US573909A - norton - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheet sSheet 1.

4 J. A. NORTON.

TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

N0. 573,909. Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

2 Sheath-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. A. NORTON; TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS- No. 573,909. Patented Dec. 29,1896.

wwwmmg 1 i Ml k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. NORTON, OF ODEBOLT, IOWVA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN R. MATTES AND FRANK P. MOTIE, OF SAME PLACE.

TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 573,909, dated December 29, 1896. Application filed March 13, 1896. Serial No. 583,140. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. NORTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Odebolt, in the county of Sac and State of Iowa, have invented a new-and useful Table Attachment for Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of cheap, simple, and durable construction designed to be attached to the head-board of a bed and when in an extended position provides a table that is adjustable to and from the head of the bed and which is firmly supported regardless of the movements of the bed proper, especially designed for the promotion of the convenience and comfort of invalids by providing a support for liquid food, medicines, &c., without danger of being upset or spilled.

My object is, further, to provide a table that may readily and quickly be attached to any bedstead and be movable vertically thereon, and, further, to provide means for automatically elevating the table and holding it in an elevated position, so that shocks and jars thereto will not cause it to drop, and so it will be retained in position to support a pillowsham holder when not in use as a table.

My inventionconsists in certain details of construction and arrangement of the various parts of the table and the combination thereof with a bed, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bed with the table attached thereto and in an elevated position and the pillow-sham holder also in position. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the bed and table attachment. Fig. 3 shows a detail perspective of the corner of the head-board and thetable in its lowered position. Fig. 4 shows a section through the corner of the head-board and the table in its folded position. Fig. 5 shows a vertical transverse sectional view of a bed with a modified form of table thereon and with dotted lines showing the table slipped downwardly in its supports and resting against the head-board of the bed. Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the head of the bed with the same table in its position for use. Fig. 8 shows a section through the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the line 9 9 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 shows a modified device for pivoting the sides of the table to the bed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference-letter A is used to indicate the bed, and A the head-board thereof, all of the usual construction.

Two arms B B, made of wood and grooved on their inner faces, are pivotally secured to the inner surfaces of the corner-post of the head-board at a point a short distance above the bed-surface, as at B, and stops B are fixed to the corner-posts in the rear of the headboard in position to be engaged by the rear ends of the arms 13 when said arms are swung to a horizontal position, as required, to support them in said position. At the outer end of said arms B B is a cross-piece 0, having a shoulder O on its inner surface on the same plane as the grooves in said arms.

A table-top D is placed in the grooves in said arms and is capable of sliding longitudinally thereof. When at its outer limit, its forward edge is of course supported by the shoulder 0 Catches D are attached to the inner edge of the table to engage the sides of the arms and normally prevent the table-top from sliding downwardly when the arms are in their elevated position. They may be disengaged by a pressure of the fingers on the catches when it is desirable to adjust the table-top.

D indicates a cord attached to the arms B to provide means whereby a pillow sham may be secured to the attachment.

It is obvious that the attachment need add but very little to the cost of manufacture of a bedstead and that the under surface of the table-top may be ornamented to conform to the finish of the head of the bed and therefore not detract from the appearance of the bed. WVhen it is to be used, the table is lowered and the occupant of the bed may rest with his back against the head-board and may then move the table close to him.

In the modified form shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings the arms and table-top are of substantially the same construction.

F indicates metal sleeves pivotally secured to the corner-posts of the head-board by means of the bolts F The ends of the arms are admitted into these sleeves and the parts are so arranged that the arms may lie parallel with the head-board and slide longitudinally in the sleeves. A pin H is passed through each arm to engage the sleeve and hold the arm in its elevated position, that is, prevent it from sliding downwardly through the sleeve. Stops H are provided to limit this downward movement. It is obvious that these pins may be readily and quickly withdrawn and the table lowered relative to the head of the bed. This is done when the table would project above the top of the head-board in its normal position, and when the occupant of the bed is sitting up and the table would strike his head if swung straight outwardly the table-top is first raised and then placed in its horizontal position. I have also provided means for automatically elevating the table and holding it in its elevated position or at any desirable angle, as follows: J indicates a spring-actuated ratchet-roller of substantially the same construction as those usually employed for window-curtains. It is fixed to the rear of the head-board, and cords J 2 are wound thereupon and fixed to the outer corner of the table. It is readily understood how the table is supported at any position in which it may be placed by means of said cords and the ratchet-roller.

In the modificationillustrated by Fig. 10 the curved plates M provide means whereby the arms that support the table may be pivotally attached to the corner-posts of the bed and yet be capable of lying parallel with the headboard, and at the same time not require the defacement of said head-board by removing parts of it for the admission of the ends of the arms, as with the other forms shown.

By attaching the cord D to the arms B, as shown in Fig. l, the device is also adapted to serve as a pillow-sham holder, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor,

A table attachment for beds, comprising two arms grooved on their inner surfaces and pivotally connected with the corner-posts of the head-board of a bed, stops secured to said corner-posts to support the arms in a horizontal plane, a cross-piece at the outer ends of said arms having a shoulder on its inner face, a table-top slidingly mounted in said grooves and designed to rest on said shoulder, and catches for holding said table in place, substantially as set forth.

JAMES A. NORTON.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, THOMAS G. OR'WIG.

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