Item support apparatuses and systems for bedside

• US 8,100,061 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hookway, Scott, Riley, Dawn Michelle, Fagan, G. Brent, Gallant, Dennis James, Howell, Charles A., Sing, Jack Barney
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/483,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 108/26, 108/93, 108/147, 108/108, 108/150, 108/106, 108/189, 108/191, 108/152, 108/49, 108/50.01
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/046 C-shaped bed tables, e.g. foldable

Abstract

An item support apparatus, such as an overbed table, for example, includes a support surface assembly, a base assembly, and a vertical column coupled to each of the support surface and base assemblies. A side assembly is coupled to the base assembly and configured to remain stationary while the support surface assembly moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the base assembly. The overbed table may further include a hand sanitizer container coupled with the support surface assembly and configured to receive a removable hand sanitizer container unit. The base assembly may include weight-activated casters. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An overbed table comprising:

a base assembly;

a vertical support column coupled to the base assembly and configured to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the base assembly;

a support surface assembly coupled to the vertical support column and configured for placement of items thereon wherein the support surface assembly includes a table top having

(i) a pair of movable table top sections;

(ii) a table top locking mechanism configured to prevent movement of one of the table top sections in a first direction if the other table top section has been moved in the first direction;

wherein each table top section of the pair of table top sections is configured to be movable in a second direction opposite the first direction when the other of the table top sections is moved in the first direction,

a column locking mechanism coupled to the support surface assembly and configured to actuate the movement of the vertical column; and

a side assembly coupled to the base assembly and positioned adjacent the support surface assembly, wherein the support surface assembly is configured to move upwardly and downwardly with the vertical support column relative to both the base and the side assembly.

2. The overbed table of claim 1, wherein, the side assembly includes a side support surface and a storage bin coupled to the side support surface.

3. The overbed table of claim 1, wherein the side assembly further includes a side surface and a support post coupled to and extending between the side surface and the base assembly, wherein the support post is parallel with and spaced-apart from the vertical support column.

4. The overbed table of claim 1, wherein the support surface assembly includes a first storage section coupled to the table top and positioned adjacent a proximal end of the table top, and a second storage section coupled to the table top and positioned adjacent a distal end of the table top.

5. The overbed table of claim 4, wherein the first storage section includes a plurality of open storage receptacles formed therein and the second storage section includes a cup holder and a container.

6. The overbed table of claim 4, wherein the table tops are movable relative to the first and second storage sections.

7. The overbed table of claim 1, wherein the base assembly is generally U-shaped to define a first elongated foot and a second elongated foot spaced-apart from the first elongated foot.

8. The overbed table of claim 7, wherein the distal end of each of the first and second elongated feet is spaced farther apart than the proximal end of each of the first and second elongated feet.

9. An overbed table comprising:

a base assembly;

a vertical support column coupled to the base assembly and configured to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the base assembly; and

a support surface assembly coupled to the vertical support column and configured to move upwardly and downwardly with the vertical support column relative to the base assembly, wherein the support surface assembly includes a table top having a pair of movable table top sections, a locking mechanism configured to prevent movement of one of the table top sections in a first direction if the other table top section has been moved in the first direction,wherein each table top section of the pair of table top sections is configured to be movable in a second direction opposite the first direction when the other of the table top sections is moved in the first direction, a first storage section positioned adjacent a proximal end of the table top supported by the vertical support column, and a second storage section positioned adjacent a distal cantilevered end of the table top.

10. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the second storage section includes a cup holder and the first storage section includes a recessed portion configured to receive a hand sanitizer container unit therein.

11. The overbed table of claim 10, wherein the first storage section further includes a locking portion configured to lock the container within the recessed portion.

12. The overbed table of claim 9, further comprising a side assembly positioned adjacent the vertical support column such that the first storage section is positioned between the side assembly and the table top.

13. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the support surface assembly includes at least one human interface portion comprising an antimicrobial agent.

14. The overbed table of claim 13, wherein the human interface portion comprises at least one of a handle, lever, button, latch, and grip portion, and wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises at least one of a metal and metal compound.

15. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the base assembly includes at least one wheel and at least one locking mechanism configured to lock the wheel upon a weight of a predetermined amount being placed on the support surface assembly.

16. The overbed table of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to frictionally engage at least two sides of the wheel to resist movement of the wheel upon the weight of the predetermined amount being placed on the support surface assembly.

17. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein one of the first and second storage sections includes a mirror movable from a stowed position to a use position.

18. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism includes a generally triangular member pivotably coupled to a platform of the support surface assembly.

19. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the support surface assembly includes at least one human interface portion configured to be contacted by the user for operation of the overbed table, wherein the at least one human interface portion includes a visual indicator identifying it as the human interface portion.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the visual indicator includes raised lettering and/or Braille lettering.

21. The overbed table of claim 9, wherein the support surface assembly includes a hand sanitizer container housing configured to receive a removable hand sanitizer container unit therein.

22. The overbed table of claim 21, wherein the housing includes a slot formed integrally with one of the first and second storage sections and is configured to receive the hand sanitizer container unit therein.

23. The overbed table of claim 21, wherein the housing includes at least one side wall configured to abut the hand sanitizer container unit.

24. The overbed table of claim 21, wherein the housing is sized to frictionally hold the unit therein.

25. The overbed table of claim 21, wherein the housing includes a locking portion configured to lock the unit within the housing.

26. An overbed table comprising:

a base assembly configured for placement of a support surface assembly adjacent a patient support apparatus, the support surface assembly coupled to the base assembly;

wherein the support surface assembly is configured to support an item thereon and wherein the support surface assembly is configured to be positionable over the patient support apparatus when the base assembly is adjacent the patient support apparatus, wherein the support surface assembly includes;

(i) a pair of movable table top sections; and

(ii) a locking mechanism configured to prevent sliding translation of one of the table top sections in a first horizontal direction if the other table top section has been slidingly translated in the first horizontal direction.

27. The overbed table of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pivot mechanism.

28. The overbed table of claim 27, wherein the pivot mechanism includes a generally triangular member pivotably coupled to a platform of the support surface assembly.

29. The overbed table of claim 28, wherein the platform is positioned below the pair of movable table top sections.

30. The overbed table of claim 28, wherein the pivot mechanism includes another generally triangular member pivotably coupled to the platform of the support surface assembly, and further wherein each table top section of the pair of table top sections is configured to engage one of the generally triangular members of the pivot mechanism when moved in a first or second direction.

31. An overbed table comprising:

a base assembly configured for placement of a support surface assembly adjacent a patient support apparatus, the support surface assembly coupled to the base assembly;

wherein the support surface assembly is configured to support an item thereon and wherein the support surface assembly is configured to be positionable over the patient support apparatus when the base assembly is adjacent the patient support apparatus, wherein the support surface assembly includes;

(i) a pair of movable table top sections; and

(ii) a locking mechanism configured to prevent movement of one of the table top sections in a first direction if the other table top section has been moved in the first direction;

wherein each table top section of the pair of table top sections is configured to be movable in a second direction opposite the first direction when the other of the table top sections is moved in the first direction.

32. An overbed table comprising:

a base assembly;

a vertical support column coupled to the base assembly and configured to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the base assembly;

a support surface assembly coupled to the vertical support column and comprising a table top having a pair of movable table top sections, a locking mechanism configured to prevent movement of one of the table top sections in a first direction if the other table top section has been moved in the first direction,wherein each table top section of the pair of table top sections is configured to be movable in a second direction opposite the first direction when the other of the table top sections is moved in the first direction, the support surface assembly being configured to move upwardly and downwardly with the vertical support column relative to the base, the support surface assembly including a first storage section positioned adjacent a proximal end of the table top supported by the vertical support column, and a second storage section positioned adjacent a distal cantilevered end of the table top; and

a sanitizer container positioned within a recessed portion of one of the first and second storage sections, the sanitizer container being configured to contain a sanitizer substance therein, wherein the sanitizer container further includes a dispenser configured to dispense the sanitizer substance contained within the sanitizer container upon actuation by a user.

33. The overbed table of claim 32, wherein the one of the first and second storage sections including the recessed portion further includes a locking portion configured to lock the sanitizer container within the recessed portion.

34. The overbed table of claim 32, wherein the recessed portion includes a narrower lower portion and the sanitizer container is configured to engage the narrower lower portion in an interface fit.