Improvements in Invalid and Surgical Beds.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1896--Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
Improvements in Invalid and Surgical Beds.
A communication by JACKSON BEERS YOUNG, Inventor, of Pasadena, and DAVID
JOSEPH KENNELLY, Manufacturer, of Santa Monica, both in the County of
Los Angeles, in the State of California, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the naturo 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 :-
The object of this invention is to facilitate all necessary or desired changes in
the position of sick or invalid persons, and to conveniently care for their wants
without removing them from the bed.
Also to provide a bed that will serve all the purposes of a common bed for
domestic use, and also all the purposes of an invalid and surgical bed.
A very important characteristic of the bed is that it is a combination of a
commou domestic bed and an invalid bed. To ordinary appearance and in ordinary
use it is a common bed, but it can be arranged for use as an invalid bed at a
moment's notice. And it is practically no heavier than an ordinary bed and has
no unsightly, expensive or complicated machinery. One object is to provide an
invalid bed which is so cheap and is so fully adapted for common use that it will be
brought within the reach of all; will be constantly useful and ready for sudden
emergencies.
Another object is to provide simpler, cheaper and more convenient means for
doing away with the use of bed pans, and permitting the use of a common chamber
mug without any hole or opening in the mattress of bedding.
With this invention all these objects are accomplished and various complications
of former inventions of this class are done away with by pivoting the mattress-
frame at the middle of its length to the sides of the bedstead, and providing a
separate and independent seat-board, ordinarily detached, but, when in use,
arranged to rest upon or against the mattress; and scat-board supporting means
arranged to hold the seat-board in an approximately horizontal position when the
mattress-frame is tilted to an upright position.
This invention provides simple, inexpensive and convenient means whereby a
helpless patient can be brought into a comfortable sitting posture without
inconvenience to the patient, and with but little effort on the part of the
attendant. When the seat-board is in place and the mattress is tilted sufficiently
for the purpose, the occupant will be supported in sitting posture and his legs will
be allowed to hang down in a natural and comfortable manner.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bed embodying the invention in its preferred
form, with all convenient appliances, and showing the seat-board in the position in
which it will be placed while the patient is recumbent, and preparatory to bringing
him to a sitting posture. Portions of the supporting frame of the bedstead and
portions of the mattress are broken away to expose the interior construction.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bed with an occupant. The mattress is thrown
into position for holding the patient in a sitting posture. Portions of the bed are
broken away to show interior construction of the bed.
Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail showing the locking bolts that support the foot of
the mattress; and the operating mechanism for extending and contracting them to
either support the mattress in a horizontal position, or withdraw such support
to allow the mattress to be tilted.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a detached detail of the device for forming pivotal connections between
the mattress frame and the bedstead.
n
Fig. 6 is a detail of the under side of the seat-board showing the appliance for
holding the mug in position.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the same on line 7-7.
Fig. 8 is a view of the leg rest.
Fig. 9 is a detail of the lower portion of the foot-board and tension cord
support.
Fig. 10 is a fragmental view of a bed in accordance with this invention provided
with a mattress having spiral springs, a few of which are shown in place with the
mattress frame bent in position to bold the occupant upright. Most of the springs
are omitted from the view.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the under-side of the mattress frame shown in
Fig. 1. It also illustrates a desirable form of the lock for locking such frame
in the bedstead frame. Said lock is also shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is n fraginental detail illustrating the joint of a woven wire mattress for
-use with the invention.
Fig. 13 is a fragmental end elevation of one section of the mattress shown in
Fig. 12.
A indicates & supporting frame or bedstead composed of head-board 1, foot-
board 2, and side-rails 3, 4. The side-rails are provided on their lower inher adges
with the usual ledges a and also with the shoulders a¹ to receive the transverse slats
or mattress supports. a is an anti-friction roller ou the top of the foot-board to
Eupport the arms g" hereinafter mentioned.
B indicates the mattress or bed bottom, the frame of which is pivoted at its
sides, to the supporting frame in the middle of its length, and is formed of the
long head section 6, and the short foot section hinged togethor by hinges b" to
fold upward but not downward. The mattress frame or bed bottom is thus
practically rigid when in a horizontal position and resting on its pivotal bearings,
but it is adapted to bend upward when the mattress is tilted on its hinges and the
foot section comes in contact with the floor.
Casters are preferably provided on the under side of the lower end of the
mattress frame to hold it off the floor and allow it to move freely on the floor when
the mattress is tilted and returned.
CC indicate two reciprocating bolts attached to the under side of the shorter
section of the mattress frame, for holding the mattress in a horizontal position.
These bolts are arranged to have a limited reciprocal movement laterally, so that
they can be made to project through holes in the opposite sides of the mattress
frame, and rest upon the shoulders a' which are located on the inner sides of
the side rails of the bedstead. Suitable means for operating these bolts are
provided.
D indicates wheel, (but it may be square or it may be a cross as at D' or aus
other convenient shape) pivoted at its ceuter, to the mattress frame by a pivot d
arranged between the reciprocating bolts CC. The wheel (or cross D³) is
pivoted to the reciprocating bolts respectively by pivots d'arranged on opposite
sides of the center pivot d; two opornting cords dare also fastened to said
wheel on opposite sides of its central pivot and midway between the bolt
pivots d'd, and the free ends of these cords lead to the head of the mattress,
or to any other convenient place where they can be easily reached to operate the

page_text: bolts. In practice, to throw the bolts outward, the cord d is pulled to rotate the
wheel in one direction, and to retract said bolts, the cord d is pulled to rotate
the wheel in the other direction. By reason of this construction, the mattress
frame being pivoted at its center within the supporting frame, the entire mattress
frame may, by withdrawing the reciprocating bolts C C', be hung in a suspended
or balanced condition upon its pivots within the supporting frame in such a manner
that only the slightest movement is necessary to change the angle of inclination of
the entire mattress and consequently of the patient.
It is to be noted that, for all practical purposes, the mattress is rigid until its
foot section has touched the floor and that when the bolts are drawn, the mattress
can be tilted to cause it to slope from head to foot at any inclination the occupant
may wish, and is thus capable of adjustment to many various restful position.
It is to be noted that this invention is adapted to be used on any ordinary
bedstead, and that, since it is removably pivoted in the middle of its length, it may
be turned end for end to bring the short section at the head of the bed aud that the
short section may then be raised and used as a head lift or head rest.
In the drawings a box spring-mattress is shown in section. Coiled springs or
woven wire may be used as preferred.
E E' indicate mattress supporting braces pivoted at one end to the opposite
sides of the longer section of the inattress frame, and having their other ends
respectively, permanently attached to a cross bar e that rests on the ledges a at the
head of the bed, and supports the head end of the mattress frame when the frame
is in a horizontal position. This cross bar connecting said braces is arranged to be
drawn along the ledges a by said braces, when the inattress is being raised to an
upright position, and to catch behind the blocks 5 provided on said ledges, thus
holding the foot of said braces, so as to lock and hold the mattress in an upright
position.
The means which may be employed for sustaining the seat-board in a horizontal
position when the mattress is tilted, may consist simply of the side rails of the
bedstead. The seat-board, in that case, would be made of sufficient length to
project beyond the mattress and rest upon the side rails; but for greater convenience
and comfort to the patient, it is better to provide the seat with the other means of
support hereinafter described.
Gis an independent seat-board having its upper edge curved outward at its
middle to fit the depression made in the mattress by the patient, so that no space
will intervene between the bed and the seat-board, which might give discomfort
to the patient when the mattress is tilted. This seat-board is placed on the
mattress when in a horizontal position, with its curved upper edge at the pivotal
line of the mattress, and suitable seat-board supporting means are arranged to hold
the seat-board in approximately the same horizontal position when the mattress is
tilted.
The means illustrated for supporting the seat consists of two suspending cords gg₁
fastened to the opposite sides of the main section of the mattress frame, and
connecting them to corresponding ends of the seat-board at its upper edge. These
cords serve to hold the upper edge of the seat at the pivotal line of the mattress.
The lower edge of the seat-board is provided with one or more rigid but detachable
arms or bars g extending to and resting upon the roller of the footboard of the
bedstead; these arms, in conjunction with the suspending cords g g Borve to
support the seat in an approximately horizontal position, when the head section of
the minttress is raised to an upright position. The seat-board is provided with the
hole g, and on its under side, with the mug-securing clasps or latches GG".
These clasps are curved and channeled ou their edges, (seo Figs. 6 and 7) to
receive the rim of the chamber mug X, and are pivoted at their centers, to the
underside of the seat-board, and so arranged that when the mug is slid into its.
place beneath the hole g between said clasps G' G" they will clasp and hold it
in that position. G indicates a stop fixed to the under side of the seat-board, in
rear of the hole g, and its front side is curved and channelled to correspond with

page_text: the clasps G G" to receive the rim of the mug when pressed into the clasps beneath
the hole.
Gindicates a button adapted for locking one of the clasps in the closed position
for holding the mug.
In the use of this feature of the invention, the clasps are thrown open at the
front side, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. The mug X is then inserted
between them, with its flanged rim in the channels of the clasps, and it is then
pushed back until it engages the channelled edge of the stop G, and becomes
centered beneath the hole. As the mug is pressed in, it first engages the rear ends
of the clasps G G and turns them on their pivots, bringing the curved edges of
said clasps close about the mug, so as to clasp it firmly. The button Gis
then thrown into place by the attendant to lock the clasps in their closed position.
The mattress frame being pivoted in the bedstead at the center of its length;
and the seat-board, when in position for use being on the mattress with its upper
edge at the pivotal line, the operation of tilting the head section of the mattress
to an upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, causes that portion of the mattress
immediately below the seat-board to swing back out of the way of placing a
chamber mug under the opening in the seat-board.
H indicates a tension cord support having an adjustable pulley I at its upper end
and provided at its lower end with a short cross-bar & having hooks which hook
in the screw eyes J which are placed in the under edge of the foot-board for that
purpose.
K indicates a brace pivoted to the foot-board by hook & and screw eye and pro-
vided with holes for a pin L by which the cord support can be adjusted in different
positions. The cord support is also provided with holes in which the pin i on
which the pulley is journalled, can be inserted and the location of the pulley changed
to various angles of support.
The main section of the mattress frame is so pivoted to the supporting frame or
bedstend, as to allow the mattress frame to be lifted bodily from the supporting
frame. M indicates pivots fastened to the mattress frame.
O indicates pivot sent plates which are attached to the inner sides of the respective
side rails of the bedstead. Each pivot is enlarged in diameter at its outer end as
shown at mn in Fig. 5, and each pivot seat has a corresponding socket O' to receive
it. Each pivot seat has an opeving at the top which slants from the top of the plate
downwards and toward the foot of the bed, so as to allow the pivots M to be let into
them from above and from toward the head of the bed, and such slanting opening
prevents the pivots from being lifted out of their bearings in raising the head
section to an upright position.
The seat-board is provided on its lower edge with screw eyes P; and Q is a leg
rest which is provided with a hook q to hook into either of said eyes Paud is
arranged to extend from the seat-board to the foot board and rest upon the anti-
friction roller of the foot board.
In practical use, the mattress will ordinarily be in a horizontal position, and for
all practical purposes be the same as an ordinary bed, but when the patient desires
to sit up, the seat-board, (and leg rest, if the patient has a broken leg) is placed in
the position indicated in Fig. 1.
The reciprocating bolts that support the foot of the mattress frame may then be
withdrawn, and the mattress tilted; the braces E E will draw the cross bar e
along the ledges a and over the block 5, so as to catch and hold the mattress in
an upright position as shown in Fig. 2. Thon to again return the patient to a
recumbent position, the braces E will be lifted over the blocks 5 by the attendant,
and as the mattress is returned, the cross-bar at the lower end of the bar e
will be slid back and take its place as a bed slat to support the head end of the
mattress frame.
In the case of a broken limb, the leg support Q will be booked to the seat-board
in the proper place to sustain the leg.

page_text: Three screw-eyes are provided on the under side of the foot board, so that the
pulley support can be adjusted for either leg.
It is to be understood that the cords or other suspending devices for holding. the
seat-board in a horizontal position should be readily detachable either from
the mattress or from the seat-board. In the form shown the cords are tied to
screw eyes & which are fastened to the mattress frame and the cords are provided
with snap hooks which snap in the screw eye u attached to the end of the
Beat-board.
It is not new to pivot a sectional mattress frame within a bedstead, such a con-
struction being shown in United States Letters Patent No. 56,211, granted
July 10, 1866, to William A. Guyer, and No. 202,936, granted April 30, 1878, to
Doll, Rieder and Diehlam. And it is not new to apply a removable seat to a
pivoted section of mattress frame, such a construction being shown in United States
Letters Patent No. 248,132, granted Oct. 11, 1891, to J. P. Brown.
It is to be understood that in so far as the invention relates to adjusting the
inclination of the occupant of the bed, for restful changes of position, it is
immaterial whether the mattress be or be not made in two sections hinged together
as shown, or otherwise, but it is important that the mattress be pivoted at the
middle so as to practically balance on the pivots when occupied so that the
occupant or attendant can easily adjust the mattress to any desired inclination.
The entire mattress or bed-bottom is supported on a pivotal axis at or near the
mid-length of both the bed-bottom and the bedstead; and in the case of convalescents,
the occupant can change the inclination by taking hold of the side rails aud
pushing down or pulling up to shift his weight, or he can shift himself toward or
from the foot of the mattress and can so place himself on the bed that a very slight
change of position will enable him to change the inclination as desired. The
removable supports for the foot of the bed bottom or mattress can be withdrawn
to allow this freedom of movement aud when the occupant wishes the bed to bo
fixed in its horizontal position, tho mattress is 60 adjusted and the bolts are shot
into place to hold the mattress horizontal.
In order to use a woven wire mattress, the pivots of the hinges 6 that connect
the two sections of the mattress frame are arranged above the rails in the plane of
the woven wire 7 and a rod 8 is drawn across through a coil of the woven wire
co-axial with the hinge pivots. Curds 9 are fastened to the rod and to one section
of the frame, and cords 10 are fastened to the rod and to the other section of the
frame. Then when the mattress is bent ns indicated in Fig. 12, the cords will hold
the woven wire taut and in place.
In Fige. 10 and 11 the device for holding the mattress in horizontal position is
actuated by cords d d which are respectively fastened to the ends of the longer
bars of the cross D³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a bed, the combination of the mattress frame pivoted at its middle to a
support, and formed of a long main section and a short foot section hinged
together to fold upward but not dowuward; a separate and independent seat-
board arranged to rest on the mattress and extending from the middle thereof
toward the foot section; and seat-board supporting means arranged to hold the
seat-board in an approximately horizontal position when the mattress frame is
tilted.
2. In a bedstead, the combination of the support; the mattress frame pivoted at
its middle to the support and formed of a long main section and a short foot section
hinged together to fold upward but not downward; a separate and independent seat-
board arranged to rest on the inattress; the suspending cords fastened to the main
section of the mattress frame and to opposite ends of the seat-board; and the rigid

page_text: seat-board supports fastened to to the seat-hoard and arranged to rest upon the foot
board of the supporting frame, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the mattress frame formed of a long main section pivoted
to a support and a short foot section hinged to the main section to fold upward but
not downward; means for supporting the upper end of the main section; two
laterally reciprocating bolts connected with the foot section; supporting shoulders
arranged to catch the reciprocating bolts when shot outward, and means for
operating such bolts.
4. In a bedstead, the combination of the supporting frame provided with an
anti-friction roller on its foot board; the mattress frame pivoted to the supporting
frame; the independent seat-board arranged to rest upon the mattress and provided
with the support arms arranged to rest upon the roller; and the cords fastened:
to the opposite ends of the seat-board and to the upper end of the mattress frame,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a bed, the combination of the supporting frame; a mattress frame pivoted
to such supporting frame; an independent seat-board arranged to rest upon the
mattress when in its horizontal position; means for supporting the seat-board in an
approximately horizontal position when the mattress is tilted; the mattress
supporting braces pivoted to the mattress and arranged to engage the supporting
frame to hold the mattress in its tilted position; and the cross bar connecting the
lower ends of the braces together and arranged to extend across under the mattress
frame to form a rest for the upper end of the mattress frame when in its horizontal
position, substantially as set forth.
6. A surgical bed having in combination substantially as set forth, a pivoted
mattress frame and an independent sent-board arranged to rest upon the mattress
when in its horizontal position; suspending cords attached to the seat-board and to
the upper end of the mattress frame; support bars fastened to the seat-board and
arranged to rest upon the bedstead preferably the foot board of the bedstead; and
a pulley support pivoted to the foot of the bedstead aud adapted and arranged to
carry the tension cord.
7. In an invalid bed having a tilting mattress and an independent seat-board
with means for supporting the same; the combination of the seat-board provided
with the leg rest eye; the leg rest provided with a book to hook in such oyo aud
arranged to rest upon the foot of the bedstead; the cord support sustaining eyes
fastened to the lower part of the foot board; the cord support brace pivoted to the
upper part of the foot board; the cord support provided at its upper end with a
cord sustaining pulley and at its lower end with the books arranged to hook into
the cord support eyes; and the pin for limiting the movement of the cord support
arranged in the brace to hold the cord support, substantially as and for the purpose
Bet forth.
8. In an invalid bed, the seat-board provided with a hole and with the pivoted
mug-clasps curved and channelled in their edges to receive the rim of the mug,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of the board provided with the hole; the stop fixed to the
under side of the board and having one edge curved and channelled to receive the
rim of the mug; and means for locking one of the pivoted latches in the closed
position substantially as set forth.
10. In an invalid bed, a bedstead, in combination with a mattress frame pivoted in
the bedstead at or near the center of its length, and a seat-board connected to the
mattress frame by cords extending toward the head of the mattress frame and
provided with one or more arms reaching to and resting upon the bedatead,
preferably on the foot board, to retain the ecat in approximately a horizontal
position when the mattress is tilted, and removable supports for the foot end of
Baid mattress frame.
11. A bedstead in combination with the bed bottom constructed in two sections of
unequal length, removably pivoted in said bedstead at or near the center of its
length, the shorter sections provided with rollers, and the longer section provided

page_text: with braces to support it in an upright position when tilted, said sections hinged
together to fold upward only, and so that the longer section may while continuing
to rest in its pivotal bearings, be raised to an upright position, all in combination
with a removable seat flexibly suspended to the head end of the mattress frame, and
arms extending to and resting on the bedstead and arranged to hold the seat in
practically a horizontal position.
12. In an invalid bed, the combination of a bedstead; a mattress frame pivotally
connected at its sides, to the bedstead at or near the center of its length, and
constructed in two sections of unequal leugth, hinged together to fold upward only;
a removable seat provided with flexible means of supporting it in, approximately,
a horizontal position when the mattress is tilted; reciprocating bolts and means for
extending and retracting them; mattress supporting braces, one pivoted on each
sido of the mattress frame, and connected together for simultaneous movement, and
so as to be operated from either side of the bed.
13. A removable seat provided with a hole and with clasps on its under side, one
on each side of the opening, adapted to clasp and hold a chamber mug, said seat
arranged to rest horizontally on the mattress when the mattress is in a horizontal
position; in combination with a bedstead; and a bed-bottom made in two sections
of unequal length, hinged togother to fold upward only, said bed bottom pivoted
at or near its center, in said bedstead, so as to permit the head end of said bed
bottom to be raised to an upright position; and Hexible means for supporting the
seat in a horizontal position at the pivotal liue of the mattress when the mattress
is tilted.
14. The combination of a common bedstead; a bed bottom made in sections
of unequal length hinged together so as to fold upward only, said bed bottom
pivoted to the side-rails of the bedstead, at or near the center of its length, so 8
to permit the longer section to bo raised to an upright position; reciprocating bars
pivotally connected to each other and to the bed bottom, and means for extending
or retracting both bars simultaucously; braces, one ou each side of said bottom, and
connected together so as to be operated together from either side of the bed.
15. In an invalid bed, the combination of a bedstead; a bed bottom having two
sections of unequal length hinged together so as to fold upward only, said bed
bottom pivotally connected at its sides, to the bedstead at or near the center of its
length; reciprocating bolts and ineans for extending or withdrawing them; a
removable seat and means for holding it in, approximately, a horizontal position
against and at the pivotal line of the mattress when the bed bottom is raised to an
upright position.
16. The combination of the pivoted sectional mattress frame and woven wire
mattress thereon, the pivots of the sections of the frame being in the plane of the
woven wire; a rod passed through a coil of the woven wire co-axial with said
pivots; cords connecting the rod with one section of the frame and cords connecting
the rod with the other section of the frame.
Dated this 17th dar of August 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.