IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ENABLING INVALIDS AND OTHER PERSONS TO DRINK IN A RECUMBENT POSITION
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Pocock at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th May
1870.
I, ALFRED Pocock, of New City Chambers, Bishopsgate Street, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ENABLING INVALIDS AND OTHER PERSONS
TO DRINK IN A RECUMBENT POSITION," to be as follows:-
My Invention is designed to afford the means whereby sick persons
and others who are confined to their beds may be conveniently and
comfortably supplied with liquids, and may drink while lying or reclining
in any position, instead of being compelled to sit up in bed or otherwise
change their position, and without requiring the assistance of an
attendant. In many cases, such as in violent fevers and other maladies,
and after severe accidents or surgical operations, it is very inconvenient
and sometimes very dangerous to raise the patient, and it is a great
object to avoid the necessity for having to do this more frequently than
is absolutely necessary. Frequently extreme weakness renders any
change of position absolutely impossible for many hours, while in other
cases the disturbance or removal of the bed coverings causes very serious

page_text: consequences by checking perspiration. Various contrivances have been
adopted for the purpose of supplying liquids conveniently to sick persons.
and others who require to be fed while lying down, such, for instance,
as small cups, jugs, and similar vessels with peculiarly formed spouts,
but these will not allow the patient to drink while lying down. without
danger of choking, and as they will only hold a small quantity they need
to be frequently refilled. Moreover they cannot be placed conveniently
in such a position that the patient can drink without the aid of an
attendant, and without being partially uncovered and raised up in bed.
Feeding bottles with elastic tubes have also been used, but these have
not been so contrived that any quantity of the liquid can be kept in a
vessel or reservoir outside the bed and at a uniform temperature, either
cold or warm, and at the same time allow the patient to drink without
effort or without any change of position.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I construct a vessel or
reservoir of glass, porcelain, metal; or other suitable material, of such
a capacity that it will hold enough of the liquid to supply the patient
throughout the night or during any other required period. This vessel
or reservoir is to be supported on a bracket or hanger which is fixed or
suspended upon the wall near the bed, and at such an elevation that
it will be higher than any position in which the occupant of the bed
may recline. To this vessel I connect a flexible tube, which should
be long enough to extend conveniently to any part of the bed, so that
it may be adapted to whatever position the patient may happen to be_
lying in. The end of the tube is furnished with a mouth piece of any
convenient form and material, and on or near this mouth picce is a
spring clip, which always keeps the tube closed and prevents the escape
of. the liquid from the mouth piece except when a slight pressure is;
exerted upon the said clip. When the mouth piece is taken hold of and
inserted in the mouth the clip will be found to be in such a position
that the fingers naturally press upon and open the same, while if the
mouth piece is released or dropped the clip instantly closes the tube,
so that none of the liquid is wasted or the bed clothes wetted or soiled.
The bracket for supporting the reservoir is made with projecting pieces
which clasp or embrace the said vessel and prevent any possibility of.
its being upset or thrown down, while at the same time the said vessel
may be readily removed from the bracket with the tube attached to be
cleaned or refilled. The said vessel has an aperture at the top through.

page_text: which it is filled. While the apparatus is being used this aperture is
covered by a stopper which is perforated with small holes to admit
air. The bracket may be made of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, and may be permanently attached to the wall by screws or
nails, or it may be supported by means which allow it to be readily
removed at any time. If it is desired that the liquid supplied to the
patient should be warm the contents of the reservoir may be kept
uniformly at the desired temperature by means of a small lamp, or
other convenient warming apparatus or appliance adapted to the
reservoir. By having the said reservoir higher than the bed, or in such
a position that the liquid has not to be raised to the mouth piece, the
patient is enabled to drink without the effort which would have to be
exerted if the apparatus were otherwise arranged.