US3845945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Obstetrical examining chair and examination method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An obstetrical examination body support structure is disclosed, being in the form of a comfortable upholstered, contoured, reclining chair and adjustable to a plurality of fixed, tilted positions to assure the patient''s comfort and ease examination of the patient''s chest and uro-genito-rectal area by the physician. The chair includes a unitarily movable back and head rest, centrally open buttocks support, and thigh, calf and foot rest supports, the leg support portion being outwardly spread as the chair approaches, a fully reclined attitude, to properly expose the uro-genito-rectal area for examination.
Inventors
- 👤 W Lawley
- 👤 T Lawley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G15/00; A61G15/005; A61G2200/00; A61G2200/50; A61G2200/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A support structure structure for medical examination purposes in the form of a reclining chair, comprising: a base having stationary arm rest devices fixed on either side thereof; a reclining chair body support including integral back and buttocks support portions, leg support means for movement unitarily with said integral back and buttocks support portions to and from a reclining attitude and a seat rest portion disposed between said buttocks support portions when said chair body support is in an upright, chair-like position; means connecting said chair body support to said base enabling relative unitary reclining movement thereof, said leg support portions comprising a pair of laterally swingable, integral thigh and calf support member adapted to be moved to properly expose a patient''s perineum for medical examination thereof; and means for moving said reclining chair body support from said upright, chair-like position to a reclined, medical examination attitude, said seat rest portion being positioned other than between said buttocks support portions as said reclining chair body support is moved to said reclined, medical examination attitude to further expose a patient''s perineum for medical examination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A support structure structure for medical examination purposes in the form of a reclining chair, comprising: a base having stationary arm rest devices fixed on either side thereof; a reclining chair body support including integral back and buttocks support portions, leg support means for movement unitarily with said integral back and buttocks support portions to and from a reclining attitude and a seat rest portion disposed between said buttocks support portions when said chair body support is in an upright, chair-like position; means connecting said chair body support to said base enabling relative unitary reclining movement thereof, said leg support portions comprising a pair of laterally swingable, integral thigh and calf support member adapted to be moved to properly expose a patient''s perineum for medical examination thereof; and means for moving said reclining chair body support from said upright, chair-like position to a reclined, medical examination attitude, said seat rest portion being positioned other than between said buttocks support portions as said reclining chair body support is moved to said reclined, medical examination attitude to further expose a patient''s perineum for medical examination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said reclining chair body support and said stationary arm rests are fully upholstered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said chair body support to a reclined attitude also raises said chair body support to an examination level; and said seat rest portion includes an enlarged seat portion between said buttocks support portions when said reclining chair body support is in said upright, chair-like position for full perineum exposure when said reclining chair body support is in a reclined, raised medical examination attitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said reclining chair boDy support is mounted in said base by a pair of scissors link assembly braces, one on each side of said chair, each scissors assembly brace including a first lever, pivotally fixed to said base and said reclining chair at distal ends thereof and a second lever, pivotally fixed mesially to a center portion of said first lever, and having distal ends slidably interconnected to said base and reclining chair respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said second lever further includes anti-friction guide at a lower end thereof interconnected with a channel beam portion of said base for slidable interconnection of said second lever and said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said anti-friction means comprises a roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said second lever further includes a cam follower at the upper end thereof, and said reclining chair further includes a cam track in which said cam follower is interfitted for slidable interconnection of said second lever and reclining chair.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein said cam track is sinuous in form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the lower distal ends of each second lever of said pair of scissors link braces are interconnected by an axle, said axle being connected to said means for moving said reclining chair body support from an upright chair-like position to a reclined, medical examination position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for moving said reclining chair body support comprise an elongate actuator rod secured to said axle mesially thereof, and power means for moving said actuator rod to close said scissors link braces and pivot said reclining chair to a medical examination attitude.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said power means comprises an electric motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein said actuator rod is externally threaded to be linearly driven by said electric motor, said electric motor including push-button control means for forward and reverse movement of said actuator rod, whereby said reclining chair body support may be tilted to an infinite number of intermediate examination positions between said upright and fully reclined positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said pair of scissors link braces includes limit switch means to prevent overtravel of said reclining chair body support beyond said fully reclined and fully upright positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for moving said chair body support to a reclined attitude also raises said chair body support to an examination level; and each of said laterally swingable thigh and calf support members is pivotally mounted beneath its buttock support and is further connected to said axle by link means secured to said axle and to said swingable members adjacent said pivotal mounts, whereby upon rotation of and raising of said reclining chair to said medical examination attitude, the linear distance between said axle and said pivotal mounts is increased, causing said linkage to move said swingable members outwardly about their pivotal mounts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as recited in claim 14, wherein said link means comprise a first link pivotally mounted on said axle, and a pair of links pivotally mounted on the free end of said first link and connected to said swingable members by universal joint means, whereby said link means is in the form of a T when said reclining chair is in said full upright position and in the form of a Y when said reclining chair is in said reclined attitude.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each said integral thigh and calf support member further comprises a foot support member pivotally mounted on the end of its calf support member whereby said foot support member lays flat on a support surface for said body support structure, to ease access to and from said reclining chair bY a patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as recited in claim 16, wherein each foot support member further comprises spring means urging said foot support slightly upwardly about its pivot mount to provide a comfortable foot rest for a patient in a reclined attitude on said reclining chair body support.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of perineum examination comprising the steps of: placing the patient in a reclining chair structure, wherein at least the patient''s buttocks are fully supported across the width of the patient''s buttocks, rotating the patient about a moving horizontal axis to a Trendelenburg attitude and simultaneously exposing the patient''s perineum without changing the inter-relative attitudes of the patient''s back, buttocks and legs, and swinging the patient''s legs outwardly as the patient approaches said Trendelenburg attitude to more fully expose the perineum for medical examination.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of perineum examination comprising the steps of: placing the patient in a reclining chair structure, wherein at least the patient''s buttocks are fully supported across the width of the patient''s buttocks, rotating the patient about a moving horizontal axis to a Trendelenburg attitude and simultaneously exposing the patient''s perineum without changing the inter-relative attitudes of the patient''s back, buttocks and legs, and swinging the patient''s legs outwardly as the patient approaches said Trendelenburg attitude to more fully expose the perineum for medical examination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of perineum examination as recited in claim 18, comprising the further step of: momentarily interrupting the rotation of the patient to a Trendelenburg attitude for the purposes of chest examination.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of perineum examination as recited in claim 18, comprising the further step of raising the lower half of the patient''s body simultaneously with the step of rotating the patient and exposing the patient''s perineum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |