US1828585A - Undertaker's device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1931. E. w. APPLING 1,828,585

UNDERTAKER S DEVICE Filed May 2. 1950 gwumtoz [xv/ 5775 WAPpLm a l atented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES EVERETTE W. APPLING, OFJQILIN, MISSOURI unnnn'mxnra's DEVICE Application filed May 2, 1930. serial Nb. 449,284.?

adjustable head rest secured to the pad,

whereby a convenient and eflicient support will be afforded for the head and the upper part of the body while the head 1s being washed, dressed, shaved, etc.

Another object is to provide novel means for adjusting the head rest whereby it may be easily placed and instantly adjusted to suitable positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the devlce,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, and,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 indicates a pad preferably formed of sheet steel or other suitable material and having its forward extremity curved as indicated at 11. The area of the pad is sufliciently large to permit the pad to be placed beneath the shoulders of the body whereby a substantial portion of the latter will be resting on the pad.

A strip of metal indicated as a whole by the numeral 12 is bent to provide a pair of arms 13 and 14, the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to the pad as indicated at 15 and 16. The arms 13 and 14 are spaced aparta substantial distance adjacent their pivot points and extend inwardly toward each other to a point intermediate their ends, indicated at 17, at which point the space between the arms is substantially less and the arms are then arranged parallel for the remainder of their length. Any suitable pivotal" connection may made between the arms and the pad. As shown, portions of the pad'are punched upwardly to providebearings between which the ends of the arms are fitted and pivot pins 18 extend through the bearings and arms as will be understood.

Adjacent the upper extremities of the arms. a head rest 19 preferably formed of a curvedi piece of sheet steel or other suitable material is adj ustably secured to the arms. As shown, portions of'the member 19 are bent downwardly, to fit against the outer surface of the: arms and a pivot bolt 20 extends through; these portions and the arms. A wing nut 21 is threaded onto the bolt and it will be apparent that the nut provides means for secur ing the head rest in selected positions about; the pivot-bolt 20. I

At a point between the head: rest and? portion of the arms indicated; by-the numeral 17 a connecting member 22 isv arranged betweenfthe arms. As shown in Figure 2, member is provided with a relatively sharp upperedge'23. j

Pivotally secured substantially centrally of the width of the pad 10 is a supporting tongue 24:.' The pivotal joint of the lower extremity' of this tongue'is substantially similar'to the pivotal connection between the arms and the pad and need not be referred to in .0

detail. The-upper extremity of the tongue is curvedsubstantially as indicated at 25 and the innerface of thiscurved surface is provided with a plurality of teeth 26 arranged to.

be engaged by theconnecting member 22. In-

termediate'the lowermost tooth 26 and the lower en'dof the tongue a notch 27 ispro vided. p The operation of the device is as follows: As previously stated the device is adapted for use in supporting the head and upperportion of a corpse while the head is being'prepared prior to the injection of embalming fluid thereinto. The pad 10 is easily slid under the shoulders and the head rest may be adjusted to desired positions to support the head. The upper end of the tongue 24 extends between the arms 13 and '14; and the teeth 26 engage the member 22 to hold the arms in selected positions. Changes in the position of the head may be instantly made y moving the tongue so that different teeth may be engaged by the member 22.

The notch 27 is adapted to engage the member 22 when the device is packed for shipping. For example, when the device is to be shipped the arms 13 and 14 and the tongue 24: are moved until they are substantially fiat on the pad 10 and when in this position the member 22 will fit into the notch 27. Thus the device is compactly arranged for shipping.- if

It will be apparent that I have provided a device which will support the head in selected positions, will not interfere with the operations of the undertaker and whichmay be quickly and easily placed inposition and adjusted as desired. v

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claims. I claim V 1. I A'device of the character described comprising a body pad, a pair of spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to said pad, a head support adj ustably secured adjacent the other ends of said arms, the space between the portions of said arms adjacent said head support being substantially less than the space between the portions of said arms ad- 1' acent their pivot points, a member connected between said arms in the first mentioned space, and a supporting tongue pivotally connectedat one end to said pad, said tongue being'provided'with means for engaging said connecting member to secure said arms in selected positions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body pad, a pair of spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to said pad, a head support adjustably secured adjacent the other ends of said arms, a member connected between said arms intermediate their ends, and a'supporting tongue pivotally connected at one end to said pad, said tongue being provided with means, for engaging said connecting member to secure said arms in. selected positions, said means comprising a plurality of spaced teeth arranged adjacent the other end of said tongue, said tongue being further provided with a notch intermediate its ends toengage said member to support the device in folded position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EVERETTE W. APPLING.

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