Improvements in Removable Head Sections for Beds.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Removable Head Sections for Beds.
A communication from CHARLES HJALMAR JOHANSEN, Upholsterer, of No. 518,
West Division Street, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois,
United States of America, and SIMON JORGENSEN HOLDT, of 522, West
Division Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates exclusively to that class of devices which are
made and sold as separate articles of manufacture and are adapted to be put
in place upon or removed from a bed or bedstead, and when in place may be so
manipulated as to raise the body of the patient and support it in an upright
or more or less inclined position.
In order to increase the range of adaptability of the device to beds of different
widths, the device as a whole is made adjustable in width.
With these objects in view the invention consists in the features of novelty
that are herein fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing
which is made a part hereof, and in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a removable head section for beds embody-
ing the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a fragment thereof on a somewhat larger scale.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of one of the longitudinally adjustable shafts.
The device comprises two frames, hinged together, one of which is adapted
to rest upon the bed or other support and remain normally stationary, while
the other is adapted to be moved about the hinge joint for the purpose of bring-
ing it to the desired inclination, the movable section being provided with means
for supporting the head portion of the mattress or the like. In the stationary
frame is journaled a shaft carrying pinions meshing with racks, the toothed
faces of which are concentric with the hinge joint, said racks being secured to and
movable with the movable frame. At each of its ends the shaft is provided
with means for receiving a wrench whereby it may be turned, and it is provided
also with a pair of ratchet wheels adapted to be engaged by pawls, both of which
are carried by an adjustable shaft journaled in the stationary frame and extend-
ing from side to side thereof. In order to accommodate the device to beds of
different widths, the two frames are adjustable in width and the two shafts are
adjustable in length.
The normally stationary frame is made up of two parallel side-pieces of angle-
iron 1, an adjustable tie-rod or bar by which they are connected, and two angle-
braces 2, each rigidly connected at one end to one of the side-pieces 1, and at
the other to the adjustable tie-rod. The adjustable tie-rod is made up of two
pieces, 3, each rigidly connected at one end to one of the side-pieces and a third

page_text: piece 4, which overlaps' the pieces 3, and is provided with a longitudinal slot
through which passes clamping screws 5 that have threaded engagement with the
picces 3. By loosening the clamping screws the two side-pieces may be adjusted
to or from each other in order to bring them in proper position to bear upon
the side rails of the bed or other support, and in the process of this adjustment
the pieces 3 and 4 will slide upon each other. When the proper adjustment is
reached the set screws 5 are tightened and the parts of the frame are thereby
rigidly held in place.
The movable frame, which is hinged to the stationary frame at 6, may con-
sist of two L-shaped pieces of angle-iron 7, and a plate or bar 8 having a longi-
tudinal slot through which clamping screws 9 pass so as to have threaded
engagement with the transverse branches of the frame pieces 7 whereby the
movable frame may be adjusted in width and its parts secured together in the
manner described with relation to the stationary frame. Preferably the means
for supporting the head portion of the mattress or the like consists of a number
of elastic devices attached to the side-pieces of the movable frame and extending
from one to the other so that they will accommodate themselves, in the matter
of length, to the distance apart of the two sides of the frame. These devices
may consist of pieces of heavy wire 10, each having its extremities connected
to the sides of the movable frame by means of stout coiled springs 11. Within
a certain range of adjustability, these springs 11 will answer all requirements,
but it may sometimes be desirable, where the range of adjustability is great, to
use wires 10 of different lengths.
The shaft 12 carrying pinions 13 and ratchet wheels 14, and the shaft 15
carrying the pawls 10 are both adjustable in length. In each case this adjustment
may be provided for by constructing the shaft of a plurality of telescoping sec-
tions, and providing the outer or tubular sections 17 with threaded openings
through which clamping screws 18 pass into engagement with the inner sec-
tions, the latter being provided with longitudinal grooves 19 into which the
ends of the clamping screws enter for the purpose of preventing the relative
rotation of the sections.
Each of the pawls is provided with a tail-piece 20 so that it may be moved
into and out of engagement with the corresponding ratchet, and said pawls being
both connected by means of the shaft 15 they may both be operated from either
side of the bed. In order to confine the pawls, the ratchet wheels, the pinions,
the rack bars and the anti-friction rollers 21, which engage the backs of the
rack bars, plates 22 are secured to the sides 1 of the stationary frame. Said
plates are bent or off set, and, in connection with the side-pieces of the stationary
frame, form housings in which the parts enumerated are contained.
The stationary frame is preferably provided with means, such a plates 1ª, for
engaging the side rails and preventing its accidental displacement.
Movement is transmitted from the pinions 13 to the movable frame by means
of racks 23, each of which is rigidly secured at one end to the movable frame,
the toothed faces of the racks being in engagement with the pinions and concen-
tric with the hinge joint. It will be observed that a rack and pinion and a
pawl and ratchet are located at each side of the device, and by reason of the
connecting shafts 12 and 15 the two sets of mechanism may be operated simul-
taneously from either side of the bed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I. declare that what I claim is :—
1. As a new article of manufacture, a removable head section for beds, having,
in combination. two frames hinged together, and adapted to extend from side to
side of the bed, one of said frames being adapted to rest upon the side rails
of the bed or other support and remain normally stationary, and the other being
adapted to more about the hinge joint, means carried by the movable frame

page_text: for supporting the head portion of a mattress or the like, a pair of racks, one
disposed at each side of the frame, each rigidly connected at one end to the
movable frame, the toothed faces of the racks being concentric with the hinge
joint, a pair of pinions engaging the racks respectively, a shaft extending from.
side to side of the frame, carrying the pinions and being incapable of rotation
relatively thereto, a pair of ratchets, one at each side of the frame, carried by
the shaft and being incapable of rotation relatively thereto, a pair of pawls
engaging the ratchets, a rock shaft carrying the pawls and extending from side
to side of the frame, the shaft carrying the pinions being provided outside of
the frame with means for receiving a wrench for turning it, substantially as set
forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a removable head section for beds having,
in combination, two frames hinged together, and adapted to extend from side to
side of the bed, one of said frames being adapted to rest upon the side rails of
the bed and remain normally stationary, and the other being adapted to be
moved about the hinge joint, means carried by the stationary frame for engag-
ing the side rails and preventing its accidental displacement, means carried by
the movable frame for supporting the head section of a mattress or the like,
a pair of racks, one at each side of the frame, each having one end rigidly
secured to the. movable frame, the toothed faces of the racks being concentric
with the hinge joint, a pair of pinions, one at each side of the frame, engaging
the racks, a shaft extending from side to side of the frame, and carrying the
pinions, a pair of ratchets one at each side of the frame, carried by the shaft and
being incapable of rotation relatively thereto, pawls engaging the ratchets, a
rock shaft extending from side to side of the frame, and carrying the pawls
whereby they may be simultaneously operated from either side of the frame,
and a pair of plates, one at each side of the frame, said plates forming with
the adjacent sides of the stationary frame housings enclosing the pinions, rat-.
chets and pawls, substantially as set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a removable head section for beds having
in combination, two frames hinged together and adapted to extend from side to
side of the bed, one of said frames being adapted to rest upon the side rails of
the bed or other support and remain normally stationary and the other being
adapted to move about the hinge joint, said frames being adjustable in width in
order to accommodate the device to beds of different widths, a shaft journaled
in the stationary frame and having means for revolving it, said shaft being
adjustable in length, means for transmitting the movement of said shaft to the
movable frame for the purpose of moving it about the hinge joint and com-
prising a pair of curved racks each rigidly connected at one end to the movable
frame and means for holding the movable frame to its adjustment, substanti-
ally as set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a removable head section for beds having,
in combination, two frames hinged together and adapted to extend from side to
side of the bed, one of said frames being adapted to rest upon the side rails of
the bed or other support and remain normally stationary and the other being
adapted to move about the hinge joint said frames being adjustable in width,
devices carried by the movable frame for supporting the head portion of a mat-
tress or the like, said devices being elastic and adapted to accommodate them-
selves in the matter of length to the width of the frame, a shaft journaled in
the stationary frame, said shaft being adjustable in length, means for rotating
the shaft, a pinion and a ratchet wheel carried by the shaft, a rack connected
at one end to the movable frame, the toothed face of the rack being concentric
with the hinge joint and in engagement with the pinion, a pawl engaging the
ratchet wheel and a rock-shaft carrying the pawl, said shaft being adjustable.
in length, substantially as set forth."
5. As a new article of manufacture, a removable head section for heds having,
in combination, two frames hinged together and adapted to extend from side to

page_text: side of the bed, one of said frames being adapted to rest upon the side rails of
the bed or other support and remain normally stationary, and the other being
adapted to move about the hinge joint, said frames being adjustable in width,
a pair of racks, one disposed at each side of the frame, each connected at one
end to the movable frame, the toothed faces of the racks being concentric with
the hinge joint, a pair of pinions engaging the racks, respectively, a shaft extend-
ing from side to side of the frame, carrying the pinions, said shaft being made
up of telescoping sections, adjustable longitudinally means for preventing the
relative rotation of said sections, a pair of ratchets carried by the shaft, a
pair of pawls engaging the ratchets and a rock-shaft carrying the pawls, and
extending from side to side of the frame, said rock-shaft being made up of tele-
scoping sections, adjustable longitudinally, substantially as set forth.
6. The complete removable head section for beds substantially as described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of June 1899
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.