IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID Pune 33 BEDS AND COUCHES, AND IN FITTINGS THERETVA
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ancell Ball, of Spalding, in the County of
Lincoln, Physician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID
Pune
33
BEDS AND COUCHES, AND IN FITTINGS
THERETVA
Scaled the 30th April 1872, and dated the 7th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ancell Ball at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th December 1871.
I, ANCELL BALL, of Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, Physician,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INVALID BEDS AND COUCHES, AND IN FITTINGS THEREFOR," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
invalid bed or couch and fittings therefor, whereby the patient can be
readily placed in any desired position without the slightest bodily
exertion.

page_text: The improved invalid bed or couch consists essentially of a fixed and
moveable frame, the outer or fixed frame being either a specially prepared
frame or the framing of an ordinary bed or couch. The inner frame is
connected to the outer one by screw pivots situate opposite to each other,
both in the centre of the head and foot and in the centre of the two sides,
so that according and as one or the other pair of pivots be employed, the
patient can be brought either to a vertical or sitting position by turning
the inner frame on the side pivots, or he may be turned on his face
whilst in a horizontal position by turning the frame on the end pivots.
Pins and notched or perforated plates are employed for fixing the inner
frame in any position, whether at an angle or otherwise.
A rocking motion on the longitudinal axis may be effected by the
patient by the aid of a cord passing over a guide pulley carried by the
inner frame and secured to a fixed point under the bed assisted by a
spring, a pin in a curved slot serving to control the rocking motion.
"C
At the head and foot of the inside of the inner frame there are fixed
two perforated flat bars, which with the assistance of pins serve to carry
what I call the mattress boards or supports. There are two such boards,
to each of which I attach specially adapted mattrases, the one for the
back, which I designate the "spinal" or dorsal mattress, and the one for
the face, the facial" mattrass. Portions of the sides of the spinal
mattras board and mattrass are hinged or jointed so as to turn up and
afford support to the patient, when required to lie on either side, and in
conjunction with this arrangement I employ a lateral chest supporting
net of any distinctive color, to distinguish it from the ordinary bed net.
This lateral chest supporting net surrounds the shoulders of the patient
and takes the chief weight at the part where the sides of the mattrass
do not fold up. The said net being hooked to any fixed part of the
frame at the side. The ordinary bed net is also used, in which the
patient lies, it is attached to the foot of the outer frame when required
serves to support his back in an upright position should it be found
necessary.
The spinal mattress is made in two or more parts formed with
openings to facilitate the use of a bed pan, and to ease the pressure on
the shoulders in cases of bed sores for example.
A hinged trap door is also provided in the spinal mattrass board,
opening either upwards or downwards and adjustable to any angle, so as

page_text: to form an elevated foot or leg rest or to admit of the legs of the patient
passing through so as to bring him to a sitting position. To the upper
end of the same mattrass board there is hinged a support for the back of
the patient, such support being capable of adjustment to any angle.
A reversible table or reading desk is capable of being fitted to hinged
supports attached to the sides of the inner frame.
The facial mattrass board or support has openings made therein at
the chest, face, and feet, and carries a mattrass having an opening for
the face and another for the toes of the patient, and this is laid upon the
patient when it is desired to turn him on to his face, the pressure of the
mattrass being regulated by a stop screw. The facial mattrass board
having been properly adjusted and secured by pins to, the perforated
bars before referred to, the two mattrass boards and mattrasses with
the patient between them are reversed or turned over on the longitudinal
axis.
When the top mattrass board and mattrass are removed the patient
will be found lying on bis face, and any portion of his back can be
readily had access to by the employment of a garment or garments
made in two parts, back and front, tied or otherwise secured together
and provided at or about the middle of the posterior half with a flap
which can be turned up or down as required for use.
When soiled, the posterior half of the garment can be readily removed
and replaced by a clean one, without in the least degree disturbing the
patient.
In case it should be required to move the patient the spinal mattrass
board is provided with four concealed bearing handles, and if desired.
the supports or legs of the bed or couch may be made to fold or hinge,
and may be provided with elevating screws.
Suitable axilary and perineal supports or bandages may be applied
to the patient and secured to the moveable frame in order to support
him whilst being turned in a vertical direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ancell Ball in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANCELL
BALL, of Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, Physician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Aucell Ball, Her special license that
I, the said Ancell Ball, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Ancell Ball, my executors, administrators,
.or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDS AND
COUCHES, AND IN FITTINGS THEREfor,” upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Ancell Ball, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ancell Ball, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of invalid bed or couch and fittings therefor, whereby the patient can
be readily placed in any desired position without any exertion on
his part.
The essential features of my Invention are the use of specially con-
structed top and bottom mattresses and frames (which I designate

page_text: *r
respectively the spinal or
dorsal " mattress and the "facial "
mattress) in conjunction with a reversing motion of the two mattresses
and frames or supports either on end or on side pivots or centres,
whereby the patient, who for the time being is lying between the two
mattresses, may be turned upon his face, back, or side, without
necessitating any movement or change of position of the patient on
the bed itself.
This system affords great facility for the treatment of severe cases of
bed sores and other surgical cases, wherein it is essential that the patient
be not disturbed, or wherein he has lost all power of changing his
position in bed. Suitable provision is made for raising, lowering, and
supporting the back and lower limbs in any convenient or easy position,
thus enabling the patient to be brought into a semirecumbent or into a
sitting posture without exertion on his own part.
A convenient arrangement of bed pan is also applied to the improved
bed, and a peculiarly constructed night shirt and flannel vest is provided
to be worn by the patient whilst using the bed, the back and front of the
said garments being buttoned, tied, or otherwise temporarily united
together at the sides, so that the posterior half may be readily removed
and replaced by a clean one should it become soiled. A flap is also
provided when found requisite at or about the middle of the posterior
half, which is capable of being turned up or down as required for use.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same; and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of my Drawings represents a side elevation of my
improved bed with the top or facial mattress applied. Figure 2 is a
corresponding end elevation of the bed shewing the exterior surface of
the foot board. Figure 3 is a plan of the bed with the top or "facial"
mattress removed shewing the lower or "dorsal" mattress which consti-
tutes the reclining surface when the bed is in its normal condition, and
shewing also in its proper position the "side rest" (herein-after referred
to), which is to be used when turning the patient. Figure 4 is a trans-
verse section of the bed taken along the line 1-2, in Figure 3, shewing
the bed pan in its place, and also the side rest. Figure 5 is a plan of

page_text: the main framing of the bed with the lower mattress removed, and with
the head and foot boards in horizontal section. Figure 6 is a transverse
section of the lower or main frame taken along the line 3-4 (Figure 3),
and shewing the inner surface of the head board. Figure 7 is a similar
section taken along the line 5—6, and shewing the inner surface of the
foot board.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the invalid bedstead with
the mattress removed, shewing some of the various adjustments of which
it is susceptible.
Figures 9 and 10 are details of the lever and spring pad (hercin-after
referred to), for opening or closing from below the aperture formed in the
lower mattress for using the bed pan.
Figure 11 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of the bed reversed (or turned
over), the "facial" mattress being below and the "dorsal" mattress,
with its frame, above the patient.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the bed turned half-way round, and
having the top or "facial" mattress and frame so inserted as to form the
reclining surface, whilst the dorsal or lower mattress is brought into a
vertical position and forms the back of the couch; this position of
the parts being adopted when it is required to turn the patient on to
his side.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of the top or facial mattress
and frame detached. Figure 144 is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 15 is a detached plan of the facial mattress removed from its
frame. Figure 16 is a plan of the upper surface of the frame of the top
or facial mattress with the mattress removed. Figure 17 is a similar
view of the under surface, and Figures 18 and 19 represent respectively
a side elevation and longitudinal horizontal section of the reversible side
rest or support.
A, A, are two uprights or standards of wood or metal connected
together below by a stretcher or tie rod B, which, for the convenience of
packing, may be made removeable by being fitted into dovetailed or
other sockets or connections in the standards, as is well understood; the
standards are by preference supported on castors or small wheels, having
india-rubber tyres for the convenience of moving the bed without noise.
Near the upper end of each standard, and passing through the same,

page_text: "
there is a pin or journal a, a, secured to the centre portion of the head
and foot boards C and C¹ respectively, the said journals forming the axis
of revolution of the bed, as shewn by the dotted outline of the foot
board in a different position at Figure 2. Although shewn as revolving
on a longitudinal axis, or with the patient horizontal, it is obvious that
the bed may be made to turn over or reverse on a transverse axis,
thereby bringing the patient into a vertical position whilst in the act of
being reversed. In this latter modification the legs or supports of the
bed should be made telescopic, so as to admit of their being lengthened
sufficiently to allow of the ends of the revolving part clearing the floor.
A sliding bolt or pair of bolts b, b, fitted to the head and foot stand-
ards A, and engaging into one or other of a series of holes c, c, made in
a metal ring d secured to the outsides of the head and foot boards serve
to fix or maintain the bed in any desired position or angle. Or in lieu
of the rings d metal studs may be fitted into the head and foot boards.
The lower or main supporting frame D, which carries the set of
dorsal" mattresses E (herein-after more fully referred to), is secured
to the head and foot boards by bolts.e, e. Figures 6, 7, and 8 which
engage into holes made to receive them in the projecting ribs f, f,
secured to or formed on each side of the inner faces of the head and foot
boards at or near their opposite edges. This frame D consists partly of
wood or metal framing, and partly of the usual webbing or bands g.
Its central portion is composed of separate parts, which although lying
flush with the general surface when in their normal position, are so
hinged or jointed as to be capable of forming special supports for the
back and legs. F is a support made adjustable on hinges at / for
sustaining the back of the patient at any desired angle, the said support
being propped up at any angle by one or other of the two pairs of
props i,, (Figure 8) according to the amount of elevation required),
which engage into the fixed ratchet teeth k formed on or attached to the
framing D. A spring latch bolt released by drawing either of the
cords m secured thereto serves to secure the support F in its normal
position, that is, when resting on the ledge m¹ by engaging into a hole at /
in the end of the frame D, the said bolt being thus withdrawn without
disturbing the patient or the mattress when it is required to elevate the
back support. G is another support jointed at n to the intermediate
piece H, which is hinged at o to the piece I, hinged at p to the main
frame D. The object of the parts G, H, and I is when elevated into the
position shewn by dotted lines at Figure 8 to form a gout rest for the
.

page_text: leg, the said rest being supported in its elevated position by the hinged
prop and by the sliding bolts r, r, which engage into one or other of
the holes s, 8, made in the foot board in two vertical rows, as shewn
clearly in Figure 7. When the patient is required to assume a sitting
posture the hinged supports or rests G and H are let down below the
surface of the main frame D, as drawn in full lines in Figure 8, to allow
the feet and legs of the patient to pass below or through the bed, in
which postion they are supported by the inclined rest G. t is a cord
attached to the end of the hinged rest G for the purpose of lifting it
without disturbing the lower mattress. When in their normal position
the hinged parts G, H, and I are maintained flush or level with the
general surface of the frame D by shooting the bolts r, r, into the
holes u, u (Figure 7), made in the end of the lower frame D. In some
cases I use the cord t (Figure 8) in lieu of the bolts r, the said cord
being hooked on a hook at the top of the foot board, and I fasten the leg
rest flush by two spring latch bolts entering sideways into the frame
near the end of the leg rest. Both of these bolts are withdrawn by a
cord passing through the end of the dorsal frame at D, D, (Figure 7),
and through a groove, which cord draws back the bolt on the other side.
Both bolts may thus be drawn back by one pull of the cord, and from
either side of the dorsal frame. K is the removeable bed pan made of
tin plate or other suitable material fitted with a handle and with pro-
jecting side flanges, which latter slide along the guide pieces v, v,
(Figures 4 and 8) secured transversely to the under side of the frame D.
This bed pan is also provided with a lid which fits into a rimmed recess,
which holds water in order to make the pan air or gas tight. It also
contains one or more cups or separate cavities or receptacles inside in
order to receive chloride of lime, carbolic acid, chloralum, or other
disinfectants or deodourisers. Two of the usual mattress springs w, w,
Figures (4, 5, and 8) are disposed one on each side, but a little in
advance of the opening L communicating with the bed pan. This pan
is easily slid in or out from beneath the bed without in any way dis-
turbing the patient, suitable stops in the guide pieces o serving to insure
the pan being always in its proper position when pushed home. An
aperture corresponding to the mouth of the bed pan is formed in the
lower mattress E, as shewn clearly in Figures 3 and 4, and this opening
is closed from below when not in use by a spring pad or cushion M
(Figures 3, 9, and 10), which just fills the same and remains flush with
the general surface of the mattress. This pad is fitted on to the lever N

page_text: when required for use, the said lever being hinged by means of
straps x, x, to one side of the frame D, corresponding straps x, x¹, on
the opposite end of the lever serving when engaged on to buttons in the
side of the main frame to hold it in its elevated position and maintain
the spring pad in its place. When the bed pan is to be introduced the
lever N and pad are lowered, and the pad should be detached from its
lever by turning it partly round when the small cross pin y in the
stem will be brought in line with the slot in the lever, thus admitting
of the removal of the pad.
The "dorsal" mattress E (as shown in Figures 3 and 12) is 'made in
several separate parts or sections in order that it may be arranged to suit
the various adjustments of the parts constituting the adjustable portions
of the frame D.
The facial mattress E¹, shewn in Figures 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, is
made in one piece and provided with an opening O for the reception of
the face of the patient when applied, and another aperture P for the
reception of the toes. This mattress is secured by webbing and buttons
1, 1, to its supporting frame D¹, the sections composing the "dorsal"
mattress being secured to the frame D by tapes or otherwise. The
supporting frame D¹ of the facial" mattress is like the frame D com-
posed partly of wood and partly of webbing g¹, g'; an adjustable frame
or support Q hinged at 2 is fitted into one end of the frame D¹, and is
raised or lowered more or less to any desirable inclination by moving the
adjustable sliding support R along the guiding grooves 3, 3, in the
frame D', the said support R being fitted with dovetailed guides on its
surface which take into and slide along corresponding grooves in the
under side of the adjustable frame Q, the support R being moved for
adjustment by the loops at 4, 4. The object of the adjustable frame Q
is to enable the "facial" mattress to be adjusted with accuracy over the
chest of the patient. When it is required to turn the patient on to his
face so as to afford free access to the back, the "facial" mattress E¹ and
frame D' are laid upon him and then secured in the position shewn in
Figure 1, by shooting the bolts 5, 5, (Figure 17), attached at each corner
to the under side of the frame D¹ into one or other of two or more
corresponding holes made in the projecting ledges 6, 6, on the inner
faces of the head and foot boards. Before adjusting the "facial
mattress however, the side rest or support S (Figures 18 and 19) must be
fitted into its place between the head and foot boards, secured to the

page_text: head board by shooting the bolts 7, 7, with which the said rest is pro-
vided, into one or other of the holes 8, 8, in the head board, whilst the
opposite end of the rest is held in position by being fitted between the
projecting ledges 6 and 9, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. This rest S
consists, as shewn in the Drawings, of a wooden frame covered with
stretched canvas 10, the frame and canvas covering being so shaped
and arranged as to form a recess 11 for the reception of the shoulder of
the patient. In lieu of a separate rest however, either side of the
mattress frame may be made to turn up on hinges into a vertical
position, so as to afford the required lateral support to the patient whilst
being turned over. The side rest S and facial mattress having been
adjusted and secured in their places so as to pack the patient comfortably,
the end bolts b, b, are withdrawn and the entire bed (that is to say the
head and foot boards with the " dorsal" and "facial" mattresses and
frames) is reversed or turned upside down upon the longitudinal axis a, a,
when the parts will assume the relative positions shewn in Figure 11,
and may be there fixed by the bolts bas before. The "dorsal" mattress E
and frame D are now at the top and are lifted off after having been
released by shooting back the bolts e, e, (Figures 6, 7, and 8), when the
patient will be found lying on his face. If dressed in the improved
night dress shown at Figure 20, wherein the sleeves and back and front
are all made readily detachable by simply unfastening the strings or
fastenings 12, 12, which unite the parts, it is obvious that the linen may
be changed without disturbance. If desired, a flap shown by dotted
lines at 13, in Figure 20, may be formed in the posterior half of the
garment for the facility of access to the lower part of the back of the
patient, and for enabling the bowels to be relieved into the bed pan
beneath through the opening left when the flap is drawn up without
disturbing the patient.
"
In Figure 12, which represents the parts adjusted so as to accomodate
the patient on his side, the bed is turned round ninety degrees on its axis
a, a, so as to bring the "dorsal mattress Ę and its frame into a vertical
position, thereby forming the padded back of a couch, the reclining
portion of which is formed by inserting the "facial" mattress" E' with
its frame D¹ edgewise between the projecting ribs 9 and 6 on the foot
board, and between the projecting ribs 6 and 14 on the head board, the
said frame and mattress being locked in their place by the bolts 5, 5,
or otherwise, if found requisite.
In Figure 1 of my Drawings, I have represented in red lines, the

page_text: application to my improved bed of a small table T, capable of conversion
into an inclined reading desk, as shewn by the dotted red lines; it is
placed across the bed in front of the patient and supported by means of
side pieces or supports U hinged to each side of the table or desk, which
supports are screwed to the opposite sides of the "dorsal' mattress
frame D by the hand screws 15 (Figure 1), the said side pieces or
supports U for the table or desk being slotted, in order to admit of the
height being adjusted to suit the convenience of the patient.
ני
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
86
First. The construction and use of invalid beds or couches made to
turn over so as to reverse their position on a longitudinal or on a trans-
verse axis, and provided also with movable "dorsal" and facial"
mattresses and mattress boards or frames, and adjustable side rest or
support constructed, arranged, and operating together, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second. The application and use of pins or bolts and notched or
perforated plates or their equivalent for maintaining the bed or couch at
any required angle, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The combination of a dorsal mattress having an opening
therein with a bed pan made to slide under such opening from either
side of the bed, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth. The application of a hinged trap door made to open either
upwards or downwards and capable of being maintained at any desired
angle, so as to form an elevated leg rest or so as to allow the feet and
legs of the patient to pass below the bed when in a sitting posture, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
Fifth. The combination with the said hinged trap door or flap of an
adjustable hinged frame, forming a support for the back of the patient,
and capable of being maintained at any desired angle or elevation, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.

page_text: ,,
Sixth. The providing openings in the top or
"facial' mattress for
the reception of the face and toes of the patient, substantially as herein-
before described.
Seventh. The mode of reversing a patient by confining him for the
time being between top and bottom mattresses made to turn over or
reverse their position, and supporting him laterally whilst being turned
over by a hinged or removable side piece or support.
Eighth. The construction and use of a night dress or other equivalent
garment intended to be worn by a patient when in bed, wherein the back
and front consist of separate and distinct parts united together along the
sides by tapes, buttons, or other suitable fastenings, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Ninth. The forming a folding flap in or about the centre of the
posterior half of the said improved night shirt, as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ancell Ball, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of June, One thousand:
eight hundred and seventy-two.
ANCELL BALL.
(L.S.)