Year: 1888

page_text: Fig. 2 a plan view, and
Fig. 3 a cross section.
Figure 4, Sheet II, shows in side elevation my arrangement of safety cot.
The cot consists of a jointed top frame a and a jointed bottom frame b, the latter
suspended from the former by netting, the bottom frame carrying also a canvas
bottom c. The top frame is supported on both sides, at either end, by the cross bars
or frames d, and in the middle, at the joints, by the struts d', and it is provided at
opposite ends with a socket e to receive a tester or half tester f.-I may also make
the frames a and b rigid, in which case the struts d' may be dispensed with.
It has been found, on occasions, somewhat inconvenient to examine sick children
when lying in these cots, and also difficult to get the child in and out, and the chief
object of this invention is to provide means whereby the bottom of the cot can be raised
while the child is lying therein.
To this end I hinge to the sides of the bottom frame b, at the joints, a bridge piece g
of sufficient height to clear the end of the frame 6 when folded down, and to the top,
and centrally of this bridge g, I attach, so as to be capable of disconnection when
required, a single or double sheave pulley.
To the centre of the tester f, I fit a corresponding pulley of two or three sheaves.
Through these pulleys a suitable cord is rove, which will serve to hoist the bottom
frame b to the height required. The bottom can then be supported in any convenient
manner, the pulleys unfastened, and the bridge folded down, to permit of the
examination or the removal, or replacing, of the child taking place with facility.

page_text: To prevent the tilting of the frame as it is being raised, I first lock the bridge
picce to the frame by means of a pin, and I provide guides / secured to the top
frame a, and between which the bridge or strap works.
In many cases, the raising only of the bottom of the cot will be sufficient, the cord
being attached temporarily to the side or other part of the cot.
This arrangement of cot will be of great service, at night, to mothers during the
periods they are nursing their children, as with but little effort, the child may be raised
to a level with the bed and within convenient reach of the mother.-When the purpose
for which the bottom of the cot has been raised has been effected, the bottom will be
lowered to its normal position.
Referring now to Fig. 4, the safety appliance which I adapt to the cot to prevent
the child falling out, consists of a netting i, which is attached to a frame -This
netting is stretched over the tester f, and the frame j may be secured to the top
frame a of the cot in any convenient manner; for instance, the tester f may fit in the
socket at the foot, and be provided with an eye to fit over the socket at the head, and
the eye will be held down by a shoulder on a half tester f¹, which will carry a
curtain to shade the head of the cot, and which will be secured in its socket by a
thumb nut.
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
claim is :-
1st. The application to children's cots, of means for raising and lowering the bottom
of the cot, as and for the purpose described.
2nd. The means for raising and lowering the bottom of the cot as shown and
described.
3rd. The combination with a child's cot, of an independant netting secured to a
rigid frame having a contour corresponding to that of the cot, the netting being
supported by a tester or support arranged centrally and longitudinally of the cot, as
and for the purpose set forth.
T: 0 day of W 1000