Invalid bed

Jan. 30, 1940.

J. G. CUNNINGHAM 2,188,592 invalid bed

Filed Dec. 21, 1936 ₉ ~ .

Sheets—Sheet 1

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Jan. 30, 1940.

2,188,592

J G. CUNNINGHAM invalid bed

Filed Dec. 21, 1936 o .

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented Jan. 30, 1940

2,188,592

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,188,592

INVALID BED

John G. Cunningham, Spokane, Wash.; R.

Eosken Damon and The Old National Bank &amp; Union Trust Co., executors of John G. Cunningham, deceasedApplication December 21, 1936, Serial No. 116,939 (Cl. 5—61) of Figure 6 showing the adjustable mount for one end; of. ^n. anchoring, arch-bar.

Figure 8 is a sectional view at line 8—8 of Figure 5 showing an under-slung flexible cross-slat. Figure 9 is a sectional view of the frame showing &amp; an overhung flexible cross slat anchored at its opposite ends to a pair of arch bars. Figure 10 is a sectional view of. the.frame showing the use of an over-hung non-flexible or rigid cross-slat anchored at its. ends.to a pair of arch bars. 10

In. the. preferred form of my invention I have utilized a tubular metal bedstead comprising the head-frame. 1. and foot-frame 2 with the rigidly joined side bars 3, and the bedstead is provided with usual casters 4. The posts of the head- la frame and of the foot-frame preferably converge, as at 5, above these frames, to provide bearing supports for the patient-turner, invalid-turner, or rotatable frame, which, is thus conveniently elevated, and readily accessible, for surgical opera- '&lt;-0 tiofis and for attentions, to the patient.

The rotatable frame, which is of rectangular shape and. tubular construction comprises a pair of side rails 6, 6 and complementary end rails 7, 7 and the frame is fashioned with longitudinally 25 extending trunnions 8, 8' at its opposite ends. The trunnion 8' at the foot of the bed is. mounted in a U-bearing 9 rigid with the converging posts of the foot-frame, and this trunnion or pivot pin may be locked against turning in its bearing by 30 the use of a pin 19 passed transversely through the U-bearing and the trunnion, both members, being perforated for the reception of the pin. When the pin is withdrawn, the frame may readily be rotated, and the withdrawal of the pin read- 35 ily permits removal of the frame, when the opposite ends of the. frame are also free for removal.

The trunnion 8 at the head of the bed is fashioned with an angular extension or shank ii which is fitted in a complementary hub-socket of 40 a worm-wheel 12, and the latter is journaled in bearings 13 of a housing 14 which forms a rigid cap for the converging posts 5, 5 of the head· frame of the bed. Within the housing and above the worm-wheel is mounted a worm or screw bar 45 15 having a crank handle 16 exterior of the housing, and it will readily be apparent that the rotatable frame, when pin 10 is removed, may be turned by manipulating the crank IS, and the meshing of the worm-teeth with the worm-wheel 50 teeth will hold the rotated frame in adjusted position, in conjoint use with pin 10.

I have illustrated three types of cross-slats, or rather three uses of two types of cross-slats, with the patient turner or frame, the cross-slats 17 be- 55

Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in invalid beds of the type employed as invalid turners, wherein a section of the bed, or supporting frame for the patient, is mounted on longitudi,6 nally extending pivots, so that the pivoted section or frame, containing the patient, is capable of being turned either partially or completely over and secured in adjusted position. By these adjustments of the pivoted frame, the operations IQ of the surgeon and attentions of the nurse are facilitated, and the convenience, comfort, and relief of the patient are enhanced.

In carrying out my invention I provide this type of bed with improved features involving rigid 15 er non-flexible, as well as flexible, cross slats, with adjustable mountings on the rotatable frame or section, in. order that different postures of the body of the: patient may conveniently be assumed and retained, when required, and . under varying .20 conditions; and when,, in particular, surgery is to be applied to the spinal column of the patient. The invention also contemplates other improved features by means of which the functions, of this type of bed are performed, all as will hereinafter 25 be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to one SO mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in these exemplifying structures, within the scope of my claims, without 35 departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a bed equipped with the improvements of my invention.

Figure 2 is a end elevation at the head of the bed, showing by dotted lines the movement of the 4i) pivoted frame, and also the use of the cross slats of the frame.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view at line 3—3 of Figure 2 showing the operating means for the rotatable frame or invalid turner.

⁴⁰ Figure 4 is a detail sectional view at line 4—4 of Figure 1 showing the pinned pivot-bearing at the foot of the bed.

Figure 5 is a plan view of part of the rotatable frame with its flexible cross-slats.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the mounting cr mount for one end of an anchoring arch-bar, two of which arch-bars are employed on the frame to anchor opposite ends of cross slats.

_5ΰ Figure 7 is a detail sectional view at line 7—7

2,188,582 ing flexible and fashioned of canvas or other similar material, and the cross slat 19 being nonflexible, or rigid, or resilient, as the case may be, and the cross slats ί 9 may be fashioned of resilient ⁰ steel plates or of rigid steel plates.

The flexible straps 17 may be underslung with relation to the frame, as in Figure 8, or over-hung with relation to the frame as indicated in Figure 9, but in both instances the cross slats are fast19 ened to the side rails 6 of the frame by buckled straps 18 or similar detachable fastenings, provided at the opposite ends of the cross slats.

The rigid or resilient cross slats, 19, as indicated in Figure 1G are preferably overhung with rela¹⁶ tion to the frame, and these metal plates are fashioned with end hooks 2Θ that are detachably fastened on special mounts or mounting devices which are adjustable on the respective parallel side rails 6,6 of the frame.

²⁰ As best seen in Figure 1, each of the side rails 6 is provided with a longitudinally extending series of spaced holes 21 that extend horizontally and transversely through the tubular rails, and these holes are employed in mounting on the ²⁶ side rails a pair of anchoring arch-bars 22 of semi-rigid or resilient metal, which arch bars extend longitudinaly of the rails.

At each end of each arch-bar is carried a perforated fastening yoke 23 of U-shape, which 30 straddles the side rail of the frame for support of the arch-bar. These yokes have holes or perforations that will register with the holes 21 of the side rails, and pins 24 are passed through the perforated yokes and rails to hold the yokes in ad35 justed position.

Each yoke is fashioned with a pair of upright, perforated, ears 25 in which are mounted bolts 26, and as best seen in Figure 6, the metal arch-bars 22, at their ends are curled inwardly to form 40 sleeves 27 that encircle these bolts and firmly support the arch bars above and between the supporting yokes.

As indicated in Figure 1 the curvature of these arch-bars may be changed to raise, or to lower, the bars, and these bars thus become adjustable anchors for the opposite ends of the cross slats. Either one, or both, of the end-yokes of an archbar may be adjusted along the rail 6, toward or from the foot of the bed, or toward and from the head of the bed. By adjusting the distance between the yokes of each pair, the vertical position, or height of the arch bars is varied, and accordingly the vertical position of the anchored 5 cross-slats, which are mounted on the arch-bars, is varied. These variations in the curvature of the arch-bars are carried to the cross-slats anchored thereon, and it will readily be apparent that cross-slats may thus be adjusted to fit 10 curvatures of the body of the patient.

By use of the overhung cross-slats in Figures 9 and 10 the portion of the patient’s body supported thereby may be elevated above another portion of the body that is supported by the underslung 15 cross-slat of Figure 8, in order to facilitate surgical operations, or nursing attentions, and also for convenience and relief of the patient.