Patent Grant
11478074
This disclosure relates to cordless height-adjustable instrument tables. More specifically and without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a cordless height-adjustable instrument table with a rechargeable lithium battery pack.
Cordless devices including interchangeable or rechargeable battery packs are widely known in the prior art. It is also well known in the prior art to provide ergonomic tables or tables with segments that can be added or removed as desired by the user to change the overall size of a table. Common examples include dining or picnic tables being provided with extension segments and are supported by a plurality of adjustable leg portions. The overall size of such tables can be increased or decreased by adding or pulling apart the end segments or leg portions.
Tables incorporating height adjustable columns are also well known in the art. The height of most adjustable columns, as are known, can consist of inner, intermediate, and outer columns that are slidable into each other and extendable with respect to each other. The height-adjustment may be completed with a lifting mechanism being actuated manually or electrically. A drive element is an integral part of most advanced tables to effectuate a desired height.
Recently, certain advancements in the art have streamlined the determination of table height-adjustments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,655,438 issued to Shoenfeld et al. describes an ergonomic workstation having upper and lower work platforms being disposed one above the other. Telescoping pedestals allowing precise adjustments of the desired elevation supports the platforms. The workstation features position sensors within each of the pedestals to sense the elevation of the upper end of the respective pedestal and provide an output to logic and motor control circuitry. This is configured to maintain the lower work platform level when the height of the lower work platform is being adjusted and to prevent the upper and lower work platforms from colliding, by maintaining at least a predetermined minimum vertical distance between the two work platforms when the lower work platform is being raised or when the upper work platform is being lowered.
US Patent Publication No. 2008/024529 filed by Chung Min Pan of Taiwan describes an automatic adjustable table that features a load board, at least one kingpost, and a controller. In use, the load board can rise and lower automatically, continuously, and periodically and thereby allowing the user to adjust his posture. U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,441 to Burdi et al. also discloses a motorized height adjustable table having a support base, a top assembly including a substantially horizontally disposed work surface, and first and second powered drive assemblies for raising and lowering the work surface. Among other features, the drive assemblies include motors that enable the vertical movement of the top assembly to adjust the height of the work surface. All of the aforementioned designs do not feature a cordless height-adjustable instrument table that allows the user to raise or lower a cordless height-adjustable instrument table with easy touch buttons. The work areas would also be limited to the work surfaces and workspaces as afforded by the embodiments prescribed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,437 to Chun Te Huang discloses a table that has two legs, a base, two outer tabletop segments, and two folding tabletop segments. The table features outer tabletop segments that are mounted on the base and are slidable, foldable, and flippable into desired position through an organized structure of racks and gears. The shortening of this tabletop design would require the folding or flipping of the segments underneath the table. Therefore, the table remains in a shortened configuration and cannot be extended beyond the slidable, foldable, or flappable portions that are provided.
Cordless tools including interchangeable battery units are widely known in the prior art, as exemplified for example by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,043,996; 3,381,636; 3,533,119; 3,186,878, and 3,757,194. However, the overall idea of the products described in these patents has been to substitute a packaged battery-type source of energy as an alternative to the conventional line cord set provided with corded power tools. Therefore, these patents describe already established tools with the mere addition of receptacles that are adapted to receive a battery.
It is believed, however, that none of the above disclosures describe the cordless adjustment of a cordless height-adjustable instrument table using easy touch buttons. Developing a cordless height-adjustable instrument table that allows the user to raise or lower it to suit his or her particular needs is thus an unmet need in the art. To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a cordless adjustable table to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to create a cordless height-adjustable instrument table having at least two vertical support legs being equally spaced at each side of a centralized height-adjustment column that is fixedly attached to the underside surface of said table. The centralized height-adjustment column is fixedly placed above a four-wheel base that is coupled to a motor housing including a charging port, a battery pack, and electronic components being provided therein. The cordless height-adjustable instrument table being lowered and raised by easy touch buttons that are mounted thereon. The cordless height-adjustable instrument table is extendable as desired with a plurality of extensions that increase the length and width.
To this end, the invention relates to a cordless height-adjustable instrument table having a tabletop defining a substantially planar instrument work surface having a top surface, a length, a width, peripheral edges being attached to c-tracks, a bottom portion, a centralized height-adjustment column for adjusting the elevation thereof, a plurality of vertical support legs, and a plurality of table extensions. The novel and distinctive features of the invention consist of a plurality of cordless height-adjustable instrument table support elements that are provided on the exterior or interior of the surface of the table. The instrument is further characterized with the following novel features: (1) A centralized height-adjustment column that is fixedly placed above a four-wheel base and in which a motor housing and a motor are coupled thereon; (2) The centralized height-adjustment column having a lockable extended position whereby the relative upward and downward movements of the tabletop are directed by sectional columns that are engaged and disengaged by a motor; (3) The motor housing including a motor, a charging port, a rechargeable lithium battery pack, and electronic components being provided therein, and wherein the motor changes the elevation of the tabletop using battery power and a manually operable control panel; (4) A plurality of vertical support legs providing telescoping support for the tabletop once the cordless height-adjustable instrument table is raised or lowered; (5) A plurality of table extensions having inner channels molded into the undersides thereof and outer lips extending therefrom for telescopic connection to the tabletop and thereby allowing for the extension of the tabletop as desired by a user.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a cordless height-adjustable cordless height-adjustable instrument table. The cordless height-adjustable instrument table having a plurality of support legs being provided at opposite ends and wherein said vertical support legs are equally spaced at each side of a centralized height-adjustment column.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table with a centralized height-adjustment column that is fixedly placed above a four-wheel base that is generally rectangular and in which a motor housing is coupled between the column and the four-wheel base.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table wherein the motor housing includes a charging port, a rechargeable lithium battery pack, and electronic components being provided therein.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table wherein a 12-hour rechargeable lithium battery pack is integrated for prolonged use.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table wherein the cordless height-adjustable instrument table has an operational control panel having easy touch buttons being mounted on its underside and wherein it can be lowered with said touch buttons having first and second controls for raising and lowering the same.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table wherein the cordless height-adjustable instrument table is provided with a plurality of spaced apart mounting mechanisms to facilitate the manual insertion and support of extensions that increase the length and width of the same.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a cordless height-adjustable instrument table wherein the extensions include extension sections creating a substantially L-shaped cordless height-adjustable instrument table once said extension section is mounted on the same.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of any described embodiment, suitable methods and materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. In case of conflict with terms used in the art, the present specification, including definitions, will control.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description and claims.
The present embodiments are illustrated by way of the figures of the accompanying drawings, which may not necessarily be to scale, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
The following detailed description is the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The centralized height-adjustment column 24 is fixedly placed above a four-wheel base 26 having top 28 and bottom sides 32 and wherein the centralized height-adjustment column 24 is generally cylindrical in shape and in which a motor housing 34 and a motor 36 are coupled between the centralized height-adjustment column 24 and the four-wheel base 26. The four-wheel base 26 defining a bottom section of the cordless height-adjustable instrument table 10 and include a plurality of non-retractable wheels 38 attached to its bottom side 32. The centralized height-adjustment column 24 is placed in a lockable extended position whereby the relative upward and downward movements of the tabletop 12 are directed by the sectional columns 42 of the centralized height-adjustment column 24 that are engaged and disengaged by the motor 36 and the rotation of a threaded rod 44 that is attached thereon.
The motor housing 34 includes the motor 36, a charging port 46, a rechargeable lithium battery pack 48, and electronic components 52. The motor 36 directs the elevation of the tabletop 12 using battery power and a manually operable control panel 54 that is in operational communication with the motor 36. The control panel 54 includes easy touch buttons 56 having first and second controls for raising and lowering said cordless height-adjustable instrument table 10 as desired by a user. It is secured to the top surface 14 of said tabletop 12 and is operable therefrom. The buttons can be constructed in a manner to smoothly raise and lower the height of the tabletop through the central column 24. The user could control the raising and lowering of the tabletop 12 via the up/down buttons located on the control panel 54 located at the left of the tabletop 12. They can be secured by means of bolts to the underside of the tabletop or with an improved switch mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of the table. This would ensure that the table is moved in a uniform manner.
The plurality of vertical support legs 58 having threaded rods 64 provided therein for directing the rotation of cylindrical members 62 for telescoping support of the tabletop 12 once the cordless height-adjustable instrument table 10 is raised or lowered. The plurality of vertical support legs 58 is coupled to the bottom portion 22 of the tabletop 12 and to the four-wheel base 26 and wherein said plurality of vertical support legs 58 is adapted for movement of said tabletop 12 between a raised and a lowered position. The threaded rods 64 of the plurality of vertical support legs 58 are provided in lockable extended positions whereby the relative upward and downward movements of the tabletop 12 are prevented once the motor 36 is engaged. The centralized height-adjustment column 24 is therefore a supporting mechanism that elevates the tabletop 12 relative to the vertical support legs 58 and wherein the motor 36 is provided for holding the tabletop 12 in raised or lowered positions. The hand-operated control panel 54 selectively engages the threaded rod 64 thereof in the direction that is desired by the user.
The plurality of table extensions 66 feature inner channels 68 molded into the undersides 72 and outer lips 74 extending therefrom. The rectangular shaped c-tracks 76 of the tabletop 12 include top rails 78 that are interconnected with the peripheral edges 82 of the tabletop 12 and thereby allowing the inner channels 68 of the plurality of table extensions 66 to be telescopically received therein. The top rails 78 of the c-tracks 76 are slightly smaller than the inner channels 68 of the plurality of table extensions 66 allowing the inner channels 68 of the plurality of table extensions 66 to telescopically receive the c-tracks 76 and thereby allowing for the extension of the tabletop 12. The plurality of table extensions 66 thereby facilitates the increase in the length 16 or width 18 of the cordless height-adjustable instrument table 10.
For example, and without limitation,
In this embodiment, the centralized height-adjustment column 24 is fixedly placed above a four-wheel base 26 that is generally rectangular and in which a motor housing 34 is coupled between the column 24 and the four-wheel base 26. The column 24 can function like a central hub and should be constructed to be sufficiently large and provide sufficient table elevation.
Exemplary table extensions 66 are shown according to a plurality of embodiments. It should be understood that these table extensions 66 are for illustrative purposes only. The table extensions 66 can include additional components, designs, and shapes as desired. The extensions 66 increase the length 16 and width 18 of the table and can be produced with at least one substantially L-shaped table extension 84 creating a substantially L-shaped cordless height-adjustable instrument table 10 once the L-shaped table extension section 84 is mounted on the tabletop 12. At least two separate table extensions would be necessary to accommodate situations when more surface area is necessary for operating instruments that are larger or longer in length 16. Accessory table extension surfaces in limitless, different shapes would be offered, affixed to the main table surface through a mechanical bracket and/or hardware attachment configuration to be utilized with mechanisms located at each end of the tabletop 12 for affixing the extension 66 surfaces.
The tabletop 12 would be rectangular in shape. The unit could be produced primarily of instrument stainless steel, being a grade of stainless steel used in biomedical applications. These steel material compositions could include austenitic SAE 316 stainless, martensitic SAE 440, SAE 420, or 17-4 stainless steel, and could include a thin layer of chromium oxide as a rust and corrosion preventative. The overall size, all parts and componentry sizes, shapes, configuration, material composition, dimensions, and user interface applications would be developed during the design and engineering phases, prior to manufacture. The unit would also contain electronic components 52 housed with the tabletop 12 and column 24, as well as the motor 36 and battery pack 48 located in the bottom of the column 24. All electronics could be housed within plastic modules and protected with silicone, rubber, or synthetic Neoprene gaskets for waterproofing.
The table is being suggested by the inventors because they believe it would fulfill the need for a modified, electronically height adjustable operating room/cordless height-adjustable instrument table with extension capabilities. The appealing features of the table would be its ease of use, sterile surface material, convenience, functionality, safety, and efficiency provided for the hospital, clinic, or veterinarian staff. Due to its ability to be adjusted in height, as well as in extended widths and shapes, the tabletop surface 14 could provide unlimited surface area for an array of instruments and tools. It would provide ergonomic table surface height and configuration to assist in operating procedures without the need for staff to bend over or extend themselves upward in awkward angles. The unit would also provide functioning without the need for electrical cords, which could normally interfere with operating procedures. The easy touch buttons 56 would enable the smooth and quiet table operation. The invention would also be set on four wheels 38 for easy maneuverability around instrument areas. The table would be useful to all professional hospital and clinic instrument staff, as well as veterinarians. It could even be useful for culinary preparations.
The potential exists for varying the production of the table in ways, which could make it more appealing to a wider range of end users. This could include producing the unit with various extension table surfaces that could increase the length 16 or width 18 of the original table size, as well as in a L-shaped configuration.
It appears that the table could be produced easily using conventional and readily available materials and manufacturing processes. No new production technology would be required. The table could be produced in an instrument stainless steel, typically used in biomedical applications. The stainless steel material compositions could include austenitic SAE 316 stainless, martensitic SAE 440, SAE 420, or 17-4 stainless steel, and could include a thin layer of chromium oxide as a rust and corrosion preventative. All stainless steel parts could be made through CNC computerized processes such as laser cutting, water jet cutting, CNC routing, robotic machining, or extrusion for part consistency, with secondary production methods included such as stamping, deburring, drilling, filing, and sanding. Any plastic components could be produced through the injection-molding process in a variety of hard plastics including a thermoplastic polymer such as ABS, a recycled composite material, or a high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Colors would be included in this primary manufacturing molding procedure. Any silicone, rubber, or synthetic Neoprene gaskets could also be injection-molded. The motor 36, battery pack 48, control panels 54, wheels 38, and all required hardware could be made of standard items. Of course, other materials and manufacturing processes could also be considered for this product.
In the event that the table is manufactured, it will require a package. Developing a package for a new product involves numerous considerations. Requirements for packaging can be highly variable. Some items, such as automobiles and heavy machinery, are not usually packaged. Other items, notably consumer goods, require elaborate packaging designs. Industrial packaging is primarily concerned with identifying and protecting the product during shipment and storage. While some industrial products can be shipped as single units, others must be shipped as sub-assemblies and used in the production process or installed by millwrights or technicians at plant facilities. The table could be packaged in a corrugated cardboard box. The package could have a label printed in one or more colors (including four-color process) on a pressure-sensitive paper stock. The label could give the product name, manufacturer, and instructions for use. A small pamphlet could be included in each package detailing instructions for use and care. Corrugated cardboard shipping containers would then be used to hold a quantity of individually packaged products to facilitate shipment and storage.
A number of illustrative embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments presented herein. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/047,685 filed Jul. 7, 2020.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10524564 | Wu | Jan 2020 | B1 |
| 20110203496 | Garneau | Aug 2011 | A1 |
| 20160008070 | Choudhury | Jan 2016 | A1 |
| 20170164728 | Chang | Jun 2017 | A1 |
| 20190365090 | Oakley | Dec 2019 | A1 |
| 20210368974 | Sudoh | Dec 2021 | A1 |
| 20220053925 | Hung | Feb 2022 | A1 |
| 20220087411 | Leslie | Mar 2022 | A1 |
| 20220142357 | Grabowski | May 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63047685 | Jul 2020 | US |
