Overbed table

Claim 2

In an overbed table having a horizontally extending base and a table top generally overlying said base, column means extending vertically between the base and the table top adjacent a corresponding edge of each including a post fixed to and extending upwardly from the base and a hollow column member depending from the table top and telescoping over the post, an improved one-way lock means to resist downward movement and permit free upward movement of the hollow column member with respect to the post, said lock means comprising: a. a cylindrical lock member disposed between said post and column member adjacent the lower end of said column member, the axis of said cylinder being substantially horizontal; b. a cam fixed to the interior wall of said column member, said cam having its cam surface facing toward said post and aligned normal to the axis of said cylinder; c. a rod extending down between said post and hollow column member, said rod having its lower end bent beneath said cylinder for supporting said cylinder between said cam surface and post; d. said cylinder being engaged and rotated by said cam surface into binding engagement between said cam surface and said post when downward pressure is applied to said column member to prevent downward movement of said column member and said cylinder being rotated by said cam surface out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post when upward pressure is applied to said column member to free said column member for upward movement; and e. means operable for moving said cylinder downwardly out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post to permit downward movement of said column member.

Claim 3

In an overbed table having a horizontally extending base and a table top generally overlying said base, column means extending vertically between the base and the table top adjacent a corresponding edge of each including a post fixed to and extending upwardly from the base and a hollow column member depending from the table top and telescoping over the post, an improved one-way lock means to resist downward movement and permit free upward movement of the hollow column member with respect to the post, said lock means comprising: a. a cylindrical lock member disposed between said post and column member adjacent the lower end of said column member, the axis of said cylinder being substantially horizontal; b. a cam fixed to the interior wall of said column member, said cam having its cam surface facing toward said post and aligned normal to the axis of said cylinder; c. a rod extending down between said post and hollow column member, said rod having its lower end bent beneath said cylinder for supporting said cylinder between said cam surface and post; d. said cylinder being engaged and rotated by said cam surface into binding engagement between said cam surface and said post when downward pressure is applied to said column member to prevent downward movement of said column member and said cylinder being rotated by said cam surface out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post when upward pressure is applied to said column member to free said column member for upward movement; and e. means operable for moving said cylinder downwardly out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post to permit downward movement of said column member.

Claim 4

In an overbed table having a horizontally extending base and a table top generally overlying said base, column means extending vertically between the base and the table top adjacent a corresponding edge of each including a post fixed to and extending upwardly from the base and a hollow column member depending from the table top and telescoping over the post, an improved one-way lock means to resist downward movement and permit free upward movement of the hollow column member with respect to the post, said lock means comprising: a. a cylindrical lock member disposed between said post and column member adjacent the lower end of said column member, the axis of said cylinder being substantially horizontal; b. a cam fixed to the interior wall of said column member, said cam having its cam surface facing toward said post and aligned normal to the axis of said cylinder; c. a rod extending down between said post and hollow column member, said rod having its lower end bent beneath said cylinder for supporting said cylinder between said cam surface and post; d. said cylinder being engaged and rotated by said cam surface into binding engagement between said cam surface and said post when downward pressure is applied to said column member to prevent downward movement of said column member and said cylinder being rotated by said cam surface out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post when upward pressure is applied to said column member to free said column member for upward movement; and e. means operable for moving said cylinder downwardly out of binding engagement between said cam surface and post to permit downward movement of said column member.

Claim 5

An overbed table as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rod is vertically movable and is biased upwardly to maintain said cylinder against said cam surface.

Claim 6

An overbed table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means comprises: a. a flange on said rod spaced above said lower end; and b. manually operable means, located adjacent said table top, for moving said rod downwardly against said bias to engage said flange against said cylinder and move said cylinder out of engagement with said cam surface.

Claim 7

An overbed table as set forth in claim 3, wherein the lower portion of said rod is bent beneath the central portion of said cylinder with the ends of said cylinder extending outwardly from said rod.

Claim 8

An overbed table as set forth in claim 4, wherein a pair of cam members is provided, one on each side of said rod.

Claim 9

In an overbed table having a horizontally extending base and a table top generally overlying and connected to the base by a telescoping column connected to an adjacent edge of each, wherein the column includes a fixed post upstanding from base and a hollow column depending from the table top and telescoping over the post, an improvement one-way lock for locking the table top against downward movement which automatically unlocks when the table top moves upward, said one-way lock comprising: a. a vertically movable rod extending down between said post and hollow column, the lower end of said rod being bent inward toward said post; b. a flange on said rod above said lower end; c. a horizontally oriented cylinder resting on the bent end of said rod and in the space between said bent end and flange, the ends of said cylinder extending outwardly from each side of said rod; d. a vertically oriented cam surface on the interior wall of said hollow column adjacent said cylinder, the upper portion of said cam surface extending from the interior wall of said hollow cylinder a greater distance than the lower portion; e. said cylinder being moved up off of said bent end and against said post by said cam surface to bind said cylinder therebetween when downward pressure is applied to said column to lock the same against vertical downward movement, and said cylinder dropping onto said bent end when upward pressure is applied to said hollow column to unlock the same; and f. means moving said rod downwardly when said cylinder is in a locked position for engaging said flange against said cylinder and driving said cylinder from the locked position to unlock said hollow column and permit downward movement of said column.

Claim 10

In an overbed table having a horizontally extending base and a table top generally overlying and connected to the base by a telescoping column connected to an adjacent edge of each, wherein the column includes a fixed post upstanding from base and a hollow column depending from the table top and telescoping over the post, an improvement one-way lock for locking the table top against downward movement which automatically unlocks when the table top moves upward, said one-way lock comprising: a. a vertically movable rod extending down between said post and hollow column, the lower end of said rod being bent inward toward said post; b. a flange on said rod above said lower end; c. a horizontally oriented cylinder resting on the bent end of said rod and in the space between said bent end and flange, the ends of said cylinder extending outwardly from each side of said rod; d. a vertically oriented cam surface on the interior wall of said hollow column adjacent said cylinder, the upper portion of said cam surface extending from the interior wall of said hollow cylinder a greater distance than the lower portion; e. said cylinder being moved up off of said bent end and against said post by said cam surface to bind said cylinder therebetween when downward pressure is applied to said column to lock the same against vertical downward movement, and said cylinder dropping onto said bent end when upward pressure is applied to said hollow column to unlock the same; and f. means moving said rod downwardly when said cylinder is in a locked position for engaging said flange against said cylinder and driving said cylinder from the locked position to unlock said hollow column and permit downward movement of said column.

Claim 11

An overbed table as set forth in claim 6, wherein said rod is normally biased upwardly and said means moves said rod downwardly against said bias.

Claim 12

An overbed table as set forth in claim 7, wherein the upper portion of said rod is adjacent said table top and is provided with manually operable means for moving said rod downwardly against said bias.