US1818598A - Headrest and invalid-raising mechanism for bedsteads and cots - Google Patents

Description

HEADREST AND INVALID RAISING MECHANISM FOR BEDSTEADS AND cows L. R BERRY Aug 11, 1931.

Filed May 20. 1929 Invenio r. Lewialflflery.

)Veforaey Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED TATES Parent forties L EWIs 1a. BEER-Y, or PORTLAND, MAINE HEADREST AND INVALID-RAISING 'MECHANISM FOR BEDQTEADS AND COTS Application filed. May 20,

This invention relates, in general terms, to apparatus, adaptable for use on bedsteads and cots to raise'for lowenby mechanical me'ans the-head and upper-body portion of a person lying] thereon. I y I The obj'ectof the present invention is to provideimprovements in a device, a patent Ion which was granted me May 14th, 1929, numbered 1,713,164, relating to a head-rest and invalid-raising mechanism for bedsteads and cots.

The present device, while embodying sub stantially the same principles with respect .to the actual raising and lowering of the head-rest, has, incorporated in its structure, certain novel and essential features which areof particular advantage in'its operation.

Specifically,the,objects sought in this in- 'vention are:

1. To provide a flexible material, preferably sheet fabric, for the transverse element in the head-rest, to support the head and the upper body portions of the invalid.

2. To provide means to automatically tighten the lower portion of the fabric sheet in a progressive manner as the headwhen the head-rest is being lowered.

The character of the invention may best be understood by reference to the description found in the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which is disclosed an illustrative and preferred embodiment thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame work of a cot with my apparatus installed thereonthe spring and mattress of the cot not being shown, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations of the tightening elementthe former showing the head-rest in flat-wise and the latter in elevated position.

Similar reference characters are employed to identify like parts in all views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the side rail of a cot or bedstead, in this instance shown as an angle iron but which may be in the form of a pipe or wooden side 1929. j Serial no. 364,486.

briefly, consists in the compound gearing G actuated by the hand crank lever 6 to operate the quadrants 7 which are connected at their upper ends to the swinging side bars 8.

Referring to the drawings it will be observedthat, in my present device, a radical departure from the construction shown in my former invention, in two particulars at least, has been made. The slats 1 5 which connected the two side bars 13 (characters in drawing of my Patent No. 1,713,16l)

have been eliminated and as a substitute I now. employ a fabric sheet 20, each lateral edge of which is folded and sewed to form a loop within which operates a bar 21. rest 1s elevated, and conversely, to loosen 1t The" ends of this bar, 21, are provided brace the adjacent side bar 8.

At the fourth corner of the fabric sheet my automatic tightening mechanism is located, one ofthese ordinarily being sufii-- cient when it forms equipment for a narrow cot. When the head-rest is supplied for full width bedsteads it may be advisable to use two of the tightenersone at each lower corner of the sheet.

" The sheet tightening apparatus includes two rotatively mounted cleats 24,. one being "secured on the side-frame 8 and the other on the side bar 8, by screws or studs 25, 25,

' respectively.

Each cleat has outstanding ears 26 through whichpasses'a pin 27. The strap 28 is "looped around the pin 27 in the cleat at tached to the side frame 3, extends toward the side bar 8 in a double thickness and is reeved around the pin in the cleat on the bar 8, thence it passes inwardly of the headrest to the bar 21 within the slot in which it is secured. An adjustable buckle23 is provided for this strap as also for the three other straps 23. Non-extensible straps 29 operable over the cross member 30 prevent sagging of the sheet when the head-rest is in elevated position; and to resist lateral strain on the side rails 1, when the sheet is tightened, an angle bar 31 is provided, it being secured to the rail blocks 2.

In Fig. 2 the head-rest, in which are included the two side bars 8, is shown in its lowermost position on the cot.

In this position of the head-rest the lower buckles 23, or those nearest the pivotal point of the side bars with the side frames, are adjusted so that the sheet fabric 20 hangs somewhat looselyand capable of accommodating itself or conforming to any changes in the shape of the spring incident to the weight of the patient on the mattress.

When the side bars 8 are raised, however, as seen in Fig. 3, the upper cleat swings away from the lower one, and that portion of the strap 28 which lies between the upper cleat and the sheet fabric is shortened. This has the efi'ect of tightening the sheetthe tightness depending on two conditions, the initial adjustment of the buckle 23 and the center to center distances of the cleats 24. By providing other holes for the reception of the bolts 25, or by otherwise arranging for vertical adjustability of the cleats, a variation in the range of the tightening device may be procured.

Without doubt the most appealing characteristic of my improved head-rest is its 7 capacity to give support to the patient when needed and to entirely withdraw this support when no need appears. While lying on the cot, either on his back or side, the

patient gets the full benefit of the resiliency of the mattress spring-just as though no head-rest was beneath him. As he is being elevated to an inclined position he senses a gradual but gentle tightening of the support applied more particularly to the small of his back, or that portion of his body immediately above his hips, and this brings him to a posture both comfortable and healthful.

It is to be further noted that the tightening and loosening of the fabric supporting sheet 20 is effected automaticallyit being accomplished incidentally to and synchronously with the raising and lowering of the head-rest.

It is obvious that the apparatus just described is susceptible of modifications in structure without departing from, the meanng and intent of the invention. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that I do not restrict or limit myself to the exact mechanical details as herein set forth and illustrated in the drawings, as it is possible to carry out the invention in other ways which will be in conformity to and within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the character described, adapted to be attached to the side rails of a bedstead, the combination of a side frame secured to each of said rails, a side bar pivotally connected to each of said side frames, a fabric sheet disposed interjacent said side bars, extensible straps securing said fabric sheet to said side bars at its two upper corners and one lower corner, a cleat pivotally mounted, on one of said side frames, a cleat pivotally mounted on the adjacent one of said side bars said cleats being spaced from the pivotal connection of said side bar with said side frame, toward the head of the bed, a strap, one end of which is fixed in said first mentioned cleat and slidably secured in said second mentioned cleat, the other end of said strap extending inwardly and secured to said fabric sheet, and means to oscillate said side bars whereby on the upward and downward movement of said side bars the portion of said last mentioned strap lying between the said side bar and the said fabric sheet may be shortened and lengthened,respectively.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEWIS R. BERRY,

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