Over bed table with enhanced base

Abstract

A base for an over bed table usable with patient beds having a retractable under-bed wheel(s) (e.g. a 5th wheel or drive wheels). The base includes a central portion, a pair of inner wings extending from the central portion to support a pair of inner casters, and a pair of outer wings extending from central portion to support a pair of outer casters. At least a segment of the central portion has a profile low enough to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel, while each of the outer wings has a caster segment of sufficient height to accommodate an outer caster and too high to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel. The base is configured so that, when fully inserted under a bed, the low-profile segment of the central portion is aligned with the under-bed wheel and the caster segments of the outer wings are offset beyond the under-bed wheels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An over bed table for use with a patient bed having a retractable under-bed wheel comprising:
 a base supported on a plurality of casters, the base including a central portion having an inner end and an outer end, the base further including a pair of inner wings extending from the inner end of the central portion and a pair of outer wings extending from the outer end of the central portion, the central portion having at least an outer segment with a low profile having a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, whereby the outer segment of the central portion is able to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel, each of the inner wings supporting one of the plurality of casters, each of the outer wings support one of the plurality of casters, the wings having a raised profile with a height of greater than a retracted height of a retracted under-bed wheel;   a column affixed to and extending upwardly from the base;   a table top mounted atop the column.   
     
     
         2 . The over bed table of  claim 1  wherein the central portion has a longitudinal extent; and
 each of the outer wings extends at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The over bed table of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the outer wings includes an extension segment, a transition segment and a caster segment, the extension segment having a low profile with a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, whereby the extension segment is able to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The over bed table of  claim 1  wherein each of the outer wings includes an extension segment, a transition segment and a caster segment, each extension segment having a low profile with a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, whereby each extension segment is able to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The over bed table of  claim 4  wherein the transition segments of the outer wings are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow a retracted under-bed wheel to pass there between. 
     
     
         6 . The over bed table of  claim 5  wherein each transition segment defines a transition surface extending at an angle to a longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The over bed table of  claim 5  wherein each transition segment defines a transition surface extending at an angle of between about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees to a longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         8 . The over bed table of  claim 7  wherein the outer segment of the central portion is at least ¼ of an inch above a floor. 
     
     
         9 . The over bed table of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of casters have a diameter of at least 1 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The over bed table of  claim 9  wherein the outer wings extend from the central portion at an angle of between about 95 degrees to about 150 degrees from relative to a longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         11 . The over bed table of  claim 10 , wherein the inner wings extend from the central portion at an angle of about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The over bed table of  claim 11  wherein the base is a one-piece unitary component in which the central portion, inner wings and the outer wings are integrally formed. 
     
     
         13 . The over bed table of  claim 12  wherein the central portion includes an inner segment and a transition segment, the inner segment having a raised profile with a height of greater than a retracted height of a retracted under-bed wheel, the transition segment bridging between the outer segment and the inner segment. 
     
     
         14 . The over bed table of  claim 11  wherein the transition segments of each outer wing are offset from an innermost face of the column at least 24 inches in a longitudinal direction of the central portion. 
     
     
         15 . The over bed table of  claim 14  wherein each outer wing has an outer edge, a lateral edge and a medial edge extending at an angle relative to a longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         16 . A base for an over bed table intended for use with a patient bed having a retractable under-bed wheel comprising:
 a central portion having an inner end, an outer end and a longitudinal extent;   a plurality of outer wings extending from the outer end of the central portion;   a pair of inner casters supported toward the inner end of the central portion; and   a pair of outer casters supported by the outer wings toward the outer end of the central portion; and   wherein at least a portion of the central portion has a low profile segment with a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, the base being configured such that the low profile segment is laterally aligned with an under-bed wheel when the base is fully inserted under a bed;   wherein each of the outer wings includes a caster segment supporting one of the outer casters, each the caster segments having a raised profile with a height greater than a retracted height of a retracted under-bed wheel, the base configured such that each caster segment is offset from the inner end of the central portion a sufficient distance for the caster segments to be offset beyond an under-bed wheel when the base is fully inserted under a bed;   whereby the base is able to provide a fully inserted over bed table with free movement in a fore and aft direction relative to a bed as the low profile segment of the central portion is aligned with and able to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel and the high profile caster segments of the outer wings are offset from a retracted under-bed wheel.   
     
     
         17 . The base of  claim 16  further including a plurality of inner wings extending from the inner end of the central portion, each of the wings supporting one of the inner casters. 
     
     
         18 . The base of  claim 17  wherein the outer wings extend at an angle of between about 95 degrees and about 150 degrees relative to the longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         19 . The base of  claim 18  wherein each outer wing includes an extension segment and a transition segment, the extension segment having a low profile with a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, the transition segment joining the extension segment to the caster segment. 
     
     
         20 . The base of  claim 19  wherein the transition segments of the outer wings are spaced apart from each other a sufficient distance to allow a retracted under-bed wheel to pass there between. 
     
     
         21 . The base of  claim 20  wherein each transition segment defines a transition surface extending at an angle of between about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees to the longitudinal extent of the central portion. 
     
     
         22 . The base of  claim 21  wherein the central portion, the inner wings and the outer wings are integrally formed.