AN IMPROVED INVALID'S BED
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Robinson, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Broker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
INVALID'S BED."
Sealed the 3rd November 1855, and dated the 12th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
May 1855.
I, GEORGE ROBINSON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
Machine Broker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED INVALID'S BED" to be as follows:-
I fix a shaft longitudinally under the bed to revolve in suitable bearings. At
each corner of the under side of the bed I fix pullies, which receive a revolving
motion as the said longitudinal shaft revolves, by means of straps or belts. On
corresponding pullies on the shaft I also fix other corresponding pullies, near
the top of each of the four posts, or to the ceiling of the room, or any con-
venient position, and make a communication with these pullies from those at
the corners of the under side of the bed, by means of straps or belts. I make
a suitable frame, to which I fasten a strong sheet, tick, canvas, or other
suitable material, which forms a kind of sling or hammock for the patient to
lic on, which can be raised or lowered by turning the longitudinal shaft, which,

page_text: by means of the pullies and belts aforesaid, will raise or lower the patient at
pleasure. The said shaft may be turned by a winch handle at the foot, head,
or side of the bed; and any required power may be obtained by the usual
method of wheel and pinion, or break, with pall and rack, or any suitable
It must be understood that this apparatus is perfectly independent of
the bed, so that either feather bed, mattress, air bed, &c. may be under it as
the patient is raised or lowered with the bed clothes over him, and the bed or
mattress is left on the bedsteads. I also make an opening in the said sling or
hammock, and attach a separate piece or flap of sheeting or ticking at one side
of the frame of the sling or hammock, and bring it under it to fasten or button
at the other side. This is for the purpose of allowing the patient to relieve
nature without being disturbed; as it is evident when he is raised from the bed,
and the said piece, flap, or slip is released from its fastening, any necessary
vessel can easily be placed under him and removed without the least dis-
turbance or trouble.
Another part of my said improvements consists of an apparatus in the form
of a small sling or hammock, particularly adapted for a broken limb; but this
apparatus is perfectly independent of the one already described. I make this
small sling or hammock of suitable framework and canvas, or similar material;
I place a longitudinal shaft over the bed, and within reach of the patient. In
this longitudinal shaft I make a slot, into which I fix two or more rollers or
pullies. I attach the said sling or hammock to this shaft, so that the patient
himself by turning these pullies can raise or lower the sling at pleasure.
Thus, if he has a broken leg in this small sling or hammock, he can adjust it
to any position he requires without assistance from any one.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ROBINSON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Broker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: George Robinson, Her special licence that I, the said George Robinson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George:
Robinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at 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 "AN IMPROVED INVALID'S BED,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Robinson, 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Robinson, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 relates, firstly, to the construction and arrangement of appa-
ratus attached to beds, and which are peculiarly adapted for the relief and
comfort of those persons who, from accident, old age, or infirmity, are obliged
to remain for any length of time in a recumbent position, as the patient may
be raised gently and horizontally as often as necessary, either to relieve nature,
or to allow the attendant to shake down and air the bed.
Secondly, to the construction and arrangement of apparatus for raising the
trunk or upper part of the body to an inclined position for the purposes of
refreshment and ease.
And, thirdly, to the construction and arrangement of apparatus applicable to
cases of fractured thighs, by which the limb can be kept in a fixed position for
any length of time without subjecting the whole body to the consequent pain
and inconvenience. By these improvements, sloughing and other evils, conse-
quent upon the body having to remain for a lengthened period of time in an
undisturbed position, are prevented, as well as giving indescribable ease and
relief to the patient.
I accomplish the first part of my said improvements by making a framework
of wood, metal, or any suitable material about the size of the bed, to which I
fasten a strong sheet of tick, canvas, or other suitable material, which forms a
sling or hammock for the patient to lie on, answering at the same time for the
under sheet, or that which is put on the bed or mattrass. I fix a shaft longi-
tudinally or transversely under the bed, with drums to revolve on suitable

page_text: bearings, and at each corner of the under side of the bed I fix pullies, which
receive motion as the said longitudinal or transverse shaft revolves, by means
of straps, belts, ropes, cords, chains, or other suitable contrivance, connecting
the drums on the shaft with the pullies at the under side corners of the bed. I
also fix other corresponding pullies near the top of each of the four posts, but
if there are no posts I fix them to the ceiling of the room to bearings erected
for the purpose, or any other convenient manner or position, and form a com-
munication with these pullies from those at the corners of the under side of the
bed by means of straps, belts, ropes, cords, or chains. I fix at the side or foot
of the bed a wheel and pinion with pall and rack, or ratchet wheel and catch,
scroll, and wheel, lever, screw, or any other means to obtain the necessary
power or purchase. Now, it will be evident that when the wheel on the end
of the longitudinal shaft is turned, either by an attendant or the patient, it
will give motion to the various pullies, and raise the sling or hammock with
the patient on it in a horizontal position completely off the bed with the bed
clothes over him, and thus allow the attendant to shake down and air the
bed. For the purpose of evacuating the bowels, I make a hole or opening in
the said sling or hammock, and fasten a slip or flap of the same material to
one side of the framework, and bring it under the sling, so as to cover the
said hole or opening, and attach it to the other side of the framework by straps
and buckles, hooks, buttons, or other suitable contrivance, so that when it is
fastened it makes the hammock perfect, or the same as if it had no hole or
opening in it; but when loosened, and the patient raised from the bed, any
necessary vessel can be placed under him, and removed without the least
disturbance or inconvenience.
I accomplish the second part of my said improvements by fixing a roller
to revolve in suitable bearings behind the head part of the bed, fixed either to
the head posts, to vertical pillars, to the wall, or any other convenient position.
To this roller I fasten a piece of similar material to that already described for
the hammock, of the same width as the bed or hammock, and long enough to
reach to the feet or the loins of the patient when lying down. To the other
end of this piece of material (which I designate a trunk or sling), I attach a
transverse stretcher of wood, metal, rope, or other suitable material to keep it
extended, and fasten the same by any convenient means to the top side of the
main hammock; or if my said main hammock is not used, to the under side of
the ordinary bed or mattress. To one end of the aforesaid roller I fix a wheel
and rack, or other means of obtaining power, and by turning the said wheel
the material or trunk sling is wound on the roller and becomes shortened, thus
raising the upper part of the body towards an erect position. It is evident

page_text: that I can apply this most useful part of my Invention to any ordinary bed
without the use of my main sling or hammock, aforesaid, it being only
necessary to fix the roller in any suitable position, and fasten the extreme end.
of the trunk sling to the under side of the feather bed or mattress, by which
any danger of the cross stretcher pressing against the patient will be
prevented.
I accomplish the third part of my said improvements for supporting a
fractured leg or thigh by suspending from the centre beam of the frame
a small sling quite separate and independent of those already described. To
raise or lower this small sling or hammock, I pass the cord which suspends it
over a pulley and roller, which roller can be turned by a handle, and held in
check by a ratchet wheel and catch or lever. The cross bars of the frame have
slots, in which the ends of the centre beam are placed, thereby allowing the
power of giving a lateral or transverse movement to the small sling or hammock,
as it may be required, for the right or left leg; thus, the patient as he lies inthe
bed can adjust the injured limb to any required position without disturbing
the whole of his body.
I may here remark that I do not claim the said small sling for a fractured
limb as my Invention, but the method of working it. These my said improve-
ments will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and the letters of reference thereon.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the framing of a bed with my apparatus
attached; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, an end view; and
Fig. 4, a plan thereof; Fig. 5 is a detached plan of the hammock, sling, or
stretcher; Fig. 6, a detached view, shewing the action of the drums upon the
pullies; and Fig. 7, an end view of the hammock, sling, or stretcher, shewing
a flap, slip, or support, fixed to the under side of it, to be loosened for the
purpose of evacuating the bowels. a represents the frame of an ordinary bed;
6, the bed or mattress; c, a frame, to which is suspended the hammock, sling,
or stretcher d, which can either rest upon the bed, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, or
be raised, as seen in Fig. 1. By means of the cords or chains e passing over
the pullies f to the drums g, made fast to the shaft h, motion with power is
obtained by the handle i on the fly wheel j, thus turning the pinion k, wheel l,
and shaft h. This portion of the arrangement is kept stationary as long as
desired by means of the ratchet wheel m and catch n. Instead of the purchase
wheels, I can obtain power by employing a scroll and wheel, or an ordinary
lever of sufficient length. The ticking for supporting the trunk or upper part
of the body in an inclined position is shewn at o; one end is attached to the
main sling or stretcher, and the other passes over the drum or roller p, motion

page_text: to which is given by the wheel 9. The ticking and roller are retained in the
desired position by the ratchet wheel and catch r. The smaller sling or appa-
ratus for slinging a broken leg is shewn at s; it can be raised or lowered by
the handlet acting upon the cord u by means of a small roller or drum v. The
apparatus is held in check by the ratchet wheel and catch-w. The sling and
frame to which it is connected can be moved transversely by means of the
slot . The flap or belt on the under side of the stretcher is shewn at y; it can
be kept fast by the buckles .
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein
set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
principle thereof; but I claim as my Invention, and which, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, has not been hitherto used within this realm,...:
Firstly, the construction and arrangement of apparatus for raising and
lowering the patient in à horizontal position.
Secondly, the construction and arrangement of apparatus for raising and
lowering the trunk or upper part of the body.
And, thirdly, the construction and arrangement of apparatus for keeping a
fractured limb in a fixed position, whether the said improvements be used
conjointly or separately, as they are herein described, and illustrated in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Robinson, have hereunto set my
. hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
GEORGE ROBINSON. (LS.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
George Robinson, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.