US3276731A

US3276731A - See all invalid table and tray

Info

Publication number: US3276731A
Application number: US507944A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sydney C Orchard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-15
Filing date: 1965-11-15
Publication date: 1966-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-04

Description

Oct. 4, 1966 s, c, ORCHARD 3,276,731

SEE ALL INVALID TABLE AND TRAY Filed Nov. 15, 1965 INVENTOR Sydney 6. Orchard United States Patent 3,276,731 SEE ALL INVALID TABLE AND TRAY Sydney C. Orchard, Shedden, Ontario, Canada Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 507,944 6 Claims. (Cl. 248121) The present invention generally relates to a tray specifically constructed so that a patient may feed himself and perform other useful functions while lying flat on his back.

An object of this invention is to provide a tray combined with a novel stand which rests on the surface of a bed in straddling relation to a patient so that the patient may feed himself from the tray.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tray and stand together with a plurality of adjustable viewing mirrors to enable a patient to observe the tray, his hands and the like so that he may write by hand, read books and the like when resting on the tray.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray, stand and mirror assembly which is simple in construction, easy to use, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details on construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tray, stand and mirror assembly illustrating the device in use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the device; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view along section line 44 on FIG. 3 illustrating the mirror mountings.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the stand of the present invention which supports a tray 12 and a pair of

mirrors

14 and 16 in elevated relation to a bed 18 having the usual supporting surface 20 thereon. The stand 10 is disposed in straddling relation to a patient 22 lying on bed surface 20 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The stand 10 includes an endless tubular member generally defining an inverted U-shaped assembly including a rear upper transverse member 24, a pair of depending

side members

26 and 28, a pair of forwardly extending horizontal side rails or

members

30 and 32, a pair of downwardly extending and curved

front side members

34 and 36 generally semi-circular in configuration, a pair of rearwardly extending horizontal bottom side rails or

members

38 and 40, a pair of upwardly extending

rear members

42 and 44 and a lower transverse rear member 46. All of the members are of unitary construction and the members are connected to each other by rounded corners such as at 48 thus forming a rigid stand open at the front with the sides interconnected by the

rear members

24 and 46.

Each horizontal side rail or

member

30 and 32 has a pair of permanent magnets 50 mounted thereon in any suitable manner such as by a bolt assembly, adhesive or the like. The tray 12 is metallic and retained releasably by the magnets 50 in generally a horizontal position. The tray 12 is a conventional tray and has an upstanding peripheral flange 52 thereon for retaining articles thereon.

The mirror 14 is mounted on a flexible mounting standard 54 such as that used in a gooseneck lamp and the lower end of the standard is screw threaded into the tubular rear member 24 as at 56. The other mirror 16 is "ice mounted from the rear member 24 by the use of a universal support such as a ball and socket assembly 58 to enable universal adjustment of the mirror 16 substantially in the nature of a rear view mirror used in an automobile.

The previously described structure can be used to enable a patient lying flat on his back to feed himself from the tray. Also with the mirrors properly arranged, a patient may read a book, write and otherwise perform functions requiring observation of the tray surface.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tray, mirror and stand assembly for use by a bedridden patient comprising a stand having side members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the patient, a tray for positioning in overlying relation to the patient, means detachably supporting said tray on said stand, and mirror means mounted on said stand in elevated relation to the tray such that the patient can observe the top surface of the tray.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said tray includes a plurality of permanent magnets on horizontal portions of said stand.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said mirror means includes a first mirror and a flexible standard adjustably supporting said first mirror from said stand.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said mi-rror means also includes a second mirror disposed below the first mirror, and a ball and socket assembly adjustably supporting the second mirror from said stand.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said stand includes an upper transverse rear member, a pair of depending side members integral with the ends of the rear member, a pair of forwardly extending horizontal side rails integral with the side members, a pair of depending semi-circular members integral with the side rails, a pair of rea-rwardly extending lower side rails integral with the lower ends of said semi-circular members, a pair of upwardly extending rear members integral with the rear ends of said lower side rails, and a lower transverse rear member integral with the upper ends of said upwardly extending rear members, all of the components of said stand being of unitary construction.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said transverse rear members are in vertical alignment, said upper transverse member supporting said mirror means, said rear transverse members forming the sole means interconnecting the side portions of the stands.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,967 7/ 1872 Leslie 248-276 207,579 8/ 1878 Wilcox 88-90 599,543 2/ 1898 Whitaker 248 775,003 11/1904 Eustis 248276 2,213,051 8/ 1940 Rosen 248276 2,283,114 5/1942 Wesley 88-90 X 2,519,096 8/ 1950 Additon 297447 X 3,123,935 3/1964 Williams 248346 3,186,673 6/1965 Olson 248226 CLAUDE A. L'E ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A TRAY, MIRROR AND STAND ASSEMBLY FOR USE BY A BEDRIDDEN PATIENT COMPRISING A STAND HAVING SIDE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PATIENT, A TRAY FOR POSITIONING IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE PATIENT, MEANS DETACHABLY SUPPORTING SAID TRAY ON SAID STAND, AND MIROR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID STAND IN ELEVATED RELATION.