CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDS." A communication from abroad by
James Herbert Archer, of San Francisco, California, in the United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1880.
'
A
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDS."
communication from abroad by James Herbert Archer, of San Francisco, California,
in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in beds of that class known as
invalid beds, in which certain mechanical attachments to the bedstead serve to
elevate, tilt, and adjust the bed bottom to accommodate the invalid.
The Invention consists in the employment of a peculiarly divided, hinged, or
jointed bed bottom having a supplemental leaf hinged to it, and in combination
with this bottom a series of folding adjustable standards with cords and pulleys,
together with a roller, crank, and ratchet, by which the bed bottom is raised and
held at any point. With this roller and the jointed bottom employ curved links
or hooks at different points upon the bed bottom and also upon the roller, so that
by shifting from one hook to another one set of cords will serve to make all the
adjustments which may be needed. The standards may be folded down so as to be
concealed and the bed present an ordinary appearance when desired.
My Invention further consists in a means for suspending the sheet from the top
of the standards so that the bed may be lowered and the bedding changed or
adjusted while the patient remains suspended above.
Figs. 1 and 2 are views of my Invention.
Letter A represents the bedstead, which may be of the ordinary type or any
desired shape, with head and foot boards joined by the usual side rails.
The bed bottom is made in a peculiar manner and adapted to fit the bedstead.
The side frames of the bed bottom are hinged, as shown at a, so as to form the bottom
into two parts B, C, the head part B being somewhat longer than the lower or foot
part for the purpose hereinafter described. A supplemental leaf D is hinged to the side
frames of the bottom, as shown at b, so that it may be used for elevating the head
of the patient when desired. At each corner of the bedstead is a folding adjustable

page_text: standard E, E', hinged, as shown at c, to the frame of the bedstead so as as to fold
down out of the way when desired. On the the upper end of each of these standards
are pulleys d, e, and near the lower ends of each attached to the bed frame are the
leading pulleys f, those at the head being double for the purpose hereinafter
described.
On the back of the head board is mounted a roller F provided with a ratchet S
and pawl g at one end and a gear hand pinion i at the other, a crank j being
used to rotate the gear meshing with the pinion on the roller, so as to rotate it
easily.
Attached to this roller at the opposite ends are cords for raising the bed bottom.
The cords K for raising the corners of the head end lead from the roller down under
the leading pulleys f, and then over the lower pulley d, through and over the upper
pulley e, and then down to the corner of the bed bottom.
The cords K' lead from the roller down under the leading pulleys f lengthwise
the bed to the corresponding ones at the other end of the bed, thence upward
. between the rollers d, e, down to the foot corners of the bed bottom. At ench
corner of the bed bottom is a curved link or hook with which the knotted end of
the cord will engage. By turning the crank, therefore, the cords leading through
the pulleys as described will raise the bed bottom up by the corners to any desired
height, and the ratchet and pawl will prevent it lowering and hold it in place.
The cords at either end or either side may be disengaged and only one end or side
raised when desired.
On the upper ends of the supplemental hinged leaf are placed links or hooks m
into which the knotted ends of the head cords K. may be caught, so that this
supplemental leaf may be raised to any angle or inclination desired by the
patient.
Corresponding hooks n are formed on the part C of the bed bottom, and by
placing the knotted ends of the cords K¹ on these hooks the lower end or foot of
the part C may be dropped, so that it will set at an angle to the part B and still bo
sustained by the foot cords K. This part may be more or less elevated for raising
the knees of the patient as desired.
Clamps G having set screws o are arranged at the corners of the bed to keep the
hinged standards in an upright position, and when desired by removing the set
screws the standards may be folded down out of sight, and the bed will have the
appearance of an ordinary bedstead. The crank and roller may also be removed
and placed out of sight.
The bed bottom B, C, is intended to be placed on top of the mattress, and heavy
canvas or webbing is used in its construction. The part C is hinged below the centre,
as shown, so that the knees of the patient may be elevated, or when desired the feet
may be raised. A sitting position may be maintained by raising the supplemental
leaf by means of the cords and also raising the part C by its hooks, when the
part C and leaf D will be at an angle.
When it is desired to raise the upper position of the body from the hips the
supplemental lenf only may be elevated at the end, as described. It is evident that
either side may be raised by detaching the ropes on one side and raising the other,
so that the patient may be easily removed from the bed when necessary or may be
more readily turned over.
For persons afflicted by rheumatism, when head and feet are both elevated very
high, the foot of the bed may be raised up as desired and the supplemental leaf also,
and the bed bottom assume a V shape, so that the bed will touch every portion of
the back and lower limbs. The upper ends of the standards above the pulleys are
extended and holes p formed through them, through which cords may be passed for
tying to the corners of the sheet so as to sustain the patient when the sheets are to
be changed and bedding removed. In order to do this the bed bottom is raised up
by the roller and cords to its highest point on the standards, cords are then tied to
the corners of the sheet securely and passed through the holes p on the standards.
Then by reversing the roller the bed bottom B, C, will be lowered down, and the

page_text: patient be left suspended in the sheet until the bedding can be changed. The bed
bottom is then raised up to the patient, the corners of the sheet are released, and
the patient is lowered to the desired position again. The side of the bed is then
raised, the patient is turned, and the soiled sheet on which he has been suspended
is removed. In this way the bedding is changed without inconvenience to the
patient and the operation may be rapidly performed.
The combination of roller, crank, cords, and pulleys is such that a very easy lift
is gained. One person may readily alter the position of the bed at will or raise or
lower it with ease.
The movement is noiseless and certain, and not such as to jar
the nerves of an invalid.
The lifting appliances may be applied to beds of any ordinary construction, it not
being necessary to make one for their special adaptation.
The bed bottom may be raised half way up at any time and air allowed to
circulate under it in warm weather. When suspended in this way persons may
rock themselves by pushing with the foot against the foot board, or the bed bottom
may be rocked to and fro to put a child to sleep the same as in a hammock. The
bed is therefore adapted to persons in good health who wish an easy position as
well as it is to invalids.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
communicated to me as aforesaid, what I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The standards E, E', with their double pulleys d, e, and the rollers f. f. on
the frame, horizontal roller F with its gears h, i, ratchet S, and crank j, in combina-
tion with the cords K, K', both operated from the same shaft, ono set serving to
operate the head portion B and leaf D of the bed bottom, and the other set operating
the foot portion C, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Secondly. The bedstead A with the hinged adjustable bottom B, C, and leaf C,
with operating cords K, K', pulleys d, e, f, and roller F in combination with the
standards E, E, said standards being hinged, as shown at c, so that they may be
folded down when not in use, substantially as herein described.
Thirdly. The bedstead A with its hinged adjustable bottom B, C, fitted to be
moved up and down vertically by means of the cords K, K', pulleys d, e, f, and
roller F, as shewn, in combination with the standards E, E, having the perforations
or attachments p whereby the patient may be suspended by means of the sheet,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Fourthly. In combination with the bedstead A, with the standards E, E', elevating
pulleys d, e, roller F, and cords K, K', I claim the bed bottom consisting of the two
parts B, C, divided or hinged as shewn at a, nearer the foot than the head, and
having the supplemental hinged leaf D whereby different positions may be inain-
tained, substantially as herein described.
Fifthly. The bed bottom consisting of the parts B, C, hinged below the centro
and provided with the adjustable leaf D, with the hooks m, n, in combination with
the elevating cords K, K', substantially as and for the purpose berein described.
Sixthly. The standards E, E¹, arranged to carry the elevating ends, and hinged
to the bed, as shewn at c, in combination with the clamps G and set screws o,
whereby said standards are held in an upright position, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)