US2671442A

US2671442A - Rack for the support of the human body

Info

Publication number: US2671442A
Application number: US166363A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cameto Leon Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-06
Filing date: 1950-06-06
Publication date: 1954-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-09

Description

L. R. CAMETO RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY March 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1959 INVENTOR.

IJI

FIG. .5

March 9, 1954 L. R. CAMETO 2,671,442

RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY Filed June 6, 1950 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll III I lllllll llll UIIIIIJAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIYIII/ I FIG. .9 92 ATTORNEY L. R. CAMETO RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BbDY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1954 Filed June 6, 1950 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII -r 11 I III FIG.2

Ill-

FIG. 4

38 32 IO 8 l6 u' umninl m 1min ,5 46 42 2.6 42 g IN V EN TOR.

3c- 3b v 2 3 LEON ROBERT GAMETO ATTORNEY March 9, 1954 L. R. CAMETO 2,671,442

RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE 'HUMAN BODY Filed June 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet.4

FIG.

LEON ROBERT OAMETO INVENTOR A T TOR/VE Y Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY 12 Claims.

This invention is a rack for supporting the human body in a relatively restrained posture such that, for example, proper drainage for the respiratory tract is insured with comparative ease to the patient. The rack is also employed to confine the body, such as that of an infant immediately after birth, in a safe position and/ or in a position wherein it maybe operated on.

Treatments of certain human ailments include the inhalation by a patient of a medicated atmosphere designed to loosen infectious matter from the lungs and passages leading thereto. The apparatus here described facilitates this treatment by so positioning the body of the patient that the matter loosened by the medication promptly drains off under the influence of gravity and therefore normal respiration is allowed to continue as the condition of the patient is improved.

Another noteworthy field of use of this apparatus lies in the area of pediatrics. For example; the natural birth of a human infant often is accompanied by impairment of the infants respiration. The apparatus is, in such case, employed to facilitate respiration in the infant at birth, particularly when the passages to the lungs have become clogged and require release of accumulated and often somewhat dried mucous. In other cases it is frequently true that a physician is r alone in the attendance upon a mother in the delivery of her infant. The mother often requires the physicians full attention immediately after delivery of the infant. The infant is simply deposited on the tray which retains it safely pending completion of attendance by the physician to the needs of the mother.

The rack is also found useful as an operating table, particularly for infants because their bodies are not accommodated by the adult operating table.

The several features of advantage will in part be pointed out and in part be evident from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rack, with an infant patient illustrated to be supported there- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of a modified rack, as from plane 22 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 3 represents at the right and left respectively of its vertical mid plane, a section at

plane

3a,3a and one at plane 3b-3b of Fig. 2;

t Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of structural deails;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modification; and

Figs. 6 through 13 illustrate a further modification.

The rack of Fig. 1 is formed, as by casting of metal such as aluminum, to provide a bottom 8 having an upwardly disposed continuous generally flat surface area In for supporting the back and legs of a patient in a generally straight extended position on the corresponding parts thereof from which there project substantially perpendicularly to the surface and to the direction of its elongation from the back supporting part to the leg supporting parts shoulder barriers l2 adjoining and forming with the terminal portion of area ID, a neck passage IA. The back supporting area is suitably shaped on its sides to provide curved surfaces "5 joining the back and shoulder barriers to approximately parallel side walls [8 patient and are of such height as to permit the wrapping of the support with a retaining band of fabric, not shown, to hold the patient securely within the support without excessive pressure on area It to provide a relatively depressed area 20 "Qwhich is intended to receive the buttocks of the patient. As is evident in Fig. 1, this depression tends to cause the buttocks to accept part of the pressed area the supporting area is extended and terminates approximately in the plane of the area H] at a point suihciently removed to support the ,patients legs and feet as shown in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the neck passage l4 and shoulder barriers l2, the support provides at the region in extension of the surface area It and at the opposite sides of the barrier plates from the area .110 a head rest 22 of cup shape, the bottom 24 of which is downset from the back area ID by an abruptly offsetting wall portion 26 extending from the neck passage [4 oppositely to the barriers I2.

The neck passage I4 is partially formed by the adjoining edges of the barrier plates I2 and by a portion extending from bottom 8 with its upper surface in extension of or substantially tangent to the surface ill of the back supporting part 8.

With the aid of fabric pads placed in the cup which are spaced apart to adjoin the arms of the bottom 24, the patients head is adjusted relative to the back so that the optimum alignment of the portions of the respiratory tract in the head and body is obtained. Two laterally projecting feet 28 formed on the head rest, and a suitable hook 30 at the foot of the support in the Fig. 1 arrangement, serve for positioning the support with the patient in a desired inclined gravitally stable position While the patient receives treatment, for example, in an oxygen tent.

In the modification of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, provision is made particularly for very small infants such as premature babies whose shoulders vary widely in width from patient to patient. The back supporting area I0, adjoining theneck passage I4 and the barriers I2, is provided with.

transverse slots 32 through which there are disposed adjustable shoulder barriers 34 which lap an adjustable portion of the neck passage area I 4 and-portions of fixed barriers-I2. These adjust able barriers include base portions 36 sliding on-- the oifset-wall26 adjacent slots 32 and supported lug 38 integral with bases 36 which are threaded The lugto the functionof. inclined positioning. the device of Figs; 2, 3 and 4 includes a pair of-legs 40and- 50--which are pivoted by a pin52 having its axisbelow and parallel tothe back area- I0 positioned ina quadrant lug 54 secured-to'the support 0 by a base piece 56.- The quadrant lug 54 provides a slot 58arcuate upon pin-52. The legs 48 and' 50:provide holes 60- for bolt-62 to extend through-them-and slot 58' and havinghead 64 engagingarm '48. A wing nut- 66-.serveswith the bolt. 62= and head- 64 to-clamp arms=48 and 50- at any of several angular positions as determined byv-the length of the arc of slot 58.. The legs 4efand-50 are divergent as shown in Fig. :4 toincrease'the stability of. the support against tilting.

It is preferable in the delivery roomof a hospital toravoid the use of devices which require sterilization. for any length oftime; and-particularly' the-'pads'referredto for the-cup 22.- "Ihew modification-ofFigr5 makes it possible to adjust therheadeuprapidly to the needs of an infantandveli'minates problems". of sterilization since paddingifor; the-purpose of. elevating the head to:the requiredxposition is unnecessary withthe Fig.5: 5 provisions; TThB" head" cup. is shown adjustable with respect to the backportion I0, beinst-carried? on. arm l0.pivoted' on' pivotc52 and extendingto :clear thershoulder adjustment mech I anismiofrFigs. 2, 3 and .4. Arm .70 carries a shaft 12. iournalled: therein through which an. adjustingcscrewi'llhaving knob I6 is threaded. Screw I4 is universally anchored by its integral ball 18' received: a socket formed' bya plate 80 se curedtobase 56:'and a recess 82 in base 86.- The arm10'works :through a slot formedin the web portion 21 which corresponds to the wall 26 in Fig.

3. :-In:zthemodification of Figs. 6 throng-hi3 several additional radvantagespver those of :the: previously described modifications .are. obtained. 1 Fort-example; it 'is constructedtwith a separable" body tray portion I8 and supports trays of different sizes which are interchangeably mounted on a common base or carriage. Similarly to the modification of Fig. 5, the head tray 24 is constructed for interchangeability. The construction affords independent adjustability of inclination of the body tray and the position of the head rest; and the body tray may be adjusted without substantial changein the position of'the head.

The device of Figs. 6 through 13 comprises a base having a fiat top surface 92 for the reception thereagainst of the flat bottom of the back. portion I0, ,of the body tray I8. The base 90 inc1udes' a pivot and clamp portion having a pair of depending brackets 94 joined by a bracingwebfltiThe'base 90 further provides a portion 91 supporting adjustable shoulder barriers, including therefor a depending vertical web 98 having a flat forward face I00 about perpendicular to the top surface 92 and intended for registry with a forward edge I02 of the body tray. The portion 91 is of a length about equal to the width of tray I8. holes I04 for. registry with. corresponding holes I04. in the portion I0 of the tray and fastening of the base and tray together by suitable bolts. The portion 9'! of the basefurther provides lugs 42 for pivotally supporting a shoulder bracket adjusting shaft 40'. The web 98 provides fiat vertical bearing surfaces I06 against which the flat forward surfaces .of the bases 36' of shoulder barriers. 34' bear in a fashion similar to that shown in Fig.. 2. The base 90. is provided with slots I08 for the accommodation of the barriers 34. The back portion of tray I0 is provided with slots. .I I0 for the registry with slots I08 and passage of the barriers.

Headrest 24is provided with a pair of arms I0 of considerable length disposed between, and on a clamping bolt. IIZ forming a pivot therefor, which bolt bears in holes H4 in brackets 54. Notches III; are provided in web 08 to allow upwardmovement of the arms 10.

The position of the head rest pivot I2 is chosen at a point adjacent the back I0, and so remote from edge I02 that'very little gap exists between the headrest 24" and the forward edge I02 of tray I8 in any position of adjustment of the head rest about pivot 2.. A shaft I2 pivoted between arms 10' has a headed adjusting screw, similar to 14 in Fig. 5, threaded through hole I8 and swivelly anchored in a notch I20 in base 90.

A pair of legs 48' and 50', having their foot ends rigidlyjoined by. a rod 122, and having flat opposed brake quadrant portions I24 spaced to engage the flat parallel outside faces lie of brackets 94, are pivoted on a common axis parallel to boIt:I I2 at I28ion brackets 94. -The quadrantportions.areprovided with slots I30 arcuate on pivots I28"and of size and radius to receive bolt II2 therethrough. The head I32 of the bolt and a clamping disc- Hi4 serve to-clamp the quadrant portions of the legsagainst brackets 94 in any of a; wide "range of positions.- r

I claim:

1. A rigid support for the human body comprising, in combination: a single integrally formed rigid member including an elongated portion providing for an upwardly disposed continuous generally fiat surface area providing a buttocksreceiving recess and constituting a back supporting surface part and a surface part for receiving and-supporting the remainder of the body with the'entirebody'in a generally straight extended position; said member further provid-.

ing shoulder barrier plates at one end of the elon- The base 90 is provided with three gated area and extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of elongation of said platelike portion, said back supporting surface part and said barriers being constructed and arranged to provide a neck passage through and between the barriers and substantially tangent to said back supporting surface part, said member further providing a pair of parallel sidewalls extending perpendicularly to and from the back supporting part of the continuous surface substantially parallel to the direction of elongation from points adjoining the shoulder barriers.

2. A rigid support for the human body comprising, in combination: a single integrally formed rigid member including an elongated portion providing for an upwardly disposed continuous generally flat surface area providing a buttocks receiving recess and constituting a, supporting surface part for the back of the body and a surface part for receiving and supporting the remainder of the body with the entire body in a generally straight extended position; means providing shoulder barriers having inner and outer ends at one end of the elongated portion extending away from the surface and having shoulder engaging surfaces disposed along planes substantially perpendicular to the surface and to the direction of elongation, said back supporting surface part and. said barriers being constructed and arranged to provide a narrow neck passage through and between the barriers and in extension of the back supporting surface part, and means providing a pair of sidewalls extending away from the elongated portion and in the direction of elongation from regions adjoining the outer ends of the shoulder barriers,

3. As claim 2 and means secured on said rigid member providing a head rest surface area adjoining the neck passage at the opposite end of said neck passage at the region in extension of said surface area.

4. As claim 3 and means fixed on said member and on said head rest means defining sup- 6 ports for positioning the member, with the human body resting thereon, in a gravitally stable position.

5. As claim 4, said combination being formed as a continuously integral body of metal.

6. As claim 4, said combination including means for adjusting and fixing the positioning means with respect to the rigid member.

7. As claim 3, and means for adjusting the head rest means to provide several positions of the head rest area offset from the adjoining back rest area.

8. As claim 7, and said combination including an arm rigidly secured to the head rest, and means pivotally mounting the arm on the rigid member for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the flat surface area and substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the flat surface area, said axis being disposed in a region adjoining the surface area between the ends of the rigid member.

9. As claim 3 and means constituting integral parts of said member and said head rest means defining leg supports for positioning the member, with the human body resting thereon against said barriers and sidewalls, in a stable position.

10. As claim 3, said combination being formed as a continuously integral body of metal.

11. As claim 2, said combination being formed as a continuously integral body of metal.

12. As claim 2, and means for adjusting the shoulder barriers constructed and arranged for varying the width of the neck passage.

LEON ROBERT CAMETO.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,710,475 Gallowitz Apr. 23, 1929 1,848,212 Waterman Mar. 8, 1932 1,903,536 Skinner Apr. 11, 1933