Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
I, JOHN GLASS DODDS, of 29 Victoria Street, Rothesay, Cabinet Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bed rests and it has for its object to improve their
construction.
The bed rest, as constructed under my invention, consists of a bottom composed of
three pieces, two side pieces forming legs or supports and a third back joining
piece. This back piece, when the parts are fitted together, is jointed at its two
ends to the side pieces by means of dovetail or groove and tenon joints and these
joints may be locked by means of turning buttons or the like. The pieces may
also, when fitted together, be held firmly in position by means of short metal hook-
stays and eyes.
Hinged to the front of each side support, is a curved upright which is elastically
supported in position by means of a helical or spiral spring so arranged as to be
movable in guiding slots one made in the under side of the curved upright and
one in the upper side of the side support which is suitably shaped or curved to
correspond to the curve of the upright. With this arrangement by moving the
springs back and forward in the slots, at each side of the rest, any desired degree
of spring or elasticity can be given to the uprights.
The springs may be provided with knobs or buttons, to enable them to slide
readily in the slots without being displaced.
The uprights are connected together at their upper ends by means of a cross
bar, preferably, held in place by groove and tenon or dovetail joints.
Secured to the cross bar is a back support made of canvas or other suitable
fabric and this support is provided with an eyelet or hole in each lower corner.
A cord is attached to each eyelet and these cords pass through eyes at the front
of the side supports and then along their outsides to and through other eyes.in.such
manner that by pulling the cords or slackening them the canvas back support can
be tightened up or slackened so as to suit the patient or other person using
the rest..
With this device it is not necessary to shift the patient in bed as the canvas
back can be slackened and then the rest put over the patient's head in such manner
that by again tightening up the cords the canvas back can be pulled up under the
shoulders and back of the patient without causing him inconvenience.
The several parts of the rest are so made and fitted together, that, when
necessary, they can be easily taken apart and packed up in small compass for
transport.
Deted this 97th dox of April 1895
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: I, JOHN GLASS DODDS, of 29 Victoria Street, Rothesay, Cabinet Maker, 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 :-
This invention relates to bed rests and it has for its object to improve their
construction.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a front view of the bed rest.
Fig. 2 is a side view.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the lower part of the frame.
Fig. 4 is a view of one of the springs.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views..
Referring to the drawings:-
The bed rest, as constructed under my invention, consists of a bottom part or
frame composed of three pieces, two side pieces a, a¹, forming legs or supports and
a third back joining or cross piece a'. This back piece a², when the parts are
fitted together, is jointed at its ends to the side pieces a, a, by means of dovetail
or plain groove and tenon joints the dovetail-tenon plates being preferably fitted,
as shown in the detail views Figs. 7 and 8, to the side pieces a and a whilst the
groove plates 6 are fitted to the ends of the cross bar a². These joints, when
fitted together, may be locked by means of turning buttons a, or the like, secured
to the cross bar and which enter recesses in the side pieces. The pieces may also,
when fitted together, be held firmly in position by means of short metal hook-
stays d secured to the cross bar and eyes e fitted in the cross pieces.
g
Secured to the front of each side piece by a hinge f, having a removable pin-
spindle secured by a chain gl to the side piece, is a curved upright h which is
elastically supported in position by means of a preferably tapered helical or spiral
spring i (see enlarged view Fig. 4) so arranged as to be movable in guiding slots j, k,
made in plates, k, one secured to the under side of the curved upright and
one to the upper side of the side support which is suitably shaped or curved as
shown to correspond to the curve of the upright. As will be seen at Fig. 4 each
spring has a knob secured to it at one end and knob at the other. The
knob is capable of being inserted in the circular hole of the slotted plate k¹
and secured in the narrow slot k and likewise the knob is secured in the slotted
plate j. With this arrangement by moving the springs back and forward in
the curved slots, at each side of the rest, any desired degree of spring or elasticity
can be given to the uprights. The knobs are of course of such a size that
whilst they can be readily inserted in the holes in the plates j and k¹ they cannot
be withdrawn from the slots k or j.
The uprights are connected together at their upper ends by means of a cross bar 1,
preferably, held in place by groove and tenon or dovetail joints m, n the tenons n
being fitted to the uprights h whilst the grooved plates m are fitted to the bar l.
Secured to the cross bar is a back support o made of canvas or other suitable
fabric and this support is provided with an eyelet or hole in each lower corner.
A cord g is attached to one eyelet and a cord q¹ to the other and these cords pass
through eyes r at the front of the side pieces and then along their outsides to and
through other eyes s in such manner that by pulling the cords or slackening them
the canvas back support can be tightened up or slackened so as to suit the patient
or other person using the rest. The ends of the cords can be secured to the pin t
on the bar a²

page_text: If desired removable arms, such as indicated in dotted lines at u Fig. 2, can he
secured by groove and tenon joints to the uprights h.
With this device it is not necessary to shift the patient in bed as the canvas
back can be slackened and then the rest put over the patient's head in such manner.
that by again tightening up the cords the canvas back can be pulled up under the
shoulders and back of the patient without causing him inconvenience.
The several parts of the rest are so made and fitted together, that, when
necessary, they can be easily taken apart and packed up in small compass for
transport.
The sliding spring arrangement can be adapted to other articles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the bed rest,
substantially as herein before described and shown on the drawings annexed.
2. The arrangement of adjustable elastic support consisting of springs, such
as i, secured to and capable of sliding in slots in the frame, substantially as
herein before set forth.
Dated this 18th day of January 1896.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.