US812240A - Operating-table. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 812,240. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. J.'SGHOETTL, G. JABGER & P. WALSLEBEN.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10,1903.

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Paul 0 PATENTED FEB. 13

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11112.10, 190s.

J. SGHOETTL, G. JAEGER & P. WALSLEBEN.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SOHOETTL, CHRISTIAN JAEGER, AND PAUL VVALSLEBEN, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO DAVID FRANK, OF BROOK- LYN, NEl/V YORK, AND JOHN TROUNSTINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

OPERATING-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 10. 1903. Serial N0. 147,045.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JosEPH ScHoETTL, CHRISTIAN JAEGER, and PAUL WVALsLEBEN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in operating-tables for the use of surgeons and it consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable operating-table which shall be strong and light and capable of being folded into compact form, so as to be readily carried or transported from one place to another, so that a surgeon when performing operative work in a private dwelling may be conveniently equipped with satisfactory means for carrying on the work. The operating-table of our invention is formed of hinged sections, which may be folded one upon another and the whole compactly arranged within a small compass.

A further object of the invention is to produce an operating-table on which the patient may be more effectually and conveniently given the various positions required, according to the nature of the case, the parts of the table being adjustable in their relation to one another and the whole capable of being easily and conveniently manipulated while the patient is on the table without discomfort to the patient or the exercise of any great exertion on the part of the surgeon or attendant.

The nature and objects of the invention will more fully appear hereinafter, and the said invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an operating table constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top view, partly broken away, of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same, the supporting part of the table being illustrated in position for securing the Trendelenburg posture; and Fig. 3 denotes by the heavy dotted line a further u position which may be given to the supporthome of a patient.

a top view of same.

in its several positions.

ing part of the table, this latter position being of especial importance in operations pertaining to kidney and abdominal troubles. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the entire table in its folded form ready to be placed in a satchel or box for transportation from, for illustration, the oflice of a surgeon to the Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached side elevation of a portion of the table and illustrates more particularly the means for enabling the adjustment of the headboard of the table. Fig. 6is an enlarged detached side elevation, partlyin section, of one of the legs of the table, these legs being formed of hinged sections and having a slidable sleeve, shown in section in Fig. 6, for locking the sections of the legs in rigid alinement with each other when the table is to be put into use. a vertical section on the dotted line 7 7 of Fig 8 of a portion of the table, shown on an enlarged scale, and is presented to illustrate more particularly the means for raising and lowering the foot end of the table. Fig. 8 is Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the central part of the table-top and is presented to illustrate more particularly the joint between the two sections of the table-top and the locking means for holding said sections in rigid relation on the same plane. Fig. 10 is a top view of same. Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of the middle portion of one of the side bars of the table-supporting frame and is presented to illustrate more particularly the joint between the two sections of said side bar and the means for locking said sections in their end-to-end relation on the same horizontal plane. Fig. 12 is a top view of same. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the foot board or frame and adjoining edge of the main body of the table and is presented to illustrate more particularly the means for securing said foot board or frame Fig .14 is a top view, partly in section, of same. Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of the middle portion of one of the inclined braces for the table-legs and is presented to illustrate more clearly the joint between the sections of said braces and the means. for locking said sections in their alined end-to-end relation, and Fig. 16 is a top edge view of same. i

In the drawings, 20 denotes the legs of the Fig. 7 1s to spring into apertures 59 in the sections 51 52, said apertures passing into line with each other when the sections 51 52 are in their endto-end relation. hen it is desired to fold up the braces 22, the attendant will, by pressing outwardly on the handle end of the latch 57, withdraw the pin 58 from the apertures 59 and turn the latch 57 outwardly against the edge of the section 52, giving it an opposite position to that shown in Fig. 16. It has been described above that the lower end of the braces 22 are recessed to simplyhook upon the pins 50, carried by the legs 20, and as a means for preventing any accidental displacement of the lower ends of said braces from said pins 50 we so dispose said pins that after the braces have been hooked thereon and the sleeves 17 are moved downwardly on the legs 20 into their operative position the lower edges of said sleeves 47 will come into close relation to the upper edges of the lower ends of the braces 20 and prevent said braces at their lower ends from moving upwardly from the pins 50. Then it is desired to fold the table, the sleeves 47 are moved upwardly, so that the sections of the legs 20 may be folded against each other, and hence when the sleeves 47 are in their upper position the attendant will be free to unhook the lower ends of the braces 22 from the pins 50. The braces 22 will also be provided with inwardly-projecting pins 60, Figs. 15 and 16, to contact with the lower edges of the side bars or frames 21 when the sections of said braces are folded together and turned upwardly against said side bars or frames. In Figs. 15 and 16 we illustrate, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the left-hand brace 22, (shown in position in Fig. 1,) and it will be observed that-the upper section 51 of this left-hand brace has its lower end at the inner side of the upper end of the lower section 52 thereof. In the arrangement of the right-hand brace 22, Fig. 1, the lower end of the upper section 51 is at the outer side of the upper end of the lower section 52, this being a reversal of the order of arrangement of the sections of the left-hand brace, and this is for the purpose of enabling the compact and convenient folding up of the said braces and is due to the fact that the righthand brace at its upper end is, at the bolt 31, at the outer side of the upper end of the lefthand brace Due to the reversal of the meeting ends of the sections of the braces 22 the spring-latch 57 of the right-hand brace 18 pivotally secured to the upper section 51 thereof instead of to the lower section 52, as

shown in Fig. 15, with respect to the left-hand brace, the spring-latch 57 thus in both instances being enabled to lie flat against a continuous surface of one section of the brace.

The main body of the table-top 25 com prises, as hereinbefore stated, the two sections 26 27, corresponding substantially in size with each other and pivotally connected at their meeting ends at about the transverse center of the table, and the said table top 25 is free at its right-hand or foot end, Fig. 3, to be raised and lowered atwill,while at its lefthand or head end the said table-top is secured in a hinged manner upon the transverse rod 39, connecting the upper ends of the lefthand pair of legs 20. Each section 26 27 of the table-top comprises parallel side bars, end bars 61, and crossing thin steel straps 62, Fig. 2, secured at their ends to the said side bars and end bars.

The manner of forming the joint at the meeting ends of the side bars of the table-top 25 is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 9 and 10 and corresponds substantially with the manner of forming the joint at the meeting ends of the sections 29 30 of the top side frames or bars 21 of the table. Upon the inner end of the side bars of the section 27 of the table-top is secured the corresponding plates 63, Figs. 9 and 10, which depend downwardly to form ears for receiving the pivot-pin 64 and are adapted to overlap the oint between the sections 26 27 when the table-top 25 is on a given plane with said sections in end-to-end relation, as shown in Fig. 9. The side bars of the section 26 have at their inner ends depending lug portions 65, which are between the lower ends of the plates 63 and pivotally secured upon the pins 64, whereby the sections 26 27 become hinged together. When the sections 26 27 are in direct line with each other, the meeting ends of the side bars of said sections come together, as denoted in Figs. 9 and 10, and thus a very rigid tabletop resisting downward pressure is secured, while at the same time the said table-top may at its center be folded upwardly, as denoted by the heavy dotted line 66 in Fig. 3, this folding of the table-top being desired both for securing a desirable posture for the patient and also to enable the compact folding up of the table when desired. Then the table-top 25 is in its lower flat position, it will lie between the top side bars 21 of the table-frame and the pivot-pin 64, for the sections of the tabletop will then be in line with the pivot-bolts 31 for the sections of the top side bars 21, and thus when it is desired to fold the table into compact form the sections of the table-top and the sections of the side bars 21 mayboth be folded upwardly upon a given center, the sections of the table-top 25 remaining between the sections of the side bars 21 and the whole being folded as one integral structure. For the purpose of locking the sections 26 27 of the table-top 25 against having any folding movement we provide the pivoted latches 67, which are pivotally secured to the sections 26 and at their free ends have shoulders 68, Fig. 10, adapted to engage the right-hand edges of the outer plates 63, these latches 67 serving to lock the sections 26 27 in their end-to-end relation, preventing the sections 26 27 from being folded upwardly and aiding them in resisting downward pressure. The latches 67 are provided with thumb-pieces,- as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, whereby they may be conveniently turned upwardly from the outer plates 63 when it is desired that the table-top shall be folded upwardly at its central portions. I

The means we provide for raising and lowering the right-hand or foot end of the tabletop are shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprise the rack-bars 69, pivotally secured at their upper ends to the side bars of the section 27 of the table-top, and thence extending downwardly through'swiveled loops 7 0, within which they are retained in mesh with the gear-wheels 71, the latter being rigid upon a transverse shaft 72, sup ported slightly below the lower edges of the side bars 21 in bearing-apertures formed in the depending plates 73, secured to said side bars 21. Adjacent to each endof the shaft 72, intermediate the side bars 21, there is a gear-wheel 71 and a swiveled loop 70, and to each side bar of the section 27 of the tabletop 25 is secured-a rack-bar 69, the rack-bars 69 passing downwardly through the loops 70 and engaging the gear-wheels 71. The outer extremity of the transverse shaft 72 at the front of the table carries a ratchet-wheel 73 and is of polygonal form in cross-section to receive an ordinary crank or key by which the shaft 72 may be rotated for efiecting through the gear-wheels 71, rigid thereon, and the rackbars 69 the raising and lowering of the tabletop 25. Upon the side bar 21 of the tableframe is pivoted a pawl 74 to engage the ratchet 73 and prevent reverse motion in the shaft 72 and gear-wheels 71 during the upward movement of the table-top 25. After the table-top 25 has been elevated and it may be desired to lower the same the attendant will turn the pawl 74 from the ratchet-wheel 73 and then under the control of theoperating-crank to be placed on the shaft72 lower the right-hand or foot end of said table-top,

whereupon he will again restore the pawl 7 4 to the ratchet 73. We provide a pin 75 on the side bars 21 to support the free end of the pawl 74 when the latter is turned from the ratchet 73. During the raising and lowering of the table-top 25 the rack-bars 29 will naturally have a pivotal movement, said rack-bars when the table-top is in its lower position assuming the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1, and then as the table-top is elevated gradually moving from that posi tion to the positions in which said rack-bars are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 3, and it is for this reason that we swivel the loops 70, which guide the bars 69 and retain them in firm mesh with the gear-wheels 71.

are apertured in their opposite side's'to freely pass upon the transverse shaft 72, andhence said loops may turn upon said shaft under the movement imparted to them by the rackbars 69, and at the same time the loops 70 do not interfere with the rotation of said shaft 72.

When the table-top 25 is to be used with its sections 26 27 in direct linewith each other, the latches 67 will be left in their locking position, (shown in Figs. 3 and 9 but when the said table-top is to be used in the position represented by the dotted line 66 in Fig. 3 the latches 67 will be turned from engagement with the outer plates 63, and the pivoted rack-bars 76, Fig. 3, will be turned downwardly in the direction indicated by the dotted lines leading from their lower end, so that the head end 26 of the table-top 25 may, by

means of the said rack-bars 26, be independently supported in an upwardlyinclined position, the said rack-bars '76'being caused to engage the cross-bar 41, secured to the side bars 21 of the table-frame, the'right hand edge of said bar 41 serving as a pawl to, en-

gage the teeth of the rack-bars 76. There are two rack-bars 7 6, one at each side of the section 26 of the table-top, and their lower ends are connected by a rod 77. bars 76 are only used when the table-top is to be converted into the kidney or abdominal posture represented by the dotted line 66 in Fig. 3, and when they are not in use they are simply folded up against the sides of the section 26 of the table-top, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, said rack-bars fitting sufficiently tight against the sides of said section 26 to maintain theirfolded position shown; When it is desired to convert the table-top from the Trendelenburg posture shown by. full lines in Fig. 3 to the position represented The rackby the dotted line 66 in Fig. 3 ,the latches 67 g are unlocked and the shaft 72 turned toraise the right-hand end of the table-top 25 to a sufiiciently greater extent to enable the attendant to turn down the rack-bars 76, so jthat'upon the lowering ofthe table-top 25 the teeth of said rack-bars may engage the transverse bar 41 and-servelas props to independently support the head end or left-hand end of the table-top during the subsequent reverse motion of the shaft 72 to lower the foot end of the table-top. After the rackbars 76 have passed into firm engagement ,with the transverse bar 41 the attendant will then assuming the form of a double inclined plane upon which the patient lies on his side for operations about the kidney. This position may be secured by reason of the fact that the main bodyof the table-top 25 may The loops 70 be folded upwardly at about'its center, andin the manner described this position is secured without the necessity of lifting the patient from the table, which is an important consideration, the patient being placed upon the table, the table-top then being given the inclined position shown by full lines in Fig. 3, and then converted to the position represented by the dotted line 66. After the table has been given the position shown by the dotted line 66 and the work of the surgeon has been completed, the right-hand end of the table-top 25 may be restored to its elevated position in line with the left-hand end of said top, the rack-bars 76 folded upwardly against the table-top, as shown in Fig. 3, and the entire table-top then by the reverse motion of the shaft 72 lowered to the flat hori zontal position represented in Figs. 1 and 2, whereupon the patient may be conveniently removed from the table.

The head frame or board 23 corresponds with the general structure of the sections of the table-top 25, being formed of side bars 80, end bars 81, and thin steel connecting bars or straps 82. Upon the inner ends of the side bars 80 of the head board or frame are secured plates 83, having a recess 84, and upon the left-hand ends of the side bars of the section 26 of the table-top are secured ratchet-plates 85, and the head board or frame 23 is pivotally secured to the left-hand end of the table-top 25 by pins 86, which pass through the plates 83 and ratchet-plates 85, the purpose being to so hinge the said head board or frame 23 that it may turn flat upon the section 26 of the table-top for folding the table up, and from that position be turned on the line of a circle, as represented by the dotted line in Fig. 1, and given any desired position at the left-hand or head end of the table. For the purpose of cooperating with the recessed plates 83 and ratchet-plates 85 we provide a rod 87, whose middle portion extends transversely across the head frame or board, as shown in Fig. 2, and whose end portions 88 extend along the outer sides of the side bars 80 and thence turn inwardly through free apertures in said side bars 80, as shown in Fig. 5, and are headed at their extreme ends, so that they cannot slip outwardly from said apertures. The end portions 88 of the rod 87 are bent outwardly near the inner end of the headboard, as represented at 89, Fig. 2, to form thumb-pieces for the use of the attendant, and at the extreme ends of the transverse or middle portion of the rod 87 the latter normally lies within the recesses 84 of the plates 83 and is adapted to engage at the same time any one of the ratchet-teeth of the plates 85. The end portions 88 of the rod 87 pass along the upper edges of pins 90, Fig. 5, carried by the side bars 80 of the headboard, and these pins operate as stops to prevent the rod 87 from swinging downwardly from the plates 83 and ratchet-plates 85; but the pins are so disposed that they allow the attendant by pressing on the thumb-pieces 89 to spring the transverse or middle portion of the rod 87 downwardly to place the same into engagement with any one ofthe teeth of the ratchet-plates 85 in accordance with the special position it is desired the head board or frame 23 shall have. The downward movement of the head board or frame 23 will always necessitate the attendant pressing downwardly upon the thumb-pieces 89 of the rod 87, so that said rod may pass the teeth of the plates 85; but during the upward movement of said headboard the spring in the rod 87 will permit the latter to slip over the inclined surfaces of the teeth of said plates. The rod 87 constitutes, in effect, a spring pawl to engage the ratchet-plates 85 for holding the headboard 23 in any of its desired adjustments, and one desirable feature of this part of the construction is that when the ends of the middle or transverse portion of the rod 87 are engaging the teeth of the plates 85 the opposite walls of the recesses 84 in the plates 83 will also engage the rod 87 at points adjacent to the faces of the ratchet-plates 85, and this has the effect of enabling a reasonably light rod 87 to very firmly and securely maintain the head board or frame 23 in its adjusted positions. WVhenever desired, the rod 87 may be caused to hang down loosely from its inturned outer ends, so that the mid dle or transverse portion of said rod may be entirely free of the ratchet-plates 85 and the headboard 23 turned downwardly between the right-hand legs 20 of the table, and this result may be accomplished by simply pressing outwardly upon the inturned headed outer ends of the rod 87 until the side portions 88 of said rods spring outwardly beyond the outer ends of the pins 90, said pins 90 then having no efiect to retain the rod 87 in its operative position (shown in Fig. 5) and leaving said rod free to swing downwardly in an unrestrained manner.

The foot board or frame 24 corresponds in general construction with the head frame or board 23, as Fig. 2 sufficiently indicates. The side bars 91 of the foot board or frame 24 are secured by pivot-pins 92 to ratchet-plates 93, rigidly fastened to the right-hand ends of the side bars of the section 27 of the table-top 25, the foot board or frame 24 being thus secured in a hinged manner and being capable of being folded fiat upon the table-top and thence turned upwardly and outwardly therefrom, as indicated by the dotted line at the righthand side of Fig. 1, it being desired that the said foot frame or board 24 may be moved to various adjustments suiting the requirements, three of these positions being represented in Figs. 1 and 3 and another in Fig. 13.

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The foot board or, frame 25 carries a slidab1e-- pwl-rod 9.4 to engage the teeth .ofithe .mteheh; plates 93, and. the ends of this nodtltltmroject through-slots 95in" the side ;b e;cs l 91, Fi s.. .1,3..

and 1.4, andzhave secured..t )ntheilh 'ttll l l 5 .to-; foot,m eybetl1ted sowastounverttthe paouter ends the finger-pieces 96, .Whih .li l alongthe sides of thebar 9.1.and iarePgiVeIL-ag spring tension in a direction toward th ratchet-plates 93 Jay .means' 0f th Q l springs 97, which lie at the imiersideofthe; bars 91 and are at one end conneotedfihrou'gh: a pin, 9,8, therewith and at the otherend with apin 99, extending from the .fingeimi eesfifi 3 through a-guiding-slot 100, termed i 51 6 said side bars91; {Elie rod .94 end (finger-1 p ec 9 cons i ute a .pewlefrarhe which :is; give a t e ent w rd the .reteh tplaites 93. by m a of h spr ngs/9 lendi tist ebeehlfved 0n e ere ce to F g 3 end 11 that h dges Of .th '.retehe -p1etes :9 ere j se ttins th re91 e dthe the ends th ed94 rather e e yfi the lets=9 inthe said side .bars'; -When;it is desire 3 0 M1]. list he ar o fr m dewnwerd y semth pos t o n Wh ehi is shewnin R g 11",. th t e dentwill p ou ward y the-Afi e p e 9 s to wit drew th .red 9e el e wit t e ete et-plete 9 end h he the'te t heard or heme i in i s red P sit n theette de tw l relee'ej th fi ger-p e e 6 ndie l w e li d .94 t6 enter the teeth of the atehevpletes ,93, the enegeh ent 0f eeid red 94 wi h e i hat et- P ates sewing e Inein ein the feet heeird or h m 24 in positi n- Du ing e upw rd m v ment of he eet boarde them 2 he ed 94 W ll be en bled to sli over th elined' dges of the te t o the tetehet-pletes e et h he ends 1 f the red .Qeere' ithin e et95 en th t h 'hnd her 91 ere ie to the fac of th iet he -Ple ee 3 nab e us f e re eenehly sl gh h r x e r g g ng the at he -hi e .93 Withent ense nee e nde th her .94: .ehtle n ppe t fr nt-the W l .e the elete .5, e We l e th Opposite W lls of the retehet teeth in the plates 93.

h upp r en s ef the eg 29.0 24 the righ end e d or he f e ef he tehle'ere lef epen, so s to e n t e eeeket fer vert eel ele+ ep posts 10 e Whieh t epe ere ee: u edo uppo t ng the legsef e patien he eee ery, se te t 101 bei g remova l at w n by meeh :et thei telee pi helt etelr ver ie lly x ens ble at Wil T e per ie of he e vetel pe ts e he ehle has been fii ent y sie eri bed h e nb fer n r whe ha b en etd nd P et e 0f h r wing itwi' he. appe nt tha h hee and e t eitde 2e; IQ. pe ive y, th y be adjust d a Will end that the m in dy of the ehle-tep 2.5 be p oy d Wh n ts, eet ene ere-in e e height n' -t d eletien, es heen by f n 1 lines. in Fig- .10 be. folde npwetd y at its e' nteh'eei i e .t .f.erm,.a .donbleinclined p1ene,..as; indi Gated by he. d Qttedt lines 56-pin Fig; 3,;for, use in opera tionseboutthe kidney end it Will-be apperenttthettthejgentirefltablevtop from he d tient in the .eyent of sudden collapse.

' vvAside from t the important ;features of adjuetin.en ,.whe by the. efii ieney. 0 h table risincreesed, .elfurther feature ofthe-tableis iiteeepehi'lityef being foldedzinto smallspee fer transportationwTheWeight, of thetabl shoyv1 1 gin the ,drewings is ,t en-ty eight and o'neheltpQ ndsgendiwiththe egeholde and its case reedyf-for .tren' pertatien (it Weighs ,thit y pennd -l131 1e .entire treble folde nesheytin inlFig- I L-is. capable Q'f being placed w thi i these eight -;in.ehes wide, wenty-one en one ihitl'f inches deep, and WQIlhYTQI Q.3e d.- e1 i1'l(?h6S.lQIlg, end-th said table, When erected, vas illustrated in E gs- .1 .end-3,;is sixfeet 1ong,.ei hteenend onenhelfinehes Wid .andtthiitty t I66 he ig these-d mension end weightsbeing refe fed to ,not as ;limiting features, :but as inhea ng theeapabilityflof the tableof being compactly folded and ,cojnveniently transpqnted from place to lace fo use in surgical Qpere iQn When t .e ta le is to h f lded in the condition .in which .it is illustrated in ig-' therael her .69 Wil be Withdrawn from the eeps 70 and tuned upward y along the inner sideof the side .barsof the Secti0n 27 0f the table-top25, ,a dseid table-{top will :be move to it h izon p tion between the side bars 21 of the table-flame. The latches .5 and 6 wi l he turn from their locking peet i'en, end h heecg end toot fram s 23 .4 h turned toward .eeeh other and rest fiat pon the table-t p 2 the le kingeleetces 7 .W then he move upwardly pon the egs 20, and th eg-brew 22 ill he n: hooked from the pins 50 and have their sec tions folded together nd t olded up: e ly un il he r .et p pins 60 st i th ett r e ge i t side here 1 of the ab e: hem The; tab will then he ai 1. 1 11 its de upon the fleQr, en the sections of the able legs-2 w l be o ded eg ins e ch ther, as llustrate n Fignd t e d bl ect on of sai legs turne ere e inst he hen o t sides o th h e f ot end t ere p n the ta et p an sid her 2 1 wi l on their central jo nts be brought oge he the under sid of th ee en 29 30 of a d e e e and t und rs of th ee: 01, 11 26 27 of the table-top folding toward e h other an e ng the s tions of on pei of he legs 0 at me id of t e th n fe de d e rnetnte e e s et e e of he other pe r .Qf eeid leg at he ot r side of the then lded e ruetnre, the whole be g e n. he eind tien sh wn in Eige nd dapt o. e httedneesi in e. a su ta le eet el. e ease for ece ving he seinehe. pests. .01 f r re:

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ceiving the straps 102 constitute simply an attachment for the table, and they may be used or not, as may be desired. If they should happen to be on the table at the time it is desired to fold the same, they of course will be removed before the table is folded.

l/Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

= 1. The operating-table comprising the legs, side bars, table-top hinged at one end, and rack and pinion mechanism operable by a crank for raising and lowering said top from its other end, said top being normally set in between said side bars, and said side bars and top being independently composed of hinged sections in end-to-end relation with the pintles of the hinges in line with each other and about on a line with the transverse center of the table so that they may be together folded downwardly and also so that said top may be independently given the position of a double incline for certain operations, combined with foldable means adjacent to the center of the table for, after the tabletop has been raised to an inclined position, firmly supporting the hinged end section of said top in its inclined position while the other section of said top is being lowered at its outer end by said rack-and-pinion mechanism to create the double incline, the foldable head and foot frames at the ends of the table and one of which is carried by the free end of said top, and means for adjusting the inclination of said frames; substantially as set forth.

2. The operating-table comprising the legs, side bars, table top hinged at one end, and rack-and-pinion mechanism operable by a crank for raising and lowering said top from its other end, said side bars and top being independently composed of hinged sections in end-to-end relation with the pintles of the hinges about on a line with the transverse center of the table so that they may be together folded downwardly and also so that said top may be independently given the po sition of a double incline for certain operations, combined with foldable means adjacent to the center of the table for, after the tabletop has been raised to an inclined position, firmly supporting the hinged end section of said top in its inclined position while the other section of said top is being lowered atits outer end bysaid rack-and-pinion mechanism to create the double incline, the foldable head and foot frames at the ends of the table and one of which is carried by the free end of said top, and means for adjusting the inclination of said frames; substantially as set forth.

3. The operating-table comprising the side bars, the hinged legs composed of hinged foldable sections, the foldable leg-braces hinged at their upper ends at about the center of said side bars and adapted at their lower ends to be detachably connected to said legs, the table-top hinged at one end, and means for raising and lowering said top from ts other end, said side bars and top each be ng 1ndependently composed of sections lunged together at about the transverse center of the table so that they may be together folded downwardly and also so that said top may be independently given the position of a double incline for certain operations, combined with means adjacent to the center of the table for supporting the hinged end section of said top in an upwardly-inclined position whlle the other section of said top is inclined downwardly, the hinged head and foot frames at the ends of the table and adapted to be folded down upon said top, and means for securing said head and foot frames in the desired adjustments substantially as set forth.

4. The operating-table comprismg the legs, side bars, table-top hinged at one end, and means for raising and lowering said top from its other end, said side bars and top eachbeing independently composed of sections hinged together at about the transverse cen ter of the table so that they may be together folded downwardly and also so that said top may be independently given the position of a double incline for certain operations, com: bined with means adjacent to the center of the table for supporting the hinged end sec tion of said top in an upwardly-inclined position while the other section of said top is nclined downwardly, means connected with said side bars for locking their sections to gether at their joint in horizontal extended position, means connected with the hinged table-top sections for locking them together at their joint in their horizontal extended po sition, and the head and foot frames at the ends of the table; substantially as set forth.

5. The operating-table comprising the side bars, the hinged legs composed of hinged fold able sections, the movable sleeves on said legs to pass over the joint between said sections, and the hinged sectional foldable legbraces adapted at their lower ends to be detachably connected to said legs and to be locked thereto by the lower edge of said sleeves, combined with the table-top hinged at one end, and means for raising and lowering said top from its other end, said side bars and top being composed of sections hinged together at about the transverse center of the table so that they may be folded; substantially as set forth.

6. The operating-table comprising the side bars, legs, h nged table-top, and means for raising and lowering said top from its free end, combined with the frame hinged at the end of said table-top, and the pawl-andratchet mechanism for securing said frame in its desired positions, said mechanism comprising the-ratchet-plates 85, the plates 83 constituting a part of said frame and having the recesses 84, the rod 87 Whose transverse portions engage said recesses and said ratchetplates and Whose end portions 88 extend Signed at Brooklyn,-in the county of Kings 10 and State of New York, this 7th day of March,

JOSEPH SCHOETTL. CHRISTIAN J AEGER. PAUL WALSLEBEN. Witnesses:

JAMES ALBERTsEN, 'Jr., EDWIN L. REED.

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