An Improved Hospital Bed or Cot.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hospital Bed or Cot.
We, ELIZABETH DOUGLAS STAPLES, of Davis Avenue, West New Brighton, in the
County of Richmond, and State of New York, United States of America, and HUGH
EDGAR ASHCRAFT, of Forrest Street, Arlington, in the County of Hudson, and Stato
of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 a novel form of cot or bed, the object of the invention
being to provide for the rapid and easy transfer of patients from one cot or bed to
anotlier. And to the end named, the invention consists essentially of an endless
carrier belt or mattress that is mounted upon drums or rollers that are journaled in
the bed frame; all as will be hereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed
out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specifi-
cation; in which figure 1 is a side view of our improved hospital bed or cot, the parts
being represented as they appear when adjusted for ordinary use. Figure 2 is a
similar view, the parts however, being represented as they appear when adjusted to a
position to transfer a patient from one cot to another. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional
view taken on line of figure 1; and figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional plan
view, the view being taken on line y-y of figure 1.
Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
In constructing such a bed or cot as the one illustrated in the drawings above
referred to; we provide four end posts 10 that are connected in any suitable manner,
and upon these posts we mount drums 11 which are journaled in apertures or slots 2
formed in the upper ends of the posts, as illustrated in the drawing; but any other
proper means for mounting the rollers might be adopted. Upon the drums 11 we
stretch an endless belt of woven wire or canvas, or other proper material, such as that
shewn at 12, and the upper length of this belt 12 we support by spiral springs 13 that
are mounted upon cross slats 14, the upward throw of the springs being, as usual,
imited by cords or binding wires 15.
On either side of the main frame of the cot we arrange bars 16 which have down-
wardly extending legs 17 that are held to the main side bars 30 of the bed frame by

page_text: clips 19. These bars 16 carry small rollers 20 which extend across the bedstead
beneath the upper length of the belt 12. The lower links of toggle levers 21 are
pivotally connected to the side bars 30 of the bed frame, the upper links of these
toggle levers being pivotally connected to the bars 16. To the central joints of the
toggle levers 21 we connect bars 22 which bars are in turn connected with the ends of
a central drum 24 by links 23, the drum being provided with a lever arm or handle 25.
The toggle levers are inversely arranged upon either side of the central drum, so that
as the drum is turned by moving its lever arm in the direction of the arrow shewn in
connection therewith in figure 2, the toggle levers will be straightened out and the
rollers 20 will be brought to bear against the under face of the upper length of the
belt or mattress 12, thus raising said belt or mattress clear of the springs 13, as is
represented in figure 2.
In using the cot above described, a mattress of ordinary construction is placed upon
the upper length of the belt 12, and the side bars 16 and with them the cross-rollers 20
are lowered to the position in which they are shewn in figure 1; but when it is desired
to move a patient from one bed to another, the beds are placed end to end and secured
together, the lever 25 is thrown to raise the belt 12 above the springs 13 and a crank
arm 26 is applied to one end of the shaft of one of the drums 11, one of said shaft
As the crank
ends being formed to receive said crank arm, as indicated in figure 2.
arm is turned, the upper length of the belt 12 of the bed or cot upon which the
patient is resting, will be advanced toward the adjacent bed, carrying the mattress
forward, and at this time the belt 12 of the bed to which the patient is to be trans-
ferred, should be advanced at the same rate of speed and in the same direction as that
imparted to the belt of the bed from which the patient is to be moved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. The combination, with a bed frame, of two transverse drums supported thereby,
and an endless carrier belt stretched tightly on the drums, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a bed frame, of drums supported thereby, a belt supported
by the drums, and springs mounted upon cross slats that are supported by the bed
frame, and arranged to support the upper length of the belt, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with a bed frame, of drums supported thereby, an endless belt
carried by the drums, side bars loosely connected to the bed frame, rollers journaled in
said side bars, and a ineans, substantially as described, for raising the side bars, as and
for the purpose specified.
4. The combination, with a bed frame, of rollers or drums supported thereby, a belt
supported by the rollers, springs mounted upon slats and arranged to support the upper
length of the belt, side bars 16 provided with downwardly extending legs 17, clips 19
by which the legs are loosely held to the bed frame, toggle levers 21 connected to the
bed frame and to the side bars 16, a central drum, and connections between said central
drum and the toggle levers, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of February 1888.