An Improved Adjustable and Movable Apparatus for Lifting Invalids and Beds.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable and Movable Apparatus for Lifting
Invalids and Beds.
I, JOSEF HERRMANN, of Karlstrasse 4/III, Munich, in the Empire of Germany,
Engine Driver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus principally for lifting invalids
which differs from the hitherto used apparatus by reason of its being more appropriate
for the careful lifting of the invalid and also on account of its lighter and more simple
construction.
The apparatus consists of two vertical frames arranged parallel with each other
to be placed one at the head and one at the foot of the invalids bed and connected
at their bottoms by a detachable fork and at their tops by two horizontal rods
arranged one over the other. The vertical frames are constructed in such a manner
that their upper parts are arranged to slide vertically upwards and downwards such
sliding movement being effected by means of ratchets and toothed wheels in con-
nection with wormed shafts to be turned by hand by means of handles, the two
horizontal connecting rods, to the lower one of which are movably attached the tongs
or grapplers are accordingly raised or lowered as the handles are turned. The tongs
or grapplers are for holding the invalid may be altered in number as required and are
suspended from the lower horizontal bar and can be adjusted in height from the
same in order to come conveniently on either side and underneath the invalid.
These tongs are hinged at their tops so as to open and can be fixed open or closed at
any desired point, at the extremity of each arm of each grappler is a support for the
body of the invalid provided underneath with a roller, so that the arms of the tongs
do not catch in or tear the bedding. Their upper surface is covered with leather.
The apparatus is used in the following manner. The apparatus being placed in
position so that the grapplers are suspended over the invalid, they are then adjusted
to the required length and by turning the handles are lowered so that the supports
may be brought into position under the body of the invalid, the grapplers are then
fixed so that they cannot open and the patient is then gently and evenly raised by
means of the handles and arrangement of cog wheels etc. and held in suspension as
required. The apparatus being supplied with castors the patient can be moved from
place to place with ease.
The horizontal bars are adjustable in lengths between the frames for the purpose
of allowing the apparatus to fit over various bed steads of different length. The
frames are further provided with levers actuated by cog wheels and handles, these
levers being arranged to act on the framing of the invalids bed so that the same
may be raised if required for the purpose of transport or otherwise.
Dated this 12th day of August 1897.

page_text: •
An Improved Adjustable and Movable Apparatus for Lifting
Invalids and Beds.
I, JOSEF HERRMANN, Engine Driver, of Karlsstrasse 4/III, Munich, in the Empire
of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus principally for lifting invalids,
which differs from the hitherto used apparatus by reason of its being more appro-
priate for the careful lifting of the invalid and also on account of its lighter and
more simple construction.
In the annexed drawing, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus and
Fig. 2 is a partial side view.
The apparatus consists of two vertical frames or standards A B which carry a rod C
on which are arranged grapplers or tongs D. The tongs D can be adjusted &
moved in the vertical direction. This movement and adjustment of the tongs is the
special object in view, as it has been shown in practice, that the whole value of such
apparatus is based on the careful operation of lifting the invalid. The construction
and arrangement of the tongs is consequently essentially important.
The stands or supports consists of two parts, an upper part A and an under part B.
The upper part A which carry the shaft with the tongs are arranged in a displaceable
manner on the under parts in such a manner that they are guided in their movement
by their sockets g and their wheels w travelling on the racks of the under part B.
The angular cross section form of the upper part effects the necessary stability of the
guiding on the under part, as the same is of square form, so that the firmness of both
parts is secured.
In order to effect a gradual lifting of the upper parts A carrying the tongs, there
is arranged a hand worm wheel gearing lm, by which the wheels ware turned and
thus a slow gentle rising or lowering movements of the entire upper part on the
toothed racks of the under part is effected. The guiding of the part A is absolutely
secure and stable in consequence of the said secure connection; and any noise, as for
instance clattering is avoided. In the latter regard also the arrangement of a worin
wheel gearing m is especially favorable and advantageous.
し
The tongs D consist of two simple arms, which are suspended on sockets o in an
easily detachable manner by means of screwed blocks or the like k. The sockets o
are easily displaceable on the rod C, so that the tongs can be moved together or apart
from one another according to the size of the invalid.
One arm of each of the tongs has a pivoted stay D¹ provided with notches, which
can be hooked on to a pin on the other arm, so that it is possible to keep the tongs
securely in any desired opened or closed position.
By means of the screwed blocks k the height of the tongs can be regulated; they
can also be removed by removing the pin p.
The apparatus can be used for lifting the invalid only as described hereafter and it
is also constructed in such a manner, that the bed together with the invalid thereon
can be lifted. For this purpose the upper standard parts A carry hooks a.
The rods b are made revolvable, so that the hooks they carry can be turned easily
aside according to necessity.
The general use of the lifter is as follows:-
After having removed the forked stay F and also the tongs, and the hooks a having
being turned sideways the apparatus is moved to the bed in such a manner, that the
latter is standing between the two standards.

page_text: Hereupon the tongs D are then suspended on the sockets o and are closed under
the head, the back and the legs of the invalid, so that he lies in the tongs (Fig. 2).
After the tongs are closed and the closure is secured by hooking the stays D¹, the
standard parts are lifted by means of the screw device l m by winding them up on
the toothed racks of the under part, so that the invalid is lifted out of the bed and is
held by the tongs and can thus be operated on or treated according to the case.
The apparatus can then be rolled away from the bed and after having fixed the
forked stay F, it can be moved away together with the invalid.
When the invalid is to be transported together with the bed the hooks are
used.
The same are turned forward for this purpose and are adjusted in such a manner
on the projections of the bed (Fig. 2) that by winding the upper part upwards
the hooks enter under these projections and lift the bed so that the same is
supported in and by the apparatus and can easily be moved away.
The ends of the tongs are forined so as to give a support for the human body, which
ends may be covered with leather or the like and be provided on their under part with
a roller or rollers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved apparatus for lifting invalids and beds characterized by two
standards A B, A B in two parts the upper parts A of which are adjustable in height
and are operated by means of a screw device or devices l m w and which carry on a
rod C tongs D arranged on sockets o for supporting the invalid, as also hooks a for
holding and supporting the bed and lifting the same substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In the apparatus as under Claim 1 tongs D for seizing the invalid which have
screwed block devices k for regulating their height and stays D¹ for fixing the legs of
the tongs in the desired position when opened or closed substantially as described
and illustrated.