CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF A BEDSTEAD OR BED FRAME TO RELIEVE THE BEDRIDDEN, THE RUPTURED, AND SUFFERERS WITH BROKEN LIMBS, GOUT, OR ANY OTHER AFFLICTION
Year: 1812

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PAXON, of Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, Upholder, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, in and by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-eighth day of August last, for Himself, His heirs, and
successors, did give and grant unto me, the said George Paxon, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said George Paxon,
my exors, admiors, and assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves,
or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such others as I,
the said George Paxon, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my invented and discovered "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF A BEDSTEAD OR BED FRAME TO RELIEVE THE BEDRIDDEN, THE RUPTURED,
AND SUFFERERS WITH BROKEN LIMBS, GOUT, OR ANY OTHER AFFLICTION;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said George
Paxon, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be carolled in His
Majesty's Iligh Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Paxon, do hereby declare that my said Invention is fully ascertained
by the Drawing hereunto. annexed, and the following description thereof,
viz―
This frame has ten movements:-
1, to raise the patient gradually from his horizontal position to any angle
till fairly on his seat, by a rising head board.
2, the board is jointed and lets down, by which means his back and
shoulders may have any application.
3 & 4, give ease to the patient by flinging him on his right or left side in
any angle.
5, elevates him from his horizontal position, raising him from the feet to
the head in any angle; and the
6, vice versa, from the head to the feet.
7, raises him, with his mattrass and bedding, with his bed frame, in an
horizontal position, for the purpose of cleanliness, and placing a bed pan, or
other convenience under him, without disturbing the patient the least; and the
8, to raise and suspend him above his bedstead or bedding, so that his
mattrass, bed, or sheet, on which he immediately lies, may be changed or
turned without incommoding him.
All these motions are effected by one shaft and handle, without removing
either, and takes to pieces for the purpose of packing.
This machine or apparatus is represented in the annexed Plate (Letter A),
and consists of a framed bedstead (or framed case independant of a bedstead),
which will lay on any other bedstead, containing two lifting frames resting on
ledges inside the frame, and a sacking frame with double screw rails, one at
the head and one at the feet, for the double purpose of either lightening the
sacking or moving the centre hole, as represented in the plates, to suit the
convenience of the patient. The two lifting frames and the sacking frame are
hinged right and left side to raise alternate. Two uprights, morticed into the
head and foot rail, will support an iron shaft or spindle, at each end of which
are two cog wheels, which rise two upright iron racks perpendicular, working
on the two wood uprights. These racks are connected with or disengaged from
the bell shape irons to perform the different motions of the inner frames, which
motions are all accomplished by one handle. On the framed case rests an
additional frame, occasionally to raise the body, independant of the bedding,
for the purpose of changing the same.
There are ten different motions attached to this machine:-
First, ra'ses the patient's head and shoulders gradually till on his scat. and

page_text: may be kept at any angle by means of a frame rising from about half way
down the bedstead, where it is hinged; this motion is given by attaching a strap
to the nob of the head upright iron rails.
Second, lets down one half of the before-mentioned frame for the purpose of
dressing the back part of the head, or applying a dressing blister on the shoul-
ders, supported in this position by two iron stays or hooks (See Plate No. 2.)
Third and fourth positions relieve the patient by flinging him on his right or
left side by means of an additional frame folding in the center. To effect this,
disengage the connecting hooks f on the bell-shape inside iron from the upright
iron racks e, and loop on the knobs g of the tapes on the side intended to be
elevated, which may be done to any required angle from either side or center
of the bed frame.
Fifth, raises him from the feet to the head, where also he may remain at any
required angle. This is effected by attaching the hook f, No. 5, to the upright
iron rack at the head.
Sixth, raises him vice versa from the head to the feet, by releasing the
hook fat the head and attaching the do. f at the foot, No. 6, to the iron
upright at the foot end of the bedstead.
the
Seventh, raises him, with his upper mattrass, in an horizontal position for
purpose of placing a bed pan, or any other convenience, under him (a
proper aperture being made in the mattrass and sacking for the purpose. This
movement is accomplished by connecting or attaching both hooks f to the bell-
shape irons to the upright iron racks.
Eighth, raises him above his bedstead and bedding, so that his bedding and
linen may be changed. This is performed by means of an extra frame laying on
the outside case or frame, and unconnected with the sacking frame; brass nobs
are placed at equal distances down the sides, and the patient raised by means
of the sheet or straps made for that purpose, studded on the nobs, which at
other times are tacked in. This frame has two bell irons attached to it outside
the two wood uprights, and its motion effected by two similar swivel books
(as on the inner bell shape iron), which are placed over outer nols on the
upright racks moving perpendicularly.
A, bed frame with feet screwed into sockets. b, sacking and frame. c, two
lifting frames with side movements (No. 3 and 4). d, outside frame, with sheet
or straps eylet-holed, raised, as in Figure No. 8, for the purpose of changing the
whole of the bedding. e, inner racks attached by swivel hooks to the bell-shape
irons for raising the frames. f, connecting hooks inside and outside the bell-
shape irons. g, knobs to attach the side and head tapes for raising the frame to

page_text: accomplish the side movements. H, front view of the foot end. i, additional
frame for raising the upper part of the body. k, outside bell-shape irons for raising
the outside frame. j, shaft with three cog wheels and handles. M, principal cog
wheel. N, occasional feet to form bedstead compleat when used independant
of a common bedstead. O, moveable lath bottom to use with the above. P,
upper part of the bed pillow. Q, iron shaft for corner of bed frame to connect
the upper and lower part of the four-post pillows, by means of which a four-post
bed may be formed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Paxon, have hereunto set my
band and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twelve.