US1974101A - Hospital bed - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1934. A. coMPE'R '1,974,101

HOSPITAL BED Filed Feb. l, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. COMPER HOSPITAL BED Sept. 18, 1934.

Filed Feb. l, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 M, m m .m e w my# NM. W il mw NM 3 fou mw mw, n mm. mm. mw w y mw m@ 1 12,1. wh mm, M 1M... 1-1..' \l 1 11m 1 -i mm.: mw mw B n i111! l lllvlll... 1.1.1.1 1.1M.. md u@ www SN XW mm. mw 1N \\Nd @mm1 m Q um\%\ \\%m1mm1 wm, 1 H l Wm, O .A l 1 M ilw, nw MN wb un Sw w :I R. uw Q, @1 1% mm.

A. COMPER HOSPITAL BED Sept. 18, 1934.

Filed Feb. l, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 18, 1934.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l, 1933 +5 a @7W MW/w30@ 7 a fl. EN, 1- l 0 @www y d mw o i 6 2 l 2 JH n/.v I Humm, m zv 2 J v 5 I 9 4 a 2 A. COMPER HOSPITAL BED Sept. 18, 1934.

Filed Feb. l, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5v Sept. 18, 1934. A, COMPER 1,974,101

HOSPITAL BED Filed Feb. l, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Qdrz'an Comfer Patented Sept. 18, 1934 AT E N T F-"E'l CEi Hospital Appliances, Inc., Pittsfield, `Mass., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application February 1,

17 Claims.

The invention relates to invalids or hospital beds of thegeneraltype disclosed'in U. S.' patent to Adrian Comper, 1,884,577 of October 25, 1932, and the following- U. S. patents to VJoseph E.

5 Fazakerley: 1,293,721 of. November 7, 1916; 1,257,072 ot February 19', 1918; and 1,545,415-of July 7, 1925.

All of the aboveimentioned patents, disclose a bed having a mattress` composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip. supporting sections; supporting means for said mattress sections including carriages for said hip sections and a supporting trame for said carriages; a bed pan elevator for lifting a bed pan into position between said hip sections` when the latter are separated, and operating means for said carriages and said elevator. The Comper Patent 1,884,577 also includes a jack operable in timed relation with the carriages and pan elevator, 20 for lifting one end of the head section of the mattress to elevate the patients hips from said hip sections when the latter are to be moved. Beds embodying these features have been more or less successful but have been subject to certain drawbacks which the present invention has aimed to overcome.

Every hospital insists upon equipment which may be easily kept immaculate and sanitary, and it has therefore been one of the foremost objects of the present invention to fulfill these requirernents with a structure which' could not only be easily kept in clean and sanitary condition under normal circumstances, but one which could be soiled only to the minimum and could be expeditiously cleaned in case of any accidental or premature discharge of feces or urine. In carrying out that end, a further aim has been to provide a frame structure in which the mounting means for the carriagesV and` elevator, and also the operating means therefor, were located at the exterior of the supporting frame, thereby not only protecting these parts against reception of premature or accidental discharges, but allowing the interior ,of the `frame in the region of the bed pan, to be free of moving parts and projecting portions which would not only become soiled, but would be arduous to clean. A

In most hospitals, the draw sheet is an are ticle of standard equipment, and its longitudinal edges must be tucked under the edges of the mattress, and it has been another object of the invention to provide a structure absolutely free from any elements which could interfere with such tucking in of thedraw sheet. To this Vend,

1933, SerialNo. 654,720

another aim hasrbeenthe provsiQn of, new. and improved easily` applied and released meansfor holding the hip sections of the mattress upon the carriages in such manner as to offer no obstruction, toltucking ofthe draw sheet under 69; said hip sections. i 4

FromA continual use, no matter. how` well the mattress be constructed, the inner ends of the hip sections., thereof may often become more or less depressed to the discomfort of the patient, (id, and it has been another object of theV invention to provide novel means Wherebya nurse could easilyy elevate the inner ends of saidl hip sections to` restore them to positions at which they would cause no discomfort. In providing for (0, thisl adjustment of the hip sections, a further object has been to provide a new and improved carriage structure including a novel track-supported chassis frame connected with the` carriage operating means, and a hip section sup- 'Z5` port of novel form pivoted to said chassis frame at its outer end and adjustably supported at its inner end upon said chassis frame."

In providing for easy operation of the carriages and mounting their operating mean'sat SAQ the exterior of the supporting frame, I have employed carriage-actuating worms driven by a single hand crank or the like which alsoeffects operation of the aforementioned jack and pan elevator. These worms, in the structure dis- Si closed, remain operatively connected at all times with the carriages and the hand crank, and therefore rotate as long as the hand crank or the like is operated, either when opening the bed and elevating the bed pan, or whenlowering 9Q the pan and closing the bed. It hasbeen a rather important object of my invention to pro' vide worms of special construction which would not appreeiably move the carriages until 'the jack acted to so lift the mattress headsection as to free the patients hips fromY the carriage'- supported hip sections of the -mattress, "said Worms then acting to rapidly move the carriages throughout almost the entire length of `their travel While the jack supported the mattress i head section, and finally serving to slowly com# plete the remaining infinitesimal iinal carriage movement upon jack descent. By so doing, ,even though the hip sections are moved somewhat while the patients hips are Vresting upon them, the movement is so slight that no discomfort is caused and no appreciable resistance to opera; `tion of the bed. Moreover, the slow initial closing movement of vthe carriages after use o'f tliebed span, allowsV the pan elevator to descend and 11,0

lower the pan sufficiently to permit easy aftercleaning of the patient, before appreciable closing of the mattress hip sections occurs.

In generally improving the bed, a number of movable parts have been housed within a casing at the exterior of the supporting frame, said casing being secured to a vertical plate forming part of the frame. This same plate has been utilized to carry guide tracks for one end of the pan elevator, and a further object of the invention has been to provide novel operating means for said elevator, connected. with the trackguided end of the latter and housed to a large extent in the aforesaid casing.

In addition to the foregoing, it has been an object to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive and light structure, yet one which would well resist all strains to which subjected.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the central portion of a hospital bed constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View cut transversely of the bed, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showing the casing and a number of parts carried thereby, removed to disclose parts which would otherwise be hidden from view.

Fig. 4 is an inner side elevation of the casing and contained parts, omitted from Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view in a plane extending longitudinally of the bed, on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view cut transversely of the bed on line 7-7 of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the portion of the frame structure toward one end of the bed.

Fig. 9 is a similar View of the portion of the frame structure toward the other end of the bed.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the chassis frame of one of the carriages for the hip sections of the mattress.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View showing the frame of one of the mattress section supports which are pivotally and adjustably mounted upon the chassis frames of the carriages, showing also the mattress section-holding means.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the yoke which is connected with the bed pan elevator andthe operating cable for said elevator.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on line 13--13 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of one of the flange braces.

Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view showing one of the bearings of the worm-carrying shaft, which bearing acts also as a flange brace.

The head and foot sections of the mattress are denoted at 20 and 21 respectively, and the two separable hip supporting sections are shown at 22. Carriages 23 are provided for the hip sections 22, a jack 24 is provided for the end of the head section 20 toward said hip sections 22, an elevator 25 is provided for a bed pan 26, and a frame structure 27 is employed to support said carriages 23, jack 24, elevator 25, and the actuating means for these parts. The frame structure 27 is connected with spring-equipped Vsupporting linkage 28 and 29 for the head and .detached in Fig. 11.

foot sections 20 and 21 of the mattress, said linkage being connected in any suitable way with the head and foot portions of the bed frame (not shown).

The frame 27 includes two side bars 30 and. 30' disposed in spaced parallel relation and extending transversely of the bed, each of said. side bars having both a horizontal longitudinally extending flange and a vertical longitudinally extending flange. The horizontal anges are denoted at 31 and 31 respectively, and they are apertured for connection with the linkage 28 and 29. The vertical flanges are shown at 32 and 32 and these flanges are adapted to abut the adjacent ends of the mattress sections 20 and 21, respectively. The flanges 32 and 32 terminate in inwardly spaced relation with the ends of the side bars 30 and 38' so that they will not interfere with tucking of the conventional draw sheet under the edges of the mattress.

The central portions of the bars 30 and 30 are provided with parallel vertical plates 33 and 33', respectively, between which the bed pan elevator 25 is located, the vertical edges of the plate 33 being provided at the outer side of thisv plate with vertical channel-shaped guide tracks 34 for said elevator 25, the latter being provided with rollers 35 engaged with said tracks. The parts 31, 32, 33 and 34 are preferably integral with each other, and said parts 31 and 33 are relatively braced by integral webs 36. Similarly, the parts 31', 32' and 33 are preferably integral with each other and relatively braced by integral bracing ribs 36. Whereas the ribs 36 are short, the plate 33 being braced by the racks 34, the ribs 36 preferably extend throughout the height of the plate 33.

Between the plate 33 and the ends of the bar 30, this bar is provided with integral downwardly projecting lugs 37 and 38, portions of the lugs 37 being by preference integrally joined also to the upper portion of the plate 33 and the tracks 34. The bar 30 is provided with similar downwardly projecting lugs 37 and 38 respectively. Horizontal cross bars 39 and 40 120 extend between the lugs 37-37 and 38-38 respectively, and are secured thereto by cap screws or the like 41 and 41. Additional horizontal cross bars 42 extend between the lower ends of the vertical plates 33 and 33 and are secured 125 thereto by cap screws or the like 43, the two side members of the frame 27, being thus held in rigid relation. Bearings 44 are secured by two of the cap screws 41 and are provided with portions 45 which underlie and abut the nange 13G 31 to effectively brace the latter near its ends, and right angular bracing members 45' are secured by the cap screws 4l', said members 45 underlying and abutting the ange 31 to brace the latter. By the provision of the bracing 135 means 45, 45', 36 and 36', the bars 3) and 30' are held against outward bending under the pull of the linkage 28-29, in a plane above the cross bars 39 and 40.

The outer sides of the bars provided with longitudinal channel-shaped tracks 46 and 46 respectively, in which rollers 47 of the carriages 23 are received, the e. manner of mounting said carirages being i... clearly understandable after a specific tion of the construction of one of said carriages. Each carriage includes a chassis frame 48 shown detached in Fig. 10, and a mattress section support having a supporting frame 49 illustrated Each chassis frame 43 3C and 3G 140 includes two inner side bars 50 and 50 disposed at the inner. sides of the bars 30 and 30 respectively, and two outer side bars 5l and 5l disposed at the outer sides of said bars 30 and 30 respectively; The two bars 50 and 51 are integrally connected with each other by horizontal Webs '52 which extend under the bar 30, the bars 50 and 51 are similarly connected by webs 52', and the inner ends of the bars 50 and 50 are integrally connected by a cross bar 53. The rollers 47 are mounted on the inner sides of the bars`51 and 51 and as the carriages 23 are moved, these rollers travel within the guide tracks` 46 and 46.

The mattress. section-supporting frame 49, includes two parallel side bars 54 and 54', disposed at the inner sides of the chassis bars 50 and 50 respectively. The outer. end portions of these bars 54 and 54 are pivoted at 55 and 5.5 to the bars 50 and 50.' respectively and are integrally connected by an end bar 56. A cross bar 57 integrally connects the inner end portions of. the bars 54 and 54' and carries a bolt 58 which is engaged with an adjusting nut 59, the latter being swiveled at 6,0 in the central portion of the chassis frame cross bar 53. Suitable iinliage 6l, having springs 61', is connected with the frames 49 and co-acts therewith in supporting the separable hip sections 22 of the, mattress. Whenever the inner ends of these hip sections become so depressed as to possibly be. uncomfortable to the patient, they may be elevated by adjusting the nuts 59, such adjustments serving to tilt the two frames 49 with respect. to the chassis frames 48.

The side bars 54 and 54 of thefranie 49 are provided with upstanding longitudinal flanges 62 and 62 respectively, which engage the edges of the mattress sections 22, adjacent the head and foot sections `20e-2i, said flanges 62 and 62 terminating inl inwardly spaced relation with the outer ends 56 of thev two frames 49, so. that they will not interfere with tucking. of the draw sheet under the ends of said mattress sections 22. .The inner ends of the flanges 62 and 62 are connected by rods 63 to abut the innei1 ends of the hip sections 22, and Ueshaped bails 64 are pivoted at 65 to the outer ends of saidY flanges 62 and 6 2', to embrace the outer ends. of said sections 22. These bails not only hold the hip sections 22 against the rods 63, but they co-act with the flanges 62 and 62 inholding saidA hip sections against excessivedragging on Vthe head and foot sections of the mattress during carriage shifting. The bails 64, being normally spaced above the endv bars 56, do not interfere with inward tucling of the draw sheet.

A wormcarrying shaft 66 (Fig. 2). is disposed longitudinally of and at the outer side of the bar 30 above described, the ends of said shaft being mounted in the bearings/44. The intermediatey portion of this shaft passes. through the upper portion of a vertically elongatedcasing 67 `which is received between the elevator tracks 34, said casingv` being. secured by screws. 68-to said tracks and by another screw 69 tothe plate 33. At one or both points where shaft 66Y passes through thevertical edgewalls of the casing 67, a bearing 70. (Fig- 4) may be, provided, and this bearing as well as` all others' used, arepreL erably of ball type. Preferably, theupper end of the casing 6.7,is provided with'portions 7l which underlie and brace the fiange 31` of the bar 30.

The ends of --the shaft 66 Aare provided with Worms 72 which are engaged with studs or the 4like 72 projecting outwardly from the carriage chassis bars 51 (Fig. 10). The inner end of each worm is slowly pitched as at 73, the outer end of the worm is similarly pitched as at 74, and between said portions 73-74, said worm is steeply pitched as shown at 75. With the two carriages 23 in their innermost positions and the hip sections 22 abutting each other, if the Worms 72 be rotated to effect separation of said carriages and hip sections, the worm portions 73 move the carriages only an infinitesimal amount, while the jack 24 is operating to so raise the head section 20 as to lift the patients hips from said sections 22, but as soon as the jack has performed its lifting function, the portions of the worms 72, rapidly shift the carriages 23 outwardly 'throughout the greater part of their intended travel. Then, as the jack 24 starts to re-lower the head section 20 to position the patient on the bed pan which has in the meantime been raised by the elevator 25, the worm portions 74 slowly complete the infinitesimal iinal outward movement of the carriages 23. When the bed is to again be closed after use of the bed pan, retrograde rotation of the Worms 72 causes their portions 74 to only inappreciably move the carriages 23 inwardly while the jack 24 is again effecting lifting of the patient from the mattress sections 22. Such lifting having been accomplished however, the portions 75 of the worms eiect rapid return of the carriages 23 to almost the inward extreme of their travel. By this time, the jack 24 is again effecting low'- ering of the patient and the short nal inward movement of the carriages and the sections 22, is effected by the worm portions 73.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that even though the mattress sections 22 are moved somewhat while in contact with the patients hips, the slowly pitched worm portion 73 and 74 insure that said movement be so small that it shall interfere in no manner with the patients comfort.

ForA driving the worm shaft 66 and actuating elevator and jack operating parts, I provide an operating shaft 76 disposed below and parallel with said shaft 66, appropriate bearings 77, carried by the vertical edge walls of the casing 67 being provided for said shaft 76. The two shafts 76 and 66 are operatively connected by a chain 78 and sprockets disposed Within the casing. 67; A suitable hand crank 79 or the like is provided for the shaft 76, and may well be connected projectibly and retractibly with said shaft by means of a pin and slot connection 80,

The shaft 76 extends across the interior of the casing 67 and is provided wltha worm 81 meshing with a Worm gear 82` on a shaft 83 which carriesan .operating cam 84 forY the jack 24, said shaft 83V being mounted in bearings 83a and 83? (Fig. 5), carried by theplateV 33 and the casing 67 respectively. When shaft 76 is rotated, it drives the cam 84'to operate the jack 24 and.. also drives the shaft .66 to cause the Worms 72 to actuate the carriages 23, jack movement and carriage movement being timed as above explained in connection with the different portions' 73, 74 andV 75 of the worms 72.

Below and parallel with the shaft 83 is a short ,fr

shaft 85suitably .mounted in the casing 67, said shaftf8`5.` being provided with a cable drum 86 and wthatpinion 87. This pinion is in co-op erative relation witha `gear segment 88 secured tolthe cam 84, said segment and pinion being out of mesh as shown in Fig. 2, when the parts are in their normal positions. When said parts have been operated however, to separate the hip sections of the mattress to a sufficient extent, the segment 88 meshes with and drives the pinion 87 thereby driving the cable drum 86. A cable 89 (Fig. 4) is wound on this drum, extends from the interior to the exterior' of the casing 67, passes around guide sheaves 96, and is connected at 91 (Fig. 5) with a yoke 92. This yoke eX- tends partially around the casing 67 and is connected at 93 with the adjacent end of the elevator 25. It will thus be seen that when the drum 86 is driven as just explained, the cable 89 will be operated so as to lift the elevator 25, causing it to properly position the bed pan 26 between the hip sections 22, as the latter complete their outward movement and the jack 24 lowers the patient. After use oi the bed pan, the crank or the like 79 is turned in the reverse direction, causing lifting of the patient from the hip'sections 22, lowering of the elovator 25, return movement of said hip sections 22 to normal position, and relowering of the patient onto said sections 22. The elevator 25 descends to quite an extent while the mattress sections 22 are being moved inwardly only to an infinitesimal extent, by the worm portions 74. This elevator descent also occurs at the time when the patient is supported by means of the jack 24, so that ample room is given for aftercleaning the patient.

While the sequence of operations may be clear from the foregoing, they may be briefly set forth as followsz-Turning the crank or the like in one direction causes the cam 84 to raise the jack 24 to lift the head section 2G of the mattress so as to lift the patients hips from the hipsupporting sections 22. During such raising of the jack 24, the worm portions 73 move the carriages 23 only an infinitesimal amount, and while the cam 84 and jack 24 are supporting the patient slightly above the hip sections 22, the worm portions come into play to rapidly shift said sections 22 outwardly. About this time, the jack 24 starts to lower and the worm portions 74 come into action. At about the same time, the gear segment 88 meshes with the pinion 87, thereby rotating the cable drum 86 and operating the cable 89 to effect elevation of the bed pan 26 into its operative position, as the patient is finally lowered and the mattress sections 22 complete their nal outward movement. To again restore the parts to normal after use of the bed pan, the crank or the like 79 is rotated in the opposite direction, causing reversal of the operations just described.

In addition to housing a number of the working parts within the casing 67, I prefer to provide tubular housings 94 for the worms 72, said housings being supported at their inner ends by the casing 67 and at their outer ends by the bearings 44. The shank of the jack 24 eX- tends into the casing 67 and may well be grooved and engaged with anti-friction rollers 95. Bum 96 may well be provided on the ends of the bars 30 and 36 to engage the usual side rails of a bed frame when the mattress is supporting excessive weight. By removing the bearings 44 and removing the screws 68-69, the casing 67 and the parts shown therein in Fig. 4, may be removed with the shaft 66 and worms 72, leaving the co-acting parts at the outer side of the plate 33, as seen in Fig. 3, it being of course necessary to disconnect the yoke 92 from the elevator 25 however, before casing 67 may be removed. It will thus be seen that access may readily be had to working parts whenever desired, and that the construction also facilitates manufacture and assembly. Preferably, the casing 67 is provided with a removable inspection plate 67 to permit observation of internal parts whenever advisable.

Particular attention is invited to the followingi-The draw sheet may readily be tucked under the longitudinal edges of the mattress, without interference from any parts of the bed. All portions of the frame 27 in the region of the bed pan, are plane so that in case of an accident, the soiling parts will be at the minimum and said parts may be quickly and easily cleaned. The carriage-mounting means and the carriageoperating means are disposed at the exterior of the frame 27 with no danger of being soiled or becoming entangled in bed clothing. The vertically adjnstable portions of the carriages which support the hip sections 22, enable such adjustment of these hip sections as to restore the bed to a comfortable position, even if said hip sections become quite severely depressd. The means for holding the hip sections 22 upon the carriages, not only allows quick and easy placing or removal of said hip sections, but holds them properly upon the carriages and does not interfere with tucking in of the draw sheet. The worms for operating the carriages, not only insure easy operation, but the differently pitched portions of said worms insure that even though the hip sections 22 be moved while the patient is in contact with them, no discomfort shall result. The pan elevating means is simple and advantageous in nature and is so located that there is little danger of it becoming soiled in case of an accident.

While the features of construction herein specifically explained, have proven advantageous from numerous standpoints, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made. If desired, the shaft 76 may project in the opposite direction from the casing 67, instead of projecting in the direction shown, positioning the handle 79 at the other side of the bed. The construction shown, is such as to readily permit this change to be made.

I claim:-

1. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections, and an elevator for positioning a bed pan between said hip sections, a u

frame having parallel horizontal bars to extend transversely ofthe bed and adapted for connection with head and foot sections of a mattress support, said bars being provided with upstanding flanges to abut the head and foot sections of the mattress, two parallel vertical plates between which said elevator is located, said plates projecting downwardly from said bars, the inner opposed sides of said bars, flanges and plates being plane to facilitate cleaning, supporting carriages for the aforesaid hip sections disposed between said bars, mounting means for said carriages disposed primarily at the outer sides of said bars, and guiding tracks for said elevator 4 extending along the vertical edges of at least one f" of said plates.

2. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head andvfoot sections, and

separable hip sections, and an elevator' for positioning a bed pan between said sections; a frame nella 5 having parallel side bars-toextend transversely of` the bed,`said side bars each having an integral upstanding longitudinal flange, a central integral downwardly `projecting plate insubstantially the same planewith said `upstanding flange, `and a longitudinal integral horizontal flange projecting outwardly from said upstanding flange and said plate; each of vsaid side bars also having downwardly projecting integral lugs between its ends and said plate, cross bars extending be.- tween the two side bars and secured to said lugs, additional cross bars extending between and secured to the lower ends of said plates, one oi said plates having tracks for the aforesaid elevator extending along its vertical edges, and carriages for the aforesaid hip sections disposed between saidyside bars, said side bars being provided alongtheir outer sides with supporting tracks forsaidcarriages.

3. A structure as specified in claim 2, together with bracing means for said horizontalv flanges carried by the outer sides of said plates, and additional braces for said horizontal flanges secured to said lugs and spaced outwardly from said carriage tracks.

4. A structure asvspeciied in claim 2, together with bracing means for said horizontal anges including a vertical casing for carriage and elevator operating parts, said casing being secured to the outer side of said one plate and abutting the lower side of the ange which projects from this plate, rsaidcasing having vertical edge walls secured against said elevator tracks.

5. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections; a frame including parallel horizontal bars to extend transversely of the bed and adapted for connection with head and foot sections of a mattress support, said bars having longitudinal tracks at their outer sides, and carriages between said bars for supporting the aforesaid hip sections of themattress, said carriages each having a frame provided with portions underlying said bars, each carriage frame being also provided with other portions extending upwardly from said bar-underlying portions and disposed at the outer sides of said bars, said upwardly extending frame portions having rollers engaged with said tracks.

6. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections; a frame including parallel horizontal bars to extend transversely of the bed and adapted for connection with head and foot sections of a mattress support, said bars having longitudinal tracks at their outer sides, and carriages between said bars for supporting the aforesaid hip sections of the mattress, said carriages each having a frame prol vided with side bars at both the inner and outer sides of the first named bars, cross bars connecting said inner side bars with each other, and horizontal webs underlying said first named bars and integrally joined to said inner and outer side bars, said outer side bars having rollers engaged with said tracks.

7. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip section; a carriage for each of said hip sections comprising a shiftably mounted chassis frame, a mattress section support, means pivoting the outer end of said mattress section support to the outer end of said chassis frame, and vertically adjustable means supporting the inner` end of. said mattress section support upon said enassisframe.' i

" ,8.,Iiia hospital bed of ythe type4 having amattres'sjcomposed -of head and' footsectiona'and separable hip sections; a carriage for each of said hip sections comprising `a shiftablyemounted chassis framehavinga pair rof parallel 'side bars vand a crossbar connecting the inner ends of said side bars; a mattress sectionsupport having a pair of parallel side bars at the inner sides of saidchassis frame side bars, and a cross bar overlying said chassis frame'cross bar and connecting the inner ends of said side bars of saidmattress section support, means pivotally connecting `the, outerends of the two pairs of side bars, andvertically adjustable means connectingrsaid two cross bars.

9. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections; a shiftable carriage for each of said hip ysections having parallel upstanding `flanges to abutthe edges vof the hip section adjacent thefhead and foot sections, Said anges terminating ininwardly spaced ree lation with the outer end of the carriage to allow tucking of the usual draw sheet under the outer end of Athe hip section, a vU-shaped bail adapted to embraceand abut the outer end of the hip section, the ends of said bail being connected with said ilanges, and means on lthe carriage for abutting the inner end wof the hip section, Asaid U-shaped bail holding ysaid,hipsection against said abutting means and also co-acting with said flanges to hold said` hip sectionagainst excessive dragging upon the head and foot sections of. the mattress during shifting of said carriage.

`10. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip section; a slnftable carriage for each of said hipsections having parallel upstanding ilanges to abut theA edges of the hip section adjacent the head andfoot sections, said flanges terminating in inwardly spaced relation with the outer end of the carriage to allow tucking of the usual draw sheet under the outer end of the hip section, a Ll-shaped bail adapted to embrace and abut the outer end of the hip section, the ends of said bail being connected with said flanges, and a rod to abut the inner end of the hip section, the ends of said rod being secured to the inner ends of said anges, said U-shaped bail serving to hold said hip section against said rod and also co-acting with said flanges to hold said hip section against excessive dragging upon the head and foot sections of the mattress during shifting of the carriage.

11. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections, shiftable carriages for said hip sections, a frame supporting said carriages, and a jack for lifting the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections when the latter are to be moved; two carriage-actuating worms mounted on said frame and operatively connected with said carriages respectively, and means for operating said jack and said worms, said worms having slowly pitched portions which only slightly move said carriages while said jack is lifting said head section, and also having steeply pitched portions which then rapidly move said carriages.

12. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections, shiftable carriages for said hip sections, a frame supporting said carriages, and a jack for lifting the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections when the latter are to be moved; a shaft mounted on said frame and having two oppositely pitched carriage-actuating worms operatively connected with said carriages respectively, and means for driving said shaft and operating said jack, said worms having slowly pitched portions which only slightly move said carriages while said jack is lifting said head section, and also having steeply pitched portions Which then rapidly move said carriages.

13. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections, shiftable carriages for said hip sections, a frame supporting said carriages, and a jack for lifting the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections when the latter are to be moved; a shaft mounted on said frame and having two oppositely pitched carnage-actuating Worms operatively connected with said carriages respectively, a rotatable cam ior operating said jack, said cam being mounted on an axis below and at right angles to said shaft, a worm gear co-axial with an operatively connected With said cam for rotating the latter, an operating shaft parallel with the aforesaid shaft and having a worm meshing with said Worm gear, and driving connections from said operating shaft to the Worm-carrying shaft.

14. A structure as specified in claim 13; said carriage-actuating worms havincr slowly pitched portions which only slightly move said carriage while said cam is raising said jack, and also having steeply pitched portions which then rapidly move said carriages.

15. In a hospital bed, of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and separable hip sections, shiftable carriages for said hip sections, a supporting frame for said carriages, and an elevator mounted on said frame for positioning a bed pan between said hip sections; means for operating said carriages including a rotatable member mounted on said frame; a gear segment carried by said rotatable member, a cable drum mounted on said frame and having a driving pinion in co-operative relation with but normally out of mesh with said gear segment, a cable having a portion wound on said drum, said cable being connected with said elevator, and guide sheaves for said cable mounted on said frame near the ends of the elevator path, said gear segment being adapted to mesh with said pinion to effect ascent of said elevator when said carriages and hip sections have been sufficiently separated.

16. In a hospital bed of the type having a mattress composed of head and foot sections, and shiftable hip sections, carriages for said hip sections, a supporting frame for said carriages, a jack for lifting the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections when the latter are to be moved, and an elevator for positioning a bed pan between said hip sections; an actuating cam for said jack rotatably mounted on said frame below said carriages, an operating shaft mounted on said frame and operatively connected with said cam for rotating the latter, actuating means for said carriages operatively connected with and actuated by said operating shaft, actuating means for said elevator including a cable and a drum for said cable, said drum having a driving pinion, and a gear segment rotatable bodily with said cam for engagement with said pinion to effect operation of said jack.

17. In a hospital bed having separable mattress sections, an elevator for positioning a bed pan between said sections, and carriages for said mattress sections; a supporting frame for said carriages having a vertical casing containing carriage operating parts, guide tracks for said elevator extending along the vertical edge walls oi said casing, a yoke extending partially around said casing and connected with said elevator, a cable connected with said yoke and eX- tending into said casing, guide means for said cable, andoperating means for said cable housed within said casing. Y

ADRIAN COMPER.

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