An Improved Combined Cabinet, Commode, Wardrobe, and Invalid Chair.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1890–Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Cabinet, Commode, Wardrobe, and
Invalid Chair.
I, AGNES HARDIE, of Sectonia, in the county of Columbiana, and State of Ohio
United States of America, 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 has relation to a combined cabinet, commode, wardrobe and invalid
perambulator or chair to be used in sick-rooms, hospitals etc.
Among the objects in view are to provide a commode having the appearance of and
adapted to be used as a wardrobe that is also provided with all the accessories of a
commode and with certain other adjuncts for promoting operations of patients,
inspecting the stools, and which by its peculiar construction can be converted into a
perambulator either for house or outdoor use, and may be provided with a table
whereby the invalid may read, write, etc.
With these general objects in view the invention consists in certain features of
construction hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a commode constructed in
accordance with my invention the doors being open, exposing the interior.
Fig. 2 is a rear view; Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section. Fig. 4 is a transverse
horizontal section showing the device converted into a chair.
Fig. 5 is a detail of the commode drawer, Fig. 6 a similar view of the table
attachment. Fig. 7 a detail in perspective of a truck adapted to receive the device
when converted into a chair, whereby the same is adapted for use as a perambulator.
In practising my invention I form the same of two sections-the upper
section, 1, and the lower section 2. Each of these sections comprises a rear wall 3,
opposite side walls 4 and the upper section 1 is provided with a top, 5, and the
bottom section with a floor 6, said upper and lower sections being separated or divided
upon a graceful curve curved from front to rear at opposite sides and extending
across the back, so that when the upper section is removed, the lower section is in
the form of a comfortable chair-frame. The interior of the upper section is provided
with a series of clothes-receiving hooks 7, whereby the device is adapted to serve as a
wardrobe.
The top of the section is provided with a hinged cover 8, whereby the same may
be raised for ventilation when the device is to be used as a commode.
The upper section is also provided at its front with a pair of doors 9, designed for
closing the front, one of which may be provided with a paper-receiving clip 10, for the
purpose of supporting a convenient supply of toilet paper 11. The rear, and it
may be the side, walls of the upper section may be provided with one or more
hooks 12, adapted to take into as many keepers 13, projecting from the rear and side
walls of the lower section, 2, whereby the two sections are held in relative position.
The lower section 2, like its companion section 1, is also provided at its front with a
pair of doors 14, adapted to close the section, and is further provided with a suitable
seat-frame 15, having a fixed commode-seat 16 fixed thereover. A section of the
rear wall of the lower section is removed, and hinged therein is a section 17,
suitably upholstered, and provided with an upholstered right-angularly projecting
seat, 18, adapted to be swung horizontally to cover the commode-seat and serve as a
suitable chair, or be tilted to the rear, so that said seat-section will occupy the opening
in the rear wall and serve as a back. If desired the commode-seat may be pro-
vided with a suitable wash-cover, and thus the seat be kept clean. The back-section 17
is provided with a suitable lock 19, whereby the same is prevented from accidental
displacement.

page_text: In the lower section 2 and below the commode there is formed by the commode, a
compartment 20, and a portion of the rear wall of the section is removed, and in the
same and fitting the chamber or compartment is a drawer 21, preferably divided into
three subdivisions 22. 23. 24.
In the first subdivision, I preferably arrange a number of soft clothes 25, in
the next or central section a chamber 26, and in the next or opposite subdivision a
suitable syringe 27 for inducing operations.
When the syringe is used, I remove the drawer 21 and place in the opening 28
formed in the bottom or floor of the section 2, a tub or bowl.
It will be noticed that the patient may sit upon the commode and undergo the
operation of syringing, and after an operation has taken place in the chamber 26,
the same may be removed by withdrawing the drawer. If the patient is wholly
helpless, the nurse may cleanse him, paper being provided in one of the subdivisions
of the drawer for that purpose.
By my invention it is apparent that the device may be set in a room and to
all outward appearances be an ordinary wardrobe, and that a patient can step
directly from his bed into the device without clothes and without any exposure
whatever. For the purpose of rendering the device portable so that it may be run
from ward to ward in a hospital or from one portion of a room to the bedside of an
invalid, I provide the same with casters 29.
By removing the upper section, 1, which is accomplished by withdrawing the
hooks 12 from their keepers, the section 2 will have the appearance and may be
used as an ordinary invalid chair or perambulator to be pushed to a window for the
purpose of sunning the patient.
In Fig. 7, I have shown a truck 30, upon which the chair may be mounted
and the device converted into a perambulator. The truck merely consists in this
instance of an ordinary floor or base 31, provided with suitable rubber-faced rollers
and with a railing 32 which serves to receive the section 2 and also to act as a
hand-rail.
Numerous changes may be made in the details of my invention, and other
articles than those herein mentioned may be located in the several compartments
of the drawer 21 to suit the nature of the case, all of which I consider within the
scope of my invention.
Referring to Fig. 6, 33 represents a table attachment, the same being provided
with a foldable supporting-leg 34, and a rod or pintle 35, arranged at one side
thereof. In employing this attachment, the front doors of the lower section are
removed and the pintle is inserted into the eye of the stationary member of the usual
hinge, the supporting-leg either resting upon the floor of the room or of the lower
section. By this arrangement the patient may eat and write.
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. A wardrobe or other compartment adapted to serve as an article of furniture,
formed in an upper and lower section, the lower section being provided with a seat
frame, substantially as specified.
2. A wardrobe or other piece of furniture formed in an upper and lower section,
said lower section being provided with a commode adapted to serve as a seat,
substantially as specified.
3. A wardrobe or other piece of furniture formed in two sections the lower section
being provided with a commode, a chamber-receiving drawer arranged under the
same, and a pivoted seat arranged above the commode, substantially as specified.
4. A wardrobe or other piece of furniture formed in two sections, the lower one
of which is provided with a commode and has a portion of its rear wall removed, and
a-pivoted back arranged in said opening and provided with a right-angularly
disposed seat adapted to-be closed over the cominode substantially as specified.
5. A wardrobe or other similar piece of furniture formed in sections, the upper

page_text: section being provided with a top ventilating-door and oppositely-located front doors,
and the lower section with similar front doors and a commode substantially as
specified.
6. A wardrobe or other piece of furniture formed in two sections, the upper one
being removable and carrying the hooks and other appurtenances belonging to a
wardrobe, and the lower section having a pivoted seat closing over a commode and
forming a chair, and the truck upon which the chair or lower section is mounted,
whereby the device is converted into a perambulator, substantially as specified.
Dated this 18th day of January 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.