A NEW OR IMPROVED TABLE AND SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Edward Harding at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
April 1865.
I, THOMAS EDWARD HARDING, of Circus Street, Marylebone Road, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED TABLE AND SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or improved table and
support for use by invalids to enable them to rest in bed in an inclined
position, and to employ the table for the purpose of writing or reading, needle-
work, and other such like objects of amusement. I am aware that supports
or bed chairs have been used before by invalids for rest in a partially raised
position while in beds or couches, but these supports have been so made as
to be capable of being only folded or shut up to a limited degree, and they
have also been made with stuffed cushions fixed therein, but I propose to
construct these supports in such manner that they shall fold close up into
a flat and compact body, and also to dispense with cushions as forming part
of the support as manufactured. To this end I form the base of the support
of a rectangular wooden frame, to which is hinged the supporting frame,
behind and at the upper part of this I apply by joints two palls or legs taking
into ratchet teeth cut in the frame forming the base; by these means I am

page_text: enabled to adjust the angle of the supporting frame or rest to any degree to
suit the convenience of the patient, and also to completely shut up the apparatus
when not in use, or for packing and transmission. I fill in the supporting
frame either with a fabric of glazed calico, canvas, linen, or otherwise, and
fix the same by a border of braid and by nails, or I apply a plaited cane,
but I prefer to attach a border of sacking and eyelet holes, and to place
within the same a support on the principle of the adjustable sacking of a bed-
stead by means of cord or lacing. The object of this arrangement is that in
case of deformity of the back of the patient I can slacken or tighten up any
portion of the support so as to accommodate the same to the comfort of the
invalid. In addition to each of these methods I apply cross bands, with buckles
on the surface of the supporting frame, for the purpose of holding against the
same cushions or pillows, which can be removed to prevent infection without
the necessity of changing or cleaning the support itself, as is ordinarily done.
I form arm rests on the supporting frame, having hinges shutting upwards,
so that the rests may be folded and not interfere with the compactness of
the apparatus. The table is so constructed as to be easily placed on and
outside the bed clothes above the thighs of the patient, and consists of an
oblong square box set on four short legs, and having three separate lids with
hinges which when all closed form a flush table surface, the central lid is
provided with two catches as used in pianos for the book rests, and with a
pall underneath it for adjusting its opening angle to suit the reader, or the
pall being thrown completely backwards and out of gear with the rack the lid
will rest thereon, and be slightly elevated for writing. Under this portion
of the table is a shallow receptacle for a slate on which the patient may
write when prohibited from speaking, the lower part of the table being here
made with an arch raised from the level of the two exterior partitions in order
to accommodate the table to the thighs of the patient. The two exterior
divisions contain paper, envelopes, pens and ink, needlework, and a spittoon
or other article as may be required by the patient. The table may be removed
from the bed and applied to the invalid when scated in a chair or on a sofa
or couch by removing the short legs which unscrew, and substituting longer
legs, or by placing the table on two tressels in front of the patient, whereby
the preceding facilities are equally afforded.