Improvements in Bed Rests.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
Improvements in Bed Rests.
I, EDGAR GEORGE PAYNE, of 119, Inverness Terrace, Hyde Park, London, Gentle-
man, 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 certain improvements in bed rests for the use of invalids
and others in supporting the body in an inclined position at an adjustable inclina-
tion, the improvements being designed to render such devices much more comfort-
able and suitable for their intended purpose of utility than are such devices as at
present made, and also to render them available and suitable as pillow rests for
use in supporting the head in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position.
In ordinary bed rests, woven wire, spring chains, webbing, cane, canvas, stuffed
fabrics and the like, hereinafter referred to as "yielding fabrics," is stretched by
and between top and bottom bars or by and between the surrounding bars of a
rectangular frame, the bottom bar of which is hinged to a rearwardly extending
racked frame, and the side bars of which are connected to struts adapted to engage
with the racked frame so as to serve to support the fabric carrying frame in any
me of various inclined positions, or to allow the fabric carrying frame to lie
flat on the racked frame.
In such existing apparatus, the parts are so constructed and so connected as to
be about as awkwardly formed and disposed as they could well be to serve their
intended purpose of utility as regards a bed rest, as not only do the top and bottom
bars of the fabric carrying frame, in all such arrangements, offer rigid obstructions
where a yielding formation is required for the comfort of the user, and which, as
regards the lower bar, is a most serious disadvantage in absolutely preventing
the yielding fabric from adapting itself to the conformation of the body in its
position of repose and in causing positive discomfort where ease is the desideratum,
but, in those arrangements wherein the yielding fabric is unconnected to the side
bars of its carrying frame, the body is liable to roll to the side and to be hurt or
inconvenienced by the side bars, and, moreover, in all such arrangements, the
connections of the racked frame and of the supporting struts being respectively
made to the bottom bar between the side bars of the fabric supporting frame and
to the inner edge of such side bars, offer further obstructions which materially
militate against the utility of the device as a bed rest, and amount to a practical
prohibition of its use as a pillow rest.
The present invention is designed to avoid all these and other disadvantages
incidental to such bed rests as hitherto made and to attain the stated objects of
the invention, and, to this end, the invention consists in the improved construction
of adjustable bed rest hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying
drawings; in which, Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of the improved
apparatus in open position for use as a bed rest; --and Fig. 2, represents a like
view thereof in closed position for use as a pillow rest.
In carrying out the invention, I support the yielding fabric, a, (whether it be
woven wire, spring chain, webbing, canvas, padded fabric, or whatever else may be

page_text: used for the purpose,) by stretching it laterally or from side to side only between
the side bars, a¹, of a rigid carrying frame, which are located apart in the desired
relation to each other by one or more cranked, curved or equivalently shaped or
formed stretcher bars, a², formed of metal, wood or other suitable material, and
which descend, as it were, into the bed of the apparatus, and are so formed as to
allow of the free yielding of the fabric, a, between its side supports, a¹, without
in any way interfering with its whole extent adapting itself to the curvature or
conformation of the bend or inclination of the body, in whatever position of inclina-
tion it may be set, as also in its horizontal position when used as a pillow rest.
The fabric, a, may be applied to the side bars of its supporting frame in any usual
or suitable manner of securing it in like apparatus, its top and bottom edges being
left quite free and unconnected to the stretcher or stretchers, a², the upturned
ends, a³, of which are screwed or otherwise suitably connected to the inner or
under edges of the frame side bars.
I also pivotally connect each side bar, a¹, of the fabric carrying frame at its
bottom and under part, as at ab, to the upper part of the fore end of one or two
side bars, b, which are each notched or racked, as at 6, and are connected at their
rear ends by a stay bar, 2, lieing in the same plane. I also pivotally connect to
each of said side bars, a¹, at its under part, as at a, the end of one of two struts, c,
which are each adapted, at c', to engage with the notches or racks of one of the
bars, b, and are connected at their racked ends by a stay bar, c², lieing in the same
plane
These features of construction avoid all the stated disadvantages and also others
incidental to such bed rests as hitherto constructed, and render such apparatus
eminently well adapted to serve its intended purpose of utility, and
also to serve *as a comfortable pillow rest upon the fabric carry-
ing frame being caused to assume a horizontal or approximately hori-
zontal position, without any removal of the frame from its attachment to the
racked frame, and avoiding the necessity of any or all attachments for holding the
pillow to the frame, as the fabric forms a natural bed therefor, comfortable also
to the neck and not offering any obstruction to the easy lieing thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a bed rest, in combination, a yielding fabric carrying rigid frame con-
sisting of side bars located by one or more under cranked, curved or equivalently
formed stay bars and serving to stretch the yielding fabric laterally and with its
top and bottom edges quite free, connected racked bars pivotally connected to the
under parts of the fore ends of the side bars of the fabric carrying frame, and con-
nected struts pivotally connected to the under parts of the side bars of the fabric
carrying frame and adapted to engage with the racked bars, and serving to support
the fabric carrying frame in various inclined positions, as set forth.
2. In a bed rest, a yielding fabric carrying rigid frame consisting of side bars
located by one or more under cranked, curved or equivalently formed stay bars
and serving to stretch the yielding fabric laterally and with its top and bottom
edges quite free, as set forth.
Dated this 7th dore of Dreamber 1900
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.