Support apparatus

Abstract

A support apparatus having a receiving member adapted to receive a work object, a frame for mounting the receiving member in a range of positions relative to a predetermined area, and an adjustment assembly borne by the frame operable to place the receiving member in a selected position within the range of positions relative to the predetermined area.

1 . A support apparatus comprising receiving means adapted to receive a work object, a frame assembly for mounting said receiving means in a range of positions relative to a predetermined area, and means borne by said frame assembly operable to place said receiving means in a selected position within said range of positions relative to the predetermined area. 
     
     
         2 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said range of positions includes a position operable to support said work object in spaced relation to the predetermined area. 
     
     
         3 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said receiving means is of sufficient strength to support the weight of the work object positioned on the receiving means substantially in said selected position. 
     
     
         4 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the range of positions is substantially vertically spaced from the predetermined area so as to permit the receiving means to be moved from and toward the predetermined area to define a greater or lesser space between the receiving means and said predetermined area in said selected position. 
     
     
         5 . The support apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the receiving means is disposed in a selected position within the range of positions, the predetermined area is the upper surface of a portion of a bed and the work object is a portion of the upper body of a person reclined on said upper surface so as to space said portion of the upper body of the person in a selected position spaced from the upper surface of said portion of the bed. 
     
     
         6 . The support apparatus of  claim 5  in which the portion of the upper body of the person has upper extremities and wherein said space between the selected position of the receiving means and the upper surface of the portion of the bed is sufficient to receive a portion of the upper extremities of said portion of the upper body of the person and the work object is the head of the person. 
     
     
         7 . A support apparatus for use by a person, having two arms and a head, disposed in a reclining position on a bed, the bed having opposite lateral sides and an upper surface, the support apparatus comprising two support assemblies adapted individually to be positioned adjacent to said opposite lateral sides of the bed; a frame mounted on each support assembly adapted to move along a substantially vertical path of travel through a range of positions relative to said upper surface of the bed; a locking device mounted on each support assembly operable selectively to fix said frame of each support assembly in a selected position within said range of positions; and a belt member adapted to be mounted on and to interconnect said frames of the support assemblies extending over said upper surface of the bed to define a space between the upper surface of the bed and the belt member whereby a person can lay on the upper surface of the bed in a reclining attitude with the head of said person rested on the belt member supported above and in spaced relation to the upper surface of the bed and at least one arm of the person disposed in rested relation on the upper surface of the bed so as to preclude the head resting on said at least one arm of the person. 
     
     
         8 . The support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein each of said two support assemblies has a brace member mounted thereon at substantially right angles to the support assembly whereby the brace member can be positioned beneath the bed so as to retain the support assembly in upstanding relation closely adjacent to one of said opposite lateral sides of the bed. 
     
     
         9 . The support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the frame of at least one of said support assemblies has a tensioning mechanism mounted thereon and attached to the belt member operable to tighten or loosen the belt member relative to the frames of said support assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said belt member has an upper surface dimensioned to receive a pillow disposed for direct receipt of the head of said person in rested relation thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The support apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said brace members are pivotally mounted on their respective support assemblies for selective movement from said substantially right angles to the support assembly to raised positions disposed immediately adjacent to the support assembly and the belt member is detachable from at least one of the frames to facilitate storage of the support apparatus.