Improvements in Portable Beds or Stretchers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890--Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Beds or Stretchers.
I, ALFRED SAVILL TOMкINS of Holmwood, Caterham, in the County of Surrey,
Captain in the Victoria Rifles do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to portable beds suited for military men or travellers, available
also as stretchers, which I construct in the following manner. The bed consists of
canvas or equivalent fabric stretched between two wooden side bars each of which
consists of two deep side pieces connected at their upper edges by an intermediate
piece of less depth so that it presents a section like an inverted U open underneath.
In the hollow of each side bar at each end of it is fitted to slide a handle, which can
be drawn out beyond the end of the bar, so that there are four handles, two at each
end, to lift the bed when it is used as a stretcher, or these can be pushed in so as not
to occupy space hy their projection when the bed is set up in a tent or when it is
packed for transport. Also in the hollow of each side bar near. each end of it is
accommodated a leg hinged to the bar.
These four legs can be turned down to support the bed, or they can be turned up
into the hollows of the side bars, when the bed is packed for transport. There are
also pivotted in the hollow of each side bar a pair of rollers on which the bed can be
run into or out of a waggon. The two side bars are connected together. by two pairs
of rods, jointed as toggles which, when the bed is not in use each pair folds together
so that the two side bars can be brought close together with the canvas or fabric
folded over them occupying altogether small bulk for transport. When the bed or
stretcher is in use, the toggles are straightened holding the side bars apart. The
canvas or fabric is fixed to the side bars in such a manner that it can readily be
detached for washing and replaced. For this purpose the canvas or fabric has its
edges folded over and stitched so as to form at each side a loop extending its whole
length, with openings formed on the underside of each loop each corresponding in
position with a flat staple fixed on the side bar. A lath being pushed into the loop
of the fabric and through the successive staples holds the fabric firmly to the side
bar.
T: 0111
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Beds or Stretchers.
I, ALFRED SAVILL TOMKINS, of Holmwood, Caterham, in the County of Surrey,
Captain in the Victoria Rifles, 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 relates to portable beds suited for military men or travellers, available
also as stretchers, which I construct in the following manner. The bed consists of
canvas or equivalent fabric stretched between two wooden side bars each of which
consists of two deep side pieces connected at their upper edges by an intermediate
piece of less depth so that it presents a section like an inverted U open underneath..
In the hollow of each side bar at each end of it is fitted to slide a handle, which
can be drawn out beyond the end of the bar, so that there are four handles, two at

page_text: each end, to lift the bed when it is used as a stretcher, or these can be pushed in so
as not to occupy space by their projection when the bed is set up in a tent or when it
is packed for transport.
Also in the hollow of each side bar near each end of it is accommodated a leg
hinged to the bar. These four legs can be turned down to support the bed, or they
can be turned up into the hollows of the side bars, when the bed is packed for trans-
port. There are also pivotted in the hollow of each side bar a pair of rollers on
which the bed can be run into or out of a waggon. The two side bars are connected
together by two pairs of rods, jointed as toggles which, when the bed is not in use
each pair folds together so that the two side bars can be brought close together
with the canvas or fabric folded over them occupying altogether small bulk for
transport.
When the bed or stretcher is in use, the toggles are straightened holding the side
bars apart. The canvas or fabric is fixed to the side bars in such a manner that it can
readily be detached for washing and replaced.
For this purpose the canvas or fabric has its edges folded over and stitched so as to
form at each side a loop extending its whole length, with openings formed on the
underside of each loop each corresponding in position with a Hat staple fixed on the
side bar. A lath being pushed into the loop of the fabric and through the successive
staples holds the fabric firmly to the side bar.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan looking from below, Fig. 2 is a
side elevation, Fig. 3 is a transverse section and Fig. 4 is a plan looking from below
of the bed packed together in condition for transport. Each of the two side bars A
of the bed consists of three pieces of wood, two side pieces and a top piece forming
together a trough like section open below. In the hollow of each side bar are pivotted
two legs B which can be turned up and accommodated within the hollow, as indicated
at B₁ Fig. 2.
There is also accommodated in the hollow at the end of each side bar A a
handle C.
These handles can be drawn out as far as permitted by stops, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, when the bed or stretcher has to be carried, or they can be slid into the
respective hollows as shewn in Fig. 4, so that the bed shall occupy less length in a
tent or when packed for transport.
There are also mounted in each side bar A a pair of rollers D, for convenience of
running the packed up bed into or out of a waggon.
To the two side bars A are jointed two sets of toggle arms E which fold together
when the bed is packed for transport as shewn in Fig. 4, or which can be stretched
out as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a stop e being provided on one of the arms to
prevent them from being folded more than a little beyond their middle position. A
sliding ring e' serves to keep the toggles from bending.
The canvas or other fabric G may he nailed or otherwise fixed to the side bars A,
but in order to facilitate its attachment or detachment, I secure it in the following
manner. On the upper face of each of the side bars A are fixed a number of flat
staples F. The canvas or other fabric G has its edges folded over and stitched
so as to form on each side a loop H, through the lower part of which are holes,
one corresponding in position with each of the staples F. The canvas or fabric G
being laid with its side loops H resting on the side bars A and the staples F pro-
jecting through the lower sides of the loops, a lath or strip of wood K is thrust
along the loops H and through the successive staples, thus securing the canvas or
fabric to the bed frame. On withdrawing the laths K the canvas or fabric is at
once released and can be removed for cleansing.
The legs B and the handles C have attached near their ends short pieces S of string
for pulling them out from the hollows of the side bars A. When the frame is packed
up for transport as shown by Fig. 4, the canvas or fabric need not be detached but
may be accommodated by folding it over the frame.

page_text: 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. A portable bed or stretcher having canvas or other fabric attached to two
side frames each of which is of hollow trough like section open below, with a pair
of legs and a pair of rollers pivotted in its hollow, and a pair of handles fitted to
slide in its hollow ends, the two frames being jointed together by toggle arms,
substantially as described.
2. For attaching the canvas or fabric to the side bars, the combination of sets
of flat staples and laths fitted to pass through the staples and also through loops
of the fabric, substantially as described.
Dated this 05th day of Fahrn 1890
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.