Untitled record

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N.PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

United States Patent Office.

WILLIAM A. GUYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN INVALID-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,211, dated July 10, 1866 ;. antedated May 1, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William A. Guyer, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved InvalidBedstead ; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which—

Figure 1 represents a side sectional view of my invention taken in the line x x, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same; Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, detached views of the bed-bottom, showing the different positions in which it may be adjusted.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new and improved invalid-bedstead; and it consists in constructing the bed-bottom in such a manner that it will be capable of being adjusted in various positions, so that the patient may be in a horizontal position or have his body more or less inclined, and the lower extremities more or less bowed, as may be required, the bed-bottom, by means of the several adjustments, being readily converted from a bed to a chair, and also capable of being readily adapted to the length of the legs of the patient.

The invention is more especially designed for hospitals; but it may be advantageously used in all cases.

A represents a horizontal rectangular frame supported by four legs, a, provided with casters b, the ends of the frame A having handles c attached to it. These parts constitute the bedstead.

The bed-bottom is composed of three principal parts, B C D.

The part B is constructed of two parallel side strips, d d, connected by cross-bars e, and the strips d d are attached at one end to the side pieces, //, of the frame A by pivot-bolts g. This part B supports the body of the patient, and it may be placed in a horizontal position, so as to rest on strips h h, attached to the inner surfaces of the sides of the frame A; or it may be placed in an inclined position and secured at a greater or less degree of inclination by means of a prop or frame, E', which is attached to the back or under side of B by hinges i, and has its lower end fitted in racks jj on the strips h h.

The part C of the frame A is composed of two side strips, k k, connected by a cross-bar, I, the strips k k being connected at one end to the side pieces, //, of the frame A by the same bolts g which connect the part B to A. The opposite ends of the strips k k have longitudinal slots V made in them, in which the ends of a shaft, E, are fitted, the ends of said shaft being square and having each a screw, F, passing through them, said screws also passing through metal straps G, which are fitted over the slotted ends of the strips k k.

By turning the screws F it will be seen that the shaft E may be moved nearer to or farther from the ends of the strips k k.

The part D is constructed similarly to the part 0, m m being the side strips, and η n cross-bars connected to it. The strips m m are fitted at one end on the shaft E, at the inner sides of the strips k k of the part C, and at the lower end of D there are two side catches, o o, which, when shoved outward, engage with racks p p on the strips h h of frame A.

The two parts 0 D support the legs or lower extremities of the patient; and it will be seen that by adjusting the part D on the racks p p the two parts G D maybe made to have a more or less oblique position relatively with each other, and the thighs, or the portion of the legs from the thighs to the knees, placed at a greater or less degree of inclination, as described.

The two parts 0 D may also be lengthened or distended to suit the length of the legs by adjusting the shaft E, as previously described. This lengthening or distending of the parts G D, besides the mere adapting of said parts to suit the length of the legs, may be advantageously employed in treating fractured limbs.

In case a patient desires to be adjusted in a sitting posture, the catches ο o are shoved inward, so as to be free from the racks p p, which will admit of the part D descending between the strips h h, so that the lower parts of the legs of the patient, from the knees down, may hang perfectly free, while the back may be more or less inclined by adjusting the part B in a more or less inclined position.

F' F' represent jointed arms, which are at

56.211 tached to the parts B C at each side, and G' is a drawer fitted in one side of the frame A, and H is a slide fitted in the opposite side of said frame.

The different positions of the bed-bottom are shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

I am aware that bed-bottoms have been provided with an adjustable part, B, and I do not claim said part separately.