Over bed table with improved base

A base for an over bed table intended for use with a patient bed having corner structures that engage a floor and an extendable and retractable under-bed wheel comprising:

• a column-support portion adapted to receive and support a column and a table top, the column supporting portion including a lateral segment extending laterally across the base;
• a pair of primary casters disposed beneath the column-support portion, the primary casters joined to the column-support portion toward opposite ends of the lateral segment of the column-support portion, the primary casters supporting the column-support portion at an elevated height greater than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel;
• a wishbone-shaped extension extending from the column-support portion, the wishbone-shaped extension having a longitudinal segment and a U-shaped portion, the longitudinal segment of the wishbone-shaped extension having a longitudinal extent and joining the column-support portion and the U-shaped portion, the U-shaped portion including a curved segment and a pair of linear segments extending from opposite ends of the curved segment, the curved segment and the linear segments cooperatively defining a low profile region with a height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, the base being configured such that the low profile region is aligned with an under-bed wheel when the base is fully inserted under a bed such that the base can be moved along a bed with the low profile region passing under a retracted under-bed wheel, the curved segment being longitudinally offset from the lateral segment of the column-support portion by a longitudinal offset, the U-shaped portion having a longitudinal extent at least three times the longitudinal offset, the column-support portion and the wishbone-shaped extension defining a pair of lateral gaps with one of the lateral gaps on each side of the base, the lateral gaps extending longitudinally alongside the longitudinal segment and being of sufficient longitudinal extent to straddle a corner structure of a patient bed, the lateral gaps being defined such that the low profile region remains unobstructed for passage beneath a retracted under-bed wheel, the U-shaped portion defining a central gap of sufficient lateral extent to straddle a corner structure of a patient bed;
• a pair of secondary caster segments, each secondary caster segment extending from a corresponding one of the linear segments;
• and
• a pair of secondary casters disposed beneath the secondary caster segments, each of the secondary casters being joined to a corresponding one of the secondary caster segments.