Light-weight massage table

• US 5,606,755 A
• Filed: 04/05/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel C. Romein
• Original Assignee: Daniel C. Romein
• Inventors: Romein, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US08/417,518
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 5/620, 5/652, 5/481, 5/181, 5/185, 5/663, 5/933, 5/306, 108/90, 108/27, 248/440, 248/439, 52/223.6, 52/650.3, 52/654.1
• US Class Current: 5/620
• 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: A47B 3/10 Travelling or trunk tables
• 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 having a sheet member including a perimeter and a lower surface opposite an upper surface. Stiffeners are positioned adjacent to the perimeter and the lower surface, and a plurality of elongated padding members having a polygonal cross-section are provided. Each padding member is positioned adjacent to one of the edge members and longitudinally aligned with the length axis of the adjacent edge member. A lower longitudinal edge of the padding member is adjacent to and aligned with the lower longitudinal edge of the adjacent edge member, and an upper surface thereof is positioned parallel to the upper surface of the support member. One or more tensile members diagonally connect two or more points about the perimeter, the tensile members crossing proximate the center of said sheet member. Compression structure spans between the lower surface and an intersecting region of the tensile members.

Claims

1. A massage table, comprising:

a plurality of legs and a table top supported by the legs, said table top comprising;

a frame comprising a planar support member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of edge members adjacent to a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the support member, each of said edge members having a lower longitudinal edge and a length axis;

p1 a plurality of elongated wedge-shaped padding members, each of said wedge members being positioned adjacent to one of the edge members, said wedge-shaped members each having a length axis aligned with the length axis of the adjacent edge member, a lower longitudinal edge adjacent to and aligned with the lower longitudinal edge of the adjacent edge member, and an upper surface positioned parallel to and above the upper surface of the support member;

first padding means having a lower surface positioned adjacent to and overlying the upper surface of the support member and an upper surface spaced apart from the lower surface thereof and substantially aligned with and parallel to the upper surface of each of the wedge-shaped padding members;

second padding means having a lower surface positioned adjacent to and overlying the upper surface of the first padding means and the upper surface of each of the wedge-shaped padding members; and

a covering positioned in overlying contact against substantially all of said second padding means, at least a portion of each of said wedge shaped members, and at least a portion of each of said edge members.

2. The massage table of claim 1, wherein said second padding means further includes an upper surface spaced apart from the lower surface of the second padding means, the upper surface of the second padding means being substantially planar.

3. The massage table of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of at least one of the wedge-shaped members is cutout to provide a recess.

4. The massage table of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a rectangular piece of plywood and the first padding means comprises a pair of rectangular pieces of polyurethane foam each having a surface area corresponding to that of the support member.

5. The massage table of claim 1, wherein each of said wedge-shaped members comprises an elongate portion of polyurethane foam having a triangular cross-section, wherein one leg of the triangle is positioned adjacent one of the edge members and the other leg of the triangle provides the upper surface of the wedge-shaped member.

6. The massage table of claim 1, wherein said wedge-shaped members and said first and second padding members are resilient.

7. The massage table of claim 1, wherein said wedge-shaped members are made of polyurethane foam.

8. The massage table of claim 3, wherein two of the table tops are hingedly connected.

9. The massage table of claim 1, wherein said legs are foldable relative to the upper support member and are of adjustable length.

10. The massage table of claim 1, wherein said wedge-shaped members have a triangular cross-section.

11. A massage table, comprising:

a plurality of legs and a table top supported by the legs, said table top comprising;

a frame comprising a support member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of edge members engagably connectable to a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the support member; and

tensioning means for tensioning the frame to increase the rigidity of the frame;

said tensioning means comprising;

a slide member having an inner planar surface slidably mountable adjacent the lower surface of the support member and an oppositely facing outer surface;

a stop for limiting movement of the slide member relative to the frame in a desired direction;

a first elongate tensioning member having an end;

first mounting means for rotatably mounting the first tensioning member to the slide member so that said end of the first tensioning member is positionable through a first arc defined between a first point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and a second point which is spaced apart from the first point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a second elongate tensioning member having an end;

second mounting means for rotatably mounting the second tensioning member to the slide member at a location spaced apart from the first tensioning member so that said end of the second tensioning member is positionable through a second arc defined between a third point adjacent the outer surface of the slide member and a fourth point which is generally away the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a tensioning cable having a first end secured to the frame at a first securement location and a second end secured to the frame at a second securement location;

a first cable receptacle defined adjacent the end of the first tensioning member for slidably receiving a first portion of the cable;

a second cable receptacle defined adjacent the end of the second tensioning member for slidably receiving a second portion of the cable;

limiting means operatively associated with the first and second cable receptacles and the cable for limiting sliding of the cable relative to the first and second cable receptacles,

wherein when the end of the first tensioning member is rotated in the first arc in a direction toward the second point of the first arc and the end of the second tensioning member is rotated in the second arc in a direction toward the fourth point of the second arc, the slide member is urged against the stop and the cable is tensioned such that pressure is supplied from the cable through the slide member to the upper support to tension the frame and render the supper support more resistant to deflection, and

wherein when the end of the first tensioning member is rotated in the first arc in a direction toward the first point of the first arc and the second tensioning member is rotated in the second arc in a direction toward the third point of the second arc, the slide member is urged away from the stop tension is relieved from the cable.

12. The massage table of claim 11, wherein said support member comprises a rectangular piece of plywood and said slide member comprises a smaller rectangular piece of plywood.

13. The massage table of claim 11, wherein the first cable securement location is spaced apart from the second cable securement location.

14. A massage table, comprising:

a plurality of legs and a table top supported by the legs, said table top comprising;

a frame comprising a support member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of edge members engagably connectable to a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the support member; and

tensioning means for tensioning the frame to increase the rigidity of the frame;

said tensioning means comprising;

a slide member having an inner planar surface slidably mountable adjacent the lower surface of the support member and an oppositely facing outer surface;

a stop for limiting movement of the slide member relative to the frame in a desired direction;

a first U-shaped tensioning member comprising an elongate member bent at curves adjacent the opposite ends thereof to provide first and second upright sections and a connecting section between the first and second upright sections, the first upright section terminating at first end and the second upright section terminating at a second end;

first mounting means for rotatably mounting the first tensioning member to the slide member so that the first end of the first upright section of the first tensioning member is positionable through a first arc defined between a first point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and a second point which is spaced apart from the first point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member and the second end of the second upright section of the first tensioning member is positionable through a second arc parallel to the first arc and defined between a third point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and a fourth point which is spaced apart from the third point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a second U-shaped tensioning member comprising an elongate member bent at curves adjacent the opposite ends thereof to provide third and fourth upright sections and a connecting section between the third and fourth upright sections, the third upright section terminating at a third end and the fourth upright section terminating at a fourth end;

second mounting means for rotatably mounting the second tensioning member to the slide member so that the third end of the third upright section is positionable through a third arc defined between a fifth point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and a sixth point which is spaced apart from the fifth point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member and the fourth end of the fourth upright section is positionable through a fourth arc parallel to the third arc defined between a seventh point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and an eighth point which is spaced apart from the seventh point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a first tensioning cable having a first end secured to the frame at a first securement location and a second end secured to the frame at a second securement location;

a second tensioning cable having a first end secured to the frame at a third securement location and a second end secured to the frame at a fourth securement location;

a first cable receptacle defined adjacent the first end of the first tensioning member for slidably receiving a first portion of the first cable;

a second cable receptacle defined adjacent the third end of the second tensioning member for slidably receiving a second portion of the first cable;

a third cable receptacle defined adjacent the second end of the first tensioning member for slidably receiving a first portion of the second cable;

a fourth cable receptacle defined adjacent the fourth end of the second tensioning member for slidably receiving a second portion of the second cable;

limiting means operatively associated with the first, second, third and fourth cable receptacles and the first and second cables for limiting sliding of the first and second cables relative to the first, second, third and fourth cable receptacles,

wherein when the first and second ends of the first tensioning member are rotated in the first and second arcs in a direction toward the second point of the first arc and the fourth point of the second arc, respectively, and the third and fourth ends of the second tensioning member are rotated in the third and fourth arcs in a direction toward the sixth and eighth points of the second arc, respectively, the slide member is urged against the stop and the first and second cables are tensioned such that pressure is supplied from the first and second cables through the slide member to the upper support to tension the frame and render the upper support more resistant to deflection, and

wherein when the first and second ends of the first tensioning member are rotated in the first and second arcs in a direction toward the first and third points of the first arc and the third and fourth ends of the second tensioning member are rotated in the second arc in a direction toward the fifth and seventh points of the second arc, the slide member is urged away from the stop tension is relieved from the first and second cables.

15. The masssage table of claim 14, wherein the support member comprises a rectangular piece of plywood and said slide member comprises a smaller rectangular piece of plywood.

16. A massage table, comprising:

a plurality of legs and a table top supported by the legs, said table top comprising;

a frame comprising a support member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of edge members adjacent to a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the support member, each of said edge members having a lower longitudinal edge and a length axis;

a plurality of wedge-shaped padding members, each of said wedge members being positioned adjacent to one of the edge members, said wedge-shaped members each having a length axis aligned with the length axis of the adjacent edge member, a lower longitudinal edge adjacent to and aligned with the lower longitudinal edge of the adjacent edge member, and an upper surface positioned parallel to and above the upper surface of the support member;

first padding means having a lower surface positioned adjacent to and overlying the upper surface of the support member and an upper surface spaced apart from the lower surface thereof and substantially aligned with and parallel to the upper surface of each of the wedge-shaped padding members;

second padding means having a lower surface positioned adjacent to and overlying the upper surface of the first padding means and the upper surface of each of the wedge-shaped padding members; and

a covering positioned in overlying contact against substantially all of said second padding means, at least a portion of each of said wedge shaped members, and at least a portion of each of said edge members; and

tensioning means for tensioning the frame to increase the rigidity of the frame;

said tensioning means comprising;

a slide member having an inner planar surface slidably mountable adjacent the lower surface of the support member and an oppositely facing outer surface;

a stop for limiting movement of the slide member relative to the frame in a desired direction;

a first elongate tensioning member having an end;

first mounting means for rotatably mounting the first tensioning member to the slide member so that said end of the first tensioning member is positionable through a first arc defined between a first point adjacent the upper surface of the slide member and a second point which is spaced apart from the first point in a direction which is generally away from the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a second elongate tensioning member having an end;

second mounting means for rotatably mounting the second tensioning member to the slide member at a location spaced apart from the first tensioning member so that said end of the second tensioning member is positionable through a second arc defined between a third point adjacent the outer surface of the slide member and a fourth point which is generally away the outer planar surface of the slide member;

a first tensioning cable having a first end secured to the frame at a first securement location and a second end secured to the frame at a second securement location;

a first cable receptacle defined adjacent the end of the first tensioning member for slidably receiving a first portion of the first cable;

a second cable receptacle defined adjacent the end of the second tensioning member for slidably receiving a second portion of the first cable;

limiting means operatively associated with the first and second cable receptacles and the first cable for limiting sliding of the first cable relative to the first and second cable receptacles,

wherein when the end of the first tensioning member is rotated in the first arc in a direction toward the second point of the first arc and the end of the second tensioning member is rotated in the second arc in a direction toward the fourth point of the second arc, the slide member is urged against the stop and the first cable is tensioned such that pressure is supplied from the first cable through the slide member to the upper support to tension the frame and render the supper support more resistant to deflection, and

wherein when the end of the first tensioning member is rotated in the first arc in a direction toward the first point of the first arc and the second tensioning member is rotated in the second arc in a direction toward the third point of the second arc, the slide member is urged away from the stop tension is relieved from the first cable.