US1236127A - Table. - Google Patents

Description

C. I?. WILLIAMS.

TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 12. 1914.

Patented Aug. 7,1917.

LMS-51m.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. F. WILLIAMS.

TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- I2, I9I4.

1,286,12' Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. /3 I IIL.

UNITED STATEH PATENT UFFIQF;

CHARLES F. WILLIAMS, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO W. K. MILLER, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 191% Application filed November 12, 1914. Serial No. 871,690.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. WILLIAMS,

a citizen of the United States, residing atv Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as tables, and relates particularly to a table intended for chiropractors. Vhile, as mentioned, it is particularly intended for this purpose, it may be used wherever found applicable, and by surgeons, Osteopaths and the like. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is sirnple, convenient, efficient, attractive, and satisfactory, and which may be adjusted as desired. It has among its further objects the production of a table of the kind described upon which the patient may himself perform certain treatments or operations under the direction of or recommended by the practitioner.

To this end :my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. Y

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding y parts,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my preferred form of table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. A is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5, 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the device taken substantially on line 6, 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantiallv on line 7, 7 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8, 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings. in which the preferred form of my device is shown: 1. 2, 3 and 4; are suitable pairs of legs preferably connected by side bars 5. and with other suitable cross frame parts including the side frame parts 6 and 7. Arranged at one end of the table is a preferably upholstered or padded top 8, and at the opposite end also an upholstered part 11, the parts 8 and 11 in the preferred construction being substantially stationary and of the shape and form shown in Fig. 1. Hinged to the cross bar carried by the legs 2 is an adjustable drop 9, which is pivotally secured at 10, the same carrying an upholstered top 9. I also preferably pivotally secure a drop 12 to the cross piece carried by the legs 3, the same being pivotally secured at 13, and provided with an upholstered top 12. The table need not necessarily be upholstered, but this is preferred.

In the preferred construction I provide means for positively or rigidly securing the drops in the desired positions, for example, as is shown in Fig. 2, and means for resilif ently supporting or opposing their dropping'. To support the top 9 I have shown a lever or arm 14, which may be pivotally supported by a shaft 15. or its equivalent, carried by the legs 2. The arm or lever 141 is provided with a. roller 16, or its equivalent, arranged to coperate with the under side of the drop, and is connected at its opposite end by springs 17, or their equivalents to hooks 18l Ona bar 18, carried by plates 18. The plates 18 are provided with a plurality of notches, so as to afford different adjustments for the rod or bar 18. The drop 12 is provided with an arm 19 on each side, adjustably secured thereto. As shown, arm 19 is pivotally secured at 20 to the drop, and formed with a slot, through which passes a bolt or bar extending through the frame parts 5, the parts being locked in the desired position by means of the thumb nuts 21, or equivalent means; as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, springs 25 are arranged on rods 24, secured to the drop 12. and extended through brackets 23, arranged on the sleeve 22. secured to the frame 5, and through which the bolt passes. Any equivalent construction may, of course, be employed. I have shown similar parts 26 connected at 27 to the drop 9, and thumb nuts 28. By means of the arms 19 and 26, and coperating parts, the drops may be locked in any desired position. Springs may be provided for the top 9, similar to springs 25. if so desired, the same being shown in the drawings. However, in view of the yielding arm 14, the additional springs are not necessary for the drop 9. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, I have shown the upholstered part 8 formed with a recess 29, and the bolster 12 arranged with a space 30 between the two, which are provided for the comfort of the user. l

Arranged at one end of the device, as shown at the end carried by the legs 1, is a bracket 3l, carrying a part 32, to which may be attached a suitable body harness, or apparatus, which may be secured to the patient for the purpose hereafter described. The bracket 3l and coperating part 32 may be constructed as desired, that shown being comparatively simple and rigid. At the opposite end of the table is arranged a part 33, carrying' a coperating part 34, to which may also be secured suitable apparatus, also to be attached to the patient. v The bracket 33 is preferably adjustably secured to the table in any suitable way, and as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is secured to a T-shaped part 36, slidably carried by the frame of the machine. rIhe part 36 is normally maintained in a retracted position, as shown, by a spring member 37, or its equivalent for the purpose. The same may be arranged to be adjusted or moved to any desired position by any suitable mechanism. For this I preferably employ mechanism that may be controlled or operated at the opposite end of the table. Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, 38 are cables extending over pulleys 39 and 40, or their equivalents, secured to drums 4l (see Figs. 5 and 6) which are mounted on a shaft 42. Arranged on each end of the shaft 42 is a ratchet wheel 43 (see Fig. 4). Carried by the shaft 42 is an arm 44, and pivotally secured thereto at 46 is a pawl 45, the same being adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel 43. As shown, a spring 47 normally retains the pawl in engagement with the ratchet. To release the pawl, a lever 48, which is pivotally secured at 46 to arm 44, is provided, the same carrying a pin or lug 49, arranged to engage i with and lift the pawl when the thumb vpiece 50 is pressed against arm 44. A locking pawl 5l pivotallyseeured at 52, provides means for locking the ratchet wheel against movement during the movement of arm 44, to engage a new tooth on the ratchet. As shown, a spring 53 normally maintains the locking pawl 5l in, an operative position. While I have shown a lever 44 on each side, there need be only one lever on the desired side. It may be mentioned that in the drawings some of the parts are shown somewhat out of proportion as relative to others, for the purpose of making the construction clear.

In use, the patient may be placed upon the table, with either one of the drops or supports 9 and l2, or both of them, rigidly` or yieldingly supported as may be desired. For some treatments, `as for example where it is desired to stretch the patient, or-place the body under a tension for manipulation,

as for example, treatment of the spine, suitable harnesses or apparatus are connected to the upper part of the body and feet, and to the parts 32 and 34, or their equivalents. The practitioner may then move the bracket 34 by manipulating one or both of the levers 44, or this can be done by the patient7 particularly if he is lying on his abdomen. As the levers 44, or either of them, are moved back and forth, the drums 41 are rotated, drawing the cables 38 and 4moving the slide 36 carrying the part to 34. If the lever 44 is moved enough to cause the pawl 45 to engage with pawl 5l, that pawl will be released and the pawl 45 may then be released by depressing the thumb piece 50. When the ratchet wheel is released from both pawls, the spring 37 draws slide 36 back, for example as shown in Figs. 2 or 6. It will be ]Jarticularly noted by referring to Fig. l, that what may be termed the head end of the table is of less width than the opposite end in the preferred construction. r.the size of the table and particular construction may vary with the preferment of individual users. The practitioner may, however, place the patient on the table with the head in `either direction. This table has all the advantages of a rigid table, since the parts may be made rigid whenrequired or desired, with the added advantage that a portion of the same may be made yielding, or adjusted to suit. Likewise, the patient, with this type of table, can to a certain extent treat himself under the direction of the practitioner. IVhile I have pointed out certain uses of the invention and advantages thereof, many others-will appear to those skilled in the art, and having use for a table of the kind described.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifica- I,tions may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts hereinv shown and described, or uses mentioned.

lVhat Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spa-ced relation to one another, with an intervening section pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, and means for rigidly supporting the free end of the intervening section in various positions of adjustment.

2. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top including two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another, with an intervening section pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, means for yieldably supporting the free end of the intervening section, and means for rigidly supporting the free end of said intervening section in various positions of adjustment.

3. In a table of the kind described in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another, with two intervening sections, each of which is pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, and means for adjustably supporting the free ends of the intervening sections independently of each other.

4f. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another, with two intervening sections, each of which is pivotally connected at one end thereofin proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, and means for adjustable supporting the free ends of the intervening sections.-

5. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another with two intervening sections, each pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, means for yieldably supporting the free ends of said intervening sections, and means for rigidly supporting the free ends of the intervening sections in various positions of adjustment.

6. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another, with a plurality of intervening sections, each pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end sections, means for adjustably supporting the free ends of the intervening sections; bracket members arranged at each end of the frame, one of said bracket members being slidingly carried by the frame, and means for positively moving said last mentioned bracket member in a direction to regulate the distance between the bracket members, and means for returning the parts to their normal position.

7. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame, a top carried thereby comprising a plurality of parts, one of said parts pivotally secured to the frame on an axis transversely of the frame, means for supporting the free edge of said part as desired, a bracket carried by one end of said frame, and an adjustable bracket carried at the other end of said frame, means for controlling said movable bracket comprising a slidable support for said bracket, and means extending to the opposite end of the table for controlling said supporting member, including a cable and drum, said cable extending from said slidable support to said drum and secured thereto, a rotatable shaft extending through said drum with the drum secured thereto, a ratchet wheel arranged on the end of said shaft, an operatting lever, a pawl for said ratchet wheel operatively carried by said lever, means for disengaging said pawl as desired, an auxiliary pawl arranged to engage said ratchet, and means for resiliently maintaining said pawl in engagement with the ratchet.

8. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a frame, a top carried thereby comprising two stationary end sections, one provided with a recess therein, a drop part pivotally secured to the frame proximate said section, adjustable means for yieldingly supporting said drop part at the free end thereof, means for positively locking said part in the desired position, another drop part pivotally secured to the frame adjacent the other end section, means for yieldingly supporting said last mentioned drop part, and means for positively locking the same in the desired position, a bracket arranged at each end of said table, one bracket movable relative the other, and means for controlling said bracket as desired.

9. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame part, a top carried thereby comprising a suitable part arranged at each end of the frame and two intermediate adjustable parts, one pivotally secured to the frame adjacent one end part and the other pivotally secured to the frame adjacent the other end part, supporting means for one of said adjustable parts comprising a lever pivotally carried by the frame below the top and provided with a roll at one end arranged to co-act with the under side of said adjustable part, springs yieldingly connecting the opposite end of said arm to the frame, supporting means for the other adjustable top part comprising a cross-bar carried by the frame, brackets carried by said bar, rods pivotally secured to the top part and slidably extending through said brackets, springs arranged on said rods and arranged to bear against the top part and said brackets, and adjustable means for rigidly securing either of said adjustable top parts in the desired position.

10. In a table of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame provided with a top comprising two non-tiltable end sections rigidly maintained in spaced relation to one another, an intervening section pivotally connected at one end thereof in proximity to the inner end of one of the end CHARLES F. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

sections, means for adjustably `supporting the free end of the intervening section, bracket members arranged at each end of the frame, one ofV said bracket members being 'slidnbly mounted on the frame, and means for positively moving said last mentioned bracket member to regulate the distance between the bracket members.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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