A NEW SYSTEM OF MECHANIC AND ELASTIC BEDS FOR WOUNDED AND PARALYSED MEN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Amédé Lefebvre, of Paris, in the Department of the
Seine, and Republic of France, Merchant, for the Invention of " A NEW SYSTEM
OF MECHANIC AND ELASTIC BEDS FOR WOUNDED AND PARALYSED MEN."
Sealed the 17th May 1878, and dated the 28th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amédé Lefebvre at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1877.
AMÉDÉ Lefebvre, of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, and Republic of
France, Merchant. "A NEW SYSTEM OF MECHANIC AND ELASTIC BEDS FOR
WOUNDED AND PARALYSED MEN."
My improved bed will not differ in dimensions from those ordinarily used for one
person, and may be placed in an alcove or in any apartment.
The mechanism may be easily worked by a person of less than average strength,
and it combines the following advantages: ==
A cushion at the head of the bed forming a pillow stuffed with horsehair and
springs, and which comes under the loins of the patient, is by means of a crank
raised without jolting, thereby lifting the patient by degrees up to a sitting posture,
or to any intermediate position; then for natural requirements and necessary
attentions, another, the cushion placed beneath his seat, lowers and lifts by the aid
of toothed gearing shown on the accompanying Drawing; a board comes on to this
cushion when lowered, and upon this board is placed the chamber utensil. Another
cushion fixed, but also of horse hair and very soft springs, completes the length
of the bed and supports the feet.
All these several pieces are covered with a very fine sack ticken fixed upon a play
of rods worked by cranks, and which in rolling stretch to rigidity this open work
or trellised cloth upon which the patient is laid, and gives him at pleasure or
according to requirement air beneath him; or by turning these rods in another
direction he lies as in a hammock, the bottom of which rests upon the combined.
cushions, giving him all the softness of a woollen mattress without its defects,
which are the heating of the skin, which gives rise to sores and other maladies,

page_text: These various advantages are obtained by the aid of toothed gearing and cranks,
which may be of any form, my Invention consisting in the system as a whole and
the results obtained.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,
C, Figures 1, 2, and 3, indicate the shaft of the mechanism serving to raise and
lower the pillow E by means of two toothed wheels fixed on the shaft, gearing with
two toothed segments fixed inside the pillow.
D, Figures 1, 2, 3, catches to keep the shaft C in a fixed position; these catches
are set on the same shaft so as to work together on each side of the bed.
E, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, pillow mounted on a wooden frame stuffed with horse-
hair and springs, and hinged to the bedstead so as to pivot under the impulsion of
the shaft C.
F, Figures 1, 3, and 4, shifting cushion stuffed with horsehair and springs, set on
a frame with four racks, and carried by the angle uprights of the bedstead; these
racks are set in motion by an arrangement of shafts provided with bevel pinions
and carrying toothed wheels which cause the moveable cushion to rise or lower
vertically; this arrangement is worked by the main shaft G, a double catch similar
to the preceding keeping the apparatus at the desired height.
H, Figure 4, fixed cushions stuffed with horse hair and springs.
I, Figures 1 and 3, moveable shelf or table, which when the shifting cushion F is
lowered, comes under the patient to receive the chamber untensil. This table
receives a come-and-go movement by means of a Vaucanson chain driven by a shaft,
and slides upon two fixed guides.
J, Figure 5, mechanism for stretching the aforesaid sackcloth; it is composed of a
shaft with two bevel pinions which turn each in an opposite direction two other shafts
upon which the cloth is fixed, so that it may be stretched or slackened at will; a
double catch similar to those D (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,) keeps the mechanism in a fixed
position.
K, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, pads stuffed with horsehair, and hinged to the frame of
the bedstead at the two sides and at the foot to prevent the patient hurting himself
against the bedstead, and which can be lifted when required.
The entire arrangement is so arranged that each apparatus may be worked from
either side of the bed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Amédé Lefebvre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May
1878.
AMÉDÉ LEFEBVRE. of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, and Republic of
France, Merchant. "A NEW SYSTEM OF MECHANIC AND ELASTIC BEDS FOR
WOUNDED AND PARALYSED MEN."
My improved bed will not differ in dimensions from those ordinarily used for one
person, and may be placed in an alcove or in any apartment.
The mechanism may be easily worked by a person of less than average strength,
and it combines the following advantages:-
A cushion at the head of the bed forming a pillow stuffed with horsehair and
springs, which comes under the loins of the patient, is by means of a crank raised
without jolting, thereby lifting the patient by degrees up to a sitting posture, or to
any intermediate position; then for natural requirements and necessary attentions,
another, the cushion placed beneath his seat, lowers and lifts by the aid of toothed
gearing shown on the accompanying Drawing; a board comes on to this cushion
when lowered; upon this board is placed the chamber utensil. Another cushion
fixed, but also of horsehair and very soft springs, completes the length of the bed and
supports the feet.
All these several pieces are curved with a very fine sack ticken fixed upon a play
of rods worked by cranks, and which in rolling stretch to rigidity this openwork or
trellised cloth upon which the patient is laid, and gives him at pleasure or according
to requirement air beneath him; or by turning these rods in another direction he lies
in a hammock, the bottom of which rests upon the combined cushions, giving him
all the softness of a woollen mattress without its defects, which are the heating of the
skin, which gives rise to sores and other maladies.
These varicus advantages are obtained by the aid of toothed gearing and cranks,
which may be of any form, my Invention consisting in the system as a whole and
the result obtained.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,―
C, Figures 1, 2, and 3, indicates the shaft of the mechanism serving to raise and
lower the pillow E by means of two toothed wheels fixed on the shaft, gearing with
two toothed segments fixed inside the pillow.
D, Figures 1, 2, 3, catches to keep the shaft C in a fixed position; these catches
are set on the same shaft, so as to work together on each side of the bed.
E, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, pillow mounted on wooden frame stuffed with horsehair
and springs, and binged to the bedstead, so as to pivot under the impulsion of the
shaft C.
F, Figures 1, 3, and 4, shifting cushion stuffed with horsehair and springs set in a
frame with four racks, and carried by the angle uprights of the bedstead; these
racks are set in motion by an arrangement of shafts provided with bevel pinions,
and carrying toothed wheels which cause the moveable cushion to rise or lower
vertically; this arrangement is worked by the main shaft G, a double catch similar
to the preceding keeping the apparatus at the desired height.
H, Figure 4, fixed cushions stuffed with horsehair and springs.
I, Figures 1 and 3, moveable shaft or table, which when the shifting cushion F is
lowered comes under the patient to receive the chamber utensil. This table receives
a come-and-go movement by means of "Vaucanson" chain driven by a shaft, and
slides upon two fixed guides.
J, Figure 5, mechanism for stretching the aforesaid sackcloth; it is composed of a

page_text: shaft with two bevel pinions which turn each in an opposite direction two other
shafts upon which the cloth is fixed, so that it may be stretched or slackened at will;
a double catch D similar to those D and D (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,) keeps the mechanism
in a fixed position.
K, Figures 1, 2, and 4, pads stuffed with horsehair and hinged to the frame of the
bedstead at the two sides and at the foot to prevent the patient hurting himself
against the bedstead, and which can be lifted when required.
The entire arrangement is so arranged that each apparatus may be worked from
either side of the bed.
Without changing the nature or complicating the simple and strong mechanism
of my improved bed, I may render it still more sanitary, and further add to the
comfort of the wounded or those who have undergone operations by the following
arrangements :-
Within the hollow metal rod J, Figure 5, which is of any suitable thickness, I place
a second metal rod of smaller diameter, the first of these rods having at each end a
socket with notch intended to fix the smaller rod in the groove or recess of the first.
These rods receive the long sides of the cloth (ticking) and serve to fix it. For this
purpose it is only necessary to place the edges of the cloth upon the thickest rod
above its groove, and then to place the small rod, the ends of which will be supported
by the sockets in the larger rod, then by giving two or three turns to the crank
giving motion to the wheels with bevel pinions which are on the long sides of
the frame of the bedstead the desired rigidity is given to the cloth or cloths forming
the bottom; for in order to preserve perfect cleanliness around the patient I have
thought it desirable not only to make the cloth, ticking, or bottom of my improved
bed easily removeable, but also to multiply the number, so as to be able to withdraw
these cloths from beneath the sufferer one after the other as they become stained.
Further, these cloths M (Figures 5 and 2) have a circular opening suitably placed
for the passage of liquid or other matters.
The rods above mentioned thus serve at the same time to give tension to or
preserve the rigidity of the cloths and to ensure their mobility.
I have foreseen the inconvenience and often the danger to the wounded and to
those who have undergone operations of the coverings not being fixed, and have
remedied it by the aid of a variable number of metal springs N, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 6,
fixed outside upon the frame of the bedstead.
I have shown on the Drawing three of these springs, to each of the longitudinal
sides of the frame. These springs placed on the uprights of the frame are of
an S or curved form, the lower part being fixed to the uprights by two strong
wood screws.
The covering or counterpane is placed in the springs which grasp it, and let it go
only at a certain degree of tension. These springs may vary in number and form,
may be vertical, as shown on the Drawing, or horizontal, and be of any suitable
metal or material. This applies also to the aforesaid rods which may be longitudinal
or transversal, or both the one and the other, and the shape and material of which
may greatly vary according to the exigencies of the moment or of the country as
experience in the use of my aerified bed may direct.
I fit two feet L to the middle cushion F, so that when this cushion is lowered it
bears upon the floor instead of upon the racks; these feet are placed parallel with
the middle of the bars under the said cushion.
I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right of applying to my improved
bed alterations and modifications both partial and general, accordingly as its extended
use may show their necessity.
I complete my bed by further providing it with an india-rubber mattress filled
with water, either extending over the entire bed or divided on each of the jointed
parts, according to the requirements of the patient; this mattress or these cushions
will give coolness to the injured part and prevent inflammation. At one of the corners

page_text: of the cushion will be fitted a tube with valve for the introduction and running off
of the water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Amédé Lefebvre, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
AMEDE LEFEBVRE, (L.S.)