Improvements in Adjustable Supports for Use in Beds.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Supports for Use in Beds.
I, ULYSSE JOSEPH PARIZOT, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Builder, 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 relates to a mechanically actuated support adjustable to various
degrees of inclination, for use in beds; the essential feature being the arrangement
of the actuating mechanism, by which an attendant is enabled to raise a part of
the said support and so to place a patient in an inclined or even a sitting posture
upon the bed if so required without jolting or shock, or necessitating any exertion,
by the said patient.
When the apparatus is in place, it does not in any way inconvenience the
occupant of the bed, who may then rest in the normal position or be raised at will
without disarrangement of the bedding.
In order that this invention may be fully understood I have illustrated the
device, by the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the apparatus in the position it occupies
when adapted to the bed and ready for use.
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, corresponding to Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the same apparatus with the support or
upper frame inclined.
Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof, corresponding to Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows separately, in front and side elevation, a detail view of the fixed
lower frame.
Figure 6 represents separately, in front and side elevation a detail view of the
movable top frame or support proper.
Figure 7 represents separately, in front elevation, inner side elevation and outer
side elevation respectively, the details of the support for the winding shaft.
Figure 8 represents a side elevation of the winding shaft upon which the ropes
or cords are wound and unwound.
Figure 9 represents separately, in front and side elevation a detail view of the
hand wheel.
Figure 10 shows separately in front and side elevation a detail view of the
friction plates.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the friction plates in position.
Figure 11 represents separately in front and side elevation a detail view of the
binding screw.
In these different figures similar reference letters refer to similar parts.
The apparatus thus represented substantially comprises. a fixed bottom frame a,
to which the movable frame or back e is pivotally connected by hinges b.
Upon each of these frames a and c are fixed adjustable tension straps d which
connect the sides of the frame and retain the bed in its even condition, irrespective
of whether the apparatus be open or closed.
Upon the bottom frame a a support fis pivotally connected at the point e, which
support carries the winding shaft g.
This shaft g is provided with rings or snugs h, to which the ropes or cords i are
attached in any appropriate manner; the ends of these ropes or cords are fastened
1937

page_text: by means of screws k, or in any other appropriate manner, to the movable frame c
which is provided with tenons l, engaging with guide grooves m arranged in the
inner faces of the sides of the support f.
Friction plates n Fig. 10 are traversed by the shaft g and provided with a
notch o for the passage of the transverse bar of the support, they are placed upon
the inner faces of the sides of the support f, and have for their object to prevent
wear which would otherwise be caused by the rubbing of the snugs or cramp irons
against the wood of the support.
The hand wheel p held fast by the screw nut 9 can be placed at will, upon one or
the other extremity of the shaft g according as the apparatus is to be operated
from the right or from the left.
In order that the movable frame may be fixed at any point in its travel, a
brake shoe of leather or any other suitable material, is placed upon each
extremity of the shaft, against the outer faces of the sides of the support f; this
brake shoe is constantly pressed against the boss of the hand wheel which,
tightened beforehand acts as a brake and holds the movable frame c at the desired
angle of inclination.
By reason of the small diameter of the hand wheel boss g, the tightening of the
brake does not impede the action of the apparatus which can be actuated without
great exertion; twice the weight of an average person being raised, without
causing a reverse movement of the shaft.
In order to prepare the apparatus for use, it is necessary to open the two
frames a and c then, by inclining the support f, the tenons I may be passed through
the openings and thus brought into engagement with the guide grooves m
arranged in the sides of the support. The top frame c is turned down upon
the lower frame a and the support fis held in the vertical position shown in
Figure 1.
In this position the apparatus is placed at the head of the bed, below the top
mattress, where several mattresses are used, or between the mattress proper and
the spring mattress when only one upper mattress is used. The apparatus so
placed does not interfere with the free movement of the patient who rests in the
natural position.
When the patient is to be raised to an inclined position the hand wheel p is
turned thereby actuating the shaft g, and so winding up the two ropes or cords i;
thus inclining the frame c and the bedding which rests thereon, together with the
occupant of the bed, without jolting or shock.
When the desired degree of inclination has been reached, the hand wheel is
released; and the brake holds the apparatus in its inclined position.
When the patient is to be replaced in the horizontal position, it is sufficient to
simply turn the hand wheel in the reverse direction, then the support proper will
descend gradually owing to the weight which it supports.
The apparatus may remain in the bed for an indefinite time without causing the
occupant inconvenience.
When the apparatus is not in use, the tenons may be disengaged from the
guide-grooves m, then on turning the support f down upon the closed frames, the
apparatus is folded into a small space and can be conveniently stored away.
The shape, dimensions, minor parts and the material used for the construction
of my apparatus, may vary, without thereby in any way departing from the spirit
of my invention.
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 :-
1. An adjustable support for use in beds the essential features being,-the
arrangement of a shaft g, upon which the ropes or cords i, connected to the
movable frame c, are wound and unwound, substantially as described.
2. In an adjustable support for use in beds the combination of the shaft g, the

page_text: ropes or cords i and of the movable frame c, with a fixed frame a and a support f
with guide grooves m, substantially as described.
3. In an adjustable support for use in beds as ascertained in the first and second
claims, the use of a brake device, formed by the combination of friction shoes r
with the hand wheel p, substantially as described.
4. An adjustable support for use in beds, constructed and arranged substantially
as described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of July 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.