US367186A - Edwabd a - Google Patents

Description

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. OASWEL'L, OF YORK, N. Y.

BED-FENCE.

SPZCIB'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,186, dated July 26, 1887.

- Application filed February 9, 1 887. Serial No. 227,081. (No model.)

. device .which may be arranged in a bed longitudinally and at about the center, for the purpose of dividing the bed into two portions, each being sufficient for a single occupant.

Itis well known that some persons have habits, such as carelessly throwing the limbs from side to side of the bed while sleeping therein, to the discomfort of another occupant of the same bed; and it is well known that it is considered injndicious for persons to lie in a bed facing each other in such relative positions that the one will inhale the breath of the other. Furthermore, the habit of snoring is, in a great measure, dependent upon the habit of lying upon the back. Any device which will contribute to the prevention of the inhalation of the breath of a bed companion, and which will prevent a person from assuming aposition tending to produce snoring while sleeping, and which shall, without discomfort toeither of the occupants of a bed, divide said bed into separated compartments, will possess material advantages and in a great measure tend to the promotion of restful sleeping and more perfect health.

Having the above general objects in view, I

believe I am the first to produce any device which is adapted to the purpose in view, and

' I therefore do not limit my invention to the exact construction hereinafter described.

One of the main requisites of any device i ntended for the purpose of my invention is that it shall be capable of use without interfering with the make-up and construction of an ordinary double bed and without interfering with the comfort. of either of two occupants of such bed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 repre sents one form of a device capable of performing the required functions and possessing the necessary requisites of my invention. Fig. 2

is a transverse section of the same folded for transportion or reduction of the space occupied by the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same in position for use.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A represents a slab or strip of any suitable material-such as, for example, wood or paper-which strip or slab is of a length approaching that ofthe bed in which it is usedthat is to say, the length of the entire device may be equal to or less than that of the bed. At the ends of the strip A are secured in any suitable manner flexible straps B, of cloth or other material, and in the straps B, in this instance, I form a button-hole, B, so that the ,straps may be connected to the mattress, or to any other convenient portion of the bed-clothing, which is provided with a hook or button in order to retain the devicein position for use.

At each edge of the strip A are secured similar strips, 0 D, respectively, of substantially the same length as the strip A and of adesired width. The strips 0 and D are secured by means of metallic or other hinges, O D, so that the side strips, 0 and D, may be folded flat, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or upon each other upon the strip A, as shown in Fig. 2, or so that the free edges of said stripsv may rest against each other, and in this manner serve to retain the strips in an elevated position. Hook-pins or other side-stri p-securing devices, 0 may be employed. When thus elevated, it willbe noticed that when placed upon a mattress beneath the lower sheet, or, it may be,

upon the lower sheet of the bed-clothing, the device forms a partition, division, wall, or fence, which prevents the trespass by one occupant of a bed 'upon the portion occupied by another. v

The device, also, in a, great measure prcvents the inhalation by one occupant of the breath of another when sleeping face to face, and it also will serve the purpose of preventing a person who has taken asleeping posture upon his or her side from rolling over onto his or her back, and thus in a measure is snoring avoided.

When it is not desirable to use the device, it may be laid flat, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when, by reason of the usual undersheet and under-comforter employed in ordinary bed-clothing, the device will in no material degree affect the comfort of the bed to the occupants thereof.

My device is useful not only in private houses, but in hotels, where strangers are often compelled to jointly occupy one bed.

It is apparent that my device will perform its primary function as a divisional partition in a bed without necessarilybeing capable of folding fiat; and I therefore do not limit my invention to the provision of hinges, and I may, when such are employed, construct them of cloth, leather, or other flexible material, as

' shown at D, Fig. 2, whereby when folded upon each other the sides will rest parallel with each other and with the slab A.

Instead of bu ttoning the straps B to the matress or to the comforter or sheet or other portion of the bed-clothing, said straps may be secured to the head and foot boards of the bed. The flexibility of the straps and their extension beyond the fence permits this latter attachment without separating the bed-clothing to an extent sufficient to admit the external air in a degree which will render the occupants uncomfortable I Having described my invention, its construction and operation, what I claim is 1. A fence for a bed, comprising a flat base for supporting the fence upon the mattress, a portion projecting upward from the base, and attaching devices secured to the end of the base, substantially as specified.

2. A bed-fence comprising sections, one of 35 which serves as a flat base for supporting the fence upon the mattress, and is provided with attaching devices, and the others of which serve as an upwardly-projectingpartition, substantially as specified.

3. A bed-fence consisting of a base provided with attaching devices and foldable side pieces connected with the base, substantially as specified.

4-. Thebed-fence herein shown and described, which consists of the base, strip, or slab A, pr0- vided with attaching-straps B, and with the hingedside strips, 0 D. substantially as sp fied.

E. A. OAS\VELL.

Vitnesses:

Carts. WENDEHAQK, J OHN D. MoGHUcE.