Improvements in or connected with Apparatus and Beds for Handling Invalids.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1995-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus and Beds for
Handling Invalids.
We, GEORGE PAYNE, Pump-Maker, JOHN SCOTT, Bank Manager, and
DUDLEY LEICESTER HILL, Bank Clerk, all of the Town of Orillia, in the
County of Simcoe, and Province of Ontario, Canada, do bereby 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 :-
The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or machine whereby
invalids may be handled or moved with ease and comfort, and it consists, essentially,
of uprights carrying a frame located immediately over the bed, on which frame
spindles are journalled, a stretcher frame provided with canvas, which normally
rests on the top of the mattress, ropes attached to the stretcher frame near the four
corners thereof and connecting it to the spindles, means for winding the said
spindles so as to raise the stretcher frame as desired and for retaining it in the
desired raised position, and also means for lowering the same, as hereinafter
described.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of the apparatus with the stretcher frame and
canvas resting on the mattress.
Figure 2, is a detail of stop for winding roller on the stretcher frame.
Figure 3 is a detail of the device for tightening or slackening the canvas on the
stretcher frame.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
A, are four uprights at the corners of the bed U, and W is the mattress on the
bed.
B, are end frame pieces, and C, are side frame pieces which fit into arms on
the couplings D. This frame is preferably made of gas piping. E, is a spindle
journalled at e, on the frame pieces C, and F, is another spindle similarly journalled
at f.
G, is a crank handle attached to the spindle E, and H is a crank handle attached
to the spindle F.
1, is a ratchet wheel mounted on the spindle E, and i is the dog on the frame
piece C, which engages with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I, and ³, is a tail piece
on the dog.
J, is a ratchet wheel mounted on the spindle F, and j a dog pivoted on the
frame piece which engages with the teeth on the ratchet wheel J, and j¹ is a tail
formed on the dog j.
K, K¹, are cords or chains from the spindle E, which are attached at k, near the
corners of the stretcher frame M, M', and L, Ĺ³, are cords or chains from the
spindle F, which are similarly attached to the stretcher frame.
N, is a piece of canvas stretched on the stretcher frame M, M', and n is a hole
centrally formed therein.
O, is a central strip attached at n', to the stretcher frame piece M, and P is a
roller journalled on the frame piece M, by the eyelets o.
n2, are hooks formed on the roller P, which engages with the end of the central
strip O.
p, is a pin which passes through the roller P, and is designed to fix it in place
after the central strip O, has been rolled on the roller and sufficiently stretched, so
as to lock the roller in position, as indicated in Fig. 3.
Q, are jaw pieces attached to the corners of the frame pieces M', to receive the
ends of the stretcher frame pieces M.

page_text: R, (see Fig. 3) are adjusting bolts located at each corner of the frame. Each
bolt is threaded at r, and passes through the stretcher.frame piece M, and butts
against the ends of the jaw, as indicated, so that by rotating this bolt, the width
of the stretcher frame which carries the canvas may be increased or decreased as
may be desired.
S, S', are grooved pulleys located centrally on the spindles at F, respectively.
T, is a strap which is wound round the grooved pulleys S, with the end hanging
down as indicated; and T' is a similar strap wound round the grooved pulley S¹,
with its end also hanging down so that the invalid may, by pulling on either
of these cords, cause the spindles E, or F, to rotate so as to raise or lower
either end of his body, as may be desired. These straps must necessarily have
some turns round the grooved pulleys S, in order that the spindle may be
operated.
X, is a cord attached to the tails i, j, on the dogs i, j, respectively, so that by a
downward pull on the cord X, the dogs i, or j, may be released from the teeth of the
ratchet wheels I, and J, for the purpose of lowering the frame when desired, so
that when the cord X, is released, the dogs will fall back into their normal position
on the ratchet wheels.
The mode of operating the apparatus is as follows:-
When it is desired to raise one end merely of the stretcher frame on which the
invalid rests, the crank arm G, is rotated so as to cause the spindle E, to wind up
the ropes or chains K, K. Should it be desired to raise the frame entirely from
the mattress the other crank handle H, is rotated and the chains or ropes L, L' are
similarly wound on the spindle F. By winding the two crank arms at the same
time, of course the stretcher frame carrying the invalid will be raised while it
remains in the horizontal position. If it is desired to turn the patient from his
right side on his left side, one set of chains on either side K', and L', or K,
and L, may be detached, when by turning the handle the desired side of the
stretcher frame may be raised while the patient is being turned. When it is
necessary, the flap or central strip O, may be unhooked from the roller P, or
it may be rolled or unrolled on the roller P, for the purpose of tightening or
loosening it when desired, the roller being kept in position, as already indicated,
by the pins p.
On this roller P, there are two or more holes made, through
which the pin p, may be passed so as to allow for the stretching of the central
strip O, so that it may be fixed in position and properly tightened.
Instead of the canvas being attached to the frame piece, as indicated in the
drawings, this frame piece may in some cases be dispensed with, and the ropes
or chains K, K' and L, L', may be attached to the side of the canvas, two of
them on opposite sides of the canvas and facing each other may be forked for
the better holding the canvas when in the hammock form.
For the convenience of the invalids, a book rest may be attached in proper
position to the frame piece, when it is so desired.
What is claimed is: :-
1. In an apparatus for handling invalids, the combination of a series of uprights
carrying a frame located over the bed; rotatable spindles journalled on said frame;
a ratchet wheel on each of said spindles, and dogs on said frame to engage with
the ratchet wheels; cords adapted to be wound on said spindles; a stretcher frame
carrying canvas and connected to the lower ends of said cords, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
2. In an apparatus for handling invalids, the combination of a series of uprights
carrying a frame located over the bed; rotatable spindles journalled on said frame;
a ratchet wheel on each of said spindles and dogs on said frame to engage with the
ratchet wheels; cords adapted to be wound on said spindles; an adjustable
stretcher frame connected to the lower ends of said cords; canvas for said
stretcher frame with a centrally located hole formed therein; a central strip
attached to said stretcher frame and adapted to underlie said canvas, and means

page_text: for tightening and loosening said central strip, substantially as described and
specified.
3. In an apparatus for handling invalids, the combination of a series of uprights
carrying a frame located over the bed; rotatable spindles journalled on said frame;
a ratchet wheel on each of said spindles and dogs on the frame to engage with the
ratchet wheels; cords adapted to be wound on said spindles; an adjustable stretcher
frame connected to the lower ends of said cords; canvas for said stretcher frame
with a centrally located hole formed therein; a central strip attached to said
stretcher frame and adapted to underlie said canvas; means for tightening and
loosening said central strip; a grooved pulley mounted on each of said spindles,
and a strap wound on each of said grooved pulleys, and means for tripping the
dogs which engage with the ratchet wheels so that the invalid may raise or lower
himself, substantially as specified.
4. An apparatus for handling invalids, comprising the following elements :-
uprights A; end frame pieces B; side frame pieces C; couplings D; spindle Ę; with
ratchet
journals e; spindle F, with journals f; crank bandle G; crank handle H;
wheel I; dogi; ratchet wheel J ; dogj; cords K, K, L, L'; stretcher frame M, M¹;
canvas N, with hole n, formed therein, central strip O, attached to frame M, at n';
roller P, journalled on frame in eyelets o; hooks 2, to engage with strip O; pin p;
jaw pieces Q, on frame pieces M1; threaded adjusting bolts R; grooved pulleys S, S';
straps T, T¹, and tripping cords X, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
This
1st day of January 1895
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.