U.S. patent application number 10/739640 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for overbed table.
Invention is credited to LaCroix, Thomas E., Lahmann, Dennis W., Marvin, Ben, Medsker, James A., Shimer, John C..
Application Number | 20050132935 10/739640 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34677662 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050132935 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lahmann, Dennis W. ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Overbed table
Abstract
An overbed table which includes a generally horizontal upper
table member, a base configured for resting on a floor surface and
a height adjustable support assembly mounted between the table
member and the base. A gas spring is provided interiorly of the
height adjustable support assembly and includes a cylinder mounted
to a lower frame support member of the height adjustable support
assembly and an elongate rod mounted to the upper frame support
member of the height adjustable support assembly. The gas spring is
configured for non-movement of the elongate rod relative to the
cylinder when in a locked condition and for movement of the
elongate rod relative to the cylinder only when in an unlocked
condition. A lock release mechanism is provided on the elongate rod
adjacent a distal end thereof. A shroud member encloses the upper
and lower frame support members and is fastened to the table member
and includes thereon a manually manipulatable handle movable
between first and second positions, the handle including a link
interconnecting the handle and the lock release mechanism. The base
is of a U shape and has a low height profile on the legs
thereof.
Inventors: |
Lahmann, Dennis W.;
(Kalamazoo, MI) ; LaCroix, Thomas E.; (Kalamazoo,
MI) ; Medsker, James A.; (Lawton, MI) ;
Shimer, John C.; (Three Rivers, MI) ; Marvin,
Ben; (Constantine, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLYNN, THIEL, BOUTELL & TANIS, P.C.
2026 RAMBLING ROAD
KALAMAZOO
MI
49008-1631
US
|
Family ID: |
34677662 |
Appl. No.: |
10/739640 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/049 |
International
Class: |
A47B 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper table
member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base configured
for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable support
assembly mounted between said table member and said base and
comprising an upper frame support member having a hollow interior
and one end attached to said table member, a lower frame support
member having a hollow interior and one end attached to said base,
said upper and lower frame support members being vertically
slidable with respect to each other and one within the other; a gas
spring having a cylinder mounted to said lower frame support member
and an elongate rod mounted to said upper frame support member and
configured for reciprocation with respect to said cylinder for
biasing said upper frame support member upwardly with respect to
said lower frame support member and additionally configured for
non-movement of said elongate rod in a downward direction relative
to said cylinder when in a locked condition and for free up or down
movement of said elongate rod relative to said cylinder only when
in an unlocked condition, said cylinder and said elongate rod being
oriented inside said hollow interiors of said upper and lower frame
support members, said elongate rod having thereon a lock release
mechanism adjacent a distal end thereof configured to effect an
unlocking of said elongate rod to facilitate movement thereof
relative to said cylinder; a shroud member separate from said upper
and lower frame support members fastened to said table member and
enshrouding said upper and lower frame support members; and a
manually manipulative handle mounted on said shroud for movement
between first and second positions, said handle including a link
interconnecting said handle and said lock release mechanism, said
first position corresponding to said locked condition and said
second position corresponding to said unlocked condition.
2. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said shroud
includes an elongate guide, said handle being supported on said
guide and for movement thereon between first and second
positions.
3. The overbed table according to claim 2, wherein said handle
includes a body, said body having guide tracks thereon operatively
engaging said elongate guide on said shroud, said body further
having a finger receiving cavity therein located intermediate said
guide tracks and opening outwardly of said shroud.
4. The overbed table according to claim 3, wherein said finger
receiving cavity has a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, an upper
wall, a lower wall and a back wall connected to each of said
sidewalls, said upper wall and said lower wall, said upper wall
being configured to conform to individual ones of respective
fingers of an operator.
5. The overbed table according to claim 2, wherein said shroud is
made of a generally uniformly thick material and has an opening
through a section thereof, opposing edges of said opening defining
said elongate guide, said handle including a generally U-shaped
track on opposite sides thereof slidably receiving in each thereof
said elongate guide.
6. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said link is
movably supported at one end on a distal end of said elongate rod
and terminates at an opposite end in a contact surface engaging
said handle, so that movement of said handle from said first
position to said second position will effect a movement of said
link to change the condition of said cylinder from locked to
unlocked.
7. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said base is
U-shaped and includes a U-shaped hollow profile having a top wall,
sidewalls and a bottom wall as well as a U-shaped cover member
fixedly secured to said hollow profile and having a top wall and
sidewalls depending from edges of said top wall to cover said top
wall and said sidewalls of said hollow profile, said cover member
including plural internal webs interconnecting said top wall and
said sidewalls thereof, selected ones of said webs having a notch
provided therein to receive said hollow profile, at least one edge
of said notch resting on said top wall of said hollow profile.
8. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said cover
member is fixedly secured to said hollow profile at least at plural
spaced locations along each leg of said cover member and said
hollow profile so that any tendency of said legs to flex will apply
a compressive force to said cover member thereby resisting the
tendency of said legs of said hollow profile to flex.
9. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is
movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a
distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a top to bottom
dimension of a combination of an assembly of said hollow profile
and cover member in a region adjacent each leg wheel being less
than a diameter of said leg wheel.
10. The overbed table according to claim 9, wherein said top to
bottom dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said legs
of said base to about half of a length of said base.
11. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is
movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a
distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a top to floor
surface of an assembly of said hollow profile and cover member in a
region adjacent each leg wheel being within a range of 25% to 35%
greater than a diameter of said leg wheel.
12. The overbed table according to claim 11, wherein said top to
floor surface dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said
legs of said base to about half of a length of said base.
13. The overbed table according to claim 11, wherein said range is
29% to 31%.
14. The overbed table according to claim 13, wherein said top to
floor surface dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said
legs of said base to about half of a length of said base.
15. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is
movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a
distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a distance between a
floor surface on which said plural wheels rest and an underside of
said base is generally within range of 35% to 50% of a top to
bottom dimension of a combination of an assembly of said hollow
profile and cover member in a region adjacent each leg wheel.
16. The overbed table according to claim 15, wherein said distance
between the floor surface and said underside of said base is
maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to at
least half of a length of said base.
17. The overbed table according to claim 15, wherein said range is
40% to 45%.
18. The overbed table according to claim 17, wherein said distance
between the floor surface and said underside of said base is
maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to at
least half of a length of said base.
19. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said sidewalls
of said U-shaped hollow profile have at edges thereof remote from
the top wall notches at spaced intervals along the length of the
sidewalls, said bottom wall of said U-shaped hollow profile having
tabs configured to be received into the respective notches, said
bottom wall and said tabs thereon being weldably secured to the
edges of said sidewalls remote from said top wall.
20. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper
table member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base
configured for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable
support assembly mounted between said table member and said base;
wherein said base has a U-shaped configuration with said height
adjustable support assembly being mounted on a bight section of the
base; and wherein said base is movably supported on plural wheels,
at least one leg wheel at a distal end of each leg of said U-shaped
base, a distance between a floor surface on which said plural
wheels rest and an underside of said base being generally within
the range of 35% to 50% of a top to bottom dimension of said base
in a region adjacent each leg wheel.
21. The overbed table according to claim 20, wherein said U-shaped
base includes a U-shaped hollow profile having a top wall,
sidewalls and a bottom wall as well as U-shaped cover member
fixedly secured to said hollow profile and having a top wall and
sidewalls depending from edges of said top wall to cover said top
wall and said sidewalls of said hollow profile, said cover member
including plural internal webs interconnecting said top wall and
said sidewalls thereof, selected ones of said webs having a notch
provided therein to receive said hollow profile, at least one edge
of said notch resting on said top wall of said hollow profile.
22. The overbed table according to claim 21, wherein said cover
member is fixedly secured to said hollow profile at least at plural
spaced locations along each leg of said cover member and said
hollow profile so that any tendency of said legs to flex will apply
a compressive force to said cover member thereby resisting the
tendency of said legs of said hollow profile to flex.
23. The overbed table according to claim 20, wherein an outer
diameter of at least said leg wheels is equal to or less than two
inches.
24. The overbed table according to claim 23, wherein an outer
diameter of at least said leg wheels is equal to 1.46 inches.
25. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper
table member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base
configured for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable
support assembly mounted between said table member and said base;
wherein said base has a U-shaped configuration with said height
adjustable support assembly being mounted on a bight section of the
base; and wherein said height adjustable support assembly comprises
an upper frame support member having a hollow interior and one end
attached to said table member, a unitary lower frame support member
having first and second hollow profiles one inside the other which
are attached at one end to said base, said first and second
profiles being interconnected by plural webs, said upper frame
support member being vertically slidably supported inside said
hollow interior of said inside hollow profile.
26. The overbed table according to claim 25, wherein said upper and
lower frame support members are elliptical in cross section, a
plane containing a major axis of the ellipse extending
perpendicular to a vertical plane containing a longitudinal axis of
a leg of said U-shaped base.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an overbed table and, more
particularly, to an overbed table having a low height profile base
and a handle slidably mounted on a shroud enclosing the height
adjustable support assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Overbed table assemblies are known in the art and
representative examples of some of them are illustrated in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,775,234, 6,397,761 and 6,484,648. As hospital beds
become more complex, overbed tables used in association therewith
often encounter obstructions on the understructure of the bed that
prevents the base from moving under the bed to enable the table top
to be oriented over the top of the mattress and generally the lap
of the onboard patient. In addition, efforts to integrate the
aesthetic appearance of the overbed table with the remaining
furniture within a hospital setting has been less than
acceptable.
[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an
overbed table assembly which has a low height profile base enabling
it to easily move to positions beneath a hospital bed and to avoid
objections on the bed due to the low profile configuration.
[0004] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein a shroud encloses the
height adjustable support assembly extending between the table top
and the base to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the region of
the overbed table assembly whereat the height adjustable support
assembly is located.
[0005] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein the handle is
slidably mounted on the shroud with minimal space existing through
which the interior of the operating mechanisms for raising and
lowering the table top are visible.
[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein the base is composed
of two components, one on top of the other with each thereof being
configured to operatively cooperate with the other to enhance the
strength of the low height profile and to prevent flexing
thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The objects and purposes of the invention are met by
providing an overbed table which includes a generally horizontal
upper table member, a base configured for resting on a floor
surface and a height adjustable support assembly mounted between
the table member and the base. A gas spring is provided interiorly
of the height adjustable support assembly and includes a cylinder
mounted to a lower frame support member of the height adjustable
support assembly and an elongate rod mounted to the upper frame
support member of the height adjustable support assembly. The gas
spring is provided for biasing the upper frame support member
upwardly with respect to the lower frame support member and
additionally is configured so that the elongate rod cannot move
downwardly relative to the cylinder when in a locked condition and
for free movement of the elongate rod up or down relative to the
cylinder only when in an unlocked condition. A lock release
mechanism is provided on the elongate rod adjacent a distal end
thereof. A shroud member encloses the upper and lower frame support
members and is fastened to the table member and includes thereon a
manually manipulatable handle movable between first and second
positions, the handle including a link interconnecting the handle
and the lock release mechanism. The base is of a U shape and has a
low height profile on the legs thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other objects and purposes of this invention will be
apparent to persons acquainted with overbed table assemblies of
this general type upon reading the following specification and
inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an overbed table assembly
embodying the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the base for the overbed
table;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.
4;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the overbed table assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.
3;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.
4;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
4;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.
4;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG.
4;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of
FIG. 10; and
[0020] FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10, but with the
handle in a second position thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Certain terminology will be used in the following
description for convenience in reference only and will not be
limiting. The words "up", "down", "right" and "left" will designate
directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words
"in" and "out" will refer to directions toward and away from,
respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated
parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words
of similar import.
[0022] An overbed table assembly 20 embodying the invention is
illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a base 21 having plural wheels
22 configured to rest on a floor surface. In this particular
embodiment, the wheels 22 are each supported for a caster movement
about a vertically upright axis A (FIG. 3). The overbed table
assembly 20 also includes a generally horizontal upper table member
23 having an upwardly facing surface 24 thereon. A height
adjustable support assembly 26 is mounted between the table member
23 and the base 21. The features associated with the height
adjustable support assembly 26 will be explained in more detail
below.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the base 21 is composed of two
components, namely, a U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and a
U-shaped cover member 28. The U-shaped hollow profile member 27 has
a bight section 29 and two legs 31 and 32 which extend generally
parallel to each other and away from the bight section 29.
Furthermore, the bight section 29 and each of the legs 31 and 32
have a common top wall 33 from which depends sidewalls 34. The
downwardly facing edge 36 of each of the sidewalls 34 has spaced
notches 37 as is also illustrated in FIG. 4. A bottom wall 38 is
provided and closes off the opening into the inverted U shape
defined by the top wall 33 and sidewalls 34 as illustrated in FIG.
4. The bottom wall includes a plurality of spaced tabs 39 along the
outer edges thereof and which are configured to be received into
the respective notches 37. The bottom wall 38 is weldably secured
to the sidewall edges 36. Furthermore, each of the tabs 39 is
weldably secured in place in each of the respective notches 37.
Thus, any tendency of the legs 31 and 32 to flex will be resisted
not only by the interference of the tabs 39 and notches 37 but also
by the welding.
[0024] The bottom wall 38 of the bight section 29 has a plurality
of holes 41 therethrough and in the central region thereof. These
holes 41 are also shown in FIG. 7. The top wall 33 of the bight
section 29 has a plurality of holes 42 therethrough, the holes 42
being each coaxial with a respective hole 41 in the bottom wall 38.
The diameter of the holes 42 is greater than the diameter of the
holes 41. A spacer sleeve 43 is received in each of the holes 42
with the lower end thereof resting on the top surface of the bottom
wall 38. A further hole 44 is provided in the top wall 33
approximately equidistantly spaced from each of the respective
holes 42. Each of the legs 31 and 32 have a plurality of holes 46
in the top wall 33.
[0025] The U-shaped cover member 28 is of a unitary synthetic resin
construction having a bight section 47 and two generally parallel
legs 48 and 49 extending away therefrom. The entire U-shaped cover
member 28 has an inverted U-shaped cross section throughout defined
by a top wall 51 and sidewalls 52 which depend downwardly
therefrom. A plurality of webs 53 unitarily interconnect the
undersides of the top wall 51 and each of the respective sidewalls
52 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The webs 53 are notched as at 54
(FIGS. 6 and 8) to facilitate reception thereof of each of the
respective bight section 29 and legs 31 and 32 of the U-shaped
hollow profile member 27 into the notches 54. Each of the webs 53
having the notches 54 formed therein rest on the top wall 33 of the
U-shaped hollow profile member 27.
[0026] The underside of the top wall 51 of the U-shaped cover
member 28 includes plural integral hollow post-like members 56
(FIG. 3) that are each aligned with a respective one of the holes
46 in the top wall 33 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and
are received therethrough. A fastener schematically illustrated as
at 57 is received through a corresponding hole in the bottom wall
38 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and into the interior
of each of the respective hollow posts 56 to facilitate securement
of the U-shaped cover member 28 to the U-shaped hollow profile
member 27.
[0027] The U-shaped cover member 28 has in the bight section 47 a
plurality of holes 58 therethrough that are configured to align
with each of the respective spacer sleeves 43 and as depicted in
FIG. 7. Each of the holes 58 opens into a raised embossment 59
which, in this particular embodiment, has an oval shape. A
generally rectangular or square opening 61 extends through the
central portion of the embossment 59. A shelf 62, oriented in a
plane located below a top surface of the embossment 59, encircles
the embossment 59 for reasons which will be explained below.
[0028] A hollow post 63 (FIG. 5) is provided and has an outer wall
64 that conforms to the oval configuration of the upwardly facing
surface of the shelf 62. Extending radially inwardly from the outer
wall 64 are a plurality of flanges 66, the inner ends of which are
integrally mated with a rectangular or square cross sectioned tube
67 which defines a lower frame support member. In this particular
embodiment, the corners of the rectangular-shaped tube 67 are the
locations whereat the webs 66 are integrally attached thereto.
Thus, openings 68, 69, 70 and 71 are formed between the outer walls
of the square or rectangular-shaped tube 67 and the inner surface
of the outer wall 64. These openings 68-71 receive therein the
sections of the embossment 59 illustrated in FIG. 2 when the bottom
end of the hollow post 64 rests on the shelf 62. Each of the
flanges 66 has outwardly extending therefrom and into a respective
one of the openings 68 and 70 a pair of spaced walls 72 and 73
defining a circular opening 74 therebetween. The axes of each of
the respective openings 64 is coaxial with the interior of the
hollow spacer sleeves 43 and are internally threaded adjacent the
upper and lower ends thereof so that a threaded fastener 76 can be
inserted through holes in the bottom wall 38 of the U-shape profile
27 and through the interior of the respective spacer sleeves 43 and
become threadedly engaged with the interior wall surface of each of
the openings 74 to effect a securement of the hollow post 64 to the
bight section 47 of the U-shaped cover.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 10, an elongate hollow bushing 77 is
received into the upper end of the square or rectangular-shaped
tube 67 inside the hollow post 63. The upper end of the elongate
bushing 77 has a plurality of outwardly extending flanges 78 (see
also FIG. 11) which have through holes 79 at the outer ends of each
thereof. Each of the holes 79 is axially aligned with respective
openings 74 (FIG. 5) on the interior of the hollow post 63 and are
configured to receive fasteners therethrough to facilitate a
fastening of the elongate bushing 77 to the upper end of the hollow
post 63.
[0030] FIG. 10 also illustrates a rectangular or square-shaped
elongate tube 81 which defines an upper frame support member. The
upper end of the tube 81 is fastened to the underside of the upper
table member 23. The length of the tube 81 is sufficient to extend
to and engage the top wall 33 of the U-shaped hollow profile member
27 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and when the table member 23 is in its
lowermost position. In this particular embodiment, a plurality of
through holes 82 are provided in the tube 81 at a location spaced
slightly upwardly from the lower end as depicted in FIG. 6. A
cup-shaped bushing 83 mounts over the exterior of the lower end of
the tube 81 so that the bottom wall of the bushing is oriented
between the lower end of the tube 81 and the top wall 33 of the
profile member 27. The sidewalls 84 of the bushing 83 are slit to
facilitate relative movement with respect to one another. The
sidewalls 84 have enlargements 86 provided adjacent the upper ends
thereof to facilitate an elastic urging of the enlargements 86 into
the holes 82. The walls 84 of the bushing 83 are oriented between
the exterior wall of the tube 81 and the interior wall of the tube
67. The bushing 83 also has an opening in the bottom wall thereof.
The tube 81 is configured to slide up and down inside the tube 67,
the respective bushings 77 and 83 being made of a low friction
material and maintain a snug sliding relation between the
respective tubes 67 and 81. A section of the wall of the tube 81 is
cut open as at 88 (FIG. 10) adjacent the upper end thereof.
[0031] A gas spring 88 is mounted internally of the tube 81 as
depicted in FIGS. 6 and 8. The gas spring 88 has a cylinder housing
89 and a reciprocating rod 91 which reciprocates with respect to
the cylinder housing 89. The lower end of the cylinder housing 89
has an extension 92 which is received in the hole 44 in the top
wall 33 of the profile member 27. The distal end of the rod 91 as
illustrated in FIG. 10 has a reciprocally movably supported valve
actuator member 93 thereat that is configured, when depressed, to
unlock the elongate rod 91 from the cylinder housing 89 to enable
the gas pressure inside the cylinder housing 89 to be compressed
and to enable an urging of the elongate rod 91 downwardly
lengthwise thereof. When pressure on the valve actuator member 93
is removed, the elongate rod 91 will again become locked to the
cylinder housing 89 to prevent downward movement of the elongate
rod. The gas spring 88 is of a conventional design, a
representative example being Model No. 1549SF available from
Stabilos in Germany. Thus, further discussion about the
characteristics of the gas spring 88 are believed to be
unnecessary.
[0032] A head piece 94 is mounted to the interior of the tube 81 by
a pin 96 and adjacent the upper end. The head piece includes a
socket 97 into which is received the distal end of the elongate rod
91. A laterally extending opening 95 extends through the head piece
94 and intersects the bottom end of the socket 97 to orient the
valve actuator member 93 within the opening 95. A two arm link
member 99 is pivotally supported adjacent a mid-point between the
two arms as at fulcrum 101 in the opening 95 with the end of one
arm operatively engaging the valve actuator member 93 to facilitate
reciprocative operation thereof in response to a pivoting of the
link 99. The other arm of the two arm link 99 extends through the
opening 98 in the wall of the tube 81. The two arms form an obtuse
angle of 155.degree. to 165.degree., the preferred angle being
159.degree.. In the alternative, the link 99 could be Z-shaped and
a theoretical line intersecting the distal end of each horizontally
extending arm thereof would form an angle relative to the
longitudinal axis of the cylinder housing 89, namely, the angle
being 15.degree. to 25.degree., the preferred angle being
21.degree..
[0033] A shroud 102 (FIG. 1) is provided and has an oval
configuration conforming to the oval configuration of the hollow
post 63. As depicted in FIG. 5, the interior of the hollow post 63
has circumferentially spaced embossments 103 which slidingly engage
the outer surface of the hollow post 63. The upper end of the
shroud 102 has a radially outwardly extending flange 104 which is
secured to the underside of the upper table member 23. Thus, as the
upper table member 23 moves up and down, the shroud 102 will slide
up and down relative to the hollow post 63. The hollow shroud 102
has a sufficient length such that when the upper table member 23 is
in its lowermost position illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom end of
the shroud 102 is oriented about at the plane of the shelf 62 on
the bight section 47 of the U-shaped cover member 28.
[0034] An opening 105 is formed in the wall of the shroud 102
adjacent the upper end thereof as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 10. The
opening so formed defines a pair of vertically upright laterally
spaced edges 106 (FIG. 11) and a bottom edge 107. A handle 108 is
mounted into the opening 105 and has on laterally opposite sides
thereof guide tracks 109 which receive therein the edges 106 as
depicted in FIG. 11. As a result, the handle 108 is supported for
vertical movement between the position illustrated in FIG. 10 and
the position illustrated in FIG. 12. The handle 108 has a recess
111 therein on an outwardly facing side thereof into which the
distal ends of the user's fingers may be placed. The upper wall 112
of the recess 111 is configured to conform to individual ones of
the distal ends of the respective fingers as depicted in FIG. 1. On
the top side of the upper wall 112 of the recess 111 there is
provided an abutment 113 on which is engaged the aforesaid opposite
end of the link 99. As a result, when the handle 108 is moved from
a first position illustrated in FIG. 10 to a second position
illustrated in FIG. 12, the abutment 113 will effect a clockwise
movement (FIGS. 10 and 12) of the link 99 from a first position to
a second position to cause an activation of the valve actuator
member 93 to unlock the elongate rod 91 from the cylinder housing
89 so that the pressure on the inside of the cylinder housing 89
can act to sufficiently counterbalance the weight of the upper
table member 23 to enable the user to easily lift and raise the
upper table member 23 to a selected height, at which time pressure
on the handle is released and gravity and a back force on the valve
actuator member 93 will urge the handle 108 back to the initial
first position thereof illustrated in FIG. 10. Upward travel of the
upper table member 23 will be limited by the engagement of the
upper edge 114 of the cup-shaped bushing 83 with the lower edge 116
of the elongate bushing 77.
[0035] As is illustrated in FIG. 11, the contour of the handle 108,
particularly the leftward facing outer contour, matches the outer
circumferential contour of the shroud 102. Furthermore, the handle
108 has a top to bottom dimension that corresponds closely to the
top to bottom dimension of the opening 105 with a gap 117 existing
between the upper edge of the handle 108 and the immediate
underside of the upper table member 23 in order to accommodate the
movement of the handle 108 between its two respective positions.
The gap 117 is oriented in a way that it is generally not visible
to the attendant operating the table top. As a result, the overall
outer exterior of the shroud 102 and the outer appearance of the
conforming handle 108 is aesthetically pleasing.
[0036] As has been noted above, the top to bottom dimension of the
legs of the U-shaped base 21 is small. The top to bottom dimension
of the respective legs is deemed to be particularly unique. In this
particular embodiment, the spacing between the floor and the bottom
wall 38 of the U-shaped profile member 27 is generally within the
range of 35% to 50% of a top to bottom dimension of a combination
of an assembly of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and the
U-shaped cover member 28 in a region adjacent the distal end of
each leg of the base, particularly adjacent each leg oriented wheel
22. It is preferable that the aforementioned range of 35% to 50% be
maintained from the distal ends of the legs of the base to at least
half of a length of the base. The preferred embodiment includes the
range being 40% to 45%. Furthermore, due to the strength
characteristic of the combination of the construction of the
U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and the U-shaped cover member 28,
the top to floor surface of an assembly of the hollow profile
member 27 and the cover member 28 in a region adjacent each leg
wheel is within a range of 25% to 35% greater than a diameter of
the leg wheel. In this particular embodiment, the diameter of all
of the wheels on the base, including the leg wheels is less than
two inches, a preferable diameter being 1.46 inches and the
dimension between the top surface of the cover 28 and the floor
surface is 2.1 inches. Such wheels are available under Model No.
TUK229-24X1B, available from Gross Stabil in Germany.
[0037] Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention
has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
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