IM- PROVEMENTS IN INVALID AND OTHER COUCHES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lister Robinson, of the Firm of Robinson and Son, of
Ilkley, in the County of York, Cabinet Makers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN INVALID AND OTHER COUCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lister Robinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1878.
LISTER ROBINSON, of the Firm of Robinson and Son, of Ilkley, in the County
of York, Cabinet Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID AND OTHER COUCHES."
This Invention relates to that class of couches for invalids, commonly known as
the Ilkley couch. Hitherto the seat of such couches have been constructed in
separate frames, hinged to two cross bars of wood, immediately under the seat from
side to side of such frames, canework or straps have been secured, but the two
wood cross bars and four wooden frame bars, not being elastic like the inside of
the frames, have proved detrimental to the comfort of the patient, and will not.
allow of a bed pan being used.
The object of this Invention is to produce a couch of greater comfort, strength,
and utility, and without the drawback enumerated above.
I accomplish the above object by making the reclining or sitting portion of the
couch elastic, by means of spiral wire secured to the framework of the couch by
light metal fixings, and passing from side to side of the framework, in the first
instance, parallel to each other, and before completion made into diamond form by
means of metal loops, some of which loops are sodered or brazed, whilst others are
griped, the one end with the other; by this means I am enabled to dispense with
the two wooden cross bars immediately under the seat, and four of the six frame
bars, that is, one at each end, whilst the whole surface of the reclining or sitting
portion within the top frame of the couch is elastic and open, thus giving greater
comfort to the patient, and allowing the use of a bed pan.
In order that these improvements in elasticity shall be no detriment to the
folding-up of the couch for the purposes of convenience. or portability, I have con-
...

page_text: structed hinges, which enable me to hinge the top frame at the centre, so that
the head portion can be laid over on to the feet portion, and at the same time I am
enabled to secure the top frame to the bottom frame.
When the couch is made into portable form the legs are detached. Hitherto the
top portion of such legs have had a screw formed of wood, which on putting together
has been screwed into wooden block attached to the corners of bottom frame; these
wooden screws are soon out of order. In order to construct one more durable,
I pass the spindle forming the castor through the hind portion of the leg, and
thread such spindle end, and screw the same into metal nuts secured into wooden
block of the frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Lister Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
September 1878.
LISTER ROBINSON, of the Firm of Robinson and Sons, of Ilkley, in the County
of York, Cabinet Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID AND OTHER COUCHTES."
This Invention relates to that class of couches for invalids, commonly known as
the Ilkley couch. Hitherto the seat of such couches have been constructed in
separate frames hinged to two cross bars of wood immediately under the seat; from
side to side of such frames, canework or straps have been secured, but the two
wood cross bars and four wooden frame bars, not being elastic like the inside of the
fraines, have proved detrimental to the comfort of the patient, and will not allow of
a bed pan being used.
The object of this Invention is to produce a couch of greater comfort, strength,
and utility, and without the drawbacks enumerated above..
I accomplish the above object by making the reclining or sitting portion of the
couch elastic, by means of spiral wire secured to the framework of the couch by
light metal fixings, and passing from side to side of framework, in the first instance,
in a parallel diagonal or zig-zag direction to each other, and when completed the
openings between the spiral wire are made into diamond form by means of metal
loops, some of which loops are soldered or brazed,. whilst others are griped the one
end into the other; by this means I am enabled to dispense with the two wooden
cross bars immediately under the seat, and four of the six frame bars, that is, one at
each end, whilst the whole surface of the reclining or sitting portion within the top
frame of the couch is elastic and open, thus giving greater comfort to the patient,
and allowing the use of a bed pan.
In order that these improvements in elasticity shall be no detriment to the
folding-up of the couch for the purpose of convenience or portability, I have con-
structed hinges, which enable me to hinge the top frame at the centre, so that the
head portion can be laid over on to the feet portion, and at the same time by

page_text: means of this improved hinge, I am enabled to secure the top frame to the bottom
frame.
When the couch is made into portable form the legs are detached. Hitherto the
top portion of such legs have had a screw formed of wood, which on putting
together has been screwed into wooden blocks attached to the corners of bottom
frame; these wooden screws are soon out of order; and in order to construct an·l
make the legs more durable, I pass a spindle that is secured to the castor longitu-
dinally through the centre of the leg, and thread such spindle end, and screw the
same into metal nuts secured into the wooden blocks of the frame.
Such being the nature and object of this my Invention, I will now proceed to
describe the same in detail, and in order that the same may be fully under-
stood, I have hereunto annexed one Sheet of Drawings, and have marked the saine
with letters of reference.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an invalid's couch.
Figure 2 is a plan of the couch with the framework forming the head and feet
laid flat on the framework of the couch.
Figure 3 is an enlarged section of a couch leg, shewing my improved method for
securing the same to the framework.
Figure 4 is a detail shewing my improved hinge, and Figure 5 is a plan of the
same.
In all the Figures similar letters represent similar parts.
The letter A indicates the framework of the couch, which is supported by the
legs B at each side of the framework A; and at the top side of the same, I secure
an hinge C, a detail of which is shewn in Figures 4 and 5, the centre bar D of the
hinge may be made either or 1 section, and is secured to the framework A by
means of screws at the top of the centre bar D, the butts E, E, of the hinge are jointed
and secured by means of a pin passing through the same; to one of these butts E
I attach the inclined portion of the couch F, and to the other butt E of the said
hinge I attach the portion of the couch G, called the seat. By the application of
hinges of this description, I am enabled to lay the head portion of the couch on to
the feet portion, by which means the couch is made more convenient for
portability.
To the other end of the seat G I attach the head portion of couch H by means
of common hinges, and the feet J is secured to the inclined portion F by means of
hinges that are fitted with a pin that projects inside the couch, on these pins I place
a light bar for the support of the spiral wires K at the angle L; thus the head and
feet portions can be elevated to suit the requirements of the patient, and kept in
the position by the means now in common use.
The spiral wire K is secured to the framework M by means of light fixings or
clasps 0; the said spiral wire K may be conducted parallel to the framework, or in
a diagonal or zig-zag direction, and where the wires cross or come in contact with
each other, the same are secured together by means of clasps or loops P, which
will allow the spiral wire to spring, so that the whole of the space within the
top framework of the couch is flexible, and the wire will adjust itself and spring
where required.
In Figure 3 the bar or spindle Q is secured to the castor N, and passes through
the centre of the leg B, the end of spindle Q at S is screwed and fits into the
metal nut T fixed to the block U at the under side of couch framework A,
thus when the bar or spindle Q is screwed into the nut T the leg will be quite
secure.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is
to be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details herein described and delinated, but that what I believe to be
novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
recited Letters Patent is,-
The application of spiral wire secured to the framework of invalid couches,

page_text: substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
The arrangement of a double hinge, substantially for the purpose herein-before
described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
The arrangement and combination of a spindle in connection with the caster,
and the use of metal nuts, substantially for the purpose herein-before described, and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lister Robinson, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
JOHN WAUGH,
29, Tyrrel Street,
Bradford.
LISTER ROBINSON. (L.S.)