IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS FOR INVALIDS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JONATHAN
BADGER, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Carpenter and Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eleventh day of February, in the sixth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Jonathan
Badger, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said Jonathan Badger, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said Jonathan Badger, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS FOR INVALIDS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Jonathan Badger,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Jonathan Badger, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: constructed according to my Invention than can be obtained in bedsteads
heretofore constructed. And in order that my Invention may be most fully
understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to. describe the
Drawings hereunto annexed, in the various Figures of which the same letters
are used to indicate similar parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side view in section of a bedstead constructed ac-
cording to my Invention; Figure 2 shows an external side view of the bedstead;
Figure 3 shows an end view of the bedstead; and Figure 4 shows a view of
the under part of the bedstead, by which the arrangement of parts below the
bedstead will be more readily seen and traced. In these Figures the parts are
shown in the position they would assume when the mattrass is in a horizontal
position, but in Figures 2 and 3 some of the varied positions which the bedstead
is capable of assuming are indicated by dotted lines. Figure 5 shows a side
view in section; and Figure 6 an external side view of the bedstead, with
the parts thereof so placed as to elevate the head, and also the knees of the
invalid. Figure 7 shews another side view in section, and Figure 8 an external
side view of the bedstead, the parts being so placed as to offer the advantages
of an easy chair; and these varied positions may be readily obtained when
desired, and the parts retained in any one of the positions so long as the same
may be wished, and then quickly changed to another. The frame which receives
the mattrass is composed of four parts, a, b, c, d, the mattrass being supported
by fixed laths e, e. "The parts a, b, c, d, are each quadrangular, having boards
a, b, c, d, fixed at the sides, and the parts a', 6', are hinged together at f
and the parts c¹ and d¹ move on axes g, on either side, as is shown,
these axes g and h being supported by the uprights i affixed on the upper
surfaces of the quadrangular frame j, j, the nature of which is clearly shown
in the Drawings. To the frame j, j, are attached the curved plates k and I,
by means of pin joints m, by means of which the frame j can be inclined
to the right or left hand, and raised or lowered at the head and foot, as
hereafter explained. On the periphery of each of the curved plates and
is formed a groove, into which projections affixed to the slotted bars n enter.

page_text: The slotted bars n are affixed to the legs o, o, the slotted bars n being
joined together in the middle of their length form a cross frame which
combines the four legs into a stand or frame for receiving the arcs or curved
plates, and for supporting the upper parts of the bedstead. At the end of each
bar n is formed a slot or opening, through which the curved plates or ares
move, and they rest on the projections which enter the grooves formed on the
peripheries thereof. In each of the arcs or curved plates are formed. a series
of holes; and according as the stops or pins p, q, are inserted through one or
other of the holes of their respective arcs, and through the holes in the slotted
bars, so will be the position the mattrass will be caused to assume. In
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the bedsteads and parts thereof are shown in such a
position that the mattrass placed thereon would assume a horizontal position,
but if the pin p were inserted through the slotted bar, and in a hole lower
down in its arc than the one in which it is shown to be inserted, then the
surface of the bedstead, and consequently the mattrass, when placed thereon,
would be in an inclined position, and more or less inclined from head to
foot according to the position of the hole through which the pin or stop p
was passed; and in like manner the surface of the bedstead and mattrass
thereon would be caused to incline towards the right or left hand, according
to the hole into which the pin or stop 9 was inserted through its slotted
bar and into a hole in its curved plate, all which will readily be under-
stood on examining the Drawings. The mattrass for this bedstead will be
made in four parts, to correspond with the parts a, b, and c, d, so that
the parts thereof may assume the same positions as the parts a, b, c, and d,
of the bedstead. The attendant will be facilitated in moving the bedstead
into the above positions by means of the lever handle r, this handle r being
to elevate or depress the head end of the frame j, j, and consequently the
surface of the bedstead and mattrass thereon, such handle turning upon
the pin on the under surface of the frame j. The parts of the bedstead are
caused to assume the other positions shown in the Drawing in the following
mannert, t, are two connecting bars which are hinged at t, t¹, to the
under side of the part d of the bedstead, the other end of each of the bars t
having a strap t affixed to it, which is made fast to a drum or pulley t³ affixed
on the axis v, which turns in bearings on either side of the under part of the
frame j,j, of the bedstead, such axis having a ratchet wheel v¹ affixed thereon,
into which the click or catch venters, so as to retain it in any position. When
it is desired to raise the head of the bedstead a winch handle is placed on the
end of the axis and turned, by which the straps will be wound on the pulleys,
and the part d of the bedstead raised; s is a cord to prevent the part d being

page_text: raised too much; u is another axis turning in bearings on the under side of the
bedstead, and this axis is provided with a ratchet wheel and click or catch.
On the axis u are affixed two pulleys or drums w, to which the cords w¹ are
affixed, the other ends of the cords being affixed to the board x, such board x
being hinged to the under part of the part c of the bedstead, the cords passing
over the pulleys y, y; hence, when the axis u is turned by the winch handle,
the part c of the bedstead is caused to assume the position shown in Figures
5, 6, 7, and 8.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I make no
claim to any of the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise
details, so long as the peculiar character of my Invention be retained. But
what I claim is, the mode of combining the parts & and with the part j, and
the parts a, b, c, and d, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Badger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and forty throo
Enrolled the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-three.