Veterinary examination table

Abstract

An improved veterinary examination table is provided which includes means for determining the weight of the animal being examined. In order to facilitate the examination of animals of varying weights, the height of the table may be varied through the use of a hydraulic actuator. A horizontal examination platform is vertically movable within a frame having vertical support members. A scale is interposed between the examination platform and the frame in a manner to support the entire weight of the platform when the examination platform is moved to its lowermost position to thereby allow the weight of an animal to be determined. Elevation of the examination platform automatically deactivates the scale.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An examination table for animals which comprises a frame;   a platform movably connected to said frame and adapted to be vertically movable with respect thereto between a low position and an elevated position;   an actuator means connected to said frame and to said .[.horizontal.]. platform for causing relative vertical movement therebetween; and   a force transducer means connected to said platform and to said frame for permitting a determination to be made of the weight of an animal placed on the platform,   the said force transducer means comprising a scale and .[.a cable.]. .Iadd.an elongated means to connect the platform to the scale, the elongate means being .Iaddend.interconnected between the scale and a portion of the platform.Iadd. , the elongate means being slack when the platform is in an elevated position, the elongate means being taut when the platform is in the said low position, whereby the weight of the animal may be determined on the scale when the platform is in the low position.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The examination table of claim 1 wherein the actuator means comprises a hydraulic cylinder movable between a lower position and an elevated position. 
     
     
       3. The examination table of claim 2 wherein the actuator means further comprises a pulley assembly movable by the hydraulic assembly and a cable interconnected between the frame and the platform, the cable being engaged by the pulley assembly as it is moved by the cylinder to correspondingly move the platform. 
     
     
       4. The examination table of claim 1 wherein the .Iadd.elongate means comprises a .Iaddend.cable .[.is adapted to be tensioned to impose the weight of the platform upon the scale when the platform is in the said low position.].. .[.5. The examination table of claim 1 wherein the cable is 
     
     
        untensioned when the platform is in the said elevated position..]. 6. An examination table for animals which comprises: a frame having vertical members, an intermediate member connecting said vertical members, and an upper member connecting said vertical members above the connection of the intermediate member;   an examination platform including a horizontal table connected to a vertical back, said vertical back being adapted to slidably interface with said vertical members of said frame;   a hydraulic cylinder connected to said frame and indirectly connected to said examination platform for raising said platform with respect to said frame from a low position to an elevated position; the hydraulic cylinder being directly connected to the intermediate member, said cylinder being adapted to move a piston rod relative to the frame,   a pulley assembly secured to the piston rod, the pulley assembly being vertically movable as the piston rod is reciprocated by action of the cylinder;     a cable attached to the frame and to the platform, said cable being in contact with the pulley assembly to indirectly interconnect the cylinder and the platform, said cable imposing raising forces upon the platform to elevate said platform when the cylinder is activated to raise the pulley assembly, and   the said cable .[.indirect.]. .Iadd.in direct .Iaddend.connection between .[.the scale.]. .Iadd.said frame .Iaddend.and the platform .[.is.].   
     
     
        .Iadd.being .Iaddend.flexible. 7. The examination table as set forth in claim 6 wherein said vertical back member comprises a connection means for 
     
     
        slidably engaging said spaced pair of vertical members. 8. The examination table of claim 6 wherein the cable is adapted to be tensioned when the platform is in the said low position whereby the weight of an animal 
     
     
        restrained upon the platform can be determined. 9. The examination table of claim 8 wherein the cable is adapted to be untensioned when the platform is moved to an elevated position whereby the weight of an animal 
     
     
        restrained upon the table platform cannot be determined. 10. The examination table of claim 6 whereby the cable is adapted to support the entire weight of the platform when the platform is moved to the said low position. .Iadd.11. An examination table for animals which comprises a frame;   a platform movably connected to the frame and adapted to be vertically movable with respect thereto between a low position and an elevated position;   an actuator means interconnected between the frame and the platform to cause vertical movement of the platform relative to the frame, the activator means comprising a fixed portion and a movable portion, the fixed portion being secured to the frame;   a scale means directly connected to the frame and indirectly connected to the platform to determine the weight of an animal placed upon the platform; and   elongate means indirectly interconnecting the scale means to the platform to actuate the scale means,   the elongate means being slack and not activating the scale means when the platform is moved to an elevated position,   the elongate means being taut and supporting the platform from the scale means when the platform is in its said low position;   whereby the scale means can be utilized to weigh an animal only when the   
     
     
        platform is in the low position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12.  The examination table of claim 11 wherein the actuator means comprises a hydraulic cylinder. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The examination table of claim 11 wherein the platform comprises a restraint suitable to secure the animal to the platform. .Iaddend.