Pedestal for a treatment chair

Claim 2

A pedestal construction for a treatment chair, such as a dental chair, of the type having a standard and associated electrically operable components thereon; said pedestal construction comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting floor and having a substantially circular recess in its upper face and also having a bottom wall defining the bottom of said recess, a turntable supporting thereon the standard of said treatment chair and having at least a peripheral portion thereof loosely fitting for rotation within the recess in said base, fastening means adjacent the rotational axis of said turntable and including means maintaining said turntable in said recess while permitting rotation of said turntable and the standard relative to said base, said turntable and said fastening means defining an axial opening therethrough, said base having a passageway therein communicating with said axial opening and extending outwardly therefrom along said bottom wall of said recess and also forming an orifice in said base communicating with the atmosphere at a point radially outwardly of said turntable, and said opening and passageway being adapted to accommodate electrical conductor means therethrough in its course from said electrically operable components to a source of electrical energy and permitting substantial turning of said turntable relative to said base without undue twisting of the conductor means.

Claim 3

A pedestal construction according to claim 1, including antifriction bearing means engaging said bottom wall and circularly arranged around and in substantially spaced relation from said axis of said turntable, and said turntable being supported for rotation upon said antifriction bearing means.

Claim 4

A pedestal construction according to claim 2, wherein said antifriction bearing means comprises a circular series of steel balls, the lower surface of said turntable having an annular groove therein for loosely receiving said series of balls therein but being of substantially less depth than the diameter of each ball so that the lower surface of said turntable is maintained in spaced relation from said bottom wall of said recess in said base.

Claim 5

A pedestal construction according to claim 3, wherein the mean diameter of said series of balls is substantially less than the internal diameter of said circular recess.

Claim 6

A pedestal construction according to claim 3, wherEin the mean diameter of said series of balls is within about 75% to 85% of the internal diameter of said circular recess.

Claim 7

A pedestal construction according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises an annular antifriction bearing engaging an upper surface portion of said turntable surrounding said axial opening, a cap member having a central hole therethrough and engaging the upper surface of said annular antifriction bearing, and means securing said cap member in fixed relation to said bottom wall of said recess and in engagement with the upper surface of said annular antifriction bearing.

Claim 8

A pedestal according to claim 1, wherein said base is provided with a relatively small junction-box-defining recess therein spaced radially from said turntable and overlying a portion of and also communicating with said passageway whereby two otherwise separate conductors may be interconnected within said junction-box-defining recess.

Claim 9

A pedestal construction according to claim 1, wherein at least one pliable conductor cable extends along said passageway and through said axial opening, there being at least one free loop coil of said pliable conductor cable positioned on said turntable and encircling the vertical plane of said axial opening, with an additional stretch of said conductor cable extending generally radial from said coil and secured to said turntable.

Claim 10

A pedestal construction according to claim 1, wherein said base includes a substantially circular wall defining the perimeter of said recess, and said turntable comprises a body, means for releasably locking said turntable against rotation relative to said base and comprising: a brake arm carried by said body of said turntable and extending generally at a right angle to an imaginary radius line of said turntable, said brake arm having an outer surface remote from said turntable axis and normally positioned within a circular plane corresponding substantially to the circumference of said peripheral portion of said turntable, and a manually operable cam means carried by said turntable and engageable with said brake arm for forcing said brake arm outwardly relative to said body and against said circular wall to lock said turntable in the desired position relative to said base.

Claim 11

A pedestal construction according to claim 9, wherein said turntable is provided with a relatively narrow slot therethrough defining the proximal edges of said body and said brake arm and also wherein said brake arm is provided with a free end and is integral at its other end with said turntable body.

Claim 12

A pedestal construction for a treatment chair, such as a dental chair, of the type having a standard and associated electrically operable components; said pedestal construction comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting floor and having a substantially circular recess in its upper face and also having a bottom wall defining the bottom of said recess, a turntable for supporting thereon the standard of said treatment chair and having at least a peripheral portion thereof loosely fitting for rotation within the recess in said base, antifriction bearing means engaging the bottom wall of said recess and supporting said turntable for rotation thereon, annular fastening means closely surrounding the rotational axis of said turntable and including means maintaining said turntable in said recess against said antifriction bearing means while permitting rotation of said turntable and the standard thereon relative to said base, said turntable and said fastening means defining an axial opening therethrough, said base having a passageway therein adjacent said fastening means and communicating with said axial opening, and said passageway extending outwardly from said axial opening along said bottom wall of said recess and forming an orifice communicating with the atmosphere at a point radially outwardly of said turntable, and an electrical conductor cable means extending through said opening and passageway in its course from said electrically operable components to a source of electrical energy.

Claim 13

A pedestal construction for a treatment chair, such as a dental chair, of the type having a standard and associated electrically operable components; said pedestal construction comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting floor and having a substantially circular recess in its upper face and also having a bottom wall defining the bottom of said recess, a turntable for supporting thereon the standard of said treatment chair and having at least a peripheral portion thereof loosely fitting for rotation within the recess in said base, antifriction bearing means engaging the bottom wall of said recess and supporting said turntable for rotation thereon, annular fastening means closely surrounding the rotational axis of said turntable and including means maintaining said turntable in said recess against said antifriction bearing means while permitting rotation of said turntable and the standard thereon relative to said base, said turntable and said fastening means defining an axial opening therethrough, said base having a passageway therein adjacent said fastening means and communicating with said axial opening, and said passageway extending outwardly from said axial opening along said bottom wall of said recess and forming an orifice communicating with the atmosphere at a point radially outwardly of said turntable, and an electrical conductor cable means extending through said opening and passageway in its course from said electrically operable components to a source of electrical energy.

Claim 14

A pedestal construction for a treatment chair, such as a dental chair, of the type having a standard and associated relatively movable chair components; said pedestal construction comprising: a base adapted to rest upon supporting floor and having a substantially circular wall defining a recess in its upper face and also having a bottom wall defining the bottom of said recess, a turntable including a body supporting thereon the standard of said treatment chair and having at least a peripheral portion thereof loosely fitting for rotation within the recess in said base, and means for releasably locking said turntable against rotation relative to said base and comprising, a brake arm carried by said body of said turntable and extending generally at a right angle to an imaginary radius line of said turntable, said brake arm having an outer surface remote from the axis of said turntable and normally positioned within a circular plane corresponding substantially to the circumference of said peripheral portion of said turntable body, and a manually operable cam means carried by said turntable and engageable with said brake arm for forcing said brake arm outwardly relative to said body and against said circular wall to lock said turntable in the desired position relative to said base.

Claim 15

A pedestal construction for a treatment chair, such as a dental chair, of the type having a standard and associated relatively movable chair components; said pedestal construction comprising: a base adapted to rest upon supporting floor and having a substantially circular wall defining a recess in its upper face and also having a bottom wall defining the bottom of said recess, a turntable including a body supporting thereon the standard of said treatment chair and having at least a peripheral portion thereof loosely fitting for rotation within the recess in said base, and means for releasably locking said turntable against rotation relative to said base and comprising, a brake arm carried by said body of said turntable and extending generally at a right angle to an imaginary radius line of said turntable, said brake arm having an outer surface remote from the axis of said turntable and normally positioned within a circular plane corresponding substantially to the circumference of said peripheral portion of said turntable body, and a manually operable cam means carried by said turntable and engageable with said brake arm for forcing said brake arm outwardly relative to said body and against said circular wall to lock said turntable in the desired position relative to said base.