Improvements in and relating to Bedsteads for Surgical and Nursing Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Bedsteads for Surgical and Nursing
Purposes.
We, WILLIAM DERRICK, of Penrith, in the Colony of New South Wales,
Hospital Warder, and WILLIAM CHARLES FULTON, the Younger, of Penrith,
aforesaid, Merchant, 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 certain improvements in bedsteads which have
been specially devised for the purpose of the more easy and comfortable handling
of patients and invalids in hospitals and in homes. By means of this invention
a patient or invalid may be easily lifted for a change of the clothes or covering
and for the purpose of being withdrawn from the bedstead and placed in a bath
or the like and may be easily and comfortably changed in elevation for coolness
and the like.
These improvements in bedsteads for surgical and nursing purposes consist
first in the combination and arrangement with an ordinary bedstead of a
stationary frame a movable frame and a suspended frame above the ordinary bed
bottom the latter being adapted to rest upon the ordinary bed bottom or upon
the mattress and coverings on said bed bottom and of tapes or cords or rollers
adapted to elevate said suspended frame towards said movable frame. And these
improvements consist secondly in the combination and arrangement with the
ordinary bedstead frame of a removable auxiliary frame adapted to receive and
support the movable frame so that it and the suspended frame may be drawn away
from the ordinary bedstead and they further consist in the combination and
arrangement with an ordinary bedstead of the mechanical parts hereinafter
particularly described and specifically claimed.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood, reference will
now be made to the drawings herewith in which Figure 1 is perspective view
of an ordinary four-post bedstead to which these present improvements have
been applied, Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan and Figure 4
an elevation respectively of. a modified construction of the suspended frame or
support, Figure 5 is a perspective view of an ordinary stump bedstead to which
these present improvements are applied.
A are the four posts of an ordinary bedstead B are the rails and B' is the bed
bottom formed of cross laths. Clipped to the posts A by means of bolts and
nuts or bolts and thumb screws D is the stationary frame I having thereon a
rail D. Upon this rail supported by wheels or runners C₁ is the movable frame C
and below these two frames and suspended to the frame C is the suspended frame
or support which has upon it the rollers or pulleys E. Tapes or cords F are
fastened to the movable frame C and after passing round rollers F¹ (carried by
frame C) are fastened to windlass barrel or roller G carried in bearings in the
frame Cand actuated by means of geared wheels G1 and G2 the latter having a
Fastened to the
stop pawl and being operated by means of crank handle G³.
posts A and rails B by means of bolts and nuts or bolts and thumb screws are

page_text: uprights whose inside edges form guides for pins E2 on the suspended frame E
and which have holes H for the insertion of pins or rods to support frame E at
such height as is desired. This suspended frame E is made up of a series of
bands E3 of textile material which are fastened at one side to the frame and are
buckled more or less tightly as desired at the other side.
An auxiliary movable frame consists of two legs K hinged or jointed or
bolted to side frame K¹ which is hinged to end frames K³ having thereon rails K
These ends K3 may dovetail to and be removably bolted to the ends of frame D
or be removably affixed to the posts A so that the rail K² will become a continua-
tion of the rails D2. These rails K2 and D2 will thus enable the movable frame C
and the suspended frame E to be drawn out clear of the bedstead. This frame C
is preferably drawn out by means of cords or bands one set P1 winding while the
other set 12 unwinds from a roller or barrel P' carried in bearings removably
affixed to the posts A. The bands P₁ are affixed to the inner edge of the frame C
and pass outwardly over it to and around rollers P affixed to the top bar of the
bedstead frame while the bands P2 are affixed to the outer edge of frame C and
pass direct to roller P.
When it is desired to bathe the patient instead of the frame E being used
the modified construction of frame as shown in Figures 3 & 4 is substituted.
This frame consists of the end pieces L carrying rollers L' and longitudinal bar L³
from which latter the cross frames L are suspended straps or band's L5 are hung
to these cross bars L4 being passed under the patient. A shorter netting or
bands Le may be similarly used for the patient's head. The frame is lowered
and the bands hung on to the ends of cross bars L and then the frame raised
carrying the patient who by means of the movable frame and suspended frame
being run out on rails D and Ke is then drawn clear of the bed and may be lowered
into a bath at the side or may be carried away by attendants to a bath.
The stump bedstead shown in Figure 5 has a similar frame E to that herein-
before described (and referred to by the letter E). In place of the frames C and D
there is at the head of the bedstead a cross bar M carrying rollers M and at the
foot a cross frame from the bottom rail B the top cross bar M2 of which carries
rollers M³. Affixed to the rails B below the bed bottom is a roller N in bear-
ings N and having gearing with stop pawl (not shown) and a crank handle N³.
Cords or bands F pass from this roller N around rollers 0 on cross bars Q¹ and
around rollers M or M³ as the case may be to the frame E. It will be seen by
turning handle N³ the frame E* with a patient thereon may be raised or lowered
as desired. The cross bars and frames shown in these figures may be removably
affixed by bolts and nuts or by bolts and thumb screws or they may be made
permanently in any mechanical manner with the frame or other parts of the
bedstead.
In operation the bedstead with these improvements is used for the patient
or invalid for many purposes. To change the bed linen etc. the bands or straps
of the frame E are passed one by one under the patient and tightened up in the
buckles. The handle G³ or №3" as the case may be being turned the bands or
cords F are wound on the rollers G or N until the frame E
or E is elevated to a convenient height while the linen is changed
or adjusted when the frame E or Ex is lowered again and the
straps or bands across frame E or E may be removed ΟΙ left as
desired. If preferred the patient may be supported on a mattress on the frame E
in which case for change of air or the like the frame may in like manner to
that described be placed in an elevated position and he supported if desired by
means of pins or rods through holes H in uprights J. If it be desired when
the frame E is in any convenient position by placing the auxiliary removable
frame consisting of posts K and top pieces K¹ and K³ in position the frame C
with the frame E hanging to it may be run outwardly from the bedstead.
Further as before described the bathing frame may be used in place of the
frame E and the patient or invalid be given any necessary bath or the like,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. In bedsteads for surgical and nursing purposes the combination and
arrangement with an ordinary bedstead of a stationary frame such as D) a movable
frame such as C and a suspended frame such as for the purposes set forth
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Second. In bedsteads for surgical and nursing purposes the combination
and arrangement with the mechanical parts set out in the preceding (first) claim-
ing section hereof of a removable auxiliary frame adapted to receive upon it
and support the movable frame and suspended frame substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Third. In bedsteads of the class set forth the combination and arrange-
ment with posts such as A having rails such as B of a stationary frame such
as D (having rails such as D2) removably or permanently attached to posts such
as A a movable frame such as C (having runners such as (") a suspended frame
such as E or E* and cords or bands such as F passing from movable frame such
as C round pulleys such as El and rollers such as F1 to barrel or roller such as G
(having gears such as G and G2 and handle such as G³) substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Fourth. The combination with parts as set forth in the preceding (third)
claiming section hereof of a frame consisting of parts such as K and side bars
such as K and K³ (and having a rail such as K²) adapted to be affixed to the
posts such as A and cords or ropes such as P' and P2 adapted to wind and unwind
on a roller such as P substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the drawings.
Fifth. The combination with the parts as set forth in the preceding (third)
claiming section hereof of uprights such as having series of holes such as H
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Sixth In bedsteads of the class set forth the combination with the frame of a
stump bedstead of a frame such as cross bars such as M and M² rollers such
as M and M³ cords or ropes such as F affixed to said frame such as E* and passing
over rollers such as M and M³ around rollers such as O and a winding roller such
as N having gearing and handle such as N3 substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this Third day of July One thousand eight hundred and ninety nine.