Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st July, 1887.
being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification, and in
which:-
:-
Fig. 1 represents a side view of my aforesaid combined chair and table when
converted into a chair.
Fig. 2 represents a front view of said chair looking in the direction of arrow a in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the chair, taken on line c Fig. 2,
looking in the direction of arrow d same Fig.
Fig. 4 is a back view of the chair looking in the direction of arrow b Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side and bottom views, respectively, of a part of the chair
hereinafter more fully described.
Fig. 7 is a side view of my combined chair and table when converted into a
surgeon's operating table, one end thereof being shown, by dotted lines, slightly
elevated for the purpose hereinafter specified.
Fig. 8 is a top or plan view of the table in position for gynaecological operations,
-the extension piece thereof being removed, and the foot rests shown drawn out
ready for use when the patient is in the dorsal position ;-said Fig. also showing, by
dotted lines, the extension piece aforesaid, applied to one side of the table for
treatment of patients when in the Sims' position or laying upon the side, and
Fig. 9 represents my combined chair and table folded up in compact form ready
for storage or shipment.
My invention relates to adjustable operating chairs and tables for the use of
surgeons and gynaecologists, adapted to be converted into different positions, as
required, and to be folded in a compact form, for storage or shipment. Said invention
comprises various improvements hereinafter specified, in the construction of the
surgeon's combined operating chair and table set forth in Letters Patent No. 327,570,
of the United States, granted to me October 6, 1885.
To enable others skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and
use the same, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.
In the drawings,
The parts marked e, f, g and h represent the principal frame pieces of my combined
chair and table, which, are so constructed, and hinged together as to admit of the

page_text: easy adjustment thereof to bring the parts g, h, into any position required by the
surgeon or gynaecologist in operating upon his patients,-being held when thus
adjusted by means of the hinged supporting bail-braces i, j and adjustable supporting
brace k, also hinged. The latter, and the bail-brace at the points k³,
respectively, to the long frame e and the bail-brace j, at j¹, to the frame g.
The brace k is detachably, connected at its upper end when in use, to the outer end
of the hinged part h, and the lower ends of the bail-braces are held in their adjusted
positions against the upper edges of one or the other of the cross pieces l, m, n and o,
or in the notches p, q, as the case may be, the shoulders and notches l, m, P, I,
serving to hold the brace i, and the shoulders n, o, the brace j, as shown in the
drawings.
Said bail-braces i, j, are prevented from slipping out of their respective holding
notches by the parts formed upon or secured to their respective places; and to
further insure the braces being held in their adjusted positions, a hinged device con-
sisting of the parts s s¹ may be employed. Said device is arranged upon the inside
of one of the arms of frame and is constructed and operated in the following
manner. The upper end of the main parts is fork-shaped and receives the pointed
end of the parts therein, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and said parts are so fulcrumed
in relation to each other, that when the lower end of the parts is depressed or
pushed inward by pressing upon the outer end of its projecting part 82, the upper
end of the part s¹, which is hook shaped, is also moved inward, away from the bottom
of the bail-brace, thus admitting of the removal of the latter when in the position shown
in Figs. 1 and 3. The same operation causes hooks formed on the main part s, (opposite
to each shoulder and notch) to be also depressed or moved back therefrom, to release
the bail-brace when held in any of said places.
The position of the parts s, s¹, when depressed as aforesaid is shown in Fig. 5 of
the drawings.
Upon the pressure being removed from the projections, the aforesaid parts, & s',
are forced back into their normal positions, shown in Fig. 3, by means of a suitable
spring fastened to frame f, which bears against a projecting pin s*, on the part s
The purpose of employing two jointed and hinged pieces, s s¹, as aforesaid, is to
obtain less motion of the lower end of the part s, in moving back the holding hooks
to release the bail-braces, than would be necessitated by a longer leverage.
(see Fig. 6).
I do not limit myself, however, to the construction described, as the same result
may be effected by employing only one piece hinged at its upper end above the
highest holding shoulder on the frame f.
A like device may be employed in connection with the holding shoulders n, o, on
the frame e; and a greater or less number of bail-brace holding notches and shoulders
may be employed on the frames e, f, than shown, if desired.
The supporting brace k, consists of a skeleton frame (see Figs. 2 and 4) having an
extension rod or bar k¹ fitted to work up and down in the central part k³ of said
skeleton frame, as shown by Figs. 4 and 7. The upper end of the rod or bar k¹ is
provided with a horizontal opening through which a spring-bolt t fastened to the front
end of the part h may be passed to fasten the parts together when in use as shown in
the drawings.
In adjusting the combined chair and table to any desired position the rod or
bar, k¹, is slipped up or down in the part k³, and after adjustment, fastened by means
of an ordinary set-screw u and nut the rod or bar being clamped tight against the
part by turning up the nut v as usual in such cases.
The frames g, h, may be fastened near the hinged point thereof so that they may
be held from moving out of position when used as a chair, by means of a hook w
hinged to the frame g, and adapted to engage with a projection on a holding plate
fastened to the cross piece n of frame e. Said plate may also be extended a short
distance below said cross piece n to serve as a stop to prevent the hinged brace k
from swinging in beyond said point when detached at its upper end from the
frame h.

page_text: The part marked y represents an extension frame for increasing the length of
frame e when required. It is of more especial advantage when the combined chair
and table is converted into an operating table such as illustrated in Fig. 7.
When converted into a chair it is not essential, and may be used or not, as pre-
ferred, in the latter instance it serving merely the purpose of ornamentation, to
impart a more finished appearance to the back of said chair, rather than usefulness,
as the head of the person sitting in the chair comes beneath said extension frame and
therefore does not serve as a support therefor.
In using the combined chair and table for gynaecological operations, the extension y
is removed from the end as shown in Fig. 8, and in place thereof are used foot
rests z; or, said extension applied to one side of the end of the table, according to
the position that the patient is required to occupy under treatment. As, for instance,
if required to occupy a dorsal position, said position is maintained by placing the heels
against the curved parts 2¹ 21, of the foot rests, to obtain the desired support for the
legs; while, if said patient is required to be placed in the Sims' position or upon the
side, the extension being fastened to the side of frame g, as shown by dotted lines, in
Fig. 8, serves as a support in this position.
The extension y may be securely fastened in either of the positions previously
described, by passing a bar y¹ (secured to the back side thereof and provided with a
forked end), through a loop y² or y³, fastened to the frame g, then passing the forked
end over a thrumb-screw y, and turning the nut y³ thereof, up tight against said
forked end, as best shown in Fig. 4. In addition to the aforesaid fastening, the
abutting side of the extension is provided with dowels, (see dotted lines) which fit
into openings yo, made in the end and side edges of frame g.
The foot rests z zare fitted to slide in suitable guides fastened to the under side
of said frame gas shown in Fig. 4, so that they may be readily drawn out and pushed
back by hand as required. The inner end of each foot rest is provided with a
suitable stop to prevent their being drawn entirely out of their holding guides.
In Fig. 9 I have shown my combined chair and table folded up ready for storage
or shipment. When thus folded it is obvious that the same may be conveniently
transported from one place to another being not only light in weight, but also
occupying but little space in comparison to others now in use not made in accordance
with my inventions.
Said combined chair and table is susceptible of being converted into various other
forms than those shown and described, but it will be unnecessary to illustrate or
specify said additional manipulations to make clear the nature of my improvements.
The frames gh, and extension y may be upholstered, as desired, with any material
suitable for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim as new
and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :-
1. The back frame e, bail-brace i hinged to the upper end of said frame, frame having
one or more supporting shoulders upon the upper side thereof to receive the bottom
of said bail-brace i, and an adjustable device arranged on one of the legs of frame f
for holding the bail-brace in said notches, comprising a hinged lever provided with
hooks or projections upon the upper side thereof adapted to engage with and hold
the bottom of the brace, also provided with means for forcing said lever towards the
holding notches aforesaid, and means whereby it may be forced back therefrom, in
combination with frame g, hinged at the upper end to the upper end of frame e,
frame h hinged to the lower end of frame g and adjustable means connected with the
outer end of frame and the bottom of frame e for supporting said outer end of
frame h, substantially as shown and specified.
2. An adjustable device arranged on one of the legs of the back supporting frame f
for holding the bottom of the bail-brace in the notches formed in the top side of
said frame, comprising a hinged lever provided with hooks or projections upon the
top side thereof adapted to engage with and hold said bottom of the bail-brace,

page_text: means for forcing said lever towards the notches and bail-brace, and means whereby
it may be forced back therefrom to release said bail-brace, substantially as shown and
specified.
3. In a surgeon's combined operating chair and table, the extension frame y pro-
vided with the projecting rod or bar y upon the under side thereof, fork shaped at
its extremity, also provided with two or more dowels upon its abutting edge, in
combination with the frame g provided with the openings y in the end and side edges
thereof, also with the holding loops y2 y3 and the fastening screw and nut y* y' or their
equivalents whereby said extension frame may be fastened upon the end or one side
of frame g, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a surgeon's combined operating chair and table, the extension supporting
brace k hinged at the bottom, to the lower end of the back supporting frame e, and
provided with the extension bar k¹ fitted to slide longitudinally in the central part of
said brace, also provided with the set-screw u and nut or their equivalents for
fastening the aforesaid rod or bar after adjustment, to the body of the brace, in com-
bination with the frames e, f, g, h, bail-braces i, j, and means for fastening the upper
end of said brace k, to the front end of frame h, said frames being hinged together,
and the bail-braces hinged to the frames e and g respectively, the latter also being
supported and held in notches or shoulders formed in the top surfaces of the frames e
and f, substantially as shown and specified.
5. Means for fastening the hinged frames g, h, to frame e when the several parts
are converted into a chair, consisting of the hook w hinged to the bottom of frame g,
or near where the frames g, h, are hinged together, and plate x fastened to the cross
piece n of frame e having a projection above said cross piece for the hook w to engage
with, and projecting below the cross piece to form a stop for the hinged brace k to
strike against when detached and swung down, in combination with the frames e, f, g, h
and bail-braces i, j, all constructed, arranged and hinged, substantially as shown and
specified.
6. The combination of the frame g, provided with guiding and holding parts 2,
with the slide bars z, z, having suitable foot rests at their outer ends, and stops at
their inner ends, substantially as shown and described.
; the front
7. A surgeon's combined operating chair and table, comprising in combination, the
top frames g, h, hinged together, the long, supporting frame e hinged at its upper
end to the outer end of frame g, and provided with one or more bail-brace holding
notches upon its upper side, the back supporting frame hinged at one end to frame e
at about its centre, and provided with one or more bail-brace supporting notches upon
its upper side; bail-braces i, j, hinged respectively to frames e and
extension brace hinged to the bottom of long frame e, also provided with means for
fastening the upper end thereof to the front end of frame h, and for fastening its
extension part to the body or main part of the brace, after adjustment; means for
fastening the hinged frames g, h, to the frame e when the various parts are converted
into a chair; adjustable means for holding the bottom of the bail-brace i in the sup-
porting notches in frame f; the adjustable extension frame y provided with means
for fastening the same to the end or one side of frame g, and foot rests z z, provided
with means for guiding and controlling the movements thereof in drawing out and
pushing back the same from and towards the frame g, all constructed and arranged to
be adjusted and operated, substantially as shown and specified.
1000
Witnesses,
ALBERT A. BARKER.
WALTER B. NOURSE.
ALBERT JEREMIAH MARSTON.