Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads for Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums and the like, and in the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th, Mar.,, 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899· -
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads for Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums
and the like, and in the Manufacture of the same.
I, SAMUEL LLSLEY WHITFIELD,, of Watery Lane, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Managing Director, 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:-
.
•
My invention has for its object improvements in metallic bedsteads for hos
pitals lunatic asylums' and the like and consists of improvements on my Patents
No. 20722 A:D. 1893 and No. 21978 of A.D: 1897 by which bedsteads are made
more secure from any interference by the patients of asylums while at the same
time in combination with the provision for a detachable foot which will not scratch
polished' floors I provide for interchangeable castors thus enabling the same bed-
stead to be used where such castors are essential.
By means of my invention I may also vary the height of one or both ends of the
bedstead which is a particular advantage in the case of invalid beds while pro-
vision is also: made to prevent damage to the walls or dado when projecting parts
of the bedstead are pushed against the wall when being moved.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood' and more easily carried
into practise. I have appended' hereunto four sheets of drawings upon which I
have fully illustrated the nature of my said invention.
Figure 1 is a general view of a bedstead suituble for hospitals schools and other
institutions and having my various improvements embodied.
Figure 2 is a view of part of one side H of the stead shewing the mode of
attacliment of the mesh thereto.
Figure 3 is a section through the side H shewing the attaching hook in elevation.
Figure 4. is a similar view to Figure 3 but shewing one mode of converting
the hook into an eye.
Figure 5 is a similar sectional view shewing, a modified form of attachment of
the mesh thereto.
Figure. 6 is a similar view shewing the next process for securing the attachment.
Figure 7 is a, vertical section through one leg of the bedstead and the additional
length to same.
Figure 8 is an elevation of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a section through the, additional length when disconnected and
the interchangable, castor:
Figure: 10 is a view of one of the dovetailed junctions of the head of the bedstead
shewing the buffer attachment.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan of same.
Figure 12 is a vertical section.
The first part of my invention consists of securing the mesh F to the sides of
the bedstead H in such a manner that it is impossible for the lunatic patients
to remove the mesh or various parts connected with the fastening of the same,
to effect which I drill or otherwise form a hole through both sides of the tube H

page_text: as shewn by Figure 3 into which I insert the stem of the hook A which is secured
by riviting at a and upon this hook A the wires of the mesh Fare looped by
being passed through the aperture a¹ after which the hooks are tightly clinched
as shew at a² Figure 4 by means of the pincers E or other suitable means by which
all possibility of the mesh- being loosed or the eyelets A. being withdrawn as was
previously the case with hooks screwed in is obviated. In the case of angle irons
the hooks are rivited in one of the flanges of the angle iron K and may be clinched
as shewn by Figure 6 or in any other suitable manner.
The second part of my
invention consists of the combined detachable foot N and interchangable castor P
in carrying which into effect I provide the tapped nut m² Figure 7 which is
chilled into the underside of the bottom chill m₁ of each of the legs the underside
of the said chill being preferably cupped or recessed. The foot N is formed of
a cast iron inverted knob covered with rubber felt or other suitable material or
may be formed wholly or partly of wood and is provided with the screw stem n¹
to fit the beforementioned nut while the interchangable castors P are also pro-
vided with a similar screw stem and curved shoulders p' which respectively
fit the said nut m² and recess m³ while the said shoulder p or recess m³ may be
provided with a seating of rubber or other suitable material.
For varying the height of the bedstead intermediate lengths of leg B are pro-
vided having the screw 63 chilled in at the one end for insertion in the nut m³
and provided with the circular shoulders to the chill b' for the purpose of fitting
the recess m³ the other end of the lengthener B being provided with a similar
tapped nut band recess 65 to that on the leg so as to receive either the covered
foot N or castor P' as required.
It will thus be seen that in a hospital where a number of beds are made
universally in accordance with my invention the possession of one or two sets
of lengthening pieces B enables any particular bed to be raised either at one or
both ends when required.
The third part of my invention consists of the means for preventing the pro-
jecting parts of the bedstead from damaging the wall in carrying which into
effect I provide the tapped nut p¹ which is chilled into the projecting part of the
junctions at the bedstead head end, for receiving the buffer C which is arranged
in a suitable position for coming into contact with the wall at any time when
the bedstead is pushed in that direction. The buffer C is formed preferably of
a cast iron core covered with rubber felt or other suitable material and is pro-
vided with the stem c¹ for entering the before mentioned nut r¹. The buffer C
may be partly screwed into a recess as shewn or the back of the buffer may butt
against a flat formed on the junction and such buffers C may be applied to any
projecting part of the bedstead with equal effect to that shewn.
Referring again to Sheet 2 in cases where the mesh F is composed of a series
of links I may provide a closed eyelet A and first open and then thread the adjacent
links through same, afterwards clenching and closing up the ends of the links in
the required position to complete the mesh as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. In matallic bedsteads for lunatic asylums and in the manufacture of the
same the hooks A rivited to the side H or K and clinched together after the mesh
has been looped thereon substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
illustrated.
2nd. In metallic bedsteads for hospitals and the like the interchangable feet N
and castor P substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
3rd. In metallic bedsteads for hospitals and the like the lengthening pieces B
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
4th. In metallic bedsteads for hospitals and the like the buffers such as C sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.

page_text: 5th. In metallic bedsteads for lunatic asylums and in the manufacture of the
same the eyelets such as A having the links of the mesh threaded through same
before the links are attached to mesh substantialy as herein set forth.
Dated this 1st day of March 1899.
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant, 5, Corporation Street Birmingham.