Climbing bar
A climbing bar is disclosed which may be affixed to a medical examination table to assist patients in getting on or off of the table or rotating to sit upon the table. The climbing bar of the instant invention may be adjusted such that the handle of the climbing bar is either secured in a horizontal position when not in use or in a vertical position when in use.
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 INVENTION1. 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'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 INVENTIONThe 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.
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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.
Claims
1. A climbing bar for use with a table comprising:
- (1) a bracket which is affixed to the side of the table; and
- (2) a handle rotatably affixed to the bracket such that the handle may be positioned such that the handle either projects above the plane of the top surface of the table or does not project above the plane of the top surface of the table and may be temporarily affixed in either position.
2. A climbing bar for use with a table comprising:
- (1) a bracket which is affixed to the side of the table, the bracket having a hole in the portion of said bracket nearest the top of the table;
- (2) a handle rotatably affixed to the bracket such that the handle may be positioned such that the handle either projects above the plane of the top surface of the table or does not project above the plane of the top surface of the table; and
- (3) a retractable pin affixed to said handle and the tip of the retractable pin being capable of engaging the hole in said bracket to secure said handle in position such that said handle projects above the plane of the top surface of the table.
3. The climbing bar of claim 2 in which a spring is affixed to said retractable pin such that the spring tends to force the tip of said retractable pin into the hole in said bracket and said retractable pin may be pulled such that the force of said spring is overcome and the tip of said retractable pin may be removed from the hole in said bracket allowing said handle to be moved.
4. The climbing bar of claim 2 in which there is a second hole in said bracket in the portion of said bracket below the top of the table such that said retractable pin may engage the second hole and secure said handle in a position such that said handle does not project above the top surface of the table.
5. The climbing bar of claim 4 in which a spring is affixed to said retractable pin such that the spring tends to force the tip of said retractable pin into the hole in said bracket or the second hole in said bracket and said retractable pin may be removed form the hole in said bracket or the second hole in said bracket and said retractable pin may be pulled such that the force of said spring is overcome and the tip of said retractable pin may be removed from the hole in said bracket or the second hole in said bracket allowing said handle to be moved.
6. A climbing bar for use with a table comprising;
- (1) a bracket which is affixed to the side of the table;
- (2) an arm affixed to the bracket which protrudes outward from the table;
- (3) a plate affixed to the arm, the plate having a hole in the portion of said plate closest to the top of the table;
- (4) a handle rotatably affixed to the plate such that the handle may be positioned such that the handle either projects above the plane of the top surface of the table or does not project above the plane of the top surface of the table; and
- (5) a retractable pin affixed to said handle and the tip of the retractable pin being capable of engaging the hole in said plate to secure said handle in position such that said handle projects above the plane of the top surface of the table.
7. The climbing bar of claim 6 in which a spring is affixed to said retractable pin such that the spring tends to force the tip of said retractable pin into the hole in said plate and said retractable pin may be pulled such that the force of said spring is overcome and the tip of said retractable pin may be removed from the hole in said plate allowing said handle to be moved.
8. The climbing bar of claim 6 in which there is a second hole in said plate in the portion of said plate below the top of the table such that said retractable pin may engage the second hole and secure said handle in a position such that said handle does not project above the top surface of the table.
9. The climbing bar of claim 8 in which a spring is affixed to said retractable pin such that the spring tends to force the tip of said retractable pin into the hole in said plate or the second hole in said plate and said retractable pin may be removed form the hole in said plate or the second hole in said plate and said retractable pin may be pulled such that the force of said spring is overcome and the tip of said retractable pin may be removed from the hole in said plate or the second hole in said plate allowing said handle to be moved.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 26, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Inventors: Daren Garb (Modesto, CA), George Kenneth Bushek, JR. (East Fish Hill, NY)
Application Number: 12/286,015
International Classification: A47C 31/00 (20060101);