College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2026
Primary Advisor
John Pakkala, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
This project documents the design and development of a collapsible hospital bed tray table created through the Mechanical Engineering Senior Project program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The goal of the project was to reduce the floor space occupied by existing overbed tray tables while preserving the functionality, stability, and durability expected by patients, visitors, and healthcare staff.
The final design modifies a commercially available overbed tray table by incorporating a folding tabletop hinge mechanism and a telescoping base. The hinge allows the tabletop to lock in both the upright and stowed positions, while the telescoping base retracts to reduce the overall footprint of the table when not in use. Throughout the design process, multiple concepts, prototypes, and materials were evaluated to improve reliability, manufacturability, and user safety.
The completed verification prototype was analyzed and tested to evaluate usability, maneuverability, and storage performance. The final design successfully preserved the primary functions of a standard overbed tray table, including height adjustment and load-bearing capacity, while reducing the floor space occupied by approximately 39% in the stowed configuration. This document summarizes the design process, implementation, verification activities, and final results of the project.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/922