Wishbone-Shaped Over Bed Table Base for Retractable Wheel Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional over bed tables (OBTs) face difficulties in compatibility with patient beds that have retractable under-bed wheels or low clearance, leading to restricted movement and potential entanglement issues, especially in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
The design of an OBT base featuring a wishbone-shaped extension with a low-profile U-shaped primary portion and elevated caster support segments, allowing the base to pass under raised under-bed wheels and accommodate corner legs/wheels, while secondary casters are positioned to avoid interference, enabling smooth fore and aft movement along the bed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional OBT base is used with patient beds having retractable under-bed wheels, then the OBT can be positioned over the bed, but the base interferes with the under-bed wheels causing restricted movement and potential entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into multiple segments including a first pair of casters, a second pair of casters, and a connecting structure. This segmentation allows different parts of the base to move independently, enabling the base to navigate around under-bed wheels without entanglement while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The base incorporates a longitudinal dimension with the connecting structure extending between the front and rear pairs of casters. This dimensional extension allows the base to pass under raised under-bed wheels by positioning the connecting structure in the clearance space, eliminating interference while maintaining movement ease.
2Reliability
If the OBT base is positioned fore or aft of under-bed wheels to avoid entanglement, then entanglement is prevented, but the OBT top becomes too close to or too far from the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed as a dynamic structure with movable connecting elements that allow it to adapt its configuration. The connecting structure can flex and adjust its position longitudinally, enabling the base to maintain optimal positioning relative to the patient while preventing entanglement with under-bed wheels through controlled movement.
3Ease of operation
If H-shaped or C-shaped bases are used, then fore and aft movement is possible, but the under-bed wheels can become entangled in the openings during emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the problematic open spaces from H-shaped or C-shaped bases and replaces them with a closed-loop structure formed by the connecting elements. This extraction eliminates the entanglement risk while preserving fore and aft movement capability, as the closed structure guides the base around under-bed wheels without allowing them to become trapped.
4Reliability
If U-shaped base is used, then the OBT can be positioned fore or aft of under-bed wheels, but movement is severely limited in both directions
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects the front and rear caster pairs, provides longitudinal extension to pass under under-bed wheels, and enables both fore and aft movement. This multi-functionality achieves entanglement avoidance while maintaining full movement range, unlike the limited U-shaped design.
Data Source
AI summary
A base for an over bed table (“OBT”) optimized for use with both retractable under-bed wheel(s) and corner structures (e.g. legs/corner wheels). The base includes a column-support portion and a wishbone-shaped extension configured to pass under the bed when the OBT is in use. The wishbone-shaped extension has a U-shaped portion with a profile low enough to pass below raised under-bed wheels, thereby allowing interference-free movement of the base under much of the bed. The wishbone configuration also facilitates movement of the base adjacent to and about the corner structures. For example, the unique shape provides lateral gaps on opposite sides of the base that allow the OBT to be moved farther into the corners of the bed before the base encounters interference from the corner structures, as well as a large central opening that allow the base to deeply straddle corner structures.