Abstract:
An overbed table wherein a pedestal is attached to one end of a single support member and the other end of the support member is connected to a table assembly that includes a table surface. The center axis of the support member is located closer to a first edge of the table surface than the oppositely disposed edge of the table surface and arm supports connected to the table assembly are extendable past the first edge of the table assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/286,090, filed on Dec. 14, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional overbed tables include a substantially flat table surface that provides little if any support for a user&#39;s arms during use. Such lack of support runs the risk of causing the user to suffer arm, wrist, or hand strain resulting from use of the overbed table. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, an overbed table comprising a pedestal, a telescoping support member, a table surface, and an arm support is disclosed. A first end of the telescoping support member is attached to the pedestal. The telescoping support member has means for adjusting a height. The table surface is positioned at a second end of the telescoping support member. The arm support is adjacent to the table surface. 
     In another embodiment, an overbed table comprising a pedestal, a support member, a table surface, and an arm support is disclosed. The support member has a first end attached to the pedestal. The table surface is positioned at a second end of the support member. The arm support has a roller affixed thereto. The roller is configured to engage a guide track fixed to a bottom surface of the table surface to move the arm support between a storage position and a use position. 
     In another embodiment, an overbed table comprising a pedestal, a telescoping support member, a table assembly, and an arm support assembly is disclosed. The telescoping support member has a first end attached to the pedestal and means for adjusting a height. The table assembly comprises a table base supported on a second end of the telescoping member. A table frame is attached to the table base and has a recess. A table surface is attached to the table frame. An arm support assembly is coupled to the table assembly. The arm support assembly comprises an arm support configured for storage in the recess and is moveable to a use position out of the recess. A guide track is fixed within the recess. A roller is fixed to the arm surface and is configured to engage the guide track to move the arm support between the use and storage positions. 
     These and other details, objects, and advantages of the disclosed overbed table will become better understood or apparent from the following descriptions, examples, and figures showing embodiments thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the overbed table with the arm supports in the extended position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 1  with the arm supports in the closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the working surface in an inclined position. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the overbed table with one arm support in the closed position and one arm support in the extended position. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the overbed table shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An overbed table  100  is disclosed. Optionally, the overbed table  100  is configured to be reversible for use by both right-handed and left-handed patients. As described in more detail below, the overbed table  100  provides patients with a table surface  32 , such as an eating, working, or interactive playing surface, and includes at least one arm support  42  that can support a patient&#39;s arm during use, thereby reducing or substantially eliminating arm, wrist, or hand strain. Optionally, the overbed table  100  includes a right arm support and a left arm support. As described in more detail below, the overbed table  100  is designed to counter any weight that a user places on the arm supports. The overbed table  100  is configured for use in combination with a hospital bed, chair, or wheelchair. Optionally, the overbed table  100  is configured with features found in conventional hospital rooms, including, for examples, a call button, a telephone, a television, a remote control, a video device, storage container  70 , space, and a video monitor, and may be customized to the needs of a particular patient or of needs generally required by patients on a particular hospital floor or ward. 
     As shown generally in the figures, the overbed table  100  includes a pedestal  10  configured to be positioned under a hospital bed, wheel chair, or other chair. Pedestal  10  is generally H-shaped or C-shaped in plan view and includes a first member  15  positioned between two second members  16 , where first member  15  is substantially perpendicular to second members  16  and second members  16  are substantially parallel to each other. The outer boundaries of second members  16  define an area within which the central forces of the arm supports  10  are located, as discussed in greater detail below. Preferably, the members  15 ,  16  of the pedestal are unitary. A plurality of casters  17 , wheels, or the like are affixed to the pedestal  10  to facilitate moving and positioning the overbed table  100 , such as for example at the four corners of the pedestal  10  as shown generally in the figures. Each caster  17  has a central axis. 
     The overbed table  100  also includes a support member  20  having a first end  25  attached to the pedestal  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the support member  20  has a central axis C that is offset from the center of the table surface  32  and is positioned closer to a first edge  35  of table surface in order to minimize sliding and tipping of the overbed table  100  when a user exerts downward force or pressure on one or both of the arm supports  42 . In an embodiment, the support member  20  is telescoping and includes first and second pieces  21 ,  22  and means for adjusting a height  23  of the support member  20  to raise and lower the overbed table  100  in order to facilitate positioning of the overbed table  100  with respect to the hospital bed, wheel chair, chair, or the like. The support member  20  may include friction guides to prevent or minimize wear and damage as the support member  20  is raised and lowered. The telescoping support member  20  is controlled either manually and may be carried out by a gas-assisted method, or electronically, such as by a linear motor. In an example, first piece  21  is substantially square or rectangular. Optionally, the overbed table includes a pressure sensor (not shown) on a bottom surface of the table surface  32  (described below) or the table assembly  30  (described below) in order to control vertical movement of the overbed table  100  when a pressure is exerted, such as when the bed comes into contact with the patient, the bed, or the like. 
     As shown generally in the figures, the overbed table  100  also includes a table surface  32  positioned at a second end  26  of the support member  20 . Table surface  32  is generally rectangular in shape and is defined by first  35  and third  37  substantially parallel edges and second  36  and fourth  38  substantially parallel edges, where second  36  and fourth  38  edges are substantially perpendicular to first  35  and third  37  edges. Table surface  32  is positioned in a plane along a first longitudinal axis A. Optionally, table surface  32  includes a working surface  31  that is adjustable and can be positioned at an incline between about 0° to about 90° relative to the plane. In use, working surface  31  rotates about first longitudinal axis A towards the user.  FIGS. 1-4  show the table surface  32  positioned at an incline of about 0°.  FIG. 6  shows the table surface  32  positioned at an incline of about 45°. The working surface  31  is adjustable either manually or electronically, such as by a motorized inclination control. In an example, inclination of the working surface  31  is accomplished by at least one hinge  39  or friction hinge affixed to the table surface. In another example, inclination of the working surface  31  is accomplished by gas dampers affixed to table surface. Optionally, the electronic control is hand-held and may include controls for external devices, such as for examples, televisions, wireless ports, docking stations, gaming devices, reading lamps, and the like. 
     Optionally, first edge  35  of the table surface, which is positioned closest to the patient during use, is curved in order to conform to the contour of a human chest so that the overbed table  100  can be positioned close to the patient during use for ease of access. First edge  35  may also include a channel (not shown) configured to accumulate or collect spilled food or liquids in order to prevent such spillage from reaching the patient or soiling the patient&#39;s bed linens. 
     In an embodiment such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 , the table surface  32  is part of a table assembly  30  that also includes a table base  3  and a table frame  13 . The table base  3  is attached to a second end  26  of the support member and the table frame  13  is attached to the table base  3 . Table base  3  and table frame  13  are positioned in plane along first longitudinal axis B. The table surface  32 , such as the one descried above, is attached to the table frame  13 . 
     Working surface  31  of table surface may include an adhesive (not shown) configured to engage a bottom surface of an object positioned thereon so as to maintain the object in a substantially stationary position even when the table surface is in an inclined position. 
     Optionally, table surface  32  includes at least one holder  50 . Holder  50  is configured to hold beverages containers and the like, and is configured to be adapted to hold an accessory such as a mirror, an iPad or a tablet mount. Holder  50  includes a channel  51  to capture an accessory cable through which the cable can be run during use to connect to an electrical outlet or the like. 
     The overbed table  100  also has at least one arm support  42  adjacent to the table surface  32 . The arm support  42  is configured to support a user&#39;s arm while the user is positioned at the overbed table  100 . The overbed table  100  is configured to support downward pressure on the arm support  42  without tipping the overbed table  100 , such as downward pressure from a user&#39;s arm, hands, and the like during use. Arm support  42  is substantially rectangular in shape and has an arm support surface  41  defined by four edges, where first  45  and third  47  edges are substantially parallel and second  46  and fourth  48  edges are substantially parallel, with the second  46  and fourth  48  edges being substantially perpendicular to the first  45  and third  47  edges. Arm support  42  has an internal frame (not shown). Arm support  42  includes sliding means  60  (described below) for moving arm support  42  between at least one extended position ( FIGS. 1 ,  9 ) and a storage position ( FIG. 2 ). Optionally, there is a plurality of extended positions. In  FIG. 8 , the right arm support  42  is shown in the extended position and the left arm support  42  is shown in the storage position. In the storage position, arm support  42  is positioned within plane and has a second longitudinal axis B that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis A. In the extended position, arm support  42  is moveable about the first longitudinal axis A to an angle α of up to about 75° relative to the plane. This inclination creates an ergonomic fit adjustable to configure to a user&#39;s arms. In use, the central force of the arm support  42  is within the area defined by the pedestal  10 . 
     As shown generally in the figures, the overbed table  100  may include two arm supports  42 , one to support a user&#39;s right arm and one to support the user&#39;s left arm. The two arm supports  42  are positioned at opposite end portions of the table surface  32 . 
     In an embodiment such as the one shown in  FIG. 8 , the arm support  42  is configured for storage below the table surface  32 , such that in the storage position, the arm support  42  is positioned below the table surface  32  and first edge  45  of arm support is substantially aligned with first edge  35  of table surface. In an embodiment such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , the table surface  32  has a recess  33  having dimensions configured to receive the arm support  42  such that arm support  42  is positioned in the recess  33  in the storage position. The first edge  35  of table surface has an opening  34  to the recess  33 . Optionally, arm support  42  has a handle  43  affixed to the first edge  45  to facilitate movement of the arm support  42  between the storage and extended positions. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , sliding means  60  is an axle  61  that extends through second  46  to fourth  48  edges of arm support. Axle  61  is positioned closer to third edge  47  of arm support than to first edge  45 . Optionally, two axles  61  extend through support  42  to provide strength and integrity to the arm support  42  and to prevent or minimize the occurrence of the arm support  42  torquing to either side. Opposing walls of recess  33  each have a groove  62  therein. The groove  62  is configured to receive a tip of the axle  61 . Optionally, axle can include wheels that ride along groove  62 . A stop  63  is provided in each groove  62  that registers to the forward axle  61 . As described above, the arm support  42  is moveable about the first longitudinal axis A to tilt to an angle of up to about 75° relative to the plane. Sliding means  60  includes a locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the arm support  42  in the inclined and/or extended position. In use, axle  61  moves along grooves  62  to move arm support  42  between the storage and extended positions. 
     In another example (not shown), sliding means  60  is a roller affixed to arm support. Roller is configured to engage a guide track fixed to a bottom surface of the table surface to move the arm support between the storage position and the extended position. 
     In another example (not shown), sliding means is a groove  60  in each of the second and fourth edges of arm support that substantially aligns with a corresponding protrusion in table surface or table frame such that each protrusion engages the corresponding groove. In use, protrusion slides within groove to move arm support between the extended and storage positions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , in an embodiment there is an arm support assembly  40  coupled to the table assembly  30 . The arm support assembly  40  comprises an atm support  42  and sliding means  60  such as those described above. Arm support  42  is configured for storage in a storage position in the recess  33 . The arm support  42  is moveable between a storage and an extended position as described above. 
     While the foregoing has been set forth in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the drawings, detailed embodiments, and examples are presented for elucidation and not limitation. Design variations, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangements of parts, may be made but are within the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that such changes or modifications of the invention or combinations of elements, variations, equivalents, or improvements therein are still within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.