IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDSTEADS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Orley, of Axminster, in the County
of Devonshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID
BEDSTEADS."
Sealed the 3rd August 1869, and dated the 22nd May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Orley at
the Office of the Commissioners of l'atents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd May 1869.
I, ROBERT ORLEY, of Axminster, in the County of Devonshire, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INVALID BEDSTEADS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to construct bedsteads in such a
manner that invalids can be raised upon a false sacking or other bottom
to enable the bed under them to be made, turned, or renewed; or the
false sacking or bottom can be removed with the patient thereon for
surgical operations or for other purposes.
The Invention consists in fitting and supporting a false sacking or
bottom, or the frame in which the sacking or bottom is connected, by

page_text: means of cords to the four posts of the bedstead. The cords pass over
pullies and lead to a transverse shaft or roller placed under the bedstead;
this shaft or roller is actuated by a bevil or a worm and pinion arrange-
ment worked by a crank handle, or otherwise, at the foot, head, or
side of the bedstead. A catch or other appliance may be fitted to
hold the false sacking at any required height. By detaching the cords
at the head or at the foot any inclination can be given to the false
bottom. Sometimes 1 make use of counterbalance weights in lieu of
the winding roller and gearing, or screw appliances may be employed.
When found necessary to remove the patient on the false sacking for
a surgical operation or otherwise, the sacking is raised to a suflicient
height to enable bars to be placed under it, by which bars the sacking
can be carried by hand in a similar manner to a stretcher, the cords
being detached for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Orley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, ROBERT
ORLEY, of Axminster, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Orley, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Orley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Orley, my executors.
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INVALID BEDSTEADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Robert Orley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: in. what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Orley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:―
The object of my Invention is to construct bedsteads in such a
manner that invalids can be raised upon a false sacking or other bottom
to enable the bed under them to be made, turned, or renewed, or the
false sacking or bottom can be removed with the patient thereon, for
surgical operations or for other purposes.
The Invention consists in fitting and supporting a false sacking or
bottom, or the frame in which the sacking or bottom is connected, by
means of cords to the four posts of the bedstead. The cords pass over
pullies and lead to a transverse shaft or roller placed under the bedstead;
this shaft or roller is actuated by a bevil or a worm and pinion arrange-
ment worked by a crank handle, or otherwise, at the foot, head, or
side of the bedstead. A catch or other appliance may be fitted to
hold the false sacking at any required height. By detaching the cords
at the head or at the foot any inclination can be given to the false
bottom. Sometimes make use of counterbalance weights in lieu
of the winding roller and gearing, or screw appliances may be employed.
When found necessary to remove the patient on the false sacking for
a surgical operation, or otherwise, the sacking is raised to a sufficient
height to enable bars to be placed under it, by which bars the sacking
can be carried by hand in a similar manner to a stretcher, the cords
being detached for that purpose.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood
I annex the accompanying Drawings, which together with the following
detailed description exemplifies the nature of the same.
"
Figure 1 is a perspective view of what is commonly known as a
stump bedstead," that is, one composed of four corner uprights or
legs A, A, to which the side rails or angles are attached by dropping
into sockets in the case of iron bedsteads, or by long screws in the
case of wooden bedsteads. The head and foot rails or angles are

page_text: likewise secured in a similar manner.
The upper parts of the four
legs A, A, are provided with pulleys B, B, over which cords C, C, are
passed, which lead from the corners of a frame D forming part of the
false bottom or sacking E. The cords are led down to other pulleys F, F,
likewise fitted to the legs just below the level of the angles and along to
near the foot of the bedstead, where they are wound round and secured
to a third set of pulleys, or more properly rollers G, G, which are
attached to a bar or shaft H free to turn in bearings fastened to the
side angles, as shown. This shaft carries a bevil wheel I in gear with
a bevil pinion supported in a frame K. The pinion is formed in part
with a toothed wheel L in gear with a toothed pinion M, both of which
are fitted in the frame K, and are caused to turn by the rotation of the
crank handle N, so that the false bottom or sacking can be raised
from resting on the bed or mattress when desired. The Figure shows
the false bottom or sacking in a raised position, so that the mattress
can be drawn off the bedstead to be turned or for the insertion of a
fresh one in its place. If it is necessary to retain the false bottom or
sacking with the patient upon it in the raised position for any length of
time boards or struts or a light frame of any kind can be placed under
the frame D, or the handle can be secured by means of a chain or stop
of any kind to prevent it rotating.
The arrangement of the bevil and toothed gearing is represented in
Figure 2.
"
The
"
Stump bedstead shown in Figure 1 is of the construction
usually employed in hospitals, unions, and other places where the
space of the building is of a limited character, and consequently where
the bedsteads are placed close to one another, but in buildings where
more space can be allowed between the bedsteads I can, if necessary,
fit the bevil gearing to work from either side or from both sides of the
bedstead.
In some cases 1 fit a hinged board X' at the head of the frame D,
and which is capable of being placed at an inclination for supporting
the head of the patient at a higher level than could be conveniently
obtained by pillows; the board is retained at the required inclination
by rods or supports P, P, as clearly indicated in Figure 3, which shows
my false bottom or sacking, and the mechanism for lifting it, applied
to what is known as a "French" bedstead.

page_text: If it should be found requisite to place the false bottom or sacking at
an inclination, so that the patient may rest with his head and his body
at a higher level than his feet, 1 detach the cords from the foot part
of the sucking frame, so that when the handle is turned in the proper
direction the head part only is lifted to the required height, as repre-
sented in Figure 4. The bedstead here shown is that known as an
"Arabian "bedstead, but the false bottom or sacking can be fitted
to bedsteads of all classes and denominations, and not only to those
represented in the Figure before referred to.
In cases where it is necessary that the patient should be allowed a
sitting posture I make the false bottom or sacking of a number of strong
broad straps or webbing, and fit them with buckles or other appliance,
so that they can be loosened as desired; for instance, in Figure 4 the
straps at the foot and near the head are loose to allow his feet and the
lower part of his body to sink to a lower level than the upper part
of his legs, at the same time the board N' is brought to nearly a
vertical position for the shoulders to rest against, so that he may sit
almost in an upright position; or if it should be necessary to turn the
patient over, so that he should lie on the front of his body, I release
the cords at one side of the bedstead and raise the false bottom or
sacking by the other side only, as seen in Figure 5, and I prevent
the patient falling off the bedstead by placing a light frame against
the insides of the legs or posts, towards which he may roll, or al
number of pillows may be arranged on the side for the same purpose.
If found necessary to remove the patient from one room, or from one
place to another, for a change or for a surgical operation, bars can be
placed under the false bottom or sacking when it is lifted, so that the
attendants can carry it in a similar manner to carrying a stretcher; or
if for a surgical operation in the same room the false bottom or sacking
need only be lifted to the required height to suit the convenience of the
operator.
Although I have mentioned in the foregoing description the em-
ployment of gearing mechanism for lifting the false bottom or sacking
I do not confine myself to its employment, as counterbalance weights
may be used if required for that purpose, or screws may be employed
in some forms of bedsteads, as the apparatus for lifting the false bottom
or sacking only forms the secondary feature of my Invention.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, fitting
and arranging a false bottom or sacking upon bedsteads in such a
manner that it is free to be raised and lowered with the patient on it,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described,
whether it be raised in either of the methods represented in the accom-
panying Drawings or by any other means.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Robert Orley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ROB. ORLEY. (L.S.)