IMPROVE- MENTS IN INVALID BEDS, COUCHES, AND CHAIRS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Granville Sharp McCarthy, of No. 12, Montpelier
Row, Brompton, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN INVALID BEDS, COUCHES, AND CHAIRS."
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 16th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Granville Sharp
McCarthy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th Marchi
1877.
THOMAS GRANVILLE SHARP MCCARTHY, of No. 12, Montpelier Row, Brompton,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDS, COUCHES, AND
CHAIRS."
According to one part of my Invention I construct the head part of an invalid
bed or couch so as to be capable of being raised on hinges situated on either side
at or about the middle of its length, and beyond such hinges I attach to the
moveable part a counterweight which shall balance, more or less, entirely the
weight thereof, and, if necessary, also the weight of that part of the person which
rests thereon.
In order to enable the person resting on the bed to raise or lower such
moveable part I either provide at the side of the bed a lever connected to the
moveable part in any suitable known manner, so that by moving the lever in one
direction or the other the raising or lowering will be effected, and I provide the
lever with catches whereby it, and consequently the bed, will be held in any
position into which it is moved; or in place of the said lever I attach to the head
of the bed a cord, which is led over a pulley suspended from an upright or a
framing extending over the bed, so that the invalid on pulling the cord can raise
the head of the bed, and this is then secured in position either by making fast the
end of the cord or by means of a rack and stops on the under side of the bed.
The above described arrangement of counterweight is equally applicable to that
description of easy chairs wherein the back is arranged to rise and fall on hinges in
a similar manner to the head of the bed above described.
In order to enable the patient to ease himself while lying on the bed, I form in
the middle thereof a hole of a size corresponding to that of a chamber pan; this
[Price 6d1

page_text: hole is ordinarily closed by a pad of corresponding shape hinged at the side and
secured by a fastening. To one side of the bed is pivotted a lever, having a forked
end passing underneath the bed and carrying a chamber pan suspended on pivots.
When the invalid requires to ease himself the before-mentioned pad is allowed to
turn down on its hinge and the lever with the pan is moved so as to bring the pan
into or immediately underneath the hole in the bed, the lever being secured in that
position by a catch. When done with, the pan is lowered again, and is either
merely closed with a cover or it may be lifted out of its bearings and removed; or
in place of supporting the pan by a lever I fit it in a slide that may be slid in and
out between guides on the under side of the bed.
According to another modification I make a transverse section of the mattress
of the bed removable so that it can be withdrawn, and a slido corresponding in
configuration to such section and containing the pan be inserted in its place. The
above-described arrangements may also be applied with equal advantage to the
Beats of invalid chairs.
According to another improvement I form a light strong framework resting on
the bed at the sides thereof, to which framework the under sheet or blanket of the
bed may be attached, and from the corners of the framework rods extend, meeting
each other over the middle of the bed, where they are secured togethor, and to a
rope or chain passing over a pulley suspended either from the before-mentioned
uprights for raising the head of the bed or from a separate frame, the rope or chain
being led from the pulley to a small windlass at the foot of the bed, so that by
turning the windlass the framing on the bed, together with the person lying thereon,
may be raised to any height that may be required for conveniently making the
bed underneath or for performing an operation; or in place of a windlass a lover
or levers may be applied directly to the frame for raising it, as described, and the
said frame may be provided with handles at the ends so as to be capable of being
lifted by hand.
According to another improvement I provide at one or more corners of the bed
a vertical spring roller, similar to those employed for spring blinds, upon which is
rolled a screen, by preference formed of wood laths, jointed to each other like a
revolving shutter or Venetian blind, so that when required the screen may be drawn
out to any extent desired along the side of the bed, and secured by a catch. When
released the screen will be automatically wound up on the spring roller again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Granville Sharp McCarthy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th September 1877.
THOMAS GRANVILLE SHARP MCCARTHY, of No. 12, Montpelier Row, Brompton,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDS, COUCHES, AND
CHAIRS."
According to one part of my Invention I construct the head part of an invalid
bed or couch so as to be capable of being raised on hinges situated on either sido
at or about the middle of its length, and beyond such hinges I attach to the
noveable part a counterweight which shall balance, more or less, entirely the
weight thereof, and, if necessary, also the weight of that part of the person which
rests thereon.
In order to enable the person resting on the bed to raise or lower such moveable
part I either provide at the side of the bed a lever connected to the moveable part
in any suitable known manner, so that by moving the lever in one direction or the
other the raising or lowering will be effected, and I provide the lever with catches
whereby it, and consequently the bed, will be held in any position into which it is
moved; or in place of the said lever I attach to the head of the bed a cord, which

page_text: is led over a pulley suspended from an upright or a framing extending over the
bed, so that the invalid on pulling the cord can raise the head of the bed, and this
is then secured in position either by making fast the end of the cord or by means
of a rack and stops on the under side of the bed. The above-described arrangement
of counterweight is equally applicable to that description of easy chairs wherein
the back is arranged to rise and fall on hinges in a similar manner to the head of
the bed above described.
In order to enable tho patient to ease himself while lying on the bed I form in
the middle thereof a hole of a size corresponding to that of a chamber pan; this
holo is ordinarily closed by a pad of corresponding shape hinged at the side and
secured by a fastening. To one side of the bed is pivotted a lever, having a forked
end passing underneath the bed and carrying a chamber pan suspended on pivots.
When the invalid requires to caso himself the before-mentioned,pad is allowed to
turn down on its hinge, and the lever with the pan is moved so as to bring the pan
into or immediately underneath the hole in the bed, the lever being secured in that
position by a catch. When done with, the pan is lowered again, and is either
merely closed with a cover or it may be lifted out of its bearings and removed; or
in place of supporting the pan by a lever I fit it in a slide that may be slid in and
out between guides on the under side of the bed.
The above-described arrangements may also be applied with equal advantage to
the seats of invalid chairs.
According to another improvement I form a light strong framework resting on
the bed at the sides thereof, to which framework the under sheet or blanket of the
bed may be attached, and from the corners of the framework rods extend, meeting
cach other over the middle of the bed, where they are secured together and to a
rope or chain passing over a pulley suspended either from the before-mentioned
uprights for raising the head of the bed or from a separate frame, the rope or chain
being led from the pulley to a small windlass at the foot of the bed, so that by
turning the windlass the framing on the bed, together with the person lying thereon,
may be raised to any height that may be required for conveniently making the
bed underneath or for performing an operation; or in place of a windlass a lever
or levers may be applied directly to the frame for raising it, as described, and the
said frame may be provided with handles at the ends so as to be capable of being
lifted by hand.
"
According to another improvement I provide at one or more corners of the bed
a vertical spring roller, similar to those employed for spring blinds, upon which is
rolled a screen, by preference formed of wood laths jointed to each other like
a revolving shutter or Venetian blind, so that when required the screen may be
drawn out to any extent desired along the side of the bed and secured by a catch.
When released the screen will be automatically wound upon the spring roller
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The accompanying Drawing shews an invalid bed with my before described
improvements applied thereto; Fig. 1 shews a side elevation; Fig. 2 shews a cross
section; Fig. 3, a plan; and Fig. 4, a longitudinal section.
At the head part of the bed is provided a framing A pivotted to the bed at A¹,
and provided beyond such pivots with a counterweight B; and they are further-
more connected at such pivots by springs C to a bracket D, the counterweight and
springs having a tendency to raise the frame, and with it the bedding lying thereon,
from the horizontal position shewn in Fig. 1 into the inclined position shewn in
Fig. 4, for supporting the patient in a more or less inclined position, as shewn.
When this is not required the framing and bedding are kept in the horizontal
position by means of a lever E pivotted at its lower end to the bracket D, and
having a stud at E', which projects underneath the framing A and operates in the
following manner:-The framing being in the raised position, and it being desired

page_text: to lower it again, the lever E, which is then in the position shewn in dotted lines
in Fig. 1, is pulled over into the position shewn in full lines, whereby the stud E
pressing on the under side of the weighted end of the framing pushes this upwards
against the action of the spring and weight, thus lowering the framing on the other
side of the pivots A¹; and when the lever has been brought into the position shown
in full lines, owing to the stud E being in a vertical line with the pivot of the
lever and to the left of the pivots of the framing the latter will be securely held in
theo lowered position. If necessary the lover may be provided with a spring catch
or other known contrivance, whereby it, and consequently the framing A, may be
held in any intermediate inclined position. It will be evident that the weights B
might be used without the springs C, or vice versa; also that the weights and
springs may be made either so as only to balance the weight of the framing or
sufficient to raise and hold this in the raised position while the patient is lying
upon it.
In the centre of the bedding is formed a circular hole F, beneath which at the
under side of the bedstead is a commode G, carried by a slide G³, that can be moved
in and out in guides, as shewn. When not required for use the hole F is closed by
a plug H, which is hinged to the under side of the bedstead, and is supported in its
position in the hole by a slide H fitting in grooves above the slide G. When it
is required to use the commode the slide H is withdraw, whereupon (the slide G¹
having also been withdrawn) the plug H will fall into the dotted position shewn in
Fig. 2, and the slide G with the commode is again introduced froin the left-hand
side. For closing the hole again the slide H is merely pushed in from the right-
hand side, whereby it pushes the plug upwards into its place again. Instead of
moving the plug and commode by slides, as described, they may be connected to
levers hinged to the side of the bed, and arranged to be raised and lowered for
bringing the plug and commode into position.
On top of the bedding is a light framing I, consisting merely of light strong rods
at the sides, to which is attached the sheet on which the patient lies, and which
have eyes or hooks for the attachment of rods or chains K extending to the centre
of the bed, where they are connected to a chain or rope L passing over a pulley M¹
on the overhanging end of a standard M, and led to a winch M on the lattor.
Thus by turning the winch the framing I, together with the patient, can be raised
from off the bed into the position shewn in Fig. 1, either for the purpose of
operating more conveniently on the patient or for gaining access to the bedding
underneath. The standard M may be conveniently passed through a socket at the
side of the bedstead, and fit with its lower end into a socket in the ground. It
might be arranged to swing round, so as to bring the patient on to another bed
placed alongside. Instead of effecting the raising by a hauling rope or chain and
winch this might be done by a hand lever at the upper end of the standard.
At the side of the head of the bed is an upright bracket N carrying a spring
roller O, on which is rolled a screen P of any suitable material, which can be drawn
out to any desired extent along the bed, as shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, and secured by
a rod P¹ thereon fitting with its lower end into sockets at the side of the bed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the combination of my several improvements, as shewn on the accompanying
Drawings, as each improvement may be employed separately from the others;
neither do I limit myself to their application to the particular form of bed shewn,
as they are equally applicable to other forms of invalid beds, couches, chairs, or
ambulances, but I claim in respect of such contrivances.
First. The use of a hinged head framing or back provided with counterweights
or springs, or with both, so as to maintain the framing or back in a more or less
inclined or raised position, substantially as herein described.
Second. The provision of a central hole in the bed, beneath which is a commode; 5
the said hole being closed by a plug that is removed from below when the com-
mode is to be used, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Third. The use of a light frame, to which the sheet or blanket of the bed is
attached, and which can be raised by a hauling contrivance or lever on a standard,
substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The application to invalid beds and the like of a vertical spring rollor
with screen, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Granville Sharp McCarthy, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
T. G. S. MºCARTHY. (LS).