IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEDSTEADS AND SIMILAR FURNITURE DESIGNED MAINLY FOR THE USE AND COMFORT OF INVALIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Reynolds of Henwick Lodge in the County of
Worcester and temporarily of the Patent Office, Broad Street Corner,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, for an invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Reynolds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1882.
JAMES REYNOLDS, of Henwick
temporarily of The Patent Office,
County of Warwick, Gentleman,
Lodge, in the County of Worcester, and
Broad Street Corner, Birmingham, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEDSTEADS
AND SIMILAR FURNITURE DESIGNED MAINLY FOR THE USE AND COMFORT OF
INVALIDS
"
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon the Invention described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 4188/7. granted to me, and bearing date the
9th day of November A.D. 1877;-and the present improvements have especial
reference to improved combinations of mechanism for adjusting the movable frames
or parts of the bed-bottom to the required position most convenient to the invalid
or user of the bed, and they have been designed to reduce the number and to
greatly simplify the arrangement of the parts for adjusting and setting the said
movable frames,
These frames (which support the bedding) are three in number, and are
respectively intended to support the back and head, the legs and knees, and the
feet, of the user; and by means of the present improvements they can be readily
adjusted and set to the required or most convenient positions by the user (unless
quite helpless) together or separately. According to my present improvements I
also adapt a fixed seat-frame between the adjustable body and leg frames.
The means I now adopt for adjusting and setting the body and head frame
dispense with the inconvenient arrangement of the long handspike or lever and

page_text: end rack described in my said Specification, and are considerably more compact
and within reach of the occupier of the bed. The cross-shaft of the pair of levers
carrying the roller upon which the body and head frame bears as hitherto, has
keyed on one extremity a toothed segment fitted with a removable spoke or hand-
lever convenient to the occupier of the bed, and he can thus readily turn the framo
supporting levers to any required position;-and the rack or toothed segment,
levers, and frame, are automatically arrested in the required positions by means of
a pawl which is also carried by one of the opposite saddles by which the cross shaft
is carried as hitherto. The lower ends of the said pair of levers are connected
by a cross-bar to which I adapt, a series of counterweights; and these greatly
assist in rendering the adjusting of, the frame easy to the occupier of the bed. The
body and head frame in lieu of being supported by the side saddles as hitherto, is
now supported by hooks on cranked portions of the side guide rods, and which rest
on the side angle irons of the bedstead.
The lower ends of the said pair of levers also carry adjustable grooved rollers,
and by means of which the hinged parts of the leg and knee frame are adjusted
and set in position, the rollers bearing upon levers directly depending from the
section of this frame nearest the said seat-board in such a manner as that the more
the said rollers depress the said levers the more acute is the angle formed by the
hinged sections of this frame, the free ends of which are provided with rollers
the one (nearest the head of the bed) of which runs along the said guide rods as
hitherto, (and which rods I make shorter than hitherto), and the other of which
now runs on the side frames or angle irons of the bedstead, and the sections of this
frame thus have freedom of endway. movement. This very simple arrangement
dispenses with the comparatively complicated arrangement of levers, rods, chains,
and other parts described in the said Specification. When it is not required
to raise the leg and knee frame with the body and head frame, the levers
depending from the former are slipped sideways from under the rollers which
depress them.
For adjusting and setting the foot frame, I dispense altogether with the arrange-
ment of saddles, levers, and rollers, as described in my said Specification, and in lieu
thereof I attach to this frame a depending part having a relatively fixed position,
and having at its free end a chain or any equivalent part by which it and the
frame can be set in any required position. The foot frame may be supported in
the manner the body and head frame is supported as hereinbefore described, or by
means of small saddles carrying inner projecting pivots upon which the said hooks
may bear.
It will of course be understood that the whole of these appointments with
various other usual auxiliaries not pertinent to the present improvements can be
adapted to an ordinary bedstead for converting the samo into an adjustable bed
of rest for the use of an invalid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1882.
JAMES REYNOLDS of Henwick Lodge in the County of Worcester and
temporarily of the Patent Office Broad Street Corner Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BEDSTEADS
AND SIMILAR FURNITURE DESIGNED MAINLY FOR THE USE AND COMFORT OF
INVALIDS"
This Invention relates to certain Improvements-upon the Invention described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 4188/" granted to me and bearing date the
ninth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy seven; and the present improvements have special reference to improved
combinations of mechanism for adjusting and setting the movable frames or parts
of the bed-bottom to the required positions most convenient to the invalid or user
of the bed, and they have been designed to reduce the number and to greatly
simplify the arrangement of the parts necessary for adjusting and setting the said
movable frames.
These frames support the bedding and are three in number and are respectively
intended to support the back and head the legs and knees and the feet of the user, and
by means of the present improvements which are illustrated on the accompanying
drawings they can be readily adjusted and set to the required or most convenient
positions by the user, unless he be helpless.
On the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a transverse section and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of an invalid bedstead adapted with my present
improvements. A represents the body and head rest or frame. B, the leg and
knee rest or frame; and C the foot rest or frame all of which are of the former
construction and arrangement except as is otherwise herein mentioned; the
present improvements having more especial reference to the improvement and
simplification of the means of actuating these frames than to the construction or
arrangement thereof, D; represents a fixed Seat-board which I adopt (for the
greater comfort of the invalid) between the adjustable frames A and B.
The means I now adopt for adjusting and setting the frame A, dispense with
the inconvenient arrangement of the long handspike or lever and end rack
described in my said former Specification, and are considerably more compact, and
within reach and under the control of the occupier of the bed. The cross shaft 1
of the pair of levers 2 carrying the rollers 3, upon which the frame A bears, and
by which it is elevated and adjusted, as hitherto, has keyed on one extremity a
toothed segment 4, fitted with a removable spoke or hand-lever 5, convenient to
the occupier of the bed and to the use of an attendant, and he or the attendant
can readily turn the levers 2, to any required position; and the rack 4, levers 2, and
frame A, are automatically arrested in the required position by. means of a pawl 6,
which is carried by the adjacent one of the opposite side saddles 7, by which the
cross shaft 1 is supported as hitherto. The lower ends of the levers 2 are connected
by a cross bar 8, to which I adapt a series of Counter weights 9 which are
removable and can be varied to suit the weight of the Patient and these greatly
assist in rendering the adjusting of the frame A, easy to anyone reclining thereon
-The frame A; in lieu of being supported by the side saddles 7 as formerly, is
according to the present improvements supported by hooks 10 resting on, cranked
portions 11 of longitudinal side guide rods 12 and which portions 11 rést on the

page_text: longitudinal side iron angles 13 of the, bedstead; and the depending parts
of these rods 12, also serve to fix the positions of the saddles 7 (and 18) as
shewn.
The lower ends of the levers 2, also carry adjustable grooved rollers 14, and by
means of which the two hinged portions of the frame B are adjusted and set in
position, the rollers 14, bearing upon levers 15, depending from the section of this
frame nearest the seat-board D, in such a manner as that the more the rollers 14,
depress the levers 15, the more acute is the angle formed by the hinged sections of
this frame, the free ends of which are provided with rollers 16, 17, the former of
which runs along the said guide rods 12, and the. latter of which runs on the side
frames or angle irons 13 of the bedstead, and the sections of this frame have thus
freedom of endway movement. The Rollers 14 are made adjustable so that by
shifting them, a given movement of the frame A, may be made to give a varying
movement to the frame B. The guide rods 12, I make so as to terminate at the
opposite saddles 18, for the convenience of packing and transit and so as to render it
easy to adapt the apparatus to an ordinary bedstead and I shape and fix them as
illustrated The above described simple arrangement for adjusting and setting the
frame B, dispenses with the complicated arrangement of levers, rods, chains, or
links and other parts described in my said former specification, and acts to
greater advantage.
When it is not required to raise the frame B, together with the frame A, the
levers 15 are slipped outwards from under and clear of the rollers 14; For
adjusting and setting the footboard C, I dispense with the complicated arrangement
of saddles, levers, and rollers, as described in my said former specification, and in
lieu thereof I attach to this frame a depending part 19 having a relatively fixed
position, and having at its free end a chain or any equivalent part 20 which can
be caught in a rack 21 and by which it and the frame C can be set in any required
position.
The footboard C may be supported in the manner the frame A is supported as
herein before described if the guide rods 12 are extended to the bottom end of the
bedstead or by means of small saddles 22 carrying inner projecting pins
or pivots 23 upon which the hooks 10 may bear or in any equivalent manner.
I wish it to understood that the above described appointments, together with
various other usual auxiliaries, such as an adjustable table for meals, and for
reading purposes, can be adapted to an ordinary bedstead for converting the same
into an adjustable bed of rest for the use of an invalid.
+
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the improvements
constituting the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent:
1. The combination of the means hereinbefore described for adjusting and setting
the body and head rest or frame of an invalid or adjustable bedstead, substantially
us hereinbefore described and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings, such
means consisting of a toothed segment, a removable hand lever, and a pawl, and a
series of auxiliary or counterweights, the same being adapted as hereinbefore
described, or in any equivalent manner.
2. The combination with such means as are hereinbefore immediately referred
to, of adjustable rollers, and of levers or rods depending from the rest or frame for
the legs and knees. in such manner as to engage under the said rollers, the saine
being adapted as or substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated on
the accompanying drawings, and being provided for the purpose of enabling the leg
and knee frame to be more easily manipulated together with and by the body and
head frame..
3. The combination with the foot rest or frame of a relatively fixed part, and of

page_text: an attached chain or rod, and of a fixed rack, for enabling the foot-rest to be
independently adjusted and set substantially as herein before described and as
illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said James Reynolds have hereunto set my hand
and seal the fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES REYNOLDS. (L.S.)