Improvements in Bedsteads and Cots for Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, and the like and in the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bedsteads and Cots for Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums,
and the like and in the Manufacture of the same.
I, SAMUEL ILSLEY WHITFIELD, of Watery Lane, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Bedstead Manufacturer, 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:
My invention has for its object improvements in bedsteads and cots for hospitals
lunatic asylums and the like by which firstly I provide bedsteads for use in lunatic
asylums which obviate any possibility of the inmates interfering with the tighten-
ing arrangement of the mesh and at the same time my bedstead is free of any
aperture between the head of the spring mattress and the head of the bedstead
thus preventing any possibility of inserting their hands in the space which requires
to be left for the purpose of tightening up the mesh.
The second part of my invention refers to cots having drop sides for use in
infirmarys hospitals and other such institutions by which I prevent the possibility
of noise when actuating the drop sides of the cot and at the same time manu-
facture such parts in a manner more substantial and free from possibility of
getting out of order than hitherto.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
carried into practise I have appended hereunto three sheets of drawings upon
which I have illustrated my improvements applied to a bedstead such as used in
lunatic asylums and a cot such as used in hospitals and from which its application
to other forms of bedsteads and cots will readily be understood.
Figure 1 is a view of a bedstead such as used in lunatic asylums with my
improvements embodied in connection therewith.
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the head part of the bedstead shewn
in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the side tube shewing the mode of
attachment to the mesh.
Figure 4 is a view of a cot such as used in hospitals shewing my improve-
ments embodied in connection therewith.
Figure 5 is is an enlarged view of one of the supports to the drop side.
Figure 6 is a section through same.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of one of the guides for the drop side.
Figure 8 is a section through same.
In carrying my invention into effect and referring to Sheets and 2 again I
manufacture my bedstead as shewn by Figure 1 with the cross plate A chilled
into the dovetail junction of the head B leaving the space E between the
chills and the plate A in which the angle iron head of the mesh F is made
to slide. The cross plate A is supported upon the angle iron 6 of the head B
by means of the distance pieces H which are riveted both to the angle iron 6
and the plate A and the sheet iron web 3 of the head B is carried down and riveted
to the back of the angle iron 62 while the tightening bolts J for the mesh have
TD
7

page_text: their bearing through the angle iron 62 sheet web 63 and angle iron head fi of
the mesh F by which means the whole of the mesh tightening arrangement is
so boxed in, that it is impossible to pass the hand arm or foot through the space
left for adjustment.
For securely attaching the sides of the mesh F to the side tubes KL secure the
rods along the length of the tube K by means of the eyelets which have
the stem passing through the tube K and being riveted at while the mesh F
is secured to this rod by the strong twisted wire links f.
The eyelets may be made open so that after the bar K has been inserted
the eyelet may be pinched together and the bar thus secured in position. By
these means there is little or no possibility of getting the hand, arm, or foot in
between the mesh F and the tube K.
Referring again to Sheet 3 the general arrangement of the cot $ is of the usual
type for hospitals but it has hitherto been usual to spring rubber washers or
rings arround the eye T which supports the drop sides sand similar rings round
the guiding eye V which rings frequently became detached and lost, but by my
invention I coat the projecting stud W with rubber or other similar material a
so that when entering the eye T it is noisless and cannot become detached unless
required. In the case of the eye V for guiding the drop of the side I coat the
eye with rubber V as shewn so as to cause it to be one with the iron by which it
is impossible for it to become detached while all the projecting corners of the eye
are thus softened.
Of cause I may vary these eyes and studs to suit the various shapes of cots
and requirements to be met with and I may also vary the particular arrangement
of cross plate A and extension of the sheet web 3 for the perfect boxing in of
the mesh tightening arrangement to suit the varied shapes of bedsteads to be
met with.
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
1st. In bedsteads for lunatic asylums and the like the cross plate A substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
2ond. In bedsteads for lunatic asylums and the like the longitudinal rod k
attached to the side tube K for securing the mesh F substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
3rd. In cots for hospitals and the like coating the supporting studs and guide
eyes or their equivalents with rubber substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of Tul., 1900
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant, 5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.