AN IMPROVED SUSPENSORY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING THE SICK OR WOUNDED, AND OTHERS. PROVISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Dominique Hilaire Théodore Decamps, of
Brest, and of 37, Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, France, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SUSPENSORY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND
SUPPORTING THE SICK OR WOUNDED, AND OTHERS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Dominique Hilaire
Théodore Decamps at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 20th March 1872.
I, JEAN DOMINIQUE HILAIRE THÉODORE DECAMPS, of Brest, and of 37.
Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SUSPENSORY APPARATUS FOR RAISING
AND SUPPORTING THE SICK OR WOUNDED AND OTHERS," to be as follows: :-
My improved apparatus may be adapted to every kind of bedstead ;
the uprights or head and foot pieces may be brought closer together
or set further apart at pleasure; it is composed of three parts (see
annexed Sheet of Drawing), namely, a fixed part, a moveable part, and
an actuating mechanism.

page_text: Fixed Part. The fixed part consists of two uprights or head and foot
pieces, preferably of round iron or other metal, each composed of three
vertical bars, the two ends of which spread apart, bending to an S shape
to form the base of the upright, the middle bar remaining vertical.
Each of these three bars terminates at its lower part in a tenon pierced
with a hole to receive, the middle one a nut bolt, and the two outer ones
two longitudinal cross pieces intended to unite the two uprights or head
and foot pieces. A horizontal bar placed about 12 inches from the
ground strengthens the upright and keeps it in position. The upper
horizontal bar uniting the three vertical bars is rounded at the angles.
The lower part of the upright is about 39 inches from the ground, and
the distance apart of the two outside bars about 28 inches. Three tenons
are let into three mortises made vertically in a wooden socket of about
39 inches in length by a thickness of about 4 inches. The two uprights
or head and foot pieces are united at their base by two longitudinal cross
pieces of rod iron or other metal or material, having a total length of
about 7 feet 10 inches, and provided at each end with a screw thread of
about 8 inches in length to permit the uprights or head and foot pieces
to be brought closer together or be set further apart.
These two longi-
tudinal cross pieces are themselves kept at a proper distance apart by a
flat cross piece bent over at each end into a ring, and this cross piece is
kept in the middle of the two longitudinal cross pieces by an adjusting
screw at each end.
Moveable Part.-This part is composed, 1°, of two bars of rod iron or
other suitable metal or material, herein-after termed the main supports
or bearings, of about 7 feet 10 inches in length, and each having at both
ends a screw thread of about 8 inches in length. 2°, of three cross tie
pieces of flat iron, pierced at the end with openings to receive the main
supports or bearings; five smaller supplementary supporting bars of a
total length of about four feet 3 inches, with screw thread at each end of
about 12 inches and which may be shifted when required, are
. fixed on the tie pieces by two nuts at each end. One of the cross pieces
is placed in the middle of the two main supporting bars to keep them at
the proper distance apart; the two end cross pieces have on their middle
part and directed downwards, an extension or lug pierced with a hole.
3°, of, six slide rods of round iron or other suitable material, three for
each upright or head and foot piece, having a height of about 3 feet
11 inches. Each rod has a ring at its upper and is screw-threaded at its

page_text: patient on the other hand the independence of each of these belts
permits the use of that only which the condition of the sick person
renders necessary. Each of these belts has at each end a buckle to
receive a corresponding strap passed over each main supporting bar.
Action of the Apparatus.-The suspensory apparatus is completely
independent of the bedstead, which, resting on slides or grooved supports
placed athwart the horizontal cross pieces of the apparatus, may by the
aid of supplementary slides or grooved pieces placed successively end
to end with the first slides be rolled to the middle of the apartment, so
that the bedding may be aired, the sheets changed and so on, while the
sick person remains suspended in his belts or bands. Further, the
suspensory apparatus itself resting on slides or grooved supports and
being provided with rollers, may in the same manner be run from the
bedstead into the middle of the apartment, which is even necessary in
order to set it up easily in the middle of the room, and then have simply
to run it, say, into an alcoye where it would be difficult to set up the
various pieces composing it. The several slide pieces are connected
by means of two small plates pierced with a hole at each end, this hole
corresponding with a hole made vertically in the slide pieces and into
which is passed a flat headed pin%; to preserve the level these plates
are let into the grooves of the slide pieces, and the holes should be
countersunk. When the sick person is placed in these belts buckled
on to the main supporting bars, it is only necessary to press upon
the two levers to raise him to the desired height and leave the bedstead
free. As all the apparatus can be taken to pieces it is easily packed
and carried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Dominique Hilaire Théodore Decamps in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
DOMINIQUE HILAIRE THEODORE, DECAMPS, of Brest, and of 37, Boulevard
Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Jean Dominique Hilaire
Théodore Decamps, Her special licence that I, the said Jean Dominique
Hilaire Théodore Decamps, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Jean Dominique Hilaire Théodore Decamps,
my executors, administrators, and 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 "AN IMPROVED
SUSPENSORY APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING THE SICK OR WOUNDED, AND
OTHERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean
Dominique Hilaire Théodore Decamps, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Jean Dominique Hilaire Théodore
Decamps, 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 :-
This Invention relates to a combination of uprights and connecting
rods carrying suspension bands with actuating levers in such a manner
as to form a suspensory apparatus which may be adapted to every kind of

page_text: bedstead for the purpose of lifting the occupant with ease and comfort
while the bed is being made, or to ease any portion of the body.
Figure 1 is an end view of the head piece of an apparatus embodying
my Invention seen from the inside (the foot piece being identical is not
shown), and Figures 1* to 20 inclusive show detached parts of my
apparatus.
The upright at the head piece A is composed of two vertical rods; these
two rods spreading out at the upper part to form two species of lateral
ears, which lengthening the upper horizontal rod or bar of the head picce,
give a better fulcrum to the stop pins intended to keep the movable parts
of the apparatus in position by preventing their sliding along the vertical
part of the rod. The upper part of the head piece is about 4 feet 8 inches
from the floor or ground, and the rods are about 2 feet 4 inches apart
(the width may be 2 feet 8 inches or 2 feet 10 inches, at pleasure). The
uprights A also spread out at their lower part to form a wider basc, and
thus present a width of about 3 feet. A horizontal bar B keeping the
uprights apart is about 1 foot 8 inches from the ground. The two lateral
rods or bars cross the ground upon which they rest by a shoulder on the
The head
cross piece or socle G, to which they are fixed by nuts c.
piece may be fixed on the socle G in another way, for example, by a
tenon pierced by a hole traversed horizontally by a nut bolt which passes
at the same time through socle and tenon. From the horizontal bar
which limits the width between the vertical rods of the head piece, there
may also branch two rods each trending outwards and terminating in a
flat end clasping the two sides of the socle, the head piece being thus
fixed on this socle by a nut bolt which passes through both the flat ends
and the socle. The head and foot pieces are joined at their base by two
longitudinal tie rods D, D, D, D, made of flat iron, the flat part of each
being placed vertically in its entire length, excepting at its point of
junction with the socle, where it is twisted on itself, so as to lie flat on
the said socle; it is pierced at each extremity by two holes E, E, E, E,
receiving the bolts F, F, there held head down and screw thread upward
by a plate screwed into the socle; thus each tie rod may be raised at
will and is secured by four nuts, two at each end. These bars are about
7 feet to 8 feet long, according to the length of the bed for which the
apparatus is intended. The socle G, of oak or other hard material, is
about 3 feet 8 inches to 3 feet 10 inches long, by about 4 inches thick,
its two extremities ending in what is called technically a diamond head

page_text: (a truncated cone), and carries at each end two rollers H, H, placed
laterally and supported by iron claws; this gives 8 rollers or wheels for
the whole apparatus. A groove is cut on the top of the socle at each
extremity to countersink the screw plate, which keeps in position the
bolts intended to receive the tie rods or bars. Four conducting rings or
guides I, I, I, I, are fixed on the vertical part of the rods of the head
piece, the lower at 28 inches from the ground and the upper at 32 inches.
Above these upper guides are 4 holes Y, Y, bored through to receive
temporarily the stop pins until they are required for usc.
Movable Portion of Apparatus.-This portion is composed, 1°, of two
bars of round iron, each formed by joining two half-round iron bars
riveted to each other at short intervals. These two bars, termed the
main suspension bars, thus approach an oval form, and are from 7 feet
to 8 feet in length, according to the length of the bed for which the
apparatus is intended. Each is pierced by two holes L, L, L, L, at each
end to receive stop pins, which thus keep it fixed to the outer or end tie
piece and to the sliding rod. 2°, of three cross or tie pieces K and P
in flat iron pierced with oval holes at the ends to receive the main
suspension bars, and with five smaller holes to receive three lighter
supplementary suspension bars M of round iron of about 4 feet 4 inches
long, and carrying a button at the end corresponding with the middle
tie piece, and a screw thread N of about 11 inches at the opposite ends
with nut. These supplementary bars are shifted at will according to
whether the wounded are disabled in the upper or lower limbs. The
middle tie piece or cross bar P is hooked and rides on the main lower
longitudinal bars to keep them at a proper distance apart; it is held in
position by a small flat iron piece Q, Q, forming hinge at each end and
kept closed by a pin. The two outer tie pieces or. cross pieces K have a
rod O about 10 inches long descending from their centres, and ter-
minating in a socket R intended to receive between its two cheeks, the
end of a lever forming joint. 3°, of 4 upright sliding rods S, S, S, S, of
rod iron, two for each post of the head piece, and about 4 feet 8 inches
long without the head. Each rod, flattened at its upper end, there
terminates in an oval hole to receive the main suspension bars, and at
its lower end by a screw thread of a little less diameter than the rod
itself, so that this latter may serve as a stop point.
I would here observed that at Fio 1 one of the sliding rode is mackad

page_text: at every 2 inches by eleven holes serving to receive the stop pins. 4°, of
two lower cross bars T of flat iron, serving to complete the parallelogram
of the moveable portion of the apparatus, and to compel the sliding rods
to rise vertically without deviation. These cross bars, about 28 inches
long without the extension, are pierced with two screw-threaded holes
to receive when required the lower ends of the sliding rods. The said
sliding rods are attached to the main suspension bars and kept in position
by the pins intended for the holes at the ends of these suspension bars.
These two cross bars rest on the socle.
Actuating Mechanism.-This portion of the apparatus designed to
lift the moveable part thereof is composed,-1°, of two levers V, V, V, V,
of. flat iron presenting three curves, two upward and one downward.
Each lever is composed of two parts, the small arm curved upward to
a length taken in straight line, of about 18 inches from its joint R to
that which constitutes its fulcrum X. Outside this latter joint it is
terminated by a rounded extension of about 4 inches in length, intended
to enter into a socket made in one of the ends of the large arm; these
two parts are firmly maintained in position by a pin. The large or main
arm forms two curves, that in the middle concave beneath, and the
smaller one of the outer extremity concave above. Its length (in
straight line) is about 4 feet. Its outer end, where power is exerted,
is terminated by a socket Z forming right angle with the main arm,
and intended to receive two sticks or handles suitable for obtaining
greater moving power in lowering the lever, and consequently raising
the invalid together with the movable part of the apparatus. At the
resisting end R, the lever terminates by a rounded flat surface placed
vertically and gearing into the socket of the descending rod above.
mentioned. These three pieces, pierced by a hole in their centre, are
traversed by a nut bolt to make the joint. 2°, of two fulcrum rods
of the lever U, each of a total length of about 4 feet 8 inches without
the terminating lug or socket piece which is at its upper. end. This
socket is intended to receive between its two cheeks a flattened round
piece formed immediately before the extension of the small arm, to
make the junction which constitutes the fulcrum. The bolt is screw-
threaded, and screws into one of the cheeks of the socket or coupling
box. The lower part of this fulcrum rod terminates in a flattened
surface which enters a large mortice in the socle. A nut bolt traverses
the socle horizontally, and this flat part thus forms a joint permitting the

page_text: fulcrum rod to move to and fro, following the action of the lever. By
increasing the length (calculating in a straight line) of the small arm,
and placing higher the lower conducting or guide ring, the sick person
could be raised higher. Also by increasing (in a direct line) the length
of the main lever bar less strength would be required to be expended;
but in lieu of this extra length, weights may be placed at the end where
the resistance power is to be exerted, and the force required will be
diminished accordingly.
Additions to or Appendages of the Apparatus.-These additions or
appendages are composed of three bands, Figures 1, 2, 3, either separate
or united to each other by means of five laces or ties, Fig. 19, placed
opposite each other; of 14 straps, see Fig. 11; of two supporting sticks,
Fig. 6, made of ash, and of two rod iron head pieces, Fig. 5, with
socket at each end; of 14 pins, Fig. 7, to hold these head pieces; and
lastly, of 14 small rods or wooden pins, Fig. 16, to support tlie straps.
These additions are for the purpose of supporting the wounded or sick
person fixed on to the suspension bars, so that he forms as it were part
of the moveable portion of the apparatus.
1°. Band for the Head and Back, Fig. 1.—The dimensions are about
32 inches (0.80%) wide by 26 inches (0-65%) high. It is formed of
two cloths, one coarse and strong, the other fine, as for sheets, being in
immediate contact with the body. The two cloths of this band have
four seams which divide it into five cross grooves or parts into which
one may easily slide one or more thin boards (Fig. 4) of poplar wood
of from about 1/4 to 1 of an inchin thickness. These grooves or pockets
stop at about 6 inches short of the edge of the band, and the space thus
left between the two cloths permits the supporting sticks or rods,
Fig. 6, to be placed and by the aid of eyelet holes, Fig. 13, placed
near the edges of the band and of a cord, Fig. 14, passing into these eyelet
holes to hold the supporting rods, Fig. 6, two lateral grooves are formed.
Finally on the lateral edges of the band thus fitted are two pieces of
strong and supple leather forming each two lugs (Fig. 10) about
4 inches in width, by about 6 inches in length, doubled and very
strongly fitted to the band which they envelope on both sides of the
coarse cloth, and project from the edge of the band by about from 10
to 12 inches, so as to allow one of the small sticks (Fig. 16) to be
passed through the said lugs. These rods or sticks are about 6 inches
long, thinning along the middle for about 4 inches, giving a diameter

page_text: of about
an inch, the ends being made olive-shaped to render their
insertion into the lugs easy. These lugs, each about 4 inches wide, 0·03º,
form two ears of about an inch, the third part of this lug having been
removed to allow the strap to pass, as will be hereafter described.
Lastly, the upper edge of this same band carries near its corners two
lugs to receive the head straps.
2°. Band for the Pan or Close Stool (Fig. 2).-This band is about
32 inches wide by 18 inches long, made in the same manner as the
'preceding band as regards the cloth of which it is composed. There are
only two grooves or pockets in this band for the reception of the thin
poplar bands, Fig. 4, and two lateral grooves to receive the supporting
rods, as herein-after described. On the middle part of the lateral edges
is a lug (Fig. 10), one on each side of the band to receive the stick,
Fig. 16. This band is made with a hole in its centre to receive a close
stool, and the two cross grooves or pockets are placed above and below
this opening.
3°. Band for the Lower Limbs, Fig. 3.-The dimensions of this band
are about 32 inches in breadth by about 22 inches in length; it is made
in a similar manner as those for the head and back, having five cross
grooves or pockets, two lateral ones and two lugs on each side, but the
boards which slide into these pockets being intended to support the
lower limbs in a perfectly horizontal position in cases of fracture should
be somewhat thicker and of fir wood. The lower edge of this band is
furnished with the leathern lugs or pieces before described, Fig. 10, to
receive the foot bands or straps. This band is also furnished longitudinally
with three cloth stays or loops (Fig. 15), placed equidistant, prepared
to receive the boxwood stick of 20 inches in length which is attached
to a band of strong double cloth, forming sheath or pocket at its lower
part (Fig. 20); this is upheld in a vertical position by two bands buckled
to the small sustaining supplemental bar (middle of the apparatus), and
is intended to establish at pleasure a separation of the lower limbs in
case of fractures.
(Note) 1°. The leathern lugs or loop holes, five in number on each side,
are placed on the three bands joined into a single and complete band by
the tags or laces which are opposite and about equidistant from each ;
other.

page_text: moleskin, or any other impermeable cloth, to avoid the necessity of
changing them too often in case of soiling.
3°. The separation of the bands permits only one or more to be used,
as judged best for the sick person.)
4°. Straps, Fig. 11.-These are in number 14; ten take their fulcrum
on the head sticks placed at the sides of the bands and four on those at
the head and feet. They are 7 feet in length by about an inch wide,
pierced with holes about 2 inches apart. They finish with a saddler's
buckle, and shew above the buckle an eye, Fig. 12, formed by doubling
the strap at this point, which allows the stick to pass into this eye and
prevents the strap running on its fulcrum.
5°. Supporting Rods (Fig. 6).-These are two in number, about an
inch in diameter, and about 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches long,
pierced with a hole at each end, and intended to pass into and through
the grooves at each side of the bands so as to make a moveable framing.
6°. Head Pieces.-Two in number; made of rod iron strong enough
to keep asunder the supporting rods; their ends have sockets, the axes
of which are about 32 inches from one another; these sockets are to
receive the supporting rods, and so constitute the moveable framing.
7°. Pins, Fig. 7.-Four in number; placed outside and forming stop
points for the two head pieces.
8°. Handles or Holders (Fig. 16).-14 in number, before described,
serving as fulcrum for the bands of the apparatus.
Working of the Apparatus-The suspending apparatus is completely
independent of the bed of the invalid; it may be applied to any descrip-
tion or form of bed. The principle of this apparatus is based upon the
elevation, by the aid of two levers, of three bands forming frame or
hammock at pleasure, fastened together by laces if required to form a
single picce, and obtaining their upper fulcrums by the assistance of
straps upon the two main suspension bars, and their lower bearings on
two rods which pass through lateral grooves made in each of the united
bands to form framing, and on the short laces ("cabillots") on the edges
of the bands if it is desired to form a hammock. As it is furnished with
small wheels the apparatus can be separated from the bed and rolled into
the middle of the apartment. In a hospital it may be easily moved to
any of the beds where its presence may be required. Or it may remain

page_text: in its place and the bed of the sick person be removed from the recess,
permitting the bed furniture to be aired and the sheets to be changed,.
while the invalid is held suspended on the bands.
The apparatus may be easily taken to pieces for packing and trans-
port; the pushing out of 8 pins and unscrewing of 8 nuts effects this
object. The 8 nuts which hold together the tie rods D, D, D, may be
replaced by a hinge placed in the direction of the axis of the socle or
base, the movable bar of this hinge passes between the two bolts of the
sockle and closes on to a ring fixed in a plate screwed on the ends of
the socle or base, a key retaining it in position. By this means the
time required for unscrewing 4 nuts is saved.
The moveable and actuating parts of the suspensory apparatus may be
placed at will within or without the framing or head picce (fixed part);
to effect this it suffices to change the position of the head and foot pieces
furnished with their moveable and actuating parts.
One attendant is sufficient to arrange the straps and place the sick
person in a very short time in position to be suspended, and it is only
at the moment of action that a second attendant is required to assist in
working the two levers simultaneously. But if need be the one man
may by alternately actuating the levers raise the sick person to a
sufficient height to enable any requisite operations to be effected.
Utility and Advantages obtained for the Sick.-The suspensory
apparatus is made to render the following services :-
In internal affections, such as paralysis, typhus, typhoid fevers, gout,
and rheumatism, which produce extreme exhaustion or prostration,
rendering motion most difficult to the patient, the apparatus will place
him in any required position, seated or recumbent, on the right side or
the left by means of the leverage, to place him on the close stool or to
allow his bed to be made.
In affections of the chest, as asthma, phthisis, or where the respiration
is difficult, auxious, the fits of coughing frequent and painful, the sick
person will find himself much relieved by being able, without fatigue,
to preserve a sitting posture.
In case of scrub or scab the invalid may, by the loosening or tighten-
ing of the straps, be placed on either of his sides at will, thus permitting
the surgeon easily to dress his sores.

page_text: The invalid, by seizing with both hands the two main suspension bars,
may move the whole of his body and place himself on the right or left
side at will.
The three supplementary suspension bars may be used as supports to
hold a shower bath, so that the liquid shall fall directly on the wounded
member of the sick person. These same bars also give the practitioner
the option of treating fractures of the lower limbs either by suspending
or inclining the parts.
A trapeze bar or head stick suspended at the middle bar allows the
invalid to draw himself up to a sitting posture; he may be maintained
in this sitting position at all degrees of inclination by the addition of a
thin board passed into one of the transverse pockets of the back band,
and by the arrangement given to the strap, which from the lateral part
of this back band takes a turn over the middle bar aforesaid, and is
buckled at the lateral part of said band. In case of need the invalid
may be raised to this seated position for the making of his bed or placing
him on the close stool.
The apparatus moving on rollers or wheels by momentarily unscrewing
the nuts of one of the tie rods which secure the head and foot pieces in
position at the base, and rolling the said apparatus outside the bed, the
invalid (previously suspended on his bands by means of the straps)
into an easy chair, or be placed in a bath. But it is principally in
surgical matters, such as compound fractures of the lower members,
and above all fracture of the thigh or thighs, that it renders essential
service, by the possibility it gives of moving the whole body, and con-
sequently making the bed of the invalid as often as may be considered
necessary without giving him a single jolt; the movement given by the
action of the levers being so easy that the invalid is unaware of the
movement, so actuated.
I will now describe an application of the suspending apparatus to beds
employed in civil, naval, and military hospitals. I construct or I
transform one of these iron bedsteads on the hospital model with this
modification, that I lengthen the two lateral tie rods or bars of the head
and foot pieces of these bedsteads, reuniting them above by a horizontal
cross piece; I effect no change in the distance apart of these lateral bars;
I place 4 guide rings turned outside, and then the 4 sliding rods, and to
this all the moveable part and working mechanism of my apparatus may

page_text: be applied. In this manner the regularity of the sick wards will be
preserved, the dressing of the line of beds remaining the same.
The object I have sought to attain is the removal of the sick from
their beds, and the ability to place them in all positions without calling
on them to make always painful, and sometimes impossible, movements;
and I will conclude by giving succinctly the composition of the different
parts which constitute my surgical and medical suspensory apparatus.
It is composed of head and foot pieces A standing on two socles or
bases G furnished with 8 friction rollers, casters, or small wheels H, and
united at their lower part by two tie rods D, and at their upper part by
two main suspension bars J kept apart by three cross pieces K and P
pierced with holes. The suspension bars or bearers and tie rods are the
only parts which may vary in length according to the length of the bed
to which the apparatus is to be applied. Two jointed levers V acting on
two supporting rods U, serving thus for fulcrum at X, and jointed on to
the socle at W are fitted to every head or foot piece, and raise the two
end tie pieces furnished with a descending rod O jointed at its point of
resistance R. These tie pieces lift 4 sliding rods S, S, which run in four
conducting rings I. The parallelogram formed by the sliding rods and
the fulcrum is composed by that which I call the lower cross piece T.
The outer end of the lever, where power is applied, Z is terminated by a
socket which receives a handle (Fig. 8). The middle tie piece P permits
with the assistance of one of the outer tie pieces K, the arrangement of
three small supplementary bearing or suspension bars M, N. The
mode of action of the apparatus is based upon the elevation by means
of two levers of the moveable part of the apparatus, consisting of the
suspension bars or bearers, the tie pieces, the sliding rods, and the lower
cross pieces which carry with them three bands (Figures 1, 2, 3,) sus-
pended from straps (Fig. 11), and united into one by tags or laces
(Fig. 19), so as to form at pleasure either a frame or a hammock on
which the sick person lies. Rings or leather pieces (Fig. 10), wooden
sticks (Fig. 16), to serve as bearing points or fulcrums to the straps
(Fig. 11), and thin boards (Fig. 4) to preserve the rigidity of the bands
complete the suspensory apparatus.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein given, as such may be varied while retaining all the essential

page_text: features of my Invention, and that I claim as secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, the use of,-
1°. The combination of the suspension bars J with the straps, Fig. 11,
and the three bands, Figures 1, 2, 3, whether these latter be separate
or united, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set
forth.
2°. The combination of the sliding rods S, S, S, S, with the bars J,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
3°. The combination of the levers V, V, V, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
4°. The combination of the thin boards, Fig. 4, with the pockets, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Dominique Hilaire Théodore
Decamps, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
T T TT ATT
DRAUDO
J. D. H. TH. DECAMPS.
(L.S.)