IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID BEDSTEADS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND RECLINING SEATS OR BEDS FOR INVALID CARRIAGES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Soden Holbeche, of Sutton Coldfield, in the
County of Warwick, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID BEDSTEADS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND RECLINING SEATS OR BEDS FOR INVALID
CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 25th August 1854, and dated the 28th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Soden Holbeche
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th February 1854.
I, JOHN SODEN HOLBECHE, of Sutton Coldfield, in the County of Warwick,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID BEDSTEADS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND RECLINING SEATS OR BEDS FOR INVALID
CARRIAGES," to be as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention consists,-
First, in uniting the frame of the bed with hinge joints about the middle,
that being about the situation of the hip joint of the occupant. Underneath
the moveable frame is a quadrant supplied with teeth, so that it may be
held in any desired position by a catch, which catch is operated upon by a
string or wire, or bell lever, placed in any convenient situation in the way of
the invalid, by being connected with the catch by wire or gut, and connected

page_text: to suitable levers or pullies. The action of the moveable frame is effected by
a counterpoise, which may be adjusted to the weight or amount of prostration
of the invalid. This counterpoise consists of india-rubber springs, attached in
any convenient situation, at or about the lower end of the head post, the other
end of the springs being attached to the side rails of the moveable frame,
such rails extending some way down below the hinge joint upon which it
works. By this description it will be understood, that when the invalid desires
to rise, the catch has to be liberated from the quadrant, when the moveable
frame will immediately elevate itself, lifting the patient into any required
position; and the power exerted by the springs being equivalent to the weight
of that portion of the patient that is lifted, it is evident, that by the slightest
exertion of the patient, the frame may be depressed again into its horizontal
or any intermediate position, and retained so, by the catch taking into the
desired tooth in the quadrant.
Secondly, my improvement relates to the lower part of the bedstead, which
consists, first, in adapting a moveable foot board into a table for the patient;
and secondly, in arranging the bottom frame of the bed, so that it may fall
down, thus converting the bed into a chair; and thirdly, in removing a por-
tion of the foot post, or constructing the foot posts in such a way that they
may be shortened or lengthened, so as to convert it into a reclining bed.
This being my Invention, it only requires the necessary modifications to make
the same applicable for chairs, couches, or carriages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Soden Holbeche in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SODEN HOLBECHE, of Sutton Coldfield, in the County of Warwick, Builder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Soden Holbeche, Her special license that I, the said John Soden
Holbeche, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Soden Holbeche, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should' at

page_text: any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID BEDSTEADS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND RECLINING SEATS OR BEDS FOR INVALID
CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Soden
Holbeche, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Soden Holbeche, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My Invention consists,-
Firstly, in applying to bedsteads, couches, chairs, and carriages for invalids,
cords of caoutchouc, or other springs which yield and contract longitudinally,
such springs being so adapted to the weight of the body as to form a counter-
poise thereto, the frame of the bed or couch being so jointed as to conform
itself to the positions the patient may wish to assume. This is effected by
removing a catch, which prevents the springs from acting, and which requires
only a slight amount of muscular exertion, the patient allowing the bed to
raise him or her to the position required, and when in that position allowing
the catch to resume its former position, the bed will be fixed. The reverse of
this may also be effected; that is to say, the bed may be lowered, by removing
the catch, and the patient allowing his or her weight to overcome the force of
the springs. Or again, if desirable, the patient may by the slightest exertion
oscillate or rock himself or herself, by holding the cord communicating with
the catch or detent.
Secondly, in so constructing the bottom or foot part of bedsteads, that the
foot board may be converted into a table or reading desk.
may
be
Thirdly, in so arranging the bottom part of the bed frame, that it
inclined at any angle that may be required for the support of the legs;
this, united with the first part of my Invention, above referred to, converts the
bed into a chair.
Fourthly, in removing a portion of the foot posts, or so constructing them,
that they may be shortened and relengthened, so that the invalid may lie in a

page_text: position suitably inclined to the horisontal, such arrangement being in con-
nection with the springs before mentioned.
Such are the improvements to which my Invention refers; but as it is sus-
ceptible of considerable modification, (but always in connection with the springs
before named,) I will proceed to describe it more fully, the Drawings hereunto
annexed forming a part of this my Specification, and to which reference must
be made.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AS SEEN IN DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents partly in section a bedstead, to which my
improvements are applied. A, A', A", being the jointed frame whereon we
will suppose a person to be reclining, and that person to be of the masculine
gender, for the sake of simplicity of description; now, from the position shown
we will imagine that he wishes to approach nearer the horizontal, then reach-
ing out his hand he takes hold of the cord B, which by means of the lever D,
and chains and pullies E, E', communicates with the catch F; then it will be
seen that by his pulling this cord, the catch F is removed from the rack G,
which forms an arc of a circle, and is jointed to the front part of the bed frame
A, A, by the pin H. Now, by the person or invalid allowing his weight to
actuate the front part of the frame A, A, that part will approach the hori-
zontal, and when in the position desired the letting go of the cord B will allow
the catch F again to enter the rack G, and the frame will therefore be sus-
tained by it in that position. This catch is worked as follows:-The catch F
is at the end of a rod, which works through the guides I, I, and has on it the
helical spring, shown in the Drawing, which pushes the catch or detent into
the notch of the rack, whenever the counterforce of the hand is removed.
Having thus shown how the position of the head part A, A, may be
lowered, I will now proceed to describe how it may be raised. Fastened to
the head posts or to the rail connecting them, are the caoutchouc springs J, J,
and the other ends hooked or otherwise secured to a lever K, which is fastened
to and projects beyond the head part A, A, of the frame.
These springs are to be used in number, strength, or both, corresponding to
the weight of the invalid, and forming a counterpoise to his body; and those
caoutchouc cords sold in the shops, and called "Hodge's power accumula-
tors," I find to answer well. Now, the catch F having been removed out of
the rack G by means of the cord B, as before described, the springs J, J, will
contract and move the lever K, of which the hinge L of the bed frame is the
fulcrum; consequently the head part A, A, of the bed frame will be elevated,
until the hand looses the cord B, and therefore the catch F, which then takes

page_text: into the rack G, fixes that and the bed frame as before. The notched arc or
rack G has in it a slot forming part of a circle, and parallel to the sides of the
rack, and that part of the framework M through which the rack moves has
the pin or friction roller N either through it or fastened to it, and over which
the rack moves, and the object of which is to prevent the rack from getting out
of place. In some cases, or to some persons, the hinge L may be objection-
able, in which case it may be replaced by the arc O, jointed to the moveable
part A, A, and the fixed part A, A¹, of the bed frame at P and Q, and the
outer edge being notched, the rack G may also be discarded. It must also be
.observed, that the lever K has on it a friction roller, (shown by dotted lines,)
which works in the arch groove R in the side pieces of the bedstead. The
lever D, the chain at E, and the chain at E', and the catch F, are connected
together by wire or cord, wire being preferable.
I will now describe the mode of converting the foot board into a table or
reading desk. The foot board is divided horizontally and jointed at S; on the
lower part of it is placed the rack T perpendicularly, and to the upper portion
is fastened by a hinge or hinges the support U, resting on the teeth of the
rack, and according as the support is placed in the upper or lower teeth, the
board will be raised or lowered; in one case forming a table, and the other a
reading desk.
The foot piece shown at V is intended to be moved, so as to accomodate
the invalid's feet, it forming a kind of rest; this piece has a pin projecting on
its under side, and fitting the holes, shown in dotted lines at W, etc., so that
it may be firmly held at either of those holes, and oftentimes forming a very,
desirable addition to the comforts of a bed.
I will now describe how the bottom part of the bed frame may be inclined
at any angle that may be required for the support or comfort of the legs.
The part A, A, is jointed to the fixed part of the bed frame A', A', from
which the bracket X descends. On the under side of the part A", A", of the
bed frame is the rack Y, which is sustained in any required position by the
support Z, which is jointed to the bracket X. Or the position of these parts
may be reversed, namely, the rack may be placed on the bracket X, and the
support upon the moveable part A", A", of the bed frame. This may also be
done in connexion with the table or reading desk, before described.
Having described the manner in which my improvements are carried out
in bedsteads of wood, I will show how the same may be applied to bedsteads
of iron, and which may be already in use, using in my description the same
letters of reference to denote the parts similar to those already described.
Figure 2 in the Drawing represents an iron bedstead, the sides of which

page_text: are made of angle iron, as shown in section at v, v, and to which the cross
piece M is firmly united by screws; to this is also united the piece M' running
longitudinally, and to which the pulley E is attached, as is also the catch F.
To this is to be placed a bed frame constructed in the same way as the one
before described, the references being the same in either instance.
Figure 3 exhibits the modification of my Invention, as applied in the con-
struction of a bed chair, or a chair to be used upon a bed. A', A¹, A¹, shows
the framework to which the arch rack G is united, the joint L being its
centre, as also the centre upon which the moveable frame A, A, works; B,
the cord actuating the detent F, which in this instance acts upon a lever F,
which takes into the rack G, which is here stationary. The springs J, J, are
attached to the arms, and the moveable frame A, A, and acts in manner
similar to that before described. This chair possesses many of the advantages
of the bed before described, but with the advantages of extreme portability
and arms.
I will now proceed to explain the application of my Invention to couches or
sofas, reference being had, to Sheet 2 of Drawings, Figure 1 of which repre-
sents. a couch with the improvements mentioned applied, and the front rail
removed, to shew the parts more clearly. The framework of the couch is
made to support the bed frame in a similar manner to the bedsteads before
described, the references for which will explain this Drawing, there being only
a slight modification in the arrangement of the cord by which the catch F is
actuated, and this will be made clear by reference to the Drawing. B, the
cord, which is merely looped up in the middle by the piece B', and pulled
towards the patient horizontally instead of vertically; E, E', E", being the
chains and pullies, before mentioned, and working in a similar way at the
back of the couch.
Figure 2 represents a reclining chair in its expanded form, and partly in
section; and Figure 3, the same chair exhibited as a chair. A", A", is the
"leg" part; A¹, A¹, the fixed part, and A, A, the moveable part of a frame,
like the bed frame described in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, supported by the
frame a, a, a. F is the catch, which in this instance is made to act vertically,
and which communicates with the levers and pullies E, E¹, to the slide B,
which, terminating in a bend, may be easily worked by the finger, instead of
securing the lever to the moveable part A, A, of the frame, as before described.
I prefer to have a detached one K, working on a fulcrum K¹, on and within
the back legs, and connected by the rail m, shown in section, and such lever
terminating in the upper portion by a friction roller C, then the spring J,
united to the front rail, passing over the friction roller J, is secured to the

page_text: middle of the lever K, which thus becomes one of the third kind; the lever
before described in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, as well as that belonging to the
couch in Figure 1, Sheet 2, being of the first kind. The arm d of the chair
is jointed at b, b, b, so as to allow it to conform to the other motions of the
chair.
.
:
Figure 4 is a modification of the chair just described, and has the spring
and substitute for the rack conceiled in the arm, which is made with telescopic
slides, the outer one of which e, e, shown in section, works on the pin f, and
the inner one g, g, on h, the spring J passing through and secured to both.
On the outside slide or tube e, I place a key F, similar to a flute key, but.
strong enough for the purpose, as a substitute for the catch before described,
and in the slide 9 I make a series of holes, into which the pin f¹ of they key or
detent F presses, and by this means secures the back of the chair A, A, in any
desired position. Now, by pressing the key and relieving the slide g of the
pin f, and at the same time leaning back in the chair, the back A, A, will
yield and carry with it the slide g, and when in the required position, by allow-
ing the pin f to enter a hole, it may be therein retained; and when we wish
to resume the upright position, or any approaching it, the key must again be
pressed, and the elastic spring J will by its contraction restore it thereto.
Figure 5 represents a rocking chair with my elastic springs applied, and is
thereby rendered noiseless, a great desideratum; the chair A, A, A, is swung
by the pin L upon the frame B, to the bottom of which at o, and the chair
at x, are attached the elastic springs J, J, which brings the chair to its
present position after each rock, which it does without that unpleasant jolting
or jerking found in ordinary rocking chairs.
Figure 6 represents a wheel chair or carriage, illustrating the way in which
my Invention may be applied to carriages. The bed frame is in construction
like that first described. The covering at C is corrugated, so as to expand in
proportion as the part A, A, is lowered. K is the lever actuated by the
elastic cord or spring J, which here passes over the friction pulley a, and is
united to the lever at k, and to the carriage at j. Instead of the arc G being
a rack, I make holes in it as at g, g, etc. and secure it in any position by the
pin F, which will be done by the attendant; but still it may be made to act
like the one first described; or this movement may be dispensed with
altogether, and for it substituted the telescopic slides with the elastic cord
working between, as described in the chair, Figure 4. The foot part acts in
the same manner as that described in Figure 1, Sheet 1.
.
The fourth part of my Invention, relating to the shortening and lengthening
the feet of bedsteads, is illustrated in Figure 1, Sheet 1, by showing in what

page_text: way it may be lengthened. The foot post at T¹ is so made, that the leg t may
be screwed into or out of it, as shown in dotted lines, and of course it may be
shortened by allowing the leg itself to enter the post; or it may be reversed
by permitting the post to enter the leg.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention; and in what
manner the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to the exact detail herein described; but what I do
claim is,
The use of caoutchouc or other springs acting longitudinally, such as
helical springs, in bedsteads, chairs, couches, and carriages, such springs being
so adjusted as to counterpoise the body.
In witness whereof; I, the said John Soden Holbeche, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN SODEN HOLBECHE. (L.S.)