Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6212713
-
Patent Number
6,212,713
-
Date Filed
Monday, August 9, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 10, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 618
- 005 613
- 005 616
- 005 617
- 297 35413
- 297 343
- 297 41139
-
International Classifications
- A47C7015
- A47C7018
- A47C1308
-
Abstract
An examination table including a base member supporting a seat section and including a back section pivotally supported on the seat section. The back section includes an elongated pivot frame connected to the seat section at a pivot connection, and a sliding frame supported for longitudinal sliding movement along the pivot frame. A coupling member is supported on the pivot frame for rotational movement and includes telescoping members engaged with the sliding frame wherein the coupling member is rotated by a linkage during pivotal movement of the back section to cause the sliding frame to move longitudinally of the pivot frame to accommodate movement of a patient's back relative to the pivot frame as the pivot frame is pivoted.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to articulated examination tables and, more particularly, to an articulated examination table for positioning a patient between a supine position and a generally upright sitting position.
Articulated examination tables are well known in the prior art, and provide for positioning of a patient to a variety of different positions which may be selected in accordance with the particular procedure being performed and with reference to the preferences of the particular operator or surgeon. In particular, it is known to provide a seat section for supporting a patient and a pivoted back section movable relative to the seat section to position the upper torso of a patient at a desired orientation relative to the horizontal wherein the back section may be actuated for movement by an electrical or hydraulic actuator.
A recognized problem associated with tables having pivoted back sections is shear movement between the back section of the table and the patient's back as the back section is pivoted. This typically requires that the patient reposition his or her back along the back section during the pivotal movement in order to accommodate the relative movement between the table surface and the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,997 to Ruehl discloses a table having an articulated deck wherein articulation of the deck includes movement of the deck sections relative to each other to match the expansion and contraction of the skin of a person supported on the deck. This device requires that the movement of the deck sections relative to each other coincide with a vertical movement of the articulated deck, such that movement of the deck sections relative to each other independent of the vertical movement is not accommodated.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an examination table capable of comfortably supporting a patient during pivotal movement of a table back section relative to a table seat section. Further, there is a need for such a table incorporating a simple mechanism for providing relative movement between a table back and seat section during pivotal movement of the back section.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an examination table including a base member, a seat section supported on the base member, and a back section including an elongated pivot frame and a sliding frame slidably supported on the pivot frame. A hinge connection connects the pivot frame to the seat section for movement of the back section from a substantially horizontal position, parallel to the seat section, to an inclined position.
A coupling member is supported on the pivot frame and includes a first portion connected to the sliding frame and a second portion connected to the seat section. The coupling member is supported for rotational movement about a pivot point on the pivot frame. Pivotal movement of the back section about the hinge connection causes rotation of the coupling member relative to the pivot frame, and thereby causes the sliding frame to move longitudinally along the pivot frame.
More particularly, the first and second portions of the coupling member define spaced members extending radially outwardly from the pivot point, and the first portion comprises a telescoping member extending between the pivot point and the sliding frame. One end of an elongated linkage rod is connected to a distal or radially outer end of the second portion and an opposite end of the linkage rod is connected to the seat section. Thus, the linkage rod operates as an anchoring structure extending to the coupling member to cause the rotational movement of the coupling member during movement of the back section.
The back section is actuated for movement by a linear actuator located within the seat section wherein the linear actuator extends between the seat section and the pivot frame for the back section. Actuation of the linear actuator causes pivotal movement of the back section relative to the seat section and simultaneous movement of the sliding frame relative to the pivot frame. In addition, a pair of arm rests are supported on the coupling member and are actuated for rotational movement about the pivot point of the coupling member at the same time that the back section is actuated for pivotal movement whereby the arm rests are maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout movement of the back section.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an examination table which accommodates the longitudinal movement of a patient's back during pivotal movement of a back section of the table relative to a seat section.
It is another object of the invention to provide an examination table which includes a back section pivotal relative to a seat section and including a sliding member on the back section for longitudinal movement relative to a pivoted frame of the back section.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the examination table of the present invention configured to support a patient in a supine position;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the examination table configured to support a patient with the back in a partially inclined position;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the examination table configured to support a patient with the back in an upright position;
FIG. 4
is a perspective, partially cut away view showing the seat section and a portion of the back section;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view in partial cross-section illustrating the examination table in the position illustrated in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view in partial cross-section illustrating the examination table in the position shown in
FIG. 2
; and
FIG. 7
is a side elevational view in partial cross-section illustrating the examination table in the position shown in FIG.
3
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to
FIGS. 1-3
, the examination table
10
of the present invention includes a base member
12
defining an upwardly extending pedestal structure for supporting the examination table
10
on a floor surface. The base member
12
supports a frame
14
for a seat section
16
. The frame
14
supports a pivot frame
18
for a back section
20
, and further supports a leg section
24
. The seat section
16
, back section
20
and leg section
24
define a patient support surface for the examination table
10
. In addition, the back section
20
supports a head rest
26
extending above the back section
20
for supporting a patient's head, and a pair of arm rests
28
,
30
are also supported on the back section
20
and located to either side thereof extending toward the sides of the seat section
16
.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, the connection between the seat section
16
and the back section
20
is illustrated with the seat section and back section cushions removed to expose the respective seat and back section frames
14
,
18
. The frame
14
includes a pair of hinge connection extensions
32
and
34
, and the frame
18
includes a pair of pivot extensions
36
and
38
rigidly attached to the frame
18
and connected to the hinge connection extensions
32
,
34
by means of respective pivot pins
40
and
42
. The pins
40
,
42
support the back section
20
for pivotal movement through the frame
18
such that the frame
18
comprises a pivot frame for the back section
20
. The frame
18
is driven in pivotal movement by a linear actuator
44
, such as an actuator powered by an electric motor
43
, which extends between a mounting point
45
on the seat frame
14
and a drive extension
46
rigidly attached to the pivot frame
18
at junction member
47
(see also FIG.
5
). Extension of the linear actuator
44
causes the pivot frame
18
to pivot upwardly toward an upright sitting position for the back section
20
.
A sliding frame
48
is supported on an upper portion of the pivot frame
18
for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the pivot frame
18
. The pivot frame
18
includes a pair of side walls
50
,
52
, each with an out turned flange
54
,
55
. The outer edges
56
,
57
of the sliding frame
48
extend around the out turned flanges
54
,
55
for guiding the sliding frame
48
in longitudinal sliding movement along the pivot frame
18
.
The sliding frame
48
is actuated for sliding movement by a coupling member
58
comprising a rotatable shaft
60
supported in bearings
62
,
64
associated with the side walls
50
,
52
, respectively. A pair of telescoping members
66
,
68
, defining first portions of the coupling member
58
are mounted to the shaft
60
for rotation therewith. Each of the telescoping members
66
,
68
comprises an outer tubular member
70
and an inner slide member
72
which is freely slidable within the outer tubular member
70
. The ends of the inner slide members
72
distal from the shaft
60
are attached to the sliding frame
48
at connections
74
,
76
which permit rotation of the telescoping members
66
,
68
relative to the slide frame
48
.
The coupling member
58
further includes a second portion
78
formed by an elongated arm attached to the shaft
60
for rotation therewith wherein the second portion
78
is circumferentially spaced from the telescoping members
66
and
68
, and an end of the second portion
78
distal from the rotatable shaft
60
is attached to a linkage rod
80
which extends to a hinged connection point
82
on the seat frame
14
.
Referring to
FIGS. 5-7
, alternative positions of the back section
20
relative to the seat section
16
are shown to illustrate the operation of the coupling member to move the sliding frame
48
relative to the pivot frame
18
. In particular,
FIG. 5
illustrates the back section
20
in a substantially horizontal position parallel to the seat section for supporting a patient in a supine position. In this position, the telescoping members
66
,
68
are angled toward the seat section
16
as a result of the linkage rod
80
biasing the second portion
78
of the coupling member
58
forwardly toward the head end of the back section
20
. It can be seen that the inner members
72
of the telescoping members
66
,
68
are extended outwardly from the outer member
70
to position the sliding frame
48
such that a lower edge
84
thereof is positioned closely adjacent to the seat section
16
.
FIG. 6
shows the back section
20
in a partially inclined position. It can be seen that the linkage rod
80
has caused the second portion
78
of the coupling member
58
to pivot in a direction toward the seat section
16
such that the sliding frame
48
is caused to move upwardly along the pivot frame
18
. In this position, the inner member
72
of the telescoping members
66
,
68
is fully retracted within the outer member
70
.
FIG. 7
illustrates the back section
20
in a fully upright position to define a sitting position with examination table
10
. In this position, the linear actuator
44
is fully extended, and the coupling member
58
is rotated to orient the telescoping members
66
,
68
at an angle extending toward the head end of the back section
20
with the inner members
72
extending from the outer members
70
to accommodate the upward movement of the sliding frame
48
relative to the pivot frame
18
. Thus, as the back section
20
is pivoted upwardly, the sliding frame
48
concurrently moves upwardly to accommodate movement of a patient's back relative to the pivot frame
18
.
It should also be noted that the frame
14
for the seat section
16
is attached to an extension
86
of the base member
12
at a pivot point
88
, and a linear actuator
90
extends through the base
12
to a hinge point
92
with the seat frame
14
. Thus, the actuator
90
may be operated to pivot the seat section
16
upwardly about the pivot connection
88
to provide a desired reclined orientation for the patient support surface of the examination table
10
. In addition, an actuator
94
(
FIG. 4
) is also provided in the preferred embodiment to actuate the leg section
24
in pivotal movement relative to the seat section
16
.
Referring further to
FIGS. 1-4
, the arm rests
28
,
30
are mounted to support members
96
,
98
, respectively, which extend to mounting points at either end of the rotatable shaft
60
, such as at the end adjacent bearing
62
in FIG.
4
. Thus, the support members
96
,
98
and associated arm rests
28
,
30
pivot relative to the back section
20
as the back section
20
pivots relative to the seat section
16
. The pivotal movement of the support members
96
,
98
enables the arm rests
28
,
30
to remain substantially horizontal, parallel to the seat section
16
, and to move vertically in movement corresponding to that of a patient supported on the table
10
throughout movement of the back section
20
.
While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. An examination table comprising:a base member; a seat section supported on said base member; a back section including an elongated pivot frame and a sliding frame; a hinge connection connecting said pivot frame to said seat section for movement of said back section from a substantially horizontal position, parallel to said set section, to an inclined position; a coupling member supported on said pivot frame and including a first portion connected to said sliding frame and a second portion connected to said seat section wherein said coupling member is supported for rotational movement about a pivot point on said pivot frame; an actuator connected between said seat section and said back section; and wherein actuation of said actuator pivots said back section about said hinge connection causes rotation of said coupling member relative to said pivot frame and causes said sliding frame to move longitudinally along said pivot frame.
- 2. The examination table of claim 1 including arm rests located on either side of said back section wherein said arm rests pivot during pivotal movement of said back section whereby said arm rests are maintained in a generally horizontal position for different inclined positions of said back section.
- 3. The examination table of claim 2 wherein said arm rests are supported on said coupling member for rotational movement about said pivot point.
- 4. The examination table of claim 1 wherein said first portion of said coupling member comprises a telescoping member extending between said pivot point and said sliding frame.
- 5. The examination table of claim 1 wherein said first and second portions define spaced members extending radially from said pivot point, and including a linkage rod extending from a radially outer end of said second portion to an attachment location on said seat section.
- 6. The examination table of claim 5 wherein said first portion of said coupling member comprises a telescoping member extending between said pivot point and said sliding frame.
- 7. The examination table of claim 1 including an actuator connected between said seat section and said pivot frame wherein actuation of said actuator causes pivotal movement of said back section relative to said seat section and simultaneous movement of said sliding frame relative to said pivot frame.
- 8. An examination table comprising:a base member; a seat section supported on said base member; a back section including an elongated pivot frame and a sliding frame; a hinge connection connecting said pivot frame to said seat section; an actuator connected between said seat section and said pivot frame wherein actuation of said actuator causes pivotal movement of said back section relative to said seat section; and including a linkage structure connecting said seat section to said sliding frame wherein pivotal movement of said back section causes movement of said linkage structure relative to said pivot frame, and thereby causes sliding movement of said sliding frame relative to said pivot frame.
- 9. The examination table of claim 8 wherein said linkage structure comprises a coupling member supported on said pivot frame wherein said coupling member is supported for rotational movement about a pivot point on said pivot frame.
- 10. The examination table of claim 9 wherein said linkage structure includes a telescoping member extending between said pivot point and said sliding frame.
- 11. The examination table of claim 9 wherein said coupling member comprises first and second portions spaced from each other and extending radially outwardly from said pivot point, said first portion extending to a connection with said sliding frame, and said linkage structure including a linkage rod extending from a radially outer end of said second portion to an attachment point on said seat section.
- 12. The examination table of claim 11 wherein said first portion of said coupling member comprises a telescoping member extending between said pivot point and said sliding frame.
- 13. The examination table of claim 8 including arm rests located on either side of said back section, said arm rests being mounted to said linkage structure.
- 14. The examination table of claim 13 wherein said arm rests pivot relative to said back section in response to pivotal movement of said back section whereby said arm rests are maintained in a substantially constant orientation relative to said seat section.
- 15. An examination table comprising:base member; a seat section supported on said base member; a back section including an elongated pivot frame and a sliding frame; a hinge connection connecting said pivot frame to said seat section; a coupling member mounted for rotatable movement about a pivot point on said pivot frame and including a telescoping member having opposing ends, said opposing ends connected to said sliding frame and adjacent said pivot point, respectively; and wherein said sliding frame moves longitudinally along said pivot frame in response to said back section pivoting about said hinge connection.
- 16. The examination table of claim 15 including a linkage extending between said coupling member and said seat section, said linkage causing said coupling member to rotate in response to movement of said pivot frame relative to said seat section.
- 17. The examination table of claim 15 including arm rests supported on said coupling member wherein said arm rests rotate in response to movement of said pivot frame relative to said seat section.
US Referenced Citations (83)