IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDSTEADS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry James Dalton, of 92, Bishopsgate Street Without,
Carpet and Linen Warehouseman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INVALID BEDSTEADS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry James Dalton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1880.
HENRY JAMES DALTON, of 92, Bishopsgate Street Without, Carpet and Linen
Warehouseman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDSTEADS."
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of invalid bedsteads in
which the mattress has an opening in it to receive a bed pan or other article, the
latter being capable of being raised or lowered on a platform to meet the require-
ments of the patient.
The Invention consists in fitting to the underside of a bedstead frame a rising
and falling platform, which is guided in its movements by depending rods or bars,
on or against which rollers attached to the platform are caused to bear. The
platform is also provided with lugs or staples, to which are attached cords running
over guide pulleys, and the said cords are provided with balance weights at their
free ends.
The depending guide rods are preferably connected at their lower extremities by
a cross bar, which carries a pulley, over which a cord passes, one end of said cord
being attached to the underside of the platform, whilst the other is provided with
a hand ring.
In use the platform is drawn down by the cord attached to the hand ring,
which movement raises the balance weights, and the latter, when they are lowered,
serve to raise the platform (with a bed pan or other article upon it) to the desired
level.
In lieu of weights coiled springs may be used to elevate the platform.
The opening in the mattress can be filled by a soft padded plug attached to or
removable from the top of the platform as usual.
The framework to which the whole of the apparatus is connected is so arranged
that it only requires to be laid on the angle irons of the bedstead without requiring
the use of bolts, nuts, or any other fastenings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry James Dalton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th December 1880.
HENRY JAMES DALTON, of 92, Bishopsgate Street Without, Carpet and Linen
Warehouseman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID BEDSTEADS."
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of invalid bedsteads in
which the mattress has an opening in it to receive a bed pan or other article, the
latter being capable of being raised or lowered on a platform to meet the require-
ments of the patient.
The Invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a bedstead fitted with the improve-
ments, part of the view being in section to show the Invention more fully;
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 seen from the underside; and Figure 3 shows
a cross section of the same; whilst Figure 4 is a perspective view of an invalid
bedstead with the improvements attached, and showing them in the act of being
used.
The Invention consists in fitting to the underside of a bedstead frame A a rising
and falling platform B, which is guided in its movements by depending rods or
bars C, on or against which rollers D attached to the platform B are caused to
bear. The platform is also provided with lugs or staples E, to which are attached
cords F running over guide pulleys G, and the said cords are provided with balance
weights H at their free ends.
The depending guide rods C are preferably connected at their lower extremities
by a cross bar I attached to the frame 1', which carries a guide pulley K, under
which a cord L passes, one end of said cord being attached to the underside of the
platform B, whilst the other is provided with a hand ring M.
The whole apparatus is preferably connected to and carried by a framework N,
which rests on the angle iron sides of the bedstead. The frame N is also fitted on
its underside with two edge battens O, which are provided with grooves P, the
latter being for the purpose of clearing the heads of the lath buttons when the
frame is in place. The pieces ○ also serve as a foundation, to which the pieces
forming the frame N may be secured.
The rising and falling platform B is fitted with a plug Q (preferably covered
with a waterproof material), which serves to fill the hole in the waterproofed
centre piece Q, which occupies a central position in the mattress R, and also to
receive the bed pan S, as seen in Figure 4, the pan S being provided with a lip
around its lower edge, so that it can take over the plug Q, which prevents its
shifting whilst it is being raised to occupy the aperture in the mattress, or being
lowered from it. The pan is provided with a lid, which enables it to be removed
with but little unpleasantness after use.
To use the apparatus an attendant draws down the platform B and raises the
balance weights H by pulling on the hand ring M attached to the cord L; a pan
can then be placed on the plug Q, and the weights H in falling will then raise the
platform and pan to the desired level. The platform B can be brought well up
and secured in its place by the hinged cross bar U, the free end of said bar being
fitted with a lifting cord and ring W, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. When the
platform B is quite raised the bar U can then be secured by the button X.
The frame N is preferably divided into two parts hinged to each other at a near
the head of the bedstead, as seen in Figures 1 and 4. The head portion of the
frame has a strut b hinged to it, which serves to support it when required in the
manner shown in Figure 4, and when not required the strut b can take under
the bedstead, as shown in Figure 1.

page_text: In lieu of the cords F being attached to weights to elevate the platform, they
may be attached to cylinders, which are rotated by the cords, the cylinders having
coiled springs within them which become wound up when the platform is lowered,
and serve by their rotation to raise it; or the ends of the cords F could be
connected to coiled or other springs in any of the well known ways.
The framework to which the whole of the apparatus is connected is so arranged
that it only requires to be laid on the angle irons of the bedstead without requiring
the use of bolts, nuts, or any other fastenings.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The improvements in invalid bedsteads, as hereinbefore described and as shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Dalton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty.
HENRY JAMES DALTON. (L.S.)