IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR HANDLING INVALIDS
Year: 1890

page_text: 1, JAMES GOSLING THROWER, of Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPLIANCES FOR HANDLING INVALIDS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention relates to appliances for use in sick-rooms for handling invalids in
cases whereby any muscular action or other movement of diseased parts, or a sudden
jar, would be injurious to the person afflicted. It consists of means whereby the
person may be taken up together with the surrounding bed-clothes, if necessary,
and the position of the person changed and said person carried in supension to the
desired place, all of which are heroiñafter fully specified.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.
Figure 2, is a front elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 is a back elevation of the upper portion of the device, for the purpose of
more clearly showing the windlass.
In these figures like reference marks indicating corresponding parts in the several
views, A is the frame which is constructed of the uprights a held together at their
bottoms by the cross-pieces a¹ which also form a base into which are insorted
casters a³, and at their tops by the hangers B and the cross-pieces a³ the shafting also
assisting.
Sliding in guides a in the base is a floor C which carries casters c under its
projecting end, and which by being drawn out as shown in figure 1, will form a
place for a chair also lengthening the base in case the person to be raised is very
heavy.
Carried in suitable bearings on hangers B is the shaft D which carries a gear d
engaging with the gear e on the shaft E which shaft is journalled on the uprights a
and is revolved when desired by turning the wheel e¹ also carried on said shaft E.
Also carried on the shaft D are two windlasses F having parts fand f¹ of different
diameters upon either of which portions the ropes G and G are adapted to wind,
a guide wheel y carried by a swinging arm g' holding the rope G in the desired
position. This wheel g being pivoted as shown on the rod will, when the weight
has been taken from the free end of the rope G, partially revolve around said rod g²
by its gravity carrying said rope with it and drawing said free end up out of the way.
When it is desired to wind one rope on its windlass without winding the other, as
for instance, in drawing the ropes taut before lifting a person, the proper one of
the set screws is loosened and by means of the flange the proper windlass F
may be revolved on the shaft E as much as requisite to tighten the rope desired.
Secured at one end to the windlass F just described the ropes G and G' pass over
the pulleys on the hollow metallic cross-bar H which is held by the projecting
ends of the hangers B and then depending are hooked into the links of the rod I
which has the bails, said bails being secured to the rod I by having their middle
portions bent around it as shown, the ends curving downwardly and having hooks i
on their ends, to which are hooked the ends of the cloth or leather straps which
support the patient by passing under him. These straps will generally remain under
the bedclothing until used when the rod I carrying the bails will be lowered over the
patient and the said straps be hooked to the said bails, thereby encircling the patient
and the surrounding bed-clothes. Experience will teach the operator the proper
drum for f' of the windlass on which to wind either the rope G or G'. By winding
one rope on one of the drums f¹ the person will be lifted from a horizontal to an
[Price 6d1

page_text: inclined position without bending the body, one rope being wound on the drum
faster than the other is wound on the smaller drum. If both ropes are wound on
drums of the same size the rod I, and hence the patient, will remain in the original
position in regard to the horizontal. An independent stationary rest is provided for
à limb or the head by the rod J which slides in the hollow cross-bar H and carries
suspended therefrom a bailj similar to the bail and precisely the same in operation
the limb or hend being slung in a wide strap hooked onto the hooks of the said
bail j.
The hanger K is removably secured to the cross-bar a nearest the windlass, and
projects at an upward angle and rests on the metallic cross-bar H extending for a
distance beyond said bar H and the ends of the hangers B, carrying in its free end
the pulley over which will be carried one of the ropes G or which will be
detached from the rod I and will carry a bail on its end which will be secured to
the shoulders of the patient and he be raised to bis feet and his weight suspended
in great part and a weak or otherwise incompetent person ho assisted in walking
without requiring the limbs to support the entire weight of his person.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :
1st. In an apparatas for handling invalids, the combination of the transportable
frame, the roller supported thereon and having different diameters, the mechanism
for operating the same, the hangers B forming part of said frame their upper ends
connected by a rod carrying pulleys and the ropes G and G¹ passing over said
pulleys to the roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In an apparatus for bandling invalids, the combination of the transportable
frame the roller supported thereon having different diameters the mechanism for
operating the same, the hangers B secured to said frame and having their upper
ends connected by a rod carrying pulleys, the ropes passing over said pulleys from
the litter to said rollers and a litter consisting of the rod I, bails and the strap
all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In an apparatus for handling invalids the combination of the transportable
frame, the roller supported thereon, and having different diameters the mechanism
for operating the same, the hangers B secured to said frame and having their upper
ends connected by a rod carrying pulleys, the ropes and G₁ pussing over said
pulleys to the roller and the sliding Hoor U adapted also to enlarge the base of the
frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4th. In a device for handling invalids the combination of the transportable frame,
the roller supported thereon having different diameters the mechanism for operating
the same, the hangers B supported by said frame, and having their upper ends
connected by a hollow bar H carrying pulleys, the ropes passing over said pulleys
from the litter to said roller, and the rod J sliding in said bar H and the bail
susponded from the outer end of said rod J substantially as shown and described and
for the purpose specified.
Dated this eth 1900