Improvements in Apparatus Attached to Beds and Bed-clothes for Prevention of Persons Taking Cold.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Attached to Beds and Bed-clothes for
Prevention of Persons Taking Cold.
I, ROBERT BUCHANAN Ironfounder, Star Foundry, College Street, Dumbarton, in
the County of Dumbarton, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS ATTACHED TO BEDS AND BED-CLOTHES FOR PRE-
VENTION OF PERSONS TAKING COLD to be as follows:-
"
Many persons and especially children catch cold by the bed-clothes removing off
them during sleep. To prevent the removal of the bed-clothes off the person during
sleep and so preserve the sleeper from cold, the Apparatus hereinafter described is
screwed or otherwise fixed to the bel, berth, cot, crib, cradle or other sleeping place
and connected with the bed clothes covering the person asleep.
The Apparatus consists of a case containing a grooved drum or pulley, fixed on a
shaft or spindle working in bearings at each end.
The central end of a coil spring, such as is generally used in clocks, is also attached
to this shaft or spindle, the other end of the spring being fixed to the case itself or to
one of the screws or rivets holding the portions of the case together. To the grooved
drum or pulley mentioned above one end of a cord, wire, or chain, is attached so that
it may be readily wound round the drum or pulley. The other end of this cord,
wire, or chain is led through a suitable aperture or opening in the case and is attached
to the bed-clothes by loops, catches or other well known means. Near the outer end
of this cord, wire or chain is placed a spiral spring in such a manner as to act as a
pad or buffer should the cord, wire or chain be in any danger of breaking by being
violently drawn in by the coil spring inside the case.
To reduce the friction of the cord, wire or chain as it passes to and from the
grooved drum or pulley, a friction pulley or roller is placed on one of the screws or
rivets mentioned above, inside the case and suitably placed to receive the cord, wire
or chain as it passes.
The case, which may be of wood, metal, porcelain or other material has lugs.or
ears by which it may be fixed to the bed or other sleeping place, what may be termed
the back of the case being hollowed out so that it may suit either rounded or flat
surfaces.
Having now described the Apparatus, it operates as follows:-
Being screwed or otherwise fixed to the bed or other sleeping place, the cord, wire,
or chain is attached to the bed-clothes by loops or catches as before, mentioned.
Should the movements of the sleeping person tend to move the bed-clothes from off
them, this movement draws out the cord, wire, or chain, causing the grooved drum
or pulley, and the shaft or spindle on which it is fixed, to revolve, and thus the coil
spring is wound up. On the removal of the power exerted the spring unwinding
itself, turns the shaft or spindle and with it the grooved drum or pulley, thus taking
up the cord, wire, or chain with the effect of drawing back the bed-clothes to their
first position as they covered the sleeping person.
Dated this Thirty first day of October 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Attached to Beds and Bed-clothes for
Prevention of Persons Taking Cold.
I, ROBERT BUCHANAN, Ironfounder, Star Foundry, College Street, Dumbarton, in
the County of Dumbarton do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
Pers

page_text: IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS ATTACHED TO BEDS AND BED-CLOTHES, FOR PRE-
VENTION OF PERSONS TAKING COLD, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Many persons and especially children catch cold by the bed-clothes removing off
them during sleep. To prevent the removal of the bed-clothes off the person during
sleep and so preserve the sleeper from cold, the Apparatus hereinafter described is
screwed or otherwise fixed to the bed, berth, cot, crib, cradle or other sleeping place,
and connected with the bed clothes covering the person asleep.
The Apparatus consists of a case A containing a drum or pulley B fixed on a shaft
or spindle C working in bearings at each end. The central end of a coiled spring D
such as is generally used in clocks, is also attached to this shaft or spindle C the
other end of the spring D being fixed to the case A itself or to one of the screws or
rivets holding the portions of the case together.
To the drum or pulicy B mentioned above, one end of a cord, wire or chain E is
attached so that it may be readily wound round the drum or pulley B. The other
end of this cord, wire or chain E is led through a suitable aperture or opening F in
the caso and is attached to the bed-clothes by loops, catches or other well-known
means.
'
Near the outer end of this cord, wire or chain, a spiral spring G is fixed, to act as
a pad or buffer should the cord, wire or chain E be in danger of breaking by being
violently drawn in by the coiled spring D inside the case.
To reduce the friction of the cord, wire or chain E as it passes to and from the
drum or pulley B a small friction roller H is placed inside the case and near the
aperture F, so that it may receive the cord, wire or chain E as it passes.
The case A which may be of wood, metal, porcelain or other suitable material, has
lugs or ears 1 by which it is fixed to the bed or other sleeping place.
Having described the Apparatus, it operates as follows:-
Being screwed or otherwise fixed to the bed or other sleeping place, the cord, wire
or chain is attached to the bed-clothes by loops or catches as before mentioned.
Should the movements of the person asleep tend to move the bed-clothes from off
them, this movement draws out the cord, wire or chain, causing the drum or pulley
and the shaft or spindle on which it is fixed, to revolve, and thus the spring is wound
up. On the removal of the power exerted, the spring unwinding itself, turns the
shaft or spindle and with it the drum or pulley, thus taking up the cord, wire or
chain, with the effect of drawing back the bed-clothes to their first position as they
covered the person asleep.
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 :-
(1) The combination of a case containing a coiled spring fixed on a shaft or
spindle, with a drum or pulley on which a cord, wire or chain is wound and
unwound, said case being fixed to the bed, and said cord, wire or chain to the bed-
clothes.
(2) The use of a spiral spring fixed on the cord, wire or chain, to act as a pad or
buffer.
(3) The use of a friction roller inside the case, near the aperture or opening.
(4) And generally, the whole Apparatus, substantially as, and for the purpose,
herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of Jul 1800
ROBERT BUCHANAN.