US2643396A - Bedstead - Google Patents

Description

S. J. POST BEDSTEAD June 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1950 INVENTOR STANLEY J. POST ATTORNEYS 5. J. PosT' BEDSTEAD June 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1950 lNl/ENTOR w m J w N m S ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEDSTEAD Stanley J. Post, Banning, Calif.

Application June 10, 1950, Serial No. 167,341

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to bedsteads and more specifically contemplates a treating table adapted particularly for supporting patients for examination by physicians and for therapeutic treatments.

Conventional treating tables are usually composed of wood and are of integral construction making transportation and storage of such devices, when not needed, a substantial problem, especially in small offices or where a large but constantly varying number of such tables are required. Because of their bulk'and weight conventional tables are dimcult to shift about for most convenient utility.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the present invention to provide a physicians treating table comprising a conventional frame adapted to support a mattress or the like ina substantially-horizonta1, elevated 'position, and.

characterized by separable joints between sections thereof to permit facile disassembly of the unit for packing, storage or shipping.

It is a further object hereof to provide a sectional frame comprising a mattress-supporting section, a plurality of legs, and a bracing section, relatively separable, but releasably engageable with one another with the legs secured to the underside of the mattress-supporting section for the horizontal support of the latter, and the bracing section attached between the lower portions of the legs to maintain the vertical relationship of the latter and the rigidity of the table.

More specifically, an object hereof is to provide a rectangular mattress-supporting frame in combination with a separate integral bracing section for a plurality of separable legs, the latter section and legs being of a size and shape adapted to be nested within the supporting frame for packing when not in use.

Still another object is the provision of a plurality of joints between the structurally-separate sections of the composite frame above-referred to, each joint comprising a pair of telescopically related elements in combination with means to releasably but positively lock the several joints rigidly together.

Other objects and salient features of my invention, such for example, as simplicity of construction, facility of assembly and disassembly, economy of manufacture, susceptibility to compact relationship of the parts both when assembled for use and when in condition for storage, and attractive appearance, will be obvious to those of skill in the art upon an examination of the following description read in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a, perspective view of a treating table embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is. a perspective view of the unit shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in disassembled relationship as when arranged for packing;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one corner of the table, illustrating particularly one of the joints between the mattress-supporting section of the frame and one of the legs;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of one of the joints between the bracing section and one of the legs of the table.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, 5 designates a mattresssupporting frame section of a table adapted to be supported in elevated, horizontal position, upon vertical legs Barranged at the four corners thereof. The section 5 defines a rectangle and is preferably composed of an integral tubular member having its ends secured together, the corners of the frame being rounded. It will be understood that the section 5 is of a size and shape to conform with the dimensions of a mattress to be supported, which, as generally indicated at I, may comprise suitable padding mounted upon a rigid base adapted to bear upon the tubular frame section 5. Being conventional in construction, the details of the mattress l are not illustrated.

Adjacent each of the corners of the frame sec tion 5, a stud 8 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the underside of the section so as to depend downwardly for telescopic association with one of the legs 6 of the assembly. To this end, the legs are also preferably constructed of tubular stock. The lower ends of the legs are fitted with exteriorly rounded members 9 adapted to function as slides so as to facilitate movement of the table over a floor or other surface upon which the device re'sts. Each of the studs 8 has a sliding fit with the bore of the upper end of the leg 6 with which it is associated when the table is assembled for use so as to resist lateral movement between the section 5 and legs. Each stud 8 is formed with a collar providing a shoulder l6, encircling its base, against which the end of the leg 6 abuts so as to register lateral diametrically-opposed holes H formed in the leg with a complementary hole 12 extending through the stud 8. The registering holes II and I2 of each legand stud assembly are disposed in parallel relationship with the end of the section so as to facilitate projection therethrough of a pin l3 by which the leg is locked to the stud. It will be appreciated that the pin [3 is formed to provide a snug lit with the holes II and I2 so as to obviate inadvertent displacement thereof. Threaded through the side of the portion of each leg 6 which accommodates a stud 8, and spaced 90 from the pin l3 therein, is a set screw I4 adapted to engage the complementary opposed portion of the stud 8 so as to supplement the pin l3 in resisting displacement of the leg and stud during normal use.

The vertical relationship of the leg is rigidly reinforced by a bracing section I5, comprising a pair of tubular longitudinals I6 arranged in spaced, parallel relationship by transverse end tubes 1?, extending across and welded or otherwise rigidly secured to respective corresponding ends of the longitudinals. The transverse end tubes ll of the bracing section l5 are of a length slightly less than the distance between the legs at each end of the table.

Secured to the opposed arcs of the respective legs 6 at each end of the table is a pair of coaxially aligned studs 18, circular in cross-section, and of diameters adapted to snugly fit into the opposite ends, respectively, of the bores of the end tubes IT at the corresponding ends of the bracing sections l5. The joints between the bracing section l5 and legs 6 are substantially identical to those above described with reference to connection between the legs and mattress-supporting section 5, and accordingly each stud I8 is formed with a collar providing a shoulder l9 encircling its base against which the end of one of the tubular end pieces I! of the bracing section l5 abuts. Each end of each tubular member I! is formed with diametrically opposed horizontally-aligned holes 20 which register, when the parts are related as above described, with a hole 21 through the stud l8 associated therewith. A pin 22, extending through the registering holes 23 and 2!, thus transfixes each end of each transverse end tube El and the stud i8 therein to maintain these parts together. Threaded downwardly through each end of each tube ll is a set screw 23 which is operable to frictionally engage the encircled stud it so as to reinforce the pins 22 in resisting displacement of the legs and bracing section l5.

By simply removing the pins l3 and 22 and releasing the screws !4 and 23 all structurally-separate sections may be displaced with relation to one another for storage. As illustrated in Fig. 2, with the mattress-supporting section 5, the bracing section l5 and legs 6 in separated relationship, all parts of the frame may be nested together upon the mattress I, the bracing section :5 being disposed within the confines of the mattress-supporting section 5. The legs may be placed between the longitudinals [6 of the bracing section and with the components so related and superimposed upon the mattress, the entire assembly is susceptible to packing and shipping with minimum bulk.

Under certain conditions, a user may wish to temporarily disassemble the table while maintaining the parts thereof in a convenient relationship for quick re-assembly when use of the table is again required. This may be accomplished by removing the mattress and the frame 5 from the legs and removing the pins 22 from the joints between the legs and bracing section I5. The set screws 23 are then released from engagement with the studs l3 whereupon the legs, with the studs thereof still engaged with the end tubes I1 of the bracing section, are tilted inwardly into parallel relationship with the longitudinals l6 of section I5. The set screws 23 are then again locked in frictional engagement with the studs [8 so asto hold the parts in this relationship. The mattress 1, the supporting section 5 and the still-engaged bracing section l5 and legs 6 may be leaned in contiguou parallel relationship against a wall or placed on end in a closet or other location of convenient temporary storage. Reassembly of the table is thus facilitated by obviating the necessity for re-engagement of the respective studs l8 with the end tubes l1.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes in size, design, shape and number of the various parts may be made, that the cross-sectional contour of the several section elements may be modified as required, and that additional transverse mattress-supporting members may be provided between the longitudinals N5 of the section l5 to afford additional support for the mattress, if desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A treating table comprising an endless rectangular tube providing a frame section, a rigid base mattress supported on said frame section, said frame section having an opening therewithin, a plurality of studs secured rigidly to the underside of said mattress supporting frame section and projecting downwardly therefrom, a shoulder provided on each stud and spaced from its end, a plurality of legs, each leg being telescopically and releasably engaged on one of said studs and abutted against its shoulder to support said frame section in an elevated position, a stud secured rigidly to and projecting laterally from each leg, a shoulder provided on each leg stud and spaced from its end, a bracing section comprising tubular members rigidly secured together and telescopically and releasably engaged on said leg studs and abutted against said leg stud shoulders to maintain the positions of said leg, means cooperating with all said studs and the parts engaged thereover and providing securement of said parts to said studs, said bracing section being of a length and width less than the corresponding dimensions, respectively, of said opening within said frame section for accommodation of said bracing section within said opening upon disengagement of said bracing section from said leg studs.

2. A treating table comprising an endless rectangular tube providing a frame section, a rigid base mattress supported on said frame section, said frame section having an opening therewithin, a plurality of studs secured rigidly to the underside of said mattress supporting frame section and projecting downwardly therefrom, a shoulder provided on each stud and spaced from its end, a plurality of legs, each leg being telescopically and releasably engaged on one of said studs and abutted against its shoulder to support said frame section in an elevated position, a stud secured rigidly to and projecting laterally from each leg, a shoulder provided on each leg stud and spaced from its end, a bracing section comprising tubular members rigidly secured together and telescopically and releasably engaged on said leg studs and abutted against said leg stud shoulders to maintain the positions of said legs, pin and STANLEY J. POST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name Date Harman Sept. 24, 1929 Gallup Dec. 3, 1935 Anderson et a1. June 13, 1950 Magaldino June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Norway Oct. 7, 1912

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