Patent Publication Number: US-2009235463-A1

Title: Climbing bar

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relies for priority upon the Provisional Patent Application filed by Daren Robert Garb, Christie Garb, and George Bushek entitled climbing bar for an outpatient medical table, Ser. No. 61/038,464, filed Mar. 21, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to patient examination tables and more specifically to a climbing bar to assistant patients in getting on and off of an examination table. 
     2. Background Information 
     Every day thousands of patients climb on to and off of an examination table. The top of an examination table is sufficiently high that a doctor or other medical professional may examine that patient at a comfortable height. Some examination tables have a footrest to assist the patient in getting on and off the table, but such actions may still be difficult, particularly when a patient may be debilitated or disabled. In many cases the patient must reach a sitting position at the end of the table. This involves rotating from a position facing the table to a position with the patient&#39;s back to the table. 
     Because patients are often debilitated or disabled when getting on and off an examination table, it may be difficult for the patient to climb onto or off of the table or to rotate into a sitting on the table. In addition to the potential difficulties in patients performing these activities, there is a real possibility that a patient may be injured or aggravate an existing injury in getting on or off of an examination table. 
     One method of helping patients in getting onto or off of an examination table is to provide a handle which is affixed to the examination table. One such device is disclosed in the patent to Sebastien (U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,971; May 9, 2006). The climbing bar of the instant invention is believed to solve a variety of problems involved in having a patient climb onto or off of an examination table or in rotating into a sitting position on such a table by providing a sturdy handle which a patient may grasp to assist in accomplishing these activities. 
     The ideal climbing bar should be capable of providing a handle to assist a patient in getting onto, getting off of, and rotating upon a medical examination table. The ideal climbing bar should also be capable of moving from an in use position or an out of use position such that it is out of the way when not in use. The ideal climbing bar should also be simple, inexpensive, rugged, and easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The climbing bar of the instant invention includes a bracket with which the device may be affixed to the side of the examination table near the foot of the table. An arm is affixed to the bracket and protrudes outward from the bracket. A plate is affixed to the arm and a handle is rotatably affixed to the plate by an axle bolt such that the handle may rotate in a plane parallel to the side of the examination table. The plate includes an upper hole which is generally above the axle bolt and a lower hole which is generally rearward of the axle bolt. (The foot of the examination table is considered to be rearward of the head of the table.) The upper hole and the lower hole are the same distance from the axle bolt. 
     A pin is provided which is affixed to the handle such that the longitudinal axis of the pin may be aligned with either the upper hole or the lower hole. When the handle is in a horizontal position, the end of the pin fits into the lower hole and secures the handle in that position. When the handle is in a vertical position, the end of the pin fits into the upper hole and secures the handle in that position. 
     When the handle is in the horizontal position or not in use, it is secured by the pin such that it is out of the way. When the handle is in the vertical position or in use, it may be used by a patient to assist the patient in getting onto or off of the examination table or in rotating to a sitting position or for any other useful purpose. 
     It will be understood that the climbing bar of the instant invention could be affixed to either side of the examination table or that there could be a climbing bar on both sides of the table. It will also be understood that the climbing bar of the instant invention could be used for a variety of purposes other than for an examination table without significant modification. 
     One of the major objects of the climbing bar of the instant invention is provide a handle to assist a patient in getting onto, getting off of, and rotating upon a medical examination table. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a climbing bar capable of moving from an in use position to an out of use position such that it is out of the way when not in use. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a climbing bar which is simple, inexpensive, rugged, and easy to use. 
     These and other features of the invention will become apparent when taken in consideration with the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the climbing bar of the instant invention with the handle in a horizontal position; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the climbing bar of the instant invention with the handle in a vertical position; and 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the instant invention in use on an examination table. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 , through  3 , there is shown a preferred form of the climbing bar of the instant invention. The instant invention is described and illustrated as being used with a medical examination table, but it could be used for a variety of similar purposes with little or no modification. The foot of the examination table is considered rearward and the head of the examination table is considered rearward. The examination table represents any of a number of conventional examination tables. The climbing bar of the instant invention could be added to an existing table or incorporated into the table design by the manufacturer. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a side view of the climbing bar of the instant invention is shown. A bracket  2  is affixed to the side of an examination table (not shown in this view) near the foot of the examination table using a plurality of bolts  4 . A number of other fastening methods could be used including screws or adhesive. A plate  5  is affixed to the bracket  2  by an arm  6  which protrudes perpendicular from the plane of the side of the examination table. A handle  8  is rotatably affixed to the plate  5  by an axle bolt  10 . There is an upper hole  12  in the plate  5  which is above the axle bolt  10  and a lower hole  14  in said plate  5  which is rearward of said axle bolt  10  and the same distance from said axle bolt  10  as the upper hole  12 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a pin  16  is slidably affixed to the handle  8  through a hole in said handle  8 . The longitudinal axis of the pin  16  is parallel with the longitudinal axis of said axle bolt  10  and, when said handle  8  is horizontal, said pin  16  is aligned with and fits within the lower hole  14 . When said handle  8  is vertical, said pin  16  is aligned with and fits within said upper hole  12 . There is an upper stop  20  protruding from said plate  5  which engages said pin  16  and prevents it from rotating beyond its position when said pin  16  engages said upper hole  12 . There is a lower stop  22  protruding from said plate  5  which engages said pin  16  and prevents it from rotating beyond its position when said pin  16  engages said lower hole  14 . A grip  24  is provided at end of said handle  8  which is away from said axle bolt  10  to improve a user&#39;s grip upon said handle  8 . In the preferred embodiment the grip  24  is machined into said handle  8 , but it could be made from plastic molded to fit or some other material. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , when said handle  8  is in the horizontal position as shown in this Figure, said pin  16  engages said lower hole  14  and secures said handle  8  in the horizontal position. This horizontal position of said handle  8  is considered the storage position and ensures that said handle  8  is out of the way when not in use. Said handle  8  may be rotated about said axle bolt  10  to a vertical position as indicated by arrow A. Said pin  16  then engages said upper hole  12  and secures said handle  8  in the vertical or in use position. When in this position a patient may grasp the grip  24  and use said handle  8  for assistance in climbing onto or off of the examination table or for other actions such as rotating to sit at the end of the examination table. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , an end view of the climbing bar of the instant invention is shown with said handle  8  in the vertical position. This view shows one method by which said bracket  2  may be affixed to the side wall of an examination table  30  using the bolts  4 . In this embodiment a rear plate  32  is used on the inner surface of the examination table  30  to help secure said bracket  2 . Other methods of securing said bracket  2  to said examination table  30  could be used including screws or adhesive. This view better shows the configuration of the arm  6  and said plate  5 . Said pin  16  includes a pin handle  34  and a pin collar  36  which protrude outward from said handle  8 . A pin shaft  38  passes through a hole in said handle  8  and is sufficiently long to engage both said upper hole  12  and said lower hole  14 . A pin washer  40  is affixed to the pin shaft  38  such that when the end of said pin shaft  38  has engaged said upper hole  12  (or said lower hole  14 ) the pin washer  40  is in contact with said plate  5 . A pin spring  42  is interposed between said pin washer  40  and said handle  8 . The pin spring  42  engages said pin washer  40  and tends to force said pin shaft  38  into said upper hole  12  (or said lower hole  14 ). By pulling on the pine handle  34  an operator may overcome the force of said pin spring  42  and pull said pin shaft  38  from said upper hole  12  (or said lower hole  14 ) which allows said handle  8  to be moved. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , this Figure better shows how said upper stop  20  and said lower stop  22  may engage said pin shaft  38  and prevent said handle  8  from rotating beyond said upper stop  20  and said lower stop  22 . Said axle bolt  10  passes through a hole in said handle  8  and the end of said axle bolt  10  is affixed to said plate  5 . A plurality of axle washers  41  are interposed on said axle bolt  10  between said handle  8  and said plate  5  to insure that said handle  8  moves in a plane parallel to the side of said examination table  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an end view of the instant invention in use on an examination table is shown. Although there are a number of different table configurations, a typical version of said examination table  30  often includes a top  50  and a step  52  which patients may use to assist in climbing onto the top  50 . Said examination table  30  is not considered part of the instant invention, but this Figure shows one method of using the climbing bar of the instant invention with said examination table  30 . There is a version of the climbing bar of the instant invention on either side of the foot of said examination table  30 . In this Figure both of said handles  8  are in the vertical or in use position. The climbing bar of the instant invention on the left is as is described above. The climbing bar of the instant invention on the right is a mirror image of the one on the left. As may be seen a patient could easily step onto the step  52  and grasp said handles  8  to assist in climbing onto the top  50 . Said handles  8  could further be used to steady the patient while the patient rotates to sit upon said top  50  which would help prevent the patient from falling or otherwise aggravating an existing injury. The climbing bar of the instant invention should be constructed such that said handle  8  could withstand application of a perpendicular force of at least 300 pounds. 
     In the preferred embodiment, all elements are made from steel, but other materials having the same strength and ability to be cleaned could be used such as aluminum. Although the climbing bar of the instant invention is shown as being affixed to an examination table using a bracket, the device could also be incorporated into the table by a manufacturer. The instant invention is also shown as being used with a medical examination table, but the device could also be used with other articles without significant or any modification, 
     While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.