Improvements in Carriages for the Treatment of Paraplegia.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages for the Treatment of Paraplegia.
I, JOHN GEORGE NEVITT, of 128 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in
the County of York, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, in England, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of a carriage whereby the patient
can be allowed the use and exercise of the lower extremities when the patient is
unable to bear the whole weight of the body.
In order to accomplish my object I construct a carriage having three or more
wheels and the framework so formed as to admit of ample room for the movement
of the lower extremities. The two main wheels are attached to the bottom portion
of the framework which is at an elevation about the centre of the said wheels: the
front wheel is carried by a bracket secured to the centre of the front portion of the
lower framework, and to the back of the lower framework I secure by means of a
bracket a swivel wheel which under ordinary circumstances is clear of the ground
for the purpose of preventing the capsizing of the carriage.
Above the bottom framework is secured another frame of similar form attached
to the former by three uprights passing upwards, which form the suspender for a
canopy, the upper and lower frames being also connected by two pillars, one on the
right and the other on the left.
The three vertical uprights are behind the patient, one being on each side behind
the arms, and the third carried up and all joined above the head of the patient in
an arch, thus giving strength to the mode of supporting the patient, which consists
of a roller carried by brackets from the arch, below this is a similar roller supported
by a strap or belt passing round the upper one, this strap is capable of adjustment,
by which the distance between the bottom roller and top one can be varied.
From the bottom roller I suspend a horizontal bar, each end of which passes
round the two uprights so as to form a guide for the said bar to move up and down
the two uprights. To this bar I secure two hooks, one at each end within the arch,.
and from these hooks by means of suspenders and a jacket I support the patient in
such a manner as to allow of the movement of the lower extremities, thereby
enabling the patient to take walking exercise.
The carriage is guided by means of an ordinary rack and pinion steering gear,
the handle for actuating the same being placed in a convenient position for the
patient above the upper framework.
Dated this 19th day of August 1891.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages for the Treatment of Paraplegia.
I, JOHN GEORGE NEVITT, of 128 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in
the County of York, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, 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 has for its object the construction of a carriage, whereby the patient
can be allowed the use and exercise of the lower extremities when the patient is
unable to bear the whole weight of the body.

page_text: In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same by
making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1. represents a side view of the apparatus.
Fig. 2. a sectional plan through line a. b. shewing a seat suspended.
Fig. 3. a front view of a portion of the framework shewing the method of attach-
ing a seat.
Fig. 4. a similar view having a jacket or girth attached for suspending the patient,
and
Fig. 5. an enlarged detail of the suspending jacket or girth, shewing the air pad.
I construct a carriage of suitable framework A. and support same upon three or
more wheels A. sufficient space Q. being left inside the framework as to admit of
ample room for the movement of the lower extremities. To the back of the carriage,
I secure a bracket C. supporting a safety wheel D. for the purpose of preventing
the capsizing of the carriage, and which, under ordinary circumstances is clear
of the ground.
Above the bottom framework A. is secured a similar frame A' attached to the
former by three or more uprights E. which pass upwards and form a support for the
framework F. of a canopy or sunshade. The upper and lower portions of frame-
work A. and A' respectively, may be further supported on the right and left by
uprights E¹.
To the underside of two of the uprights E. E. I secure a bracket G. supporting
a roller H. around which I pass a strap or the like, J. and connect the latter to a
similar roller H' mounted in bracket G'secured to the horizontal bar K. the ends K¹
of which clasp the side uprights E. E. thus forming a guide for the said bar K.
to move up and down as desired, by reason of the strap J. being adjustible in order
to regulate the distance between the two rollers H. and H for the purpose of
allowing the patient to be more or less in contact with the ground as is desired.
To the said bar K. I secure two hooks L. L. to which is attached the jacket M.
which fastens round the body of the patient; whereby the use of the lower
extremities is not interfered with and the patient enabled to take walking exercise.
On each side of said jacket M. I form a pocket R for the purpose of receiving
an air cushion or pad Š thus forming a soft support for the armpits of the patient.
The carriage is provided with a canvas or other suitable seat N. which may
be supported by adjustable hooks O. secured to the uprights E. as shewn by
Figs. 1. 2 and 3.
The carriage is guided by the front wheel by means of an ordinary rack and
pinion steering gear, the handle P. for actuating the same being placed in a
convenient position for the patient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the jacket M. hooks L. L. horizontal bar K. and
rollers H. H' with the uprights E E. and framework A. A' supported upon wheels,
all being arranged substantially in the manner shown and described, and for the
purpose as herein before set forth.
2. The combination of the adjustable strap J. and rollers H. and H' with the
horizontal bar K. and jacket M. arranged substantially in the manner as shown
and described.
3. The combination of the parts forming the complete carriage arranged sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1809
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.