material, first means for guiding said web to cause a unit length thereof to lie in a position exposed on said upper surface, additional means for guiding other lengths of said web through said enclosed chamber, means for subjecting said other lengths to a sterilization procedure in said chamber, and feed means for moving the exposed unit length of the web from said upper surface into said chamber and another length of said web into said exposed position.

2. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 1, wherein said other lengths of said web are several times longer than said unit length.

3. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 1 wherein the table comprises a seat portion and a back portion, said portions being hinged together and each having a patient-supporting surface and an enclosed individual chamber below each said surface, the first web guiding means comprising two rollers journalled at opposite ends of said table portions to define the unit length of cover material, the additional guiding means comprising a plurality of rollers journalled within the back portion and the feed means comprising a feed roller journalled in the seat portion and driving means for said feed roller.

4. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 1 wherein the feed means includes a feed roller, a motor for driving said feed roller, and motor control elements for starting said motor and, after the feed roller has advanced the web a distance at least equal to said exposed unit length, for stopping said motor.

5. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 4 wherein said motor control elements include a star wheel for indicating the advancements to the web a distance at least equal to said exposed unit length and means on the feed roller for actuating the star wheel.

6. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 1 wherein said means for guiding other lengths of said web includes a plurality of rollers in said chamber, so disposed as to define a serpentine course of travel for said web.

7. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 6 wherein the sterilization means comprise fluorescent germicidal lamps.

8. A medical examination table cover system according to claim 7 wherein the lamps are disposed lengthwise of the chamber adjacent opposite edges of the web.