Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
Figures 4, 5, & 6 represent in three modifications various ways of connecting the
side and end rails of the bed bottom and supporting the same on the side rails of a
bed frame.
The bed frame is composed of the side rails A A' and the end rails B, B. The
bed bottom comprises preferably a plurality of separate and independent sections.
In Figs. 1, and 2. three sections are shewn C. D. & E. The bed bottom or each
of its sections in case there are a plurality, comprises side rail a, a¹, and end
rails, b, b, united together to form a rigid frame and a suitable bed bottom fabric.
The end rails of sections C and D are laid on over their side rails, so as to project
beyond the side rails A. A' of the bed frame, and support the sections, and the
end rails are preferably depressed, as shewn, so as to clear the bed bottom fabric
when depressed. There are various ways of connecting the side and end rails of
the bed bottom as shewn in the drawings. In Figs. 1. 2. 3. the side rails are made
of angle iron, and come inside, and flush with the side rails A. A' one half inch
free inside on sides for expansion of the bed frame, the ends of the end rails being
threaded and passing through apertures in the side rails and held in place by
nuts c on the inner side of the side rails. If desired nuts may also be screwed on
the end rails against the outside of the side rails. By this arrangement the side
rails may be adjusted transversely to give the desired tension to the bed bottom
fabric. In Fig. 4 the side rail is a flat bar of iron and the side and end rails of
the bed bottom are adjustably connected in the same way as shewn in Fig. 3 except
that there is employed an outer nut Con all in and out except Fig. 5 which
serves to prevent the side rails from tilting under the tension of the bed bottom
fabric. In Fig. 5 the side rail is an angle iron which fits over the corresponding
side rail of the bed frame. The end rails in this case have their ends riveted upon
the side rails of the bed bottom. In Fig. 6 which illustrates the preferred manner
of connecting the side and end rails of the bed bottom the side rails are angle
irons, and the threaded end of the end rails pass through apertures in the side rails

page_text: and are held adjustably in place by nuts cc¹, spacing pieces d being sleeved on the
end rails between the nuts c and the side rails. The bed bottom fabric is flexible
and may be composed of any suitable material such as canvas, woven wire,
netting etc., although a fabric composed of connected links as shewn in Fig. 1 is
preferred. The fabric is provided with opposite transversely yielding springs
attached to the side rails. There are no springs connected to the end rails. This
causes the fabric to stretch transversely only when pressure is 'put upon it, and
when the body of a person reclines upon the fabric, the various pairs of opposite
springs may yield to a different extent so that the fabric fits the different curves or
inequalities of the recumbent body, and thereby directly supports it at all
contacting points, and greatly increases the comfort of the bed. When the bed
bottom fabric is composed of connected links it is best to employ oppositely coiled
springs eel.
Heretofore, bed bottom fabrics have usually been connected to the end rails by
springs so that the fabric yields lengthwise or from head to foot; with this
arrangement it will be seen that only the most prominent parts of the body
reclining on the fabric come in contact with and are directly supported by the
fabric. A fabric supported in this way is lacking in comfort and will in time
occasion bed sores. It has also been proposed to employ springs for the fabric at
the end and also at the sides, but in these cases the same objections are present as
when only end springs are used, but perhaps to a less extent, the end springs
operating to nullify to a great extent the friction of the side springs. It is only
when transversely yielding springs alone are employed as in this invention that the
fabric will accommodate itself to the various curves and inequalities of the reclining
body so as to positively support it at all contacting points.
In its best form the bed bottom is made in two or more separate and independent
sections making it easier to handle, and one of these sections generally the foot
section is so arranged and constructed that it may be easily shifted on the
supporting bed frame so that the occupant can sit up in bed and rest his feet upon
the floor. The construction whereby this is accomplished is embodied in the foot
section E shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. This section E has one of its end rails as b
projecting over the rails A A' as in the other sections, but the end rail does not
so project. The section is pivotally supported at points between its ends on the
bed frame in any suitable manner as by trunnions or pivots ff, secured to the
rails a al and resting on the rails A. A'. These trunions may have friction rollers
if desired. The inner end of the section is supported by suitable means in such a
way that when desired, the support for the inner end of the section may be
withdrawn, and the section tilted on the trunnions f' into an upright position and
slid or rolled back on the rails A. A' toward the foot of the bed, leaving the space
formerly occupied by the section open for the feet of the occupant of the bed, who
thus may be able to sit up with comfort and occupy a commode underneath the
bed or a bed-pan and without inconvenience and discomfort. The means shown
in the drawings for supporting the inner end of the section E comprise a bar F,
having its end bent to form cams or cranks g g' and through rails A'A'. One end
of the bar is provided with a handle & pivoted thereto, and adapted to engage in
its normal position a pin on the bed frame. When the handle is cut under the
pin, the cams or cranks g g' come under the side rails of the section and firmly
support it in a horizontal position. When the handle is disengaged from the pin
the bar F drops down so that the cams or cranks gg' are withdrawn and the
section is free to turn to an upright position on its trunnions ff. By this
arrangement the occupant of the bed himself may release the section E. The
means for supporting the inner end of the section E could of course be changed in
various ways, and we do not wish to be restricted to the particular means shewn.
Moreover the cams or cranks g g' could be located at the foot end of the section E
and. the rails bb reversed so that the foot end would tilt downward instead of
upward as shown.
While we have shewn and described what we now consider to be the best

page_text: embodiment of the several features of the invention, of course various changes could
be made by any one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
(1.) A bed bottom comprising side rails and end rails depressed along the middle
portions and having their ends laid on the side rails to form a rigid frame; the end
rails arranged to project beyond the side rails to form supports for the bed bottom on
a bed frame, and a suitable bed bottom fabric secured to, laid on, and supported by
the side rails and free from supporting connection with the end rails substantially
as set forth.
(2.) A bed bottom consisting of a plurality of independent sections each comprising
two side rails and end rails compressed along their middle portions and having their
ends secured to the side rails to form a rigid frame, the end rails arranged to project
beyond the side rails to form supports for the bed bottom or a bed frame, and a
suitable bed bottom fabric secured to the side rails substantially as set forth.
(3.) A bed bottom comprising side rails and end rails united to form a rigid
frame and a bed bottom fabric having transversely yielding springs, said fabric
connected with and supported by the side rails of the bed bottom and free from
supporting connection with the end rails whereby the hed bottom fabric when
under pressure expands transversely only, and without restrait at its ends and
thereby readily adapts itself to the longitudinal curves or inequalities of the
recumbent body substantially as set forth.
(4.) A bed bottom comprising side rails and end rails to form a rigid frame
and a bed bottom fabric formed of connected links having transversely yielding
springs, connected with and supported by the side rails of the bed bottom and free
from supporting connections with the end rails whereby the bed bottom fabric
when under pressure expands transversely only and without restraint at its ends
and thereby readily adapts itself to the longitudinal curves and inequalities of the
recumbent body substantially as set forth.
(5.) In a bed, the combination of a bed bottom comprising a plurality of separate
and independent sections, one of said sections pivotally supported at points between
its ends by the side rails of the bed so that said section may be tilted from a
horizontal to an upright position whereby an opening is made in the bed bottom
through which the occupant may pass his feet, substantially as set forth.
(6.) A bed bottom comprising a plurality of separate and independent sections
each consisting of side and end rails and a suitable bed bottom fabric, one of the
said sections being provided with pivotal supports at points between its ends
adapted to rest and travel upon the side rails of a bed whereby said section may be
turned from a horizontal to an upright position, and moved along the side rails of a
bed so as to make an opening in the bed bottoni through which the occupant may
pass his feet, substantially as set forth.
(7.) In a bed, the combination of a bed bottom comprising a plurality of separate
and independent sections one of said sections pivotally supported at points between
its ends by the side rails of the bed so that the said section may be tilted from a
horizontal to an upright position thereby making an opening in the bed bottom
through which the occupat.t may pass his feet, and means for securely holding said
section in a horizontal position said means comprising a cam or crank adapted to
be thrown into and out of engagement with the end of the said section substantially
as set forth.
(8.) In a bed the combination of a bed bottom consisting of a plurality of separate
and independent sections one of the said sectious comprising side and end rails and
a suitable bed bottom fabric, one of the said end rails projecting beyond the side
rails of the bed frame to support one end of the section, said section being pivotally
supported by the side rails of the bed so as to travel thereon, and a bar supported
on the side rails of the bed and having cams or cranks adapted to support the other
end of the said section substantially as set forth.
(9.) In a bed bottom comprising side rails and rails connected together to form
a rigid frame the end rails have threaded ends passing through and projecting

page_text: beyond the side rails to form supports for the bed bottom and nuts for adjustably
securing the end rails in place. substantially as set forth.
(10.) A. bed bottom comprising end and side rails united to form a rigil frame
end rails being depressed along their middle portions & having threaded ends
passing through and projecting beyond to form supports therefor, nuts for
adjustably securing the end rails in place, and a bed bottom fabric made of
connected links and having transverse coiled springs at its sides only connected
with the side rails of the bed-substantially as set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of August 1896.
PHILIP JAMES JOB.
PERCY BENSON HARRISON SEABROOK.
PHILIP JAMES JOB, Merchant, 16 Holborn Viaduct, London, and PERCY
BENSON HARRISON SEABROOK, Merchant, 16 Holborn Viaduct, London, 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 beds and more especially to bed-bottoms, and it has for
its object the improvement of the constructions in various ways as will hereinafter
appear.
The invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
set forth :-
In the drawings left with the Provisional Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a bed-bottom supported upon a bed-frame and
embodying our invention. Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 3 is a central transverse section.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent in three modifications various ways of connecting
the side and end rails of the bed bottom and supporting the same on the side rails
of a bed frame.
The bed frame is composed of the side rails A A' and the end rails B B.
The bed-bottom comprises, preferably, a plurality of separate and independent
sections. In Figs. 1 and 2, three sections are shewn-C, D, and E. The bed
bottom or each of its sections, in case there are a plurality, comprises side rails a a
and end rails & b', united together to form a rigid frame and a suitable bed-bottom
fabric. The end rails of sections C and D are secured to their side rails so as to
project beyond the side rails A A' of the bed-frame and support the sections, and
the end rails are preferably depressed, as shown, so as to clear the bed-bottom
fabric when depressed. There are various ways of connecting the side and end
rails of the bed-bottom, as shown in the drawings.
In Figs. 1. 2. and 3 the side rails are made of angle-iron and come inside of and
close to the side rails A A¹ of the bed-frame, the ends of the end rails being threaded
and passing through apertures in the side rails and held in place by nuts c on the
inner side of the side rails. If desired, nuts may also be screwed on the end rails
against the outside of the side rails. By this arrangement the side rails may be
adjusted transversely to give the desired tension to the bed-bottom fabric.
In Fig. 4 the side rail is a flat bar of iron, and the side and end rails of the
bed-bottom are adjustably connected in the same way as shewn in Fig. 3 except
that there is employed an outer nut c, which serves to prevent the side rails from
tilting under the tension of the bed-bottom fabric.

page_text: lo Fig. 5 the side rail is an angle-iron which fits over the corresponding side rail
of the bed frame. The end rails in this case have their ends riveted upon the side
rails of the bed-bottom.
In Fig. 6 which illustrates the preferred manner of connecting the side and end
rails of the bed-bottom, the side rails are angle-iruns and the threaded ends of the
end rails pass through apertures in the side rails and are held adjustably in place
by nuts e c', spacing-pieces d being sleeved on the end rails between the nuts and
the side rails.
The bed-bottom fabric is flexible, and may be composed of any suitable material,
such as canvas, woven wire, netting, etc., although a fabric composed of connected
links, as shown in Fig. 1, is preferred. The fabric is provided with opposite
transversely-yielding springs attached to the side rails. There are no springs
connected to the end rails. This causes the fabric to stretch transversely only
when pressure is put upon it, and when the body of a person reclines upon the
fabric the various pairs of opposite springs may yield to a different extent, so that
the fabric fits the different curves or inequalities of the recumbent body and
thereby directly supports it at all contacting points and greatly increases the
comfort of the bed. When the bed bottom fabric is composed of connected links,
it is best to employ opposite coiled springs e e'.
Heretofore bed bottom fabrics have usually been connected to the end rails by
springs so that the fabric yields lengthwise or from head to foot. With this
arrangement it will be seen that only the most prominent parts of the body
reclining on the fabric come in contact with and are directly supported by the
fabric. A fabric supported in this way is lacking in comfort and will in time
occasion bed sores. It has also been proposed to employ springs for the fabric at
the end and also at the sides, but in these cases the same objections are present as
when only end springs are used, but perhaps to a less extent, the end springs
operating to nullify to a great extent the function of the side springs. It is only
when transversely-yielding springs alone are employed, as in this invention, that
the fabric will accommodate itself to the various curves and inequalities of the
reclining body, so as to positively support it at all contacting points."
In its best form the bed-bottom is made in two or more separate and independeut
sections, making it easier to handle, and one of these sections, generally the foot
section, is so arranged and constructed that it may be easily shifted on the
supporting bed-frame, so that the occupant can sit up in bed and rest his feet upon
the floor. The construction whereby this is accomplished is embodied in the foot
section E (shown in Figs. 1 and 2). This section E has one of its end rails as b,
projecting over the rails A A¹, as in the other sections, but the end rail does not
so project. The section is pivotally supported at points between its ends on the
bed-frame in any suitable manner, as by trunnions or pivots ff, secured to the
rails a a¹ and resting on the rails A A'. These trunnions may have friction
rollers, if desired. The inner end of the section is supported by suitable means
in such a way that when desired the support for the inner end of the section may
be withdrawn and the section tilted on the trunnions ff into an upright position
and slid or rolled back on the rails A A' toward the foot of the bed, leaving the
space formerly occupied by the section open for the feet of the occupant of the
bed, who thus may be able to sit up with comfort and occupy a commode under-
neath the bed or a bed-pan and without inconvenience and discomfort.
The means shown in the drawings for supporting the inner end of the section E
comprise a bar F, having its ends bent to form levers or cranks g gl and passing
through the rails A A. One end of the bar is provided with a handle h, pivoted
thereto and adapted to engage in its normal position a pin on the bed-frame.
When the handle is caught under the pin, the cams or cranks g gl come under the
side rails of the section and firmly support it in a horizontal position. When the
handle is disengaged from the pin k, the bar F drops down, so that the cams or
cranks g g' are withdrawn and the section is free to turn to an upright position on
its trunnion ff. By, this arrangement the occupaut of the bed himself may

page_text: release the section E. The means for supporting the inner end of the section E
could of course be changed in various ways, and we do not wish to be restricted to
the particular means shown. Moreover, the cams or cranks g g¹ could be located
at the foot end of the section E and the rails & breversed, so that the foot end
would tilt downward instead of upward, as shown.
While we have shown and described what we now consider to be the best embodi-
ment of the several features of the invention, of course various changes could be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having
now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A bed-bottom comprising side-rails, end rails depressed along their middle
portions and having their ends secured to the side rails to form a rigid frame,
the end rails arranged to project beyond the side rails to form supports for the
bed-bottom on a bed-frame, and a suitable bed-bottom fabric secured to and
supported by the side rails, and free from supporting connection with the end rails
substantially as set forth.
2. A bed-bottom consisting of a plurality of independent sections each comprising
two side rails, end rails depressed along their middle portions and having their
ends secured to the side rails to form a rigid frame, the end rails arranged to
project beyond the side rails to form supports for the bed-bottom on a bed-
frame, and a suitable bed-bottom fabric secured to the side rails, substantially
as set forth.
3. A bed-bottom comprising side rails and end rails united to form a rigid frame,
and a bed-bottom fabric having transversely-yielding springs said fabric connected
with and supported by the side rails of the bed-bottom and free from supporting
connection with the end rails whereby the bed-bottom fabric when under pressure
expands transversely only and without restraint at its ends and thereby readily
adapts itself to the longitudinal curves or inequalities of the recumbent body,
substantially as set forth.
4. A bed-bottom comprising side rails and end rails united to form a rigid frame,
and a bed-bottom fabric formed of connected links having transversely-yielding
springs connected with and supported by the side rails of the bed-bottom and
free from supporting connection with the end rails whereby the bed-bottom fabric
when under pressure, expands transversely only and without restraint at its ends
and thereby readily adapts itself to the longitudinal curves or inequalities of the
recumbent body, substantially as set forth.
5. In a bed, the combination of a bed-bottom comprising a plurality of separate
and independent sections, one of said sections pivotally supported at points between
its ends by the side rails of the bed so that said section may be tilted from a
horizontal to an upright position, whereby an opening is made in the bed-bottom
through which the occupant may pass his feet, substantially as set forth.
6. A bed-bottom comprising a plurality of separate and independent sections
each consisting of side and end rails and a suitable bed-bottom fabric, one of said
sections being provided at points between its ends with pivotal supports adapted
to rest and travel upon the side rails of a bed whereby said section may be turned
from a horizontal to an upright position and moved along the side rails of a bed,
so as to make an opening in the bed-bottom through which the occupant may pass
his feet substantially as set forth.
7. In a bed, the combination of a bed-bottom comprising a plurality of separate
and independent sections, one of said sections pivotally supported at points between
its ends by the side rails of the bed so that said sections may be tilted from a
horizontal to an upright position thereby making an opening in the bed-bottom
through which the occupant may pass his feet, and means for securely holding
said section in a horizontal position, said means comprising a lever or crank

page_text: adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the end of the said section,
substantially as set forth.
8. In a bed the combination of a bed bottom consisting of a plurality of separate
and independent sections, one of said sections comprising side and end rails and
a suitable bed-bottom fabric, one of said end rails projecting beyond the side
rails of the bed-frame to support one end of the section, said section being pivotally
supported by the side rails of the bed so as to travel thereon, and a bar supported
on the side rails of the bed and having cams or cranks adapted to support the other
end of said section, substantially as set forth.
9. A bed-bottom comprising side rails and end rails connected together to form
a rigid frame, the end rails having threaded ends passing through and projecting
beyond the side rails to form supports for the bed-bottom, and nuts for adjustably
securing the end rails in place, substantially as set forth.
10. A bed-bottom comprising end and side rails united to form a rigid frame,
the end rails being depressed along their middle portions and having threaded
ends passing through and projecting beyond the side rails to form supports
therefor, nuts for adjustably securing the end rails in place and a bed-bottom
fabric made of connected links and having transverse coiled springs at its sides
only connected to the side rails of the bed, substantially as set forth..
Dated this 4th day of May 1897.
PHILIP JAMES JOB.
PERCY BENSON HARRISON SEABROOK.