An Equipoise Chair for the use of Hospitals and Invalids, Comprising the Apparatus of a Wheel-couch, Table, Chair, and Bed.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Equipoise Chair for the use of Hospitals and Invalids, Comprising
the Apparatus of a Wheel-couch, Table, Chair, and Bed.
I CALEB LOADER of Coylton Terrace Wincanton in the County of Somerset,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
1. The object my invention has for its value, is, its usefulness;--I describe it further
as a drawing room swing-couch rotating equipoise-chair, an equipment for invalids
and for affording relief and comfort to the human body, generally; comprising a
rotating wheel couch, table, chair, and bed complete in one ornamental equipage, for
the cottage drawing room, or mansion, and for use in infirmary wards, public &
private institutions hospitals, etc. :-And as fixtures for railway compartments, ships
cabins, and other saloons, workhouse wards, prisons, and barracks; or the garden,
lawns, and sea side as perambulators.
2. Its mechanical and general construction embodies the work of art, centred in
the focus of self-action carries on its swing reclining axis, an equality of weight, the
state in which the two ends or sides are balanced affording case to the afflicted, a
comfort to the aged & infirm, a luxury to the healthy, a support for giving soothing
rest, and to renovate the worn-out, tired, and weary soul of the body of the human
frame.
3. The apparatus may be constructed either with or without perambulating
gearing As a wheel-chair apparatus it combines a rotating treddle movement, or
hand gearing movement in combination for varying its location and scenery, and other
conveniences: The apparatus is fitted with leg-rests of an ingenious device having
folding sections to extend the rests to tall persons (as to fold up when un-used,
and slide behind the legs), for use to either right or left legs, or both, with double
or single action, for injured limbs enabling pillows or cusheons to be adjusted to
ease the person.
4. The application of the apparatus is for enabling the person of the invalid,
without assistance, or removing from the chair, to rest in recumbency by the
balance of the body in the adjustment of the chair, on a self-acting swing axis,
regulating itself at reclining angles; the aesthetic motion is perceptible only in
adjusting the desired recumbency by force of the bands clasping the arms of the
apparatus; namely:-
5. After being seated the action of the apparatus lifts the feet and legs from off
terra-firma while retaining a sitting posture, to an even elevation, gently placing the
patient in recumbency, the lowering the body, and raising the feet & legs parallel one
with the other, converging to the horizontal reclining posture desired, to that of the
level of a bed; This is all performed by the simple action of the hand clasping the
arms of the apparatus on the balance of even axis, and but with slight apparent
motion susceptible with the movement of the body: And again permitting the
patient, at will, to resume a sitting posture, if at frequent intervals of time, change
and relief are needed, without removing from the seat.
6. The equipoise, as a chair-bed or a recumbent chair-of-ease, & of comfort, is a
valuable adjunct, and a boon, as in sickness, so in health;-It possesses a marvel of
soothing comfort, alike, to the nervous system, and is an invaluable invalid apparatus,
alike, for the infirmary, cottage, or mansion: And, an especial luxury as a gentlemans
lounge, or smoking chair, affording in self-possession of thought, in quietude, for
home comforts, the voiding a desire from roaming abroad.
7. The designation of descriptive title to the invention is an improved equipoise
chair-of-comfort for the use of hospitals & invalids, as described :-Its fittings
comprise in one apparatus, a wheel couch, table, chair and bed, the furniture, in

page_text: substitution of a suite of numerous articles usual for the sick chamber, these are con-
veniently embodied in the apparatus, for the anti-drawing room replete with it, is its
moveable table board, its fittings to the frame, on arms, enable placing meals, writing
material, articles of work, reading, books, etc. As ordinary rest chairs with equipoise
seats, on castors, only, for ladies (the new equipoise chair) drawing room.
8. The equipoise adjustment of these chairs couches have an especial designed form
of recumbency for the comfort of ladies by the inventor extending the arms of the
apparatus, in a circular manner down to the foot-board, provides for encasing their
dresses & feet: The platform of the apparatus is designed to rise simultaneously
as the body reclines without altering its position which secures the privity of the
person & dress enclosed consistently with that probity which is distinguishingly
favorable to ladies comfort, and thus the equipoise recumbency of the chair is
admirably adapted for ladies use, or if made with equipoise seats only, without rising
platforms. These platforms may be substituted for detached foot-rests as also to:
perambulate the apparatus as an equipoise chair on cycle wheels with treddle
movment for out door travelling exercise.
9. What I believe to be original, and new in my invention, is its combination of
parts, and forming as a whole, and in part, a self adjustable apparatus; having its balance
equipoise regulator swung in its frame-work in a manner so as to rotate the whole
apparatus at the convenience of its occupant, thus indicating the invention altogether
one of invaluable study, for usefulness, producing a much needed accomplishment in
the success, for introduction to the invalid, a hospital-rotating-recumbent-chair-bed-
equipoise: Thus giving to it a local habitation and a name, the virtue of comfort,
alike, to the invalid, the aged, the infirm; a humane personnel; its title; for claims
to novelty.
TH
Dated, Wincanton, this 18th day of November 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Equipoise Chair for the use of Hospitals and Invalids, Comprising
the Apparatus of a Wheel-couch, Table, Chair, and Bed.
I, CALEB LOADER of Coylton Terrace Wincanton in the County of Somerset
Gentleman 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:-
(c.) The nature of this invention consists in the construction of an equipoise chair
couch shewn in Fig. 1. of drawings having reference to this Specification.
Its principle consists of a balance chair swung on pivots N. on each side, having
two sections shewn in drawings Figs. 1. and 2. The inner frame see L. or ambulance
section of the chair couch is fitted either with a hammock cusheon, or, on a wire fabric
spring bed, (M.) stretched from head to seat, forms the seat and back of the chair
couch and somewhat resembles an ordinary chair having leg rests, (R) of an ingenious
device with folding sections to extend the rests to tall persons (as to fold up when
unused to slide behind the legs) & for use to either right or left legs, or both, with
double or single action, for injured limbs enabling cusbeons to be adjusted to ease the
person.
The drawing L. shews the connecting arrangements of the ambulance section of
the chair with Fig. 2. as it is lifted over the outer frame O and lowered down it fits
into sockets (p.) on each side guided angularly into the lower bevil of a triangle for
axis.
In Fig. 2. there is shewn in the drawing a table (y.) fitted on the arms of frame
with thumb screws for opening out horizontal changes from either arm (right &
left) as convenience may require, is hereafter explained for modus operandi.
(d.) The equipoise adjustment of the chair couch consists in the evenness of
nction on the balance of the body of the person reclining in the chair, from the
verticle to the horizontal recumbent position desired, whereby its occupant, whether

page_text: convalescent or invalid may recline in unsurpassed comfort without exertion, shews
its value for medical science, to hospitals, &c., as also its uses for home nursing of
the sick-poor, and private comforts for the cottage and mansion, in one useful
article of furniture, which comprises, replete, a wheel-couch, table, chair, and bed.
*
:
(e.) My invention of the equipoise couch chair claims to embody its principle for its
operative value and general usefulness of construction to embrace its commercial
value within its full, literal, and true meaning, declared, and made apparent, con-
sequent on its derivation operating on the title word "equipoise" for producing the
quality of evenness of axis, conjointly with its outer frame connecting with it, the
seat of the couch with the person reclining on it, in a sitting or horizontal posture
upon an equality of weight: a state in which the two ends or sides, are balanced":
(1). This forms its first and fundamental principle for obtaining ease when verging
from the perpendicular posture of ordinarily sitting in a chair, to the horizontal
couch on its semi-axis without a removal from the seat, has emanated from a close
practical study, for ascertaining its normal effect to the nervous system of the
human body upon the equipoise application to mechanical science: (2). This
indicates the fundamental principles of the equipoise chair operating equivalent to its
mandate for preventive as a cure to lunacy, the presentiment aims to testify, in name,
for title claimed herein, and which denotes having an adjustable regulating balance
for the mind and body when reclining from chair to couch, and vice versa couch to
chair. (3). Notwithstanding position of sitting remains unaltered, the reclining
posture of the person acting in the balance forms the chair bed having a table fitted
to the arms of the apparatus for partaking meals, reading etc. (4). The table opens
off from a set-screw reversible from either side, (right or left) to admit of exit from
the chair.
(f) I further describe the usefulness of the apparatus as being a suitable and
valuable chair companion, for the sick-poor, serving at their own homes, if supplied
to them by the aid of philanthropic institute benevolence: As these sick-poor
equipoise couch chairs (when made plain, in material, in regard to economy and
cheapness,) are fitted upon castors only, without cycle wheels, upon the same
principle claimed for the drawing room swing couch, and rotating equipoise cycle
chair.
(g.) This equipment for invalids, in the invention designed, gives an immense
relief in comfort to the human body, generally, whether in sickness or health it is a
most valuable and suitable companion for soothing and composing and renovating the
nervous system, both body and mind, is emitted, by the change derivable on the
semi-axis of its equipoise action by the gentle composing movment from one
angular altitude in scenery to the other, thus forming in value for usefulness, a unique
apparatus, in one article of furniture, whether made with or without cycle machinery
comprises in itself the modification of a couch, table, chair, and bed suitable for the
cottage drawing room, mansion, infirmary wards of public and private institutions, as
a hospital chair, especially facilitating the acquisition in its development for rendering
valuable assistance to trained nurses attending on the homes of the sick in conjunc-
tion with benevolent aid from national institutions:-These particulars describe the
ascertained nature of my said invention shewing that my hospital chair possesses all
the advantages I claim for it, to gain success upon its own merits.
(h.) The equipoise of the chair is so constructed as to combine separable parts, or
sections, that is to say into two parts, by disjointure, one part forms the couch chair,
seat, and folding leg-rests section, and the other part forms its outer-frame on wheels,
or castors, for the carriage, the former part may receive from, or take the patient to
the bed-side, portable, for carrying the invalid up and down stairs, when disjointed.

page_text: mentioned, but that what I believe and claim to be new and original in respect to my
said equipoise couch chair, I claim under the following heads.
1-I claim first, the general operative principle of my invention to be embodied
within the title to the invention "equipoise" to encompass the merits of my said
invention within the uses of the apparatus having its literal and true meaning
embodied for Letters Patent rights upon the derivation of that adjective noun, to
carry "an equality of weight: in a state in which the two ends or sides are balanced."
2: The distinctive feature of novelty claimed is its general construction of parts,
and forming as a whole, and in part, a self adjustable equipoise apparatus, having its
balance operating on semi-axis.
3-I claim the arrangement of fitting its outer frame in such a manner as to
be detached from its socket, that will carry the person of the invalid in a portable
ambulance up and down stairs on the ambulance section of the apparatus.
41 claim the connecting equipoise arrangement of these sections as forming
one wheel chair in a manner to propel the whole apparatus on two or more cycle
wheels in one complete article of furniture when reclining horizontally or the
patient sits upright on the bed couch chair, whilst having its movable curved table
board fitted with thumb screws on the arms of apparatus forming the table, to turn
on either side (right or left) as described.
5I claim the foregoing arrangements to form the equipoise principle of my
invention operative for cycling purposes, as a cycle apparatus for convalescents
travelling exercise on the roads.
6 claim lastly: The general construction of the apparatus whereby its adaptibility
is favorable to the home nursing of sick-poor at their own homes, and as an equipoise
drawing room chair-of-case, which arrangements combine invertible leg-rests
ingeneously folded ready for use fitted to the apparatus:-The whole being sub-
stantially described as a wheel chair, couch, table, and bed in one unique article of
furniture.
In witness whereof I, the said Caleb Loader have hereunto set my hand and seal
this Nineteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and ninety.