GB1587813A

GB1587813A - Overbed table

Info

Publication number: GB1587813A
Application number: GB883776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-06-08
Filing date: 1977-06-08
Publication date: 1981-04-08

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO OVERBED TABLES (71) 1, ERIC SHELTON, a British Subject of 36 Prospect Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a table and components thereof, and is more particularly concerned with a folding table which is suitable for use by a person in bed and which is hereinafter referred to as an 'overbed table'.

According to the present invention there is provided a frame for an overbed table, said frame comprising two sections each having two legs defining an L-shaped configuration, a first of the legs of one of said sections having an insert fixed on the free end thereof and being telescopically mounted within a first of the legs of the other of said sections, said insert having a portion of such cross-section as to enable telescopic movement but prevent relative rotation between the telescopically connected legs, the legs of said one section having a substantially circular cross-section, and the legs of said other section having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Preferably, the L-shaped configuration of each of the frame sections is defined by a crush bend formed therein.

A cap is preferably fitted on the free end of said first leg of said other section and has an aperture through which passes said first leg of said one section.

The invention also provides a table having a frame as described in any of the three preceding paragraphs. Preferably a second leg of said one section pivotally mounts a table top, and a second leg of said other section is connected to a support structure.

Preferably also the support structure comprises a member transversely mounted on said second leg of said other section by means of a connector device comprising a planar body portion having, at a first pair df opposite sides, a first pair of flanges extending in -a first direction, and, at a second pair of opposite sides, a second pair of flanges extending in a second direction opposite to said first direction, each of said first and second pairs of flanges extending at substantially right angles from the body portion, and means for securing the body portion to said second leg of said other section and to said member to enable said first pair of flanges to embrace said second leg of said other section and said second pair of flanges to embrace said member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an-overbed table according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a detail of the table of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of another detail of the table of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a connector device.

Referring to the drawings, an overbed table 10 has a frame 12 defined by two tubular sections 14, 16, each of the latter having two legs 14a, 14b and 16a, 16b respectively, which are angularly disposed in an L-shaped configuration. The section 14 has a substantially circular cross-section and the section 16 has a substantially square cross-section. The sections are shaped by bending round a former thus defining a respective crush bend 14c, 16c in the Lshaped configurations.

The leg 16a mounts a support structure, being connected to a cross member 18 by a connector device 20 (Fig. 4). The device 20 comprises a planar body portion 22 of rectangular shape having a pair of upwardly extending flanges 24 at one pair of opposite sides and a pair of downwardly extending flanges 26 at the other pair of opposite sides.

An aperture 28 is provided centrally of the body portion 22. In use (Fig. 1), the device 20 is positioned with the body portion 22 between the leg 16a and the member 18 such that the flanges 24 embrace the leg 1 6a and the flanges 26 embrace the member 18.

A bolt 30 is passed through a bore in the leg 16a, through the aperture 28, and through a bore in the member 18, and is secured in position by a wing nut 32.

Castors 34 are provided on supports 36 at each end of the cross member 18 and at the free end of the leg 16a, to enable the table 10 to be movable.

The table support arrangement is such that the leg 16b extends upwardly and is open-ended to telescopically mount therein the leg 14b of the section 14.

As the leg 14b is of circular cross-section and the leg 16b is of square cross-section, an insert 38 (Fig. 2) is located on the end of the leg 14b. The insert 38 has a portion 40 of circular cross-section fitted into the tubular leg 14b which is open at said end, and an extending portion 42 of square crosssection which enables the leg 14b to slide within the leg 16b but prevents relative rotation. The insert 38 is preferably formed of a plastics material and can be, for example, fixed by adhesive, or pinning etc. within the leg 14b.

The leg 16b mounts on its upper end a cap 44 (Fig. 3) which has, in use, an upper face 46 with depending side walls 48 fitted over the leg 16b. A central opening 50 is provided in the face 46 and the leg 14b passes through the opening 50 into the leg 16b.

The cap 44 serves to close off the end of the leg 16but provide a decorative appearance, and prevent ingress of dirt, etc.

The cap 44 also assists in stabilising the leg 14b and for this purpose may be made thicker at the upper face 46.

The leg 14b is so fitted in the leg 16b that the leg 14a extends horizontally above and parallel to the leg 16a. A table top 52 is pivotally mounted on the leg I4a by means of brackets 54 and an arrangement 56 is provided for locking the table top 52 in any of a plurality of angular positions. The arrangement 56 comprises a notched rod 58 of arcuate form, connected at its ends to the underside of the table top 52 and passing through a loop 60 formed on one end of an externally threaded member (not shown) which extends through an opening in the leg 14b.The threaded member mounts on its other end an internally threaded hand grip 62 which when manually turned, causes the threaded member to draw the loop 60 into one of the notches on the rod 58 and lock the rod 58, and thus the table top 52, in a desired angular position, or to release the rod 58 for free pivoting of the table top 52 A further externally threaded member 64 passes through an internally threaded opening in the leg 16b and has a hand grip 66 by means of which the member can be moved into locking engagement with the leg 14b to maintain the table top 52 at a desired height.

height.

when not in use, the table top can bolt be pivoted to a vertical position, the bolt 30 can through 90 to be released, and the member 18 turned through 900 to be parallel with the leg 1 6a and engage against the lower edges of the flanges 26, An overbed table as hereinbefore described does not require any welding of the main components of the frame and therefore the aesthetic quality of the table is improved and the table is easier and cheaper to produce. The crush bends in the frame do not affect the strength of the frame to any significant extent and also can be so treated as to improve the appearance of the table.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the table top can be of any desired shape, and other arrangements for locking the table top in position and locking the table at a suitable height can be used. Also the insert may be formed of a material other than plastics and may be secured to the frame by any suitable means.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A frame for,an overbed table, said frame comprising two sections each having two legs defining an L-shaped configuration, a first of the legs of one of said sections having an insert fixed on the free end thereof and being telescopically mounted within a first of the legs of the other of said sections, said insert having a portion of such cross-section as to enable telescopic movement but prevent relative rotation between the telescopically connected legs, the legs of said one section having a substantially circular cross-section, and the legs of said other section having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

2. A frame according to Claim 1, wherein the L-shaped configuration of each of the frame sections is defined by a crush bend formed therein.

3. A frame according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert is formed of a plastics material.

4. A frame according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the insert has a further portion of substantially circular cross-section which is fixed within said free end of said first leg of said one section.

5. A frame according to Claim 4, wherein the insert is fixed by adhesive.

6. A frame according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a cap is fitted on the free end of said first leg of said other section and has an aperture through which.

passes said first leg of said one section.

7. A frame according to any of the pre

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. A bolt 30 is passed through a bore in the leg 16a, through the aperture 28, and through a bore in the member 18, and is secured in position by a wing nut 32. Castors 34 are provided on supports 36 at each end of the cross member 18 and at the free end of the leg 16a, to enable the table 10 to be movable. The table support arrangement is such that the leg 16b extends upwardly and is open-ended to telescopically mount therein the leg 14b of the section 14. As the leg 14b is of circular cross-section and the leg 16b is of square cross-section, an insert 38 (Fig. 2) is located on the end of the leg 14b. The insert 38 has a portion 40 of circular cross-section fitted into the tubular leg 14b which is open at said end, and an extending portion 42 of square crosssection which enables the leg 14b to slide within the leg 16b but prevents relative rotation. The insert 38 is preferably formed of a plastics material and can be, for example, fixed by adhesive, or pinning etc. within the leg 14b. The leg 16b mounts on its upper end a cap 44 (Fig. 3) which has, in use, an upper face 46 with depending side walls 48 fitted over the leg 16b. A central opening 50 is provided in the face 46 and the leg 14b passes through the opening 50 into the leg 16b. The cap 44 serves to close off the end of the leg 16but provide a decorative appearance, and prevent ingress of dirt, etc. The cap 44 also assists in stabilising the leg 14b and for this purpose may be made thicker at the upper face 46. The leg 14b is so fitted in the leg 16b that the leg 14a extends horizontally above and parallel to the leg 16a. A table top 52 is pivotally mounted on the leg I4a by means of brackets 54 and an arrangement 56 is provided for locking the table top 52 in any of a plurality of angular positions. The arrangement 56 comprises a notched rod 58 of arcuate form, connected at its ends to the underside of the table top 52 and passing through a loop 60 formed on one end of an externally threaded member (not shown) which extends through an opening in the leg 14b.The threaded member mounts on its other end an internally threaded hand grip 62 which when manually turned, causes the threaded member to draw the loop 60 into one of the notches on the rod 58 and lock the rod 58, and thus the table top 52, in a desired angular position, or to release the rod 58 for free pivoting of the table top 52 A further externally threaded member 64 passes through an internally threaded opening in the leg 16b and has a hand grip 66 by means of which the member can be moved into locking engagement with the leg 14b to maintain the table top 52 at a desired height. height. when not in use, the table top can bolt be pivoted to a vertical position, the bolt 30 can through 90 to be released, and the member 18 turned through 900 to be parallel with the leg 1 6a and engage against the lower edges of the flanges 26, An overbed table as hereinbefore described does not require any welding of the main components of the frame and therefore the aesthetic quality of the table is improved and the table is easier and cheaper to produce. The crush bends in the frame do not affect the strength of the frame to any significant extent and also can be so treated as to improve the appearance of the table. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the table top can be of any desired shape, and other arrangements for locking the table top in position and locking the table at a suitable height can be used. Also the insert may be formed of a material other than plastics and may be secured to the frame by any suitable means. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A frame for,an overbed table, said frame comprising two sections each having two legs defining an L-shaped configuration, a first of the legs of one of said sections having an insert fixed on the free end thereof and being telescopically mounted within a first of the legs of the other of said sections, said insert having a portion of such cross-section as to enable telescopic movement but prevent relative rotation between the telescopically connected legs, the legs of said one section having a substantially circular cross-section, and the legs of said other section having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

5. A frame according to Claim 4, wherein the insert is fixed by adhesive.

passes said first leg of said one section.

7. A frame according to any of the pre

ceding Claims, including means for locking the first legs of said sections against relative telescopic movement.

8. An overbed table having a frame according to any of the preceding Claims.

9. A table according to Claim 8, wherein a second leg of said one section pivotally mounts a table top, and a second leg of said other section is connected to a support structure.

10. A table according to Claim 9, including means for locking the table top and said second leg of said one section against relative movement.

11. A table according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the support structure comprises a member transversely mounted on said second leg of said other section by means of a connector device comprising a planar body portion having, at a first pair of opposite sides, a first pair of flanges extending in a first direction, and, at a second pair of opposite sides, a second pair of flanges extending in a second direction opposite to said first direction, each of said first and second pairs of flanges extending at substantially right angles from the body portion, and means for securing the body portion to said second leg of said other section and to said member to enable said first pair of flanges to embrace said second leg of said other section and said second pair of flanges to embrace said member.

12. A table according to any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein castors are provided on the support structure.

13. A frame for an overbed table, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. An overbed table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.