AN IMPROVED METHOD OF VENTILATING THE INTERIOR OF BEDS AND SLEEPING COUCHES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George O'Brien, of Fitzroy Square, Regent's Park, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
VENTILATING THE INTERIOR OF BEDS AND SLEEPING COUCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georgo O'Brien at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1880.
GEORGE O'BRIEN, of Fitzroy Square, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF VENTILATING THE INTERIOR OF BEDS AND SLEEPING
COUCHES."
This Invention consists in an improved method of ventilating the interior of
beds and sleeping couches for the purpose of carrying off the gases and aqueous
vapour exhaled by the skin of the sleeper, thereby allowing the body to be
exposed to a continual supply of fresh air, and preventing the inhalation of the
said gases and vapours.
Under ordinary circumstances the bed or sleeping couch is closed by coverlets
during occupation, whereby the human frame is deprived of fresh air and is confined
with the gases and aqueous vapours exhaled by the skin, the daily accumulations
of which cause humidity in the bed or couch. The only aperture for the escape of
the said exhalations being near the mouth of the occupant of the bed they are
inhaled, thereby causing and perpetuating various diseases.
This Invention consists in arranging a tube or tubes in such a manner, as herein-
after described, that the said noxious gases and vapours are conducted away from
the mouth and from the bed, whilst at the same time a supply of fresh air is drawn
in at the opening of the coverlets, and passing gently over the human frame purifies
and refreshes the body and bed. The tubes may be of any form, circular, oval, or
polygonal, and may be made of any suitable material and diameter, and they are
placed longitudinally, transversely, or otherwise, and either over, under, through, or
at the side of the mattress, or in the bedstead, or they may be separate and placed
inside the bed by the side of the occupant, and may be, if desired, partially
perforated or fitted at one or both extremities with wire work or net work of any
naterial, and when considered necessary, they may be provided with a chamber
itted at the lower part with a suitable valve for drawing off the condensed vapour
[Price 4d.]

page_text: which accumulates, especially in winter when a greater amount of covering is
employed. One end of the tube opens into the space occupied by the body, and the
other end through which the noxious vapours escape is carried up to any desired
height.
I consider that one tube two inches in diameter is sufficient for one person, and
I prefer to place it under the first or upper mattress horizontally and longitudinally,
with an elbow passing round the end of the mattress, and the end opening into the
space in which the body of the occupant rests; the opposite end of the tube is
carried up perpendicularly in order to create the necessary current, and is capped
with wire gauze or net work to prevent any in draught. The exterior of the
exposed portion of the tube may be covered with woollen material for maintaining
the interior heat and consequent expansion.
The essential feature of the Invention consists in taking advantage of the extreme
mobility of the atmospheric air and higher temperature, and consequent expansive
power, of the heated noxious gases and aqueous vapours in the bed and tubes, as
compared with those of the external air, whereby I am enabled by the arrangements
of the tube or tubes, as herein before described, to draw the said noxious gases and
vapours from the interior of the bed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George O'Brien in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1880.
"
GEORGE O'BRIEN, of Fitzroy Square, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF VENTILATING THE INTERIOR OF BEDS AND SLEEPING
COUCHES."
My said Invention consists in an improved method of ventilating the interior of
beds and sleeping couches for the purpose of carrying off the gases and aqueous
vapours exhaled through the skin of the occupant, thereby allowing the body to be
exposed to a continual supply of fresh air, and also preventing the inhalation of
the said gases and vapours..
Under ordinary circumstances the bed or sleeping couch is closed by coverlets
during occupation, whereby the body of the occupant is deprived of fresh air, and
is confined with the gases and aqueous vapours exhaled through the skin, the
accumulation of which causes humidity in the bed or couch, and the only aperture
for the escape of the said exhalations being near the mouth of the occupant they
are inhaled, and thus tend to cause and perpetuate various diseases, whereas, by
means of my said Invention, such exhalations are conducted from the interior of
the bed or couch by means of a tube or tubes, whilst at the same time a supply of
fresh air is drawn in at the opening of the coverlets, and passing gently over the
occupant, purifies and refreshes the body and bed,
The said tube or tubes may be of any form, for instance, circular, oval, or
polygonal, and may be made of any suitable material and diameter, and they are
placed longitudinally, transversely, or otherwise, and either over, under, through, or
at any side of the mattress, or they may be arranged in or along the frame of the
bedstead, or they may be separate and placed inside the bed by the side of the
occupant, and when desired, they may be partially perforated at the extremities, or
oue or both of the latter may be fitted in the interior with wire work or net work
of any material, and when considered necessary, each pipe is provided at the lowest
part with a chamber having a suitable valve for drawing off the condensed vapour
which accumulates, especially in winter when a greater amount of covering is
employed. The tube is fixed in such a manner that one end thereof opens into the
space occupied by the body, and the other end through which the noxious vapours
escape is carried up to any desired height.
I consider that one tube two inches in diameter is sufficient for one person, and
I prefer to place it under the first or upper mattress horizontally and longitudinally,
with an elbow passing round the foot of the mattress, so that the end of the tube
opens into the space in which the body of the occupant rests; the opposite end of
the tube is carried up perpendicularly in order to create the necessary current, and
it may be capped with wire gauze or net work to prevent any indraught. The
exterior of the exposed portion of the tube may be covered with woollen material
for maintaining the interior heat.
The essential feature of the Invention consists in taking advantage of the
extreme mobility of the atmospheric air and higher temperature, and consequent
expansive power, of the heated noxious gases and vapours in the bed and tubes, as
compared with that of the external air, whereby I am enabled by the arrangements
of the tube or tubes, as herein before described, to draw the said noxious gases and
vapours from the interior of the bed.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I

page_text: consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The method of ventilating the interior of beds and sleeping couches by means of
pipes, arranged substantially as herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George O'Brien, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE O'BRIEN. (L.S.)