Improvements in Beds for Invalids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 192--Accepted, 30th July, 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Beds for Invalids.
I, JOACHIM EGGERT, of Burg, in the Island of Fehmern, in the Kingdoni of
Denmark, Superintendent of the Burg Infirmary, 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:-
This invention relates to invalid beds; its object being to provide a movable
bottom by which it becomes possible to place a bed-pan under a heavy patient
without lifting the patient out of bed or altering his position.
A bed constructed in accordance with my invention is shewn in the accompanying
drawings, whereof
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the bed in its normal or closed position; Fig. 2
being a similar view showing the bed open..
Fig. 3 is a plan of the bed when closed.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4, 4 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 represents a modified form of construction:
The patient lies with his shoulders and back on the sheet t, part of which is
movable, and with his legs on the fixed mattress a.
The movable bottom t consists
of strong cloth (or other suitable fabric) extending from the head of the bed down
to the mattress d, and is held taut over the rollers and v. In order to relieve
the cloth t, the iron head-piece kis-fastened to the frame of the bed, and two
rods e and made fast to the framework are carried close under the cloth from
side to side. In order to still further stiffen the movable part of the bed, a board b
is carried across and fastened on each side to the strips c.
The cloth may be
covered with leather where the patient's back comes into contact with it to guard
against the wear and tear incidental to opening and closing the bed. Underneath
the bed on each side is a guide I forming a track for the rollers of the slide s.
This slide carries the rollers w and for the cloth, and is fitted with a projection u
for the bed-pan. The cloth t, being fastened to the head of the bed by the cross-
piece runs over the rods e and round the rollers wand and is held fast by the
piece d.
When the slide s is moved either forward or backward, the cloth t is
also moved; but is held taut in all positions. The slides is actuated by pushing
against or pulling the handle g, or, in the case of a heavy patient, by turning the
handle R and consequently the pinions z, which engage with the racks y attached to
the slide. The shaft on which the handle R is secured rotates in bearings fixed to
the framework.
じ
The bed-clothes are made in two parts; the top part reaching from the head of
the bed down to the mattress a, and the bottom part from there to the foot of the
bed. Consequently, the ends of the sheets fall down clear when the bed is opened,
leaving a space in which the bed-pan is placed. When the bed is closed, the sheets
take their proper place again on the top of the false bottom t.
The roller is covered with cloth, india-rubber or other soft and yielding
material so as to avoid hurting the patient. There can also be a cushion placed at
this point; such cushion being removed when required. A water-mattress may,
however, be used, if preferred.
The foot of the bed may be made to fall down so as to form an extension n which
is often necessary in cases of broken legs. The head of the bed is continued up
and carries a small cupboard for medicines.
In Fig. 5, a short mattress m is put at the head of the bed. The space between
the mattresses a and m is occupied by a water-cushion ', which rests on the cross-
piece and on the upper end of the slide s', which is furnished with rollers
can be moved on the guides by the handle y', or by turning the handle R¹ and
and

page_text: consequently the pinions. The bed-pan is placed on the ledge u. In order to
prevent the water-cushion from being caught between the cross-piece and the
slide when the latter is being moved, small rods o secured to the framework are
placed beneath the end of the cushion. Pinions engaging with the rack may be
substituted for the rollers r¹
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
-:
1. An invalid bed with movable bottom arranged to open for the purpose of
enabling a bed-pan to be used, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. An invalid bed comprising a slide s moving on rollers and opened or closed
by a handle g, or by a handle R, pinions and racks y, a projection n on the slide
for carrying a
bed-pan, a cloth t, which forms the false bottom, and two rollers in
and v, the cloth sliding over the rollers and being held taut by cross-pieces
and d, substantially as herein described.
3. An invalid bed comprising a slide s moving between the cross-piece k¹
and the guides, the upper end of the slide forming the movable bottom of the
bed, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 25th day of June 1892.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Per J. W. S.,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.