IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES, CHAIRS, AND BED- STEADS FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas McIlroy, of Langham Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES, CHAIRS, AND BED-
STEADS FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas McIlroy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1879.
THOMAS MILROY, of Langham Street, in the County of Middlesex. "LMPROVE-
MENTS IN TABLES, CHAIRS, AND BEDSTEADS FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in tables, chairs, and bedsteads which are
jointed, variable in form in all their parts, and capable of being used according
to their proportions as operating table, chair, or bedstead for invalids or for the
wounded.
The frame of the table, chair, or bedstead is supported on feet, two of which are
furnished with castors or rollers, the vertical axes of which are placed at a distance
from the feet. This arrangement permits the table, chair, or bedstead to stand upon
its four feet when it is required to stand firm, and to run upon its rollers only when
it is raised at the part which has no rollers, such rollers being a slight distance off
the ground when the article is standing on its four feet.
The base of the apparatus carries a hinged table in which grooves or ways are
formed. These grooves or ways serve to guide a cross piece carrying the back or
head board, and provided with projections entering such grooves.
To enable this back or head board to be fixed at any desired inclination, it is,
according to one arrangement, furnished with a groove in which traverses a slide.
This slide is fixed to the cross piece by a connecting link, which is jointed at each
end, and is fixed in any desired position by a binding screw or other suitable
means.
At the top of the back or head board I hinge a plate or board to support the
head of the patient, and to retain it firmly in any desired position. This board or
plate is provided with two sliding gripping jaws, which are simultaneously caused
to approach or recede from each other when desired by rotating a right and left
handed screw.
These jaws are formed approximately to the shape of the skull for greater ease

page_text: and security, and the board or plate carrying the same is provided with means for
varying the position thereof, and for fixing it in the required position.
The seat is jointed to the table, and carries two supports to receive the legs. Each
leg support is arranged to turn upon the seat around a vertical axis, and can be
fixed in the required position by a binding screw or other suitable means; it is also
provided with a joint which permits the inclination of the legs to be varied, whilst
it is held in the required position by means of a toothed rack acting in combination
with a stop, or by other suitable means.
Each support is for some purposes provided with an adjustable shoe to receive the
foot of the patient, and such shoe is fixed to a hinged board to permit of the motion
of the ankle joint.
The seat is acted upon by a lever or other suitable means to vary the angle
thereof and to hold it in the required position, and two pinions and two toothed
segments or other suitable means are provided for varying the angle of the table,
and a ratchet and pawl or other suitable means are employed for fixing it in the
required position. By the use of two toothed segments or toothed racks the table is
firmly supported at each side thereof.
When required for fracture of the limbs each leg support is provided with an
extender mounted at the end thereof. This extender is composed of a bar carrying
three supports, each of which carries a pulley over which passes a cord or its equi-
valent. These cords at one end are fixed to weights, and at the other are fixed to a
board or plate which forms the end of a channel or chamber composed of two
boards or plates, between which the limb of the patient is bound splintered up.
The bars carrying the above mentioned pulleys are mounted adjustably in sockets,
so as to enable the weight to be taken off the heel of the patient, and thereby pre-
vent what is now common in treating fractured limbs, namely, "sore heels."
By the above means a constant and regular tension can be put on a broken limb,
and "rotation" of such limb is prevented.
I also when required connect to the back a support for one or both arms.
In order to prevent the patient being pinched by the joints of the apparatus I
form such as require it in the following manner :-
I hollow out each end of the parts to be connected, and I interpose a tube or
cylinder of a diameter about equal to the thickness of such parts.
Into each end of this tube passes a boss or projection from a hinge formed of two
plates screwed to the pieces to be connected together.
For a chair the back may be hinged or otherwise jointed to the stand or framing,
and be provided, as before described, with means for adjusting and fixing it to the
desired angle; and the back and head holder is arranged to slide up and down in
guides formed in the back framing, and is raised and lowered and fixed in any
required position by a pinion and toothed rack, or by other suitable means; and
the scat is so mounted as to enable the height thereof to be varied as may be
required, thus enabling the chair to be adapted for the use of an adult or of a
child.
I also provide the chair with a hinged foot board which may be moved out of the
way when not required for use, and a support for the legs is arranged to slide in
guides under the scat, or it may be hinged to the seat and retained at any con-
venient angle, as above described.
The apparatus for holding the head and the extender may be fixed to other
operating chairs, tables, or bedsteads than those above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas McIlroy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th December
1879.
THOMAS MILROY, of Langham Street, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN TABLES, CHAIRS, AND BEDSTEADS FOR SURGICAL AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in tables, chairs, and bedsteads which are
jointed, variable in form in all their parts, and capable of being used according
to their proportions as operating table, chair, or bedstead for invalids or for the
wounded.
The frame of the table, chair, or bedstead is supported on feet, two of which are
furnished with castors or rollers, the vertical axes of which are placed at a distance
from the fect. This arrangement permits the table, chair, or bedstead to stand upon
its four feet when it is required to stand firm, and to run upon its rollers only when
it is raised at the part which has no rollers, such rollers being a slight distance off
the ground when the article is standing on its four feet.
The base of the apparatus carries a hinged table in which grooves or ways are
formed. These grooves or ways serve to guide a cross piece carrying the back or
bead board, and provided with projections entering such grooves.
To enable this back or head board to be fixed at any desired inclination, it is,
according to one arrangement, furnished with a groove in which traverses a slide.
This slide is fixed to the cross piece by a connecting link, which is jointed at each
end, and is fixed in any desired position by a binding screw or other suitable
means.
At the top of the back or head board I hinge a plate or board to support the
head of the patient, and to retain it firmly in any desired position. This board or
plate is provided with two sliding gripping jaws, which are simultaneously caused
to approach or recede from each other when desired by rotating a right and left
handed screw.
These jaws are formed approximately to the shape of the skull for greater ease
and security, and the board or plate carrying the same is provided with means for
varying the position thereof, and for fixing it in the required position.
The seat is jointed to the table, and carries two supports to receive the legs. Each
leg support is arranged to turn upon the seat around the vertical axis and can be
fixed in the required position by a binding screw or other suitable means; it is also
provided with a joint which permits the inclination of the legs to be varied, whilst
it is held in the required position by means of a toothed rack acting in combination
with a stop, or by other suitable means.
Each support is for some purposes provided with an adjustable shoe to receive the
foot of the patient, and such shoe is fixed to a hinged board to permit of the motion
of the ankle joint.
The seat is acted upon by a lever or other suitable means to vary the angle
thereof and to hold it in the required position, and two pinions and two toothed
segments or other suitable means are provided for varying the angle of the table,
and a ratchet and pawl or other suitable means are employed for fixing it in the
required position. By the use of two toothed segments or toothed racks the table is
firmly supported at each side thereof.
When required for fracture of the limbs each leg support is provided with an
extender mounted at the end thereof. This extender is composed of a bar carrying
three supports, each of which carries a pulley over which passes a cord or its
equivalent. These cords at one end are fixed to weights, and at the other are
fixed to a board or plate which forms the end of a channel or chamber composed
of two boards or plates, between which the limb of the patient is bound splin-
tered up. The bars carrying the above mentioned pulleys are mounted adjustably

page_text: in au the Figures nike parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 is a plan of an operating table
constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of an operating chair with my improvements applied
thereto.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, and Figure 5 is a back elevation of an oculist's,
aurist's, or dentist's chair with my improvements applied thereto; and Figure 6 is
an elevation to an enlarged scale of the head support, represented at Figures 1, 2, 4,
and 5; and Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail views on an enlarged scale repre-
senting my improved joint, which is also shown applied to Figures 1, 2, 3.
Figure 11 is an elevation with the side board removed, and Figure 12 is a plan of
an invalid bed with some of my improvements applied thereto; and Figure 13 is a
separate end elevation of my improved extension apparatus applied thereto.
In the operating table represented at Figures 1 and 2, a is the main frame, which
is supported on four feet a¹, two of which are furnished with castors or rollers a²,
the vertical axes a³ of which are placed at a distance from the feet. This arrange-
ment, which is also applicable to chairs and bedsteads, permits the operating table,
chair, or bedstead to stand upon its four feet when it is required to stand firm, and
to run upon its rollers a² only when it is raised at the part or end which has no
rollers, such rollers being a slight distance off the ground when the article is
standing on its four feet.
The base or frame a of the table carries a hinged table b, in which grooves.or
ways bare formed. These grooves or ways b₁ serve to guide a cross piece or
frame c, carrying the back or head board c', which is hinged thereto, and such cross
piece or frame c is provided with projections entering such grooves or ways b'.

page_text: To enable this back or head board c' to be fixed at any desired inclination, it is,
according to one arrangement, furnished with a groove or way c², in which traverses
a slide c. This slide is fixed to the cross piece or frame c by a connecting link
ct, which is jointed at each end, and is fixed in any desired position by a binding
screw and fly nut c³ acting upon the slide 3, which is formed in two parts to enable
the same to be clamped firmly in any desired position.
The cross piece or frame 'c is provided with two handles cs, by which it can be
readily moved in its guides, and a screw c² serves to fix such cross piece or frame
firmly in position by binding against the top of the table b.
At the top of the back or head board I hinge a plate or board & to support the
head of the patient, and to retain it firmly in any desired position. This board or
plate d is provided with grooves or ways d', in which slide two gripping jaws (7,
which are simultaneously caused to approach or recede from each other when desired
by rotating a right and left handed screw d³ by means of a handle d', such screw
taking into nuts fixed to the back of the jaws d². These jaws d' are formed approxi-
mately to the shape of the skull for greater ease and security, and the board or plate
carrying the same is provided with a rack d³ acting in combination with a pin or
stop do for varying the angular inclination thereof, and with a bolt taking
into notches formed in the back of the rack d for fixing it in the required
position.
The scat e is at e¹ jointed to the table b, and carries two supports f to receive the
legs. Each leg support f is arranged to turn upon the seat e around a vertical axis
conveniently formed of a screw bolt e² and fly nut e³, by which means it can be
readily fixed in any desired position around the axis; it is also provided with a
joint e, which permits the inclination of the legs to be varied, whilst it is held in
the required position by means of a toothed rack f' acting in combination with a
stop es fixed to the seat e, or by other suitable means.
Each leg support f is for some purposes provided with an adjustable shoe or
sandal f to secure the foot of the patient, and such shoe f" is hinged to a board f³
to permit of the motion of the ankle joint.
The seat e is acted upon by a lever e" working on a fulcrum at e, or other suitable
means, to vary the angle thereof, such lever being connected to the seat e by a link
or connecting rod e³, and acting in combination with a bar e provided with a series
of holes elo, through either of which and through a hole formed in the lever e" a pin
el carried by a spring e¹¹ is passed to secure the seat e in the required angular
position.
Two toothed wheels g mounted on an axis operated by a handle g¹ and two
toothed segments b³, or other suitable means, are employed for varying the angle of
the table b; and a ratchet wheel g³ and pawl g³, or other suitable means, are
employed for fixing it in the required position.
By the use of two toothed segments or toothed racks, as above described, the table
is firmly supported at each side thereof.
The invalid bedstead represented at Figures 11 and 12 is constructed in a some-
what similar manner to the operating table above described, that is to say, the bed
bottom is formed of two parts b, e, hinged together and to the bedstead framing at
e', and two leg supports f hinged at e to the part e, but which are not jointed to
the part e so as to turn round a vertical axis, as described with respect to the
operating table before described; such leg supports fare also provided with screws
f, by which the outer ends of the parts f can be made to recede from or approach
nearer to the part e as may be required.
The meaus also for varying the angles of inclination of the parts b, e, f, are also
somewhat modified from those shewn and described with respect to the operating
table, but will be readily understood on reference to the Drawings. The operating
table may however, if desired, be used as an invalid bedstead.
When required for fracture of the limbs each leg support f of the invalid bedstead
or of the operating table used as a bedstead is provided, as shown at Figures 11, 12,
and 13, with an extender mounted at the end thereof. This extender is composed

page_text: of a bar h carrying three supports h', each of which carries a pulley h³, over which
passes a cord h³ or its equivalent.
These cords h³ at one end are fixed to weights h, and at the other are fixed to a
board or plate h³, which forms the end of a channel or chamber composed of two
boards or plates hº, between which the limb of the patient is bound splintered up.
The bars are mounted adjustably in sockets h7, so as to enable the weight to be
taken off the heel of the patient, and thereby prevent what is now common in
treating fractured limbs, namely, "sore heels."
By the above means a constant and regular tension can be put on a broken limb,
and "rotation" of such limb is prevented.
I also when required connect to the back a support for one or both arms, as will
be well understood.
In order to prevent the patient being pinched by the joints of the apparatus I
form such as require it in the following manner, as represented at Figures 1, 2, 7, 8,
9, and 10:-
I hollow out each end of the parts to be connected, as represented more clearly
at Figure 9, and I interpose a tube or cylinder i of a diameter about equal to the
thickness of such parts.
Into each end of this tube i passes a boss or projection j¹ from a hinge j formed
of two plates screwed to the pieces to be connected together.
In order to obtain greater strength and rigidity for long joints I sometimes
employ two tubes or cylinders i end to end, and fix a hinge j between such tubes,
as represented at Figures 10, such hinge being for such purpose provided with a
boss on each side thereof to enter the adjacent ends of the two tubes i.
In the operating chair, represented at Figure 3, the leg rests are mounted and
fitted as in the operating table; the scat e is hinged at e¹, and is adjusted by a rack
and pinion, as shown, and the back c¹ is hinged at c*, and is provided with racks c
acting in combination with stops a' to adjust and retain the back at any desired
angle; cords connected to the racks c facilitate the adjustment of the back.
Arms are provided to support the arms of the patient; these arms are supported
partly by pivots ¹ and partly by pivotted supports ³, which are provided with pins
which enter suitably shaped mortises or recesses formed in the arms k; o is a
hinged moveable foot-board.
In the oculist's, aurist's, or dentist's chair, represented at Figures 4 and 5, the
back c' is mounted and adjusted in a similar manner to that shown at Figure 3, but
the back c' with the head holder & is formed with capability of sliding up and
down in guides formed in the back framing, and is raised and lowered and fixed at
any required height by bevelled pinions 1, 2, operating a screw working in a nut³
fixed to the back framing; or it may be adjusted and fixed in position by a pinion
and toothed rack, or by other suitable means; and the scat e is hinged to one edge
of a frame e, which at its opposite edge is hinged to the main framing a; it is also
provided with hinged stops or catches e¹s acting in combination with racks e
formed on or fixed to the frame e¹³, and the latter is provided with catches or stops
el acting in combination with racks e¹ formed on or fixed to the main framing a.
By these means the height of the back c', head support d, and seat e may be varied
as required, thus enabling the chair to be adapted for the use of an adult or of a
child. I also provide the chair with a hinged foot board n, which may be moved
out of the way when not required for use.
This foot board is for this purpose hinged to a sliding frame n¹, and provided
with a rack n², as shewn.
The apparatus for holding the head and the extender may be fixed to other
operating chairs, tables, or bedsteads than those above described; and if desired
the hedstead may be provided with supports for the arms of the patient in a similar
manner to the chair represented at Figures 4 and 5.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which I
carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details herein shown and described for adjusting the various parts of

page_text: my improved operating tables, chairs, and bedsteads, as such may be varied, but
what I claim is,―
First. The peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts of operating tables
and chairs and invalid bedsteads, substantially as and for the purposes herein shown
and described.
Second. Providing operating chairs and tables with leg rests mounted and mani-
pulated in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
Third. Mounting the scat e of the operating tables with capability of adjustment
as to its angular position, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourth. Providing operating tables, chairs, and bedsteads with head supports,
constructed and operated substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fifth. Providing oculists', aurists', and dentists' and other chairs with adjustable
seats and backs, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Sixth. The mode of forming the joints of operating tables and chairs, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
Seventh. The peculiar construction and arrangement of extender for broken limbs,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Me Ilroy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
T. MILROY. (L.S.)