Massage and therapeutic body work table

• US 4,333,638 A
• Filed: 12/10/1980
• Issued: 06/08/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Gillotti
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Gillotti
• Inventors: Gillotti, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US06/215,121
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 269/322, 269/327, 269/328, 269/321 CF, 269/902, 128/70-74, 108/35-36, 108/113, 108/130-132
• US Class Current: 5/613
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0064 Table leg assembly held in folded position by tension means
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/09 Furniture held together by tension cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/087 with struts supporting the legs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/072 for the head only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/901 Collapsible or foldable work holder supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/902 Work holder member with v-shaped notch or groove

Abstract

A massage and therapeutic body work table consisting of a top rectangular surface divided into two abutting demi-sections with peripheral border flanges, the demi-sections hingedly attached to each other at abutting borders and foldable to a parallel position. Handles are provided for ease in transport. Two pairs of adjustable height legs are hingedly attached at opposite ends of the table surface, the legs foldable into table surface'"'"'s housing. A truss system provides support with flexible chord members extending between the paired legs parallel to the table surface, and diagonal members extending from each leg to the table surface. The table is provided with a face rest extension inserted into the end of the table surface.

Claims

1. A portable, folding massage table to be subjected to forces parallel to the surface thereof as well as vertical loading comprising:

a pair of rectangular table top sections;

a peripheral border flange depending from each of said sections;

hinge members interconnecting the flange bottom edges of adjacent sides of said sections to enable folding of said table top sections from a working configuration, wherein said table top sections are co-planar, and a portable configuration, wherein the bottom edges of said flanges are juxtaposed;

two pairs of support legs of rectangular cross section;

hinge means securing facing sides of each pair of legs to the underside of a table top section near the outer edge thereof to fold toward said hinge members into the receptacle formed by said border flange;

a pair of rigid, diagonal cross braces secured between the legs of each pair thereof;

a pair of flexible, non-stretchable cables, one of said cables being secured between each leg of a pair thereof and the opposing leg of the other pair thereof, each said cable being of nearly the combined lengths of said table top sections so as to be under tension when said sections are in working configuration, and being secured at opposite ends thereof to opposing legs near the bottoms thereof to prevent separation thereof;

a pair of rigid rods removably connected between the inner surface of each of said adjacent flanges near the ends thereof to said facing sides of the pair of legs carried on the same table top section to prevent inward movement thereof;

an extension for each of said legs;

a row of through holes along the length of each of said extensions;

a pair of spaced threaded members secured to each of said legs to extend from a lateral side thereof, said threaded members being receivable in a pair of said holes aligned therewith; and

complementary tongue and groove slide means formed in said lateral side and a side of said extension containing said row of through holes.

2. The massage table defined by claim 1 wherein:

the outer side of each leg is cut away from the top thereof to form a transverse lip;

a pair of bearing blocks secured under each of said table top sections and positioned to be engaged by said transverse lips so that loads on said table top sections are transmitted to said legs through said bearing blocks and transverse lips.

3. The massage table defined by claim 1 including a head support comprising:

a flat base;

complementary slide and slideway on said base and one of said table top sections on the side opposite said adjacent side so that said base may be extended therefrom a selected distance;

a forehead support pad on said base along the outer edge thereof; and

a pair of cheek support pads on said base generally parallel to the side edges thereof.

4. The massage table defined by claim 3 including:

complementary attaching means on said base and said cheek support pads enabling said cheek support pads to be positioned at adjusted settings.

5. The massage table defined by claim 4 wherein said attaching means comprises:

a pair of pins depending from at least one of said cheek support pads; and

a series of pairs of holes to receive said pair of pins, said pairs of holes being spaced from a side edge of said based in varying distances.

6. The massage table defined by claim 1 including:

loops formed in the ends of said cables; and

spindle members extending laterally from said support legs, said loops being carried over said spindles so that said cable ends are free for limited rotation during collapse of said table top sections but held under tension when said table top sections are in said working configurations.