AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR ADJUSTING BEDSTEAD APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A STRETCHER, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR HOSPITAL PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR ADJUSTING BEDSTEAD APPLICABLE FOR USE
AS A STRETCHER, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR HOSPITAL PURPOSES." A
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR ADJUSTING BEDSTEAD APPLICABLE FOR USE
AS A STRETCHER, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR HOSPITAL PURPOSES." A
communication from abroad by Reynolds Trenholm White, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR ADJUSTING
BEDSTEAD APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A STRETCHER, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
HOSPITAL PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Reynolds Trenholm
White, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist.]
The object of this Invention is to produce a folding adjustable cot bedstead
particularly adapted for hospital use, which may also serve as a stretcher.
According to the said Invention I provide two main longitudinal frames pivoted
together at or near their forward ends, where they are supported upon folding
legs, and the rear end of the upper or outer frame being supported upon the lower
or inner frame by means of an adjustable brace whereby the upper portion of the
body of the cot may be arranged at any desired inclination from the head to the
foot of the cot. To the rear end of the upper frame is also pivoted an adjustable
head rest, and at the front end is also pivoted an adjustable foot rest.
The upper
frane or body of the cot is provided with a canvas sacking, which is
secured to the sides of the frame by means of a cord or rope, so arranged as to
enable the canvas to be tightened whenever it becomes loose or sagged by use.
The outer or main frame consists of two longitudinal bars connected together by
a cross bar, and pivoted at their forward ends to an inner frame which is similar
to the main frame, and designed to fold within the latter; it extends slightly
beyond the main frame at the front end where the two bars of the said frame are
Prins G71

page_text: connected together by a cross bar. To the inner frame at points where it is con-
nected to the main frame is hung or pivoted by iron straps a support consisting
of two legs connected together by a cross bar, and held in position when open for
use by means of a hook or brace, having at the end connecting with the inner frame a
slot provided with a narrow central opening to admit of its ready attachment to a
pin on said frame. To the front end of the lower or inner frame is hinged a foot
board to which is pivotted a slotted bar on each side, which bars are connected to
the pivots so as to hold the foot-board up when required, and allow the same to
be folded with the frame when desired. A foot rest is hinged to the forward part
of the main frame to be used when it is desirable to elevate the feet from, a hori-
zontal position. A hinged brace on the underside of the foot rest admits of the
latter being inclined more or less as desired.
Near the rear or head end of the main frame is pivotted on its undersides a brace
composed of two bars or lugs connected together by cross bars, the lower ends of
the legs fitting in mortises or notches in the inner frame, whereby the main frame
may be made to assume a horizontal position or be fixed at any desired inclination
longitudinally. To the upper side of the main frame near the rear end is hinged a
head rest which is made adjustable in inclination by means of the metal bars or
braces pivoted to the underside of the frame. Grooves or recesses on the-under-
side of the frame receive the said bars when the head rest is folded on the main
frame, to this frame and head rest is attached a canvas sacking by means of cords
or ropes passing through grommets or eyelets in the canvas, and staples or rings in
the main frame, so that the canvas may be readily attached to the. frame, and
whenever it sags or becomes loosened from.use it can be readily tightened up as
*required.
This cot may be mounted on casters so as to be readily moved about on the
floor.
When the article is to be used as a stretcher the frames are folded together, and
the forward legs or support are extended forward and serve as handles for lifting
the stretcher, the rear ends being readily lifted and held.
For hospital use the canvas may be provided with a central hole to permit of
evacuations, the hole to be properly covered when not in use by a flap underneath
secured in place by straps or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents;
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN. IMPROVED FOLDING OR ADJUSTING
BEDSTEAD APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A STRETCHER, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
HOSPITAL PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Reynolds Trenholm
White, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist.
The object of this Invention is to produce a folding or adjustable cot or bedstead
which is particularly adapted for hospital use, and may be readily converted into a
stretcher.
A bedstead constructed according to the said Invention has two main longi-
tudinal frames pivoted together at or near their forward or foot ends, where they
are supported upon folding legs, the rear end of the upper or outer frame being
supported upon the lower or inner frame by means of an adjustable brace whereby
the upper frame may be arranged at any desired inclination from the head to the
foot of the cot or bedstead. To the rear end of the said upper frame is pivoted an
adjustable head-rest, and at the front end of the said frame is mounted an adjustable
foot-rest.
The upper frame of the cot is provided with canvas or sacking, which is secured to
the inner sides of the said frame by means of a cord or rope passing through grommets
or eyelets attached to the canvas and staples or rings in the frame; such canvas
may therefore be readily attached, and can be tightened when it becomes loosened
or sagged from use.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a cot or bedstead embodying my Invention;
and
0
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same when opened for use.
Figure 3 represents the said' cot when closed, and adapted for use as a
stretcher.
Figure 4 represents a modification of the devices for permitting the adjustment
of the head rest.
A is the outer or main frame consisting of two longitudinal parallel bars con-
nected by cross bars, and pivoted near their front or forward ends to the inner
frame B which is similar to the frame A, and is designed to fold within the same
when closed. This frame B extends slightly beyond the frame A at the front end
where the two bars of the said frame B are connected by a cross bar a. To the
inner frame B is pivoted the support E consisting of two legs connected by a cross
bar, and held in position when open for use by means of a brace h on each side
connected to the said frame B.
At the foot end of the cot is arranged a foot-rest consisting of side pieces or
bars H having slots p, p, extending across the frame A; these bars H are supported
upon metal strips I, I, arranged parallel to each other, and pivoted to the bars of
the frame A and to the said bars H, so that in elevating the foot rest it will always
be parallel with the said frame. This foot rest is held in position at the desired
elevation by means of the metal straps or bars K (one on each side) pivoted to the
bars H, H, of the said foot rest, and provided with slots, notches, or recesses that
engage with a pin on the outside of the bars A, A. At the outer end of the said
foot-rest is pivoted a, foot-board L, which is held in an upright position when
required by the brace or bar M.

page_text: Near the rear or head end of the frame A is pivoted a brace D composed of two
bars or legs connected by. cross bars at d, the lower ends of the said legs being
adapted to, fit into mortices or notches 1, 2, 3, in the frame B, so that the said
frame H may be adjusted to any desired inclination longitudinally. To the upper
side of the frame A is hinged a head-rest C. which is rendered adjustable with
regard to its inclination, by means of the metal bars or braces g pivoted to the said
head rest, and adapted to enter mortices or notches in, the upper surface of the
frame A, as shewn. Grooves or recesses (shewn in dotted lines) are formed in the
underside of the said head-rest C to admit the said bars or braces g when the head
rest is folded or turned down.
-
f
To the frame A and the head-rest C is attached sacking or canvas, as represented
at F, F, by means of cords or ropes 1, 1, passing through grommets or eyelets m, m,
in the canvas and staples or rings in the frame A, as shewn. The cot is preferably
mounted upon castors, as shewn, so that it may be readily moved about upon the.
floor.
When the cot or bedstead is to be used as a stretcher the frames A and B are
folded together, and the forward legs or supports E are extended forward, and serve
as handles for lifting and carrying the stretcher, the rear ends being also readily
lifted and held.
Figure 4 represents a modified method of holding the head-rest. According to
this modification.the said head-rest is supported by the adjustable notched bar G,
thus enabling the frame to be made shorter than that shewn in Figure 2. When
the foot rest consisting of the bars H, H, is not used, the foot board L may be
pivoted to the foot end of the frame A.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The adjustable folding cot or bedstead and stretcher, consisting of the
frames A, B, and the adjustable head rest, and provided with the canvas or sacking,
the supporting brace D, and the support E, all arranged substantially as above set
forth and for the purposes specified:
Second. The combination with the frames A, B, of the adjustable foot rest and
the brace K, substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto_set_my_
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HENRY H. LAKE.
П.
(L.S.)