IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BEDSTEADS TO FACILITATE SHIFTING THE POSI- TION OF INVALIDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tinsley, of Catherine Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Publisher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BEDSTEADS TO FACILITATE SHIFTING THE POSI-
TION OF INVALIDS."
Sealed the 15th August 1876, and dated the 2nd June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tinsley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1876.
WILLIAM TINSLEY, of Catherine Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Publisher. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BEDSTEADS TO FACI-
LITATE SHIFTing the Position of InvalIDS."
Many devices have been applied to bedsteads for the purpose of raising the occu-
pant from a recumbent to a sitting position, but they have either necessitated a
special and costly construction of bedstead or have been too complicated and incou-
venient for general adoption.
The object of my Invention is the construction of an apparatus for shifting the
position of the invalid, which, simple in its action and having few parts, may be
manufactured at a small cost, be applied with facility to an ordinary bedstead, and
be either a fixture thereto or removeable at pleasure.
I propose to make a frame of equal width with the frame of the bodstead, and
to attach it by one end to the longitudinal sides of the bed frame, and by the other
to the vertical supports or posts at the head of the bed in such a manner that it
may slide up and down thereon.
I propose to attach to the cross piece forming the head of my frame a rack in gear
with a pinion carried on a shaft placed at the most convenient point at the head of
the bedstead.
I propose to make the side bars of my frame which are parallel to the longitudinal
bars of the actual frame of the bedstead to clongate like a telescope or otherwise.
To raise the occupant of the bed from a horizontal position to a sitting or only
partially recumbent position, it will only be necessary to turn a crank handle
placed on the pinion shaft when the head part of my auxiliary frame will rise
along the head posts of the bedstead until the frame carrying with it the invalid
with mattress and bedding is placed at the desired angle, where it is retained by
click or catch.

page_text: I prefer to fix the foot end of the side bars of my frame to the longitudinal bars
of the frame of the bedstead, and to make them in two parts sliding on or in each
other, to lengthen or shorten as the frame is raised or lowered, but they might be
of one piece and the foot end made to slide to and fro along the longitudinal bar of
the frame of the bedstead accordingly as the head of my auxiliary frame is raised
or lowered by means of the rack and pinion.
My apparatus may be applied equally to wooden or to iron bedsteads, and being
made of dimensions to suit the usual dimensions of bedsteads may be sold separately,
suitable fastenings being applied to permit its being fitted to and removed from the
bedstead with rapidity and facility.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Tinsley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
November 1876.
WILLIAM TINSLEY, of Catherine Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Pub-
lisher. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BEDSTEADS TO FACILITATE
SHIFTING THE POSITION OF INVALIDS."
Many devices have been applied to bedsteads for the purpose of raising the occu-
pant from a recumbent to a sitting position, but they have either necessitated a
special and costly construction of bedstead, or have been too complicated and incon-
venient for general adoption.
The object of my Invention is the construction of an apparatus for shifting the
position of the invalid, which simple in its action and having few parts may be
manufactured at a small cost, be applied with facility to an ordinary bedstead, and
be either a fixture thereto or removable at pleasure.
My Invention consists in the combination of a sliding frame with the ordinary
frame of a bedstead, in such wise that the head part of this sliding frame may be
raised and lowered along the head posts of the bedstead by the aid of rack and
pinion or equivalent movement.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 represents a side view or
elevation shewing tho construction and general arrangement of a bedstead embody-
ing my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 a cross section
as seen from the foot of the bedstead; and Figure 4 an end view as seen from the
head. The dotted lines, see Figures 1 and 2, represent the altered position of sliding
frame when the head is raised. In Figures 5, 6, and 7 the winding gear is shown
detached, being drawn to an enlarged scale. Similar letters of reference denote
similar parts in each of the Figures respectively.
A is the slide frame of the bedsteadyhaving a groove or rabbet a; B, the sliding
frame (on which is carried the mattress), connected at one end on to a stud at lower
end of rack; C, the rack on the lower end of which is a stud D; E, pinion
gearing into rack C; F, handle for working rack gear; C, paul; b, b, friction
rollers to carry sliding frame B; c, hinge connecting two parts of frame B.
A modification of the winding gear is shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, being fitted
with an extra purchase pinion E. I have shown a rack upon each head post, but
the rack and pinion may be placed in any convenient position.
To raise the occupant of the bed from a horizontal position to a sitting or only
partially recumbent position it will only be necessary to turn the crank handle F
placed on the shaft of pinion E, when the head part of the frame B will rise along the
head posts of the bedstead until this frame (carrying with it the invalid with mattress
and bedding) is placed at the desired angle (as shown in dotted lines at Figure 1)
where it is retained by the paul G. By throwing the paul (i out of gear with the
rack C the head of the frame B may be lowered as may be desired. By using the
extra pinion E not only will less power be needed to raise the frame B, but there
will be no danger of a too rapid descent and shock to the invalid. I may tix the foot

page_text: end of the longitudinal bars of my frame B to the longitudinal bars of the frame A
of the bedstead and make them in two parts sliding on or in each other like a
telescope, to lengthen or shorten as the frame is raised or lowered, and in this case
the frame B need not be of equal length with the frame A, but I now find it pre-
ferable not to fix the foot end of the frame B, but to cause it to slide to and fro
along the frame A of the bedstend, accordingly as the head of my sliding frame is
raised or lowered by means of the rack and pinion, as shown on the accompanying
Drawing.
In lieu of grooving the frame and posts of the bedstead to receive my sliding
frame and its accessories I inay attach them thereto in any convenient manner.
Where cost of manufacture is not a primary consideration may substitute screw
and worm gear in lieu of rack and pinion for giving the same movement to my
moveable or sliding frame but more gently and noiselessly.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 show this modification, E indicating the worm; F worm
wheel, in which is a nut F¹; C the screw, the lower part of which is attached to
the sliding frame B.
My apparatus may be applied equally to wooden or to iron bedsteads, and being
made of dimensions to suit the usual dimensions of bedsteads may be sold separately,
suitable fastenings being applied to permit its being fitted to and removed from the
bedstead with rapidity and facility.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before described and shown
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, as such may be greatly varied while
retaining the essential features of my Invention, and that I claim, as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, the combination
with the ordinary fixed frame of a bedstead of a moveable frame arranged for
operation substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tinsley, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM TINSLEY. L.S.