IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING INVALIDS, AND OTHERS IN BED, ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER INCLINE RESTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caleb Trapnell, of 39, College Green, Bristol, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING
INVALIDS, AND OTHERS IN BED, ALSO APPLICABLE TO SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS,
AND OTHER INCLINE RESTS."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 23rd May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caleb Trapnell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1877.
CALEB TRAPNELL, of 39, College Green, Bristol.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING INVALIDS AND OTHERS IN BED, ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER INCLINE RESTS."
The object of this Invention is to alleviate the sufferings of bedridden persons
and invalids generally by enabling their position on beds, couches, chairs, and other
articles of furniture to be readily changed without the necessity of laying hands on
them. For this purpose I make the horizontal portion of the bedstead with a
table or flap of the width of the bedstead, one end of which works on hinges in such
manner that it may lie level with or be canted to any angle with the horizontal
line. Underneath the flap on each side I fix a toothed rack or quadrant which I
lift up or lower by means of spur pinions gearing into such quadrants, and made
to revolve, which object is effected by fitting a spindle in suitable bearings. across
the bedstead, at each end of which, so as to coincide with the position of the quad-
rants, I fix a spur pinion in such manner as to gear into the said quadrants. At
about the middle of the pinion spindle I fix a. worm wheel which I cause to revolve:
by means of a screw working into the same, which is fixed to a spindle placed at
right angles, or at any suitable angle to the pinion spindle. The end of the screw
spindle is made to project beyond the end of the bedstead, where it is furnished
with a hand wheel or any suitable lever for turning the same.
The apparatus is worked by simply turning the hand wheel, by which motion is.
communicated from the screw to the worm wheel, thus causing the spur pinions: to:
}

page_text: revolve and raise and lower the toothed quadrants, and with them the table or flap
the incline of which can thus be adjusted to the requirements of the invalid. When
required the apparatus may be worked by the occupant of the bed without the aid of
an attendant, in which case the mechanism may be arranged so as to allow of the
hand wheel being within easy reach of such occupant.
In addition to bedsteads this Invention may be applied to sofas, couches, chairs,
and other articles of furniture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Caleb Trapnell in the Great. Seal Patent Office on the 21st
November 1877.
CALEB TRAPNELL, of 39, College Green, Bristol. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING INVALIDS AND OTHERS IN BED, ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER INCLINE RESTS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising and sup-
porting invalids and others when in bed, or on a couch, chair, or other similar article
of furniture in any requisite posture, position, or angle, with a view to affording
greater personal convenience, and to alleviate the sufferings of the patient by
enabling his position to be varied with the utmost facility without the necessity of
touching him with the hands, thus greatly facilitating the performance of various
surgical operations; and it is also useful for lifting or raising mattresses, bedding, or
other heavy articles which may be upon the bed or couch.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings
(whereon similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts) proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature thereof, and the means of carrying
the same into operation.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a view of my improved appa-
ratus when employed as a bed rest, and which may either be placed upon the
ordinary wooden or iron frame of the bedstead, or may be incorporated with and
so form part of the same in the construction thereof, and indicates the method of
raising the same by turning the hand wheel or lever hereafter described from the
head or foot of the frame of the bedstead or couch.
Figure 2 shews a side elevation of the same, and Figure 3 is a plan view shewing
the movable table or rest removed, so that the action of the endless screw e¹ upon
the worm wheel c is readily perceived.
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The remaining Figures shew various applications of my improved apparatus to
different kinds of bedsteads, chairs, sofas, or couches, and operation frames or tables,
to all of which it is equally applicable.
In applying my Invention to bedsteads or couches I proceed as follows:-I pro-
vide the horizontal portion of the frame of the bedstead or couch with a movable
table or flap a; such table or flap may be made either of wood or iron, and may
either correspond in width with the bedstead or couch itself, or form any part of the
width of it, and one end thereof works upon hinges or their equivalent in such a
manner that the table frame or rest may either be level with the bedstead or couch,.
دا

page_text: or be raised to any convenient angle and height. Underneath this flap, on either
or both sides thereof, I fix one or more toothed racks or quadrants b, at such
distances or in such positions as may be most convenient, and these quadrants b.
are raised or lowered as occasion requires by means of spur pinions c gearing into
such toothed racks or quadrants. These spur pinions c are made to revolve by
means of a spindle d fitted in suitable bearings across the bedstead, or table, or
frame. At each end of the spindle d I fix a spur pinion d in such a manner as to gear
into the toothed-racks or quadrants b before described, and about the centre of
such spindle d I fix a worm wheel e, which I cause to revolve by means of an
endless screw e¹ working into the same, and which is fixed to a spindle f placed at
right angles, or at any other convenient angle to the pinion spindle d; the end of the
endless screw spindle f is made to project beyond either the head or foot of the
bedstead, and is furnished with a hand wheel or other suitable hand lever for
turning the same; or if preferred the table or rest may be raised by a hand wheel
or other suitable hand lever placed at the side of the bedstead or couch instead of
at the head or foot thereof, and when so placed I prefer to use bevilled wheels
as shewn in Figure 4.
When desired the apparatus may be worked by the occupant of the bed or
couch without the aid of an attendant, in which case I take care to so arrange the
mechanism as to allow of the hand wheel or lever being within easy reach of the
patient or occupant, and also that the hand wheel may work horizontally by
means of bevilled wheels, or by a cord and pulley, and so form a revolving table if
necessary.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings shew these methods of
arrangement, Figure 4 being a plan view thereof, shewing the movable table or rest
removed as in Figure 3, and Figures 5 and 6 being respectively views in elevation
of the same.
Figure 7 is a plan view shewing the hand wheel worked horizontally by means
of a cord and pulley, and Figure 8 shews an elevation of the same.
In order to work the apparatus it is only necessary to turn the hand wheel or
lever placed at the head, or foot, or side of the bed or couch, when motion is at once
communicated by the endless screw to the worm wheel, thus causing the spur
pinions e to revolve and raise or lower the toothed racks or quadrants b, and with
them the table or rest a, the incline of which can thus be readily and securely
adjusted to any desired angle without the aid of pins or any kind of fastening
whatever.
In applying my improved apparatus to operating tables I provide in addition to
the rising rest which supports the back two jointed rising rests g to serve as
supports for the legs. These rests are raised by means of similar toothed racks or
quadrants as those already described, acting upon intermediate flaps h, h, as shewn
in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
I also provide a suitable bedstead or table with expanding frames i, i, whereon
these rising rests work, and furnished with pivot hinges or their equivalents so as
to permit of the operator approaching close up to the centre of the patient without
obstruction. This arrangement is shewn in perspective at Figure 11, and in plan
at Figure 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
Moreover the whole may be so connected together by means of hinges or pivots,
or in any other convenient manner, as to form a bedstead, as shewn in Figure 13,
and for the convenience of packing or removal I make the toothed racks or quad-
rants to screw and unscrew. On the same principle the back and seat of a chair
may be made to move independently of each other, and to assume a horizontal or
inclined position at any suitable angle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that what I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the principle of combining the worm wheel and endless screw

page_text: with the quadrant and pinion wheel for the purpose of raising any object from a
horizontal to an inclined or upright position, and at any desired angle, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Caleb Trapnell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.