An Improved Device for the Attachment of Portable Tables, Reading Desks, or the like for the Accommodation of Invalids or other Persons in a Recumbent Position.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for the Attachment of Portable Tables, Reading
Desks, or the like for the Accommodation of Invalids or other
Persons in a Recumbent Position.
1. HEINRICH LOWITSCH, of No. 20 (111) Fürbringerstrasse, Berlin, in the
Gerinau Empire, Bank Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Bed room or night tables, as hitherto constructed, have been attended by the
disadvantage that it was necessary to shift them from their proper position beside
the bed, whenever the bed had to be covered or uncovered, so that they should not
bo in the way.
In addition to this their employment was at times, very incon-
venient to persons resting in bed, as, whenever they wished to light a candle, take
medicine, &c., they were obliged to partly rise and take up a somewhat awkward
posture. Again, the employment of special night tables is entirely out of question
in apartments where ample room is not available for the purpose, as is frequently
the case in bedrooms.
A further drawback of the old arrangement was, that for the erection of tables
of the class referred to, and more especially of invalid tables or reading desks
special supports, stands or pedestals were required, which interfered with the ready
handling or use of the desk or table.
Now the object of this invention is to obviate the several defects above
enumerated and the said invention will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device forming the subject of the invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof; and
Figure 3 shows the device as attached to a bed-post and fitted with a table.
The device mainly consists of two rings or clamps a &b lined with cork or other
elastic material for the protection of the bed-post around which such clamps or
rings are adapted to be placed. These clamps are fitted with hinged eyes.
The clamp a has an extension a projecting beyond its pivot-joint or centre of
rotation, through the outer eud of which a set screw d is passed. A holder such
as e preferably made of iron, and of angular shape is passed with its short end
through the eyes of the ring or clamp, so that constitutes the hinge-pin.
When the rings or clamps are placed round the bed-post and the screw d is
tightened, the pressure it exercises upon the ring or clamp 6 is such that the joint
action of the said rings or clamps is similar to that of tongs and that they firmly
grip or embrace the bed-post. The holder e is then oapable of being readily turned
about within the eyes of the clamps or rings.
The attachment is effected in such a manner that the parts cannot become loose;
the binge being, moreover, easily adjustable in the vertical direction, so that it may
assume any desired position.
To the horizontal free end of the bolder e a night-table g or a reading desk or
the like may be secured in such manner that by turning the holder e about its axis
of rotation the said table, desk or the like may be moved to any position which
may best suit, or be within convenient reach of, the occupier of the bed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) A device for the attachment of tables, desks, or the like to bed-posts, the
main feature of which consists in the provision of two clamps or rings which are
secured to the bed-post by means of a set-screw fitted to the extension of one of the
said clamps or rings.
(2.) In the device covered by the first claim, the employment of a holder, such
as e, the angularly bent end ƒ of which also serves as a hinge-pin.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., aud
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.