US188568A - Improvement in attachments for invalid-bedsteads - Google Patents

Description

ATTACHMENT FOR INVALID BEDSTEADS.

P a t e n t e d M a r c h 2 0 1 8 7 7.

UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIGE.

JOHN P. BEAMAN, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

IMPROVEMENTIN ATTACHMENTS FOR lNVALlD-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,568, dated March 20, 1877 application filed August 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PETERSON BEA- MAN, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an Improved Irrigating Attachment for Fracture- Beds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawlng.

My invention relates to an extension or part of a bedstead, the object of which is to provide a support and means for irrigating or supplying a constant bath of waterto fractured and dislocated limbs, for the purpose of preventing inflammation of the wounded parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a view of the swinging box- K.

Let A represent a metallic table or bottom, which is mounted upon legs B B, so that it will stand at the ordinary height of a bedstead. Usually, however, I will place it directly upon the lower part of an ordinary bed. The platform or table can either form a permanent part of a bedstead, or it may be a separate device which can be placed against an ordinary bedstead, so that the limb of the patient can be supported upon it. C is a board, which is supported by legs or side pieces 01 d across the end of the table or platform on which the hips of the patient rest, so as to pass across directly over his hips. A hole is made through each end of the board 0, directly over each hip of the patient, in which a shallow metal box, IE, is made to fit a flange, f, which surrounds each box-rest 9, upon the edge of the opening, and prevents it from dropping through. The bottom of each of these boxes is provided with perforations, covering more or less surface, as required, so that when the box is filled with water it will trickle through the perforations, and supply a constant bath to the fractured or diseased hip. Another box, G, which is similar in construction and arrangement to those above described, is placed in the middle of the board, for irrigating the private parts of the patient when required. An open-ended three-sided box, H, is turned upside down upon the table or board A, over the upper portion of the leg of the patient, and another, I, is placed over the lower part of the leg and foot.

When both legs of a patient are fractured, a set of three boxes will be placed over each leg, as represented in the drawing. Upon each of these boxes H I I place an irrigatingbox,J, which is similar to the boxes E, above described, so that each box will contain a quantity of water,which will constantly drip through the perforations in the bottoms of the boxes upon the wounded or fractured limb. Inside the foot-boxes I I suspend a trough or threesided box, K, by means of hangers or links I, which hook over the upper edges of the sides of the box I. The sides of these boxes K are hinged to the bottom board, so that they can be turned down, for the purpose hereinafter described. At the extremity of this suspended or swinging box I hinge a foot-board, m, which can be turned up between the two sides and fastened, so as to close the end of the trough or box. The bottom board of the box K is grooved longitudinally, to fit the limb of the patient, and the foot-board m is also grooved, to fit the foot of the patient. A cappiece is then arranged to slide down inside of the foot-board and cover the upper part of the foot of the patient, so as to keep it in place. The fractured or wounded leg will then swing easily in the box K, while the overhead perforated or sprinkling box will irrigate andkeep it cool. The table A is slightly inclined toward the foot, so that the water which drains from the leg will be caught and conveyed to a waste-opening at the foot, through which it passes, and is led through pipes O O to a vessel, P, under the bed or table.

To dress the leg, the links l, which suspend the box K, are released from the upper edges of the box I, and the box I is removed from the table. The box K is then lowered upon the table, and its sides are lowered so as to leave the leg exposed. This is a very convenient and comfortable arrangement, as it permits of the limb being dressed without disturbing the patient or the position of the fractured parts.

Under the middle of the board 0 I make a hole, Q, in the table or bottom A, and a spout or tube (not shown) connects this hole with a vessel, S, underneath the table. This hole is directly under the middle of the body of the patient, and serves for allowing the patient to evacuate his bowels. When the patient desires to make water a shield or guard, T, is placed in the hole, so as to protect the bedclothes. I thus provide all necessary conveniences for accommodating this class of patients.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. The bed-extension ortable A, inclined, as described, and having one or more covering-boxes, G H I, with their irrigating-boxes E J, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The table or bed-extension A, having the board 0, the irrigating-tanks E J, the boxes H I, arranged as described, the wasteways O 0 and vessel P at one end, and the hole Q, fitted with a spout or tube, and vessel S at the opposite end, substantially as and for the purpose described. I

3. In combination with the foot-boxes I, the suspended trough K, having its sides hinged so as to be folded outward, and having the grooved foot-board m and sliding cap-piece n, allarranged to operate substantially as; described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN PETERSON BEAMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. Smnone, OLWYN T. STAOY.

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