US796494A - Attachment for beds. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

Ac. M. BRENNAN. ATTACHMENT PoR BEDS.

APPLICATION IFILED FEB. 6. 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Anuntw. B Gamm cu, Punto-Llmoumpnsns, wAsnmamN. u. c.

No. 796,494. PATENT'ED AUG. 8, 1905.

C. M. BRENNAN. ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

APPLIGATIQN FILED PEB. 6, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 796,494. PATNTED AUG. 8. 1905.l C. M. BRENNAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS. l

PPLxoA'rloN FILED FEB. e. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. BRENNAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MODERN MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application iiled February 6, 1903. Serial No. 142,139.

To all whom t muy concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for beds adapted in some respects for general use in supporting various articles or utensils, but adapted more particularly for use insupporting a back or head rest.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a simple, comparatively inexpensive, an'd easily-operated device or arrangement whereby either a back or head rest or certain articles or utensils, as stated, may be readily and conveniently attached to the frame of the bed. A special object is to provide a form of clamp which will readily and effectually clamp upon the side rail of an iron bed of any construction and also to provide one which will clamp upon the side rail of a wooden bedstead.

A further object is to provide a clamping device or arrangement whereby an adjustable back-support or head-rest can be .quickly and easily attached to a bedstead.

Another object is to provide a form of backsupport or head-rest which can be easily and quickly raised or lowered and which can be allowed to lower or settle gradually, so as not to disturb or cause shock to the user.

It is also an object of my invention to provide certain details and features of improvement tending to increase the general eliciency and service-ability of an attachment of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my.

invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an iron bed of the ordinary or approved type, showing the same equipped with my improved back-support or head-rest and also with an arrangement for conveniently supporting a cuspidor or receptacle. Fig. 2 is a section on line2 2 in Fig. l. Fig.

3 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the side rail shown in Fig. l and also of a clamping device which is secured to the side rail and which supports the headrest and other devices. Fig. I is a sectional view of the piston and cylinder which constitute a cushion for retarding the downward movement of the back-support or head-rest. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through one side of the frame of the back-support or headrest and also .through one of the buckles or fastening devices which I employ for securing' the strips of cloth or duck upon the frame of this back-support. Fig. 7 is a top plan of the devices shown in Fig. 6. larged side elevation of a device substantially the same 'as that shown in Fig. 3, except in this case there is no cushioning-piston for retarding the downward movement of the backrest. Fig. 9 is a side plan of aform of clamp adapted more particularly for use in connection with wooden bedsteads. Fig. lOis a sido elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

As thus illustrated, the devices shown in Figs. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are substantially as follows: The bed A is preferably of that type in which angle-irons t are employed for the side rails. For each of these side rails I provide a bracket B, adapted to fit the angle- .iron, as shown in Fig. 5. These brackets are secured to the angle-irons by means of coperating members C and a thumb-screw c. The clamping members C are, as illustrated, preferably provid ed with fiat portions c o', adapted to extend over and rest upon the upper surface of the angle iron. The screws c are threaded into the brackets B, and hence when these screws are tightened the lower ribs or webs of the angle-irons are clamped tightly between the side portions c2 of the clamping members C and the back portion o of the bracket. Each bracket is also preferably provided with a foot 7)', adapted to rest upon the angle-iron in such position as to brace the bracket against movement. Furthermore, each bracket is preferably formed with a disk or hub-like portion 22, having ratchet-teeth on its outer face and having cani projections 3 on its rear or inner side. The boltD extends through each bracket and clamps and holds a disk-like toothed member E and also a camlever F upon the bracket. The teeth of the member E and the member b2 are adapted to engage and fit together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Between these two disk-like portions a spring G is interposed, so as to tend nor mally to separate the two toothed parts. Upon the outside of the disk-like member E are provided a couple of sockets e e, adapted to re- Fig. 8 is an enn ceive the side rods H of the back-rest. Thumbscrews e can be employed for holding these rods in place in their sockets. The main bracket E is also preferably provided with a socket b4, adapted to receive the rod I. The latter can be held in place by a thumb-screw b5. The rotatable disk-like member E is also preferably provided with an arm @2, while the vmain bracket canbe provided with a similar arm 56. A cylinder t7 is preferably pivoted to the arm 56, while a piston-rode3 is pivoted to the arm e2. The piston-head is preferably provided with an opening e4, controlled by a spring-valve e5. The rod of the piston preferably passes through a stuffing-box e, so as to prevent leakage. Glycerin or other suitl able liquid e7 is preferably confined below the piston-head, this liquid leaking or escaping upwardly around the piston-head when the latter descends, butpassing quickly-and readily through the opening e* when the pistonhead moves upward. The side bars of the' back-rest are, as illustrated, preferably connected by a cross-bar t. Strips of duck k7 or other suitable material are preferably strung crosswise upon the frame of this back-sup-` port, so as to provide a yielding and comfortable structure against which to lean or rest. These strips of material are preferably inthe form of bands extending completelyv around the frame of the back-support and held against slipping by the buckles or fastening devices H. These devices are provided with a portion 1, which is secured to one end of the band, and also with similar portions 2 and 3. The other end of the band is first looped over the portion 2 and then'brought back between the main portion of the band and the portion 3. In this way the natural tension of the cloth causes the buckle or device H to bind in such manner as to prevent the cloth from slipping. loosen the bands of duck or other material, then the buckles H' can be pulled away from the side bars, so as to prevent the binding action and permit the free end of the band to slip freely around the portion 2. Now with this construction the back-support or head-r rest willi-remain iixed in any position so long as th`e"pafrts E and b2 are held in engagement, as lshownin Fig. 3; but should it become desirableto lower the back-rest then the lever F can rbe ,pulled upwardly orrotated upon the bolt'sulciently to allow the cam projections "b3 toibecome disengaged from the cam projections on the lever, thereby allowing the two disk-like members or portions Eand b2 to separate automatically as a result of the pressure'of vthes'pring G. After doing this the disk-like portion E is free to rotate on the bolt, and consequently the back-support or head-rest can be movedinto any desired position, andV at this juncture it will be noted that the downward movement of the backrest will be very nicely cushioned or retarded If it is desired to remove or by the action of the piston 'in the cylinder 57. This piston can only descend as fast as the glycerin or other liquid escapes upwardly around the piston, and consequently the downward movement of the back-support or headrest will therefore, as stated, be cushioned or retarded, so as to prevent Shock or jar to the user or occupant of the bed. The upward movement of thelback-support or head-rest is not in any way retarded, however, inasmuch as the glycerin will pass quickly through the opening e4, the valve e5 opening downward to allow the liquid to pass. In other words, the piston can move upward as quickly as is desired, but can only move downward as fast as the liquid escapes upwardly. The rodI is adjustable up and .down and also in a rotary direction and is adapted to support any utensil-such, for example, as the cuspidor or receptacle lNow, referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the construction is thesame as that previously described except that the cushioning piston and cylinder are omitted. Thus it will be seen that the clamping` device and rotary support for the head-rest previously Vdescribed can be employed either with or without the cushioning piston and cylinder, as

may be desired.

In Figs. 9 and 'l0 the clamp is adapted more particularly for use in connection with wooden bedsteads. In this case, therefore, the bracket B is preferably secured to the wooden side rail by means of binding-screws jf The supporting-rod Y, which corresponds to the rod I, previously described, is preferably held in a socket j by means of the bifurcated clamping member f2. This clamping member is given an adjustment relative to the bracket by means of a hand-screw f3. Thus when the rod is in place, as shown, it is clamped tightly between the seats on the bracket and the movable clamping member. This form of clamp is, as stated, peculiarly applicable to bedsteads in which the side rails are of wood.

Thus-it will be seen that I provide a very simple and comparatively cheap clamping device whereby various articles or utensils may be conveniently supported at the bedstead and n which clamping devices are applicable to any form of iron bed having angle-irons for the -side rails or even to a bedstead inwhich the side rails are of wood, and, furthermore, these clamping devices are equally adapted for supporting a head-rest or back-support either l,alone or in conjunction with a cuspidor, basket',

drinking-tumbler, or like utensil. -All these clamping'devices and adjustable supports are quickly and easily adjusted. They are also easily and readilyapplied to the bed-frames without the use of tools. It will be seen that, as shown in Figs. 3 an 5, for example, each clamping device comprises a bracket member B, having aportion b, adapted to engage the inner-surface of the side rail, an outer member C, adapted to straddle and engage the outer and upper surfaces of the side rail at each side of the bracket, and a clamping-screw c, extending through the member C and having threaded engagement with the bracket. In this way each clamp is adapted to firmly engage the side rail in such manner as to prevent it from being easily detached or tilted to one side or' the other. In other words, each clamping device, through the provision ot' the portions c', is pressed and 'held firmly against displacement relatively to the side rail. Again, and with the provision of the iiexible bands L, which extend across and around the frame of the back-rest and' which are removably and adjustably secured thereon by means-of the buckles I-l, it will be seen that the entire structure is adjustable or expansible laterally, so as to fit beds of different widths, it being understood that the horizontal upper portion ot' the trama/iI can be provided with a telescoping joint, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Whether the clamp is made as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 8 or as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that in each case horizontally-disposed clamping-screws are employed and also that in each case there are relatively adjustable clamping members, whereof one is arranged to straddle the other-that is to say, in Fig. 5, for example, theclamping member C straddles the bracket or other clamping member B, while in Fig. 10, for example, the clamping member f2 straddles the outer end portion of the other clamping member jand thus there isin each case, and as explained and pointed out in the claims, a clamping member which is so formed as to straddle another or coperating clamping member.

l claim as my invention-.-

1. Au attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the rails ofa bed, and an adjustable backsupport or head-rest pivotally connected with these clamping devices, said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails; each clamping device comprising a supporting-bracket adapted to embrace one of said rails, an outer member adapted to engage the outer and top surfaces of the rail at each side of said bracket, and a clampingscrew extending through said member and threaded in said bracket. f

2. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon lthe side rails ot' a bed, a pair of members having ,teeth adapted to engage teeth on the said clamping devices. a back-support or head-rest secured to saidy members, a pair of cam-levers for causing the teeth in said members to engage the teeth on said clamping devices, so as to prevent movement on the part of the back-support or head-rest, said levers being operative to release the'said members from the brackets, so as to permit the back# support or head-rest to be moved up or down,

I said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails.

3. 'An attachment for beds, comprising brackets B, co perating clamping members C, clamping-screws c, the toothed portions E and b2, springs Gr interposed between said portions, bolts D for holding the portions together,vcamlevers F having cam portionsI adapted to engage the cam projections 3, and a back-support or head-rest pivotally mounted on said brackets, said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along' embrace one of said rails, an outer member adapted to engage the outer and top surfaces ot' the rail at each side of said bracket, and a clamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in said bracket.

5. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails ot` a bed, each clamping device comprising abracket adapted to engage the one side ot' the rail, and also comprising a clamping-screw and a clamping member adapted to engage the outer surfaces ot` the rail,

the clamping-screw extending through the said member and screwing into said bracket,

a rod pivotally mounted on each clamping def vice, the upper ends of said rods being connected, bands of Jflexible material removably strung' across the frame thus provided bythe two connected rods, the bracket of each clamping device being provided with a cam-actuated and spring-released locking device for locking said rods at any desired angle.

6. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, at any suitable or desired point thereon, a rod pivotally mounted on each clam ping device, the upper ends of said rods being connected, each clamp? ing device comprising a bracket adapted to engage the` inner side of the rail, and com# prising also a clamping-screw and a clamping member adapted to engage the outer surface of the rail, the said screw extending through said member and screwing -into the bracket, suitable material extending across the frame thus provided by the two connecting-rods, and the bracket of each clamp being provided with cam-actuated and spring-released means for locking the rods at any desired angle.

l7*. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, each clamping device comprising a bracket and means for securing it to the side rail, each bracket having an upper toothed portion, an outer rotary toothed portion pivotally mounted on each bracket and adapted to engage the teeth of the bracket, a spring between each bracket and its rotary toothed member, the said spring tending normally to disengage the teeth of the rotary part from the teeth of the stationary part, a rotary cam device applied to the one side of each bracket and adapted when rotated to draw and lock the rotary toothed member in engagement with the stationary teeth of the bracket, a rod adjustably mounted on each rotary toothed member, the upper ends of said rods being connected, and suitable material extending across the frame thus provided by the two connecting-rods.

8. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed. each clamping device comprising a bracket and means for securing it to the side rail, a rod pivotally mounted upon the bracket of each clamp, each bracket being provided with cam-actuated and spring-released means for locking the rods at any-desired angle, said rods being `suitably connected to provide an adjustable back-rest, each bracket having a downwardly and rearwardly extending arm, each rod being rigid at its pivotal point with a rearwardly-extending arm, and a pair of fluid cushioning devices connecting said arms on the brackets with said arms rigid with the rods.

9. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair ofclamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the side rails of a bed, a back-support @or head-rest pivotally connected with these clamping devices, and a iiuid cushioning delpair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the side rails of a bed, a head-rest or back-support pivotally connected with said clamping devices, means including a cam-lever for each clamping device adapted to lock the head-rest or back-support against movement relatively to the clamping devices, and springs tending normally to loosen the pivotal connections between the head-rest and the clamping devices, said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails.

11. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the side rails of a bed, a pair of members having teeth adapted to engage teeth on the said clamping devices, a back-support or head-rest secured to said members, a pair of cam-levers for causing the teeth on said members to engage the teeth on said clamping devices, so as `to prevent movement on the part of the back-support or,head-'rest, said levers being operative to release the said members from the brackets, so as to permit the backsupport or head-rest to be moved up or down, said clamping devices permitting the headrest to be adjusted along said rails.

l2. An attachment for beds,comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the side rails of a bjed; each clamping device consisting of a bracket and an outside cooperating clamping member C, said member straddling the bracket horizontally to en- I gage the outer side of the rail at each side of the bracket, a thumb-screw c passing first` through the side member and thence through the bracket for binding the side rail between the bracket and said clamping member; and

devices for retarding the, downward movement of said back-support orhead-rest, said cushioning devices `having their ends swingingly connected with the head-rest and brackets, and said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails.

14. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon the side rail of a bed, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted to support the desired device in the desired position relatively tothe bed; said clamp comprising means including a thumbscrew for adjustably supporting said rod, and also means including an external bracket adapted to reach down and under and engage the inner surface of the rail, and a horizontally-disposed clamping-screw for gripping thesaid side rail, the adjustment also including an outside clamping-jaw adapted to straddle the outer portion of said bracket, said jaw having two clamping-faces facing inwardly and separated by the intervening portion of the bracket. i

l5. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon the side rail of a bed, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted to support the device which it is desired to attach to the bed; said clamp comprising one member upon which said rod is mounted and which is adapted to reach under and engage the inner surface of the said side rail, another member straddling the other member and adapted to engage the upper and outer surfaces of said side rail, and a horizontal clamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in said bracket.

16. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon the side rail of a bed, and a rod adjustably mounted upon said clamp, said rod being adapted to support the desired device in the desired position relatively to the bed, and said clamp comprising a bracket upon which said rod is mounted and which is adapted to embrace the lower ange of a side rail. a member straddling the bracket and adapted to engage the outer and top surfaces of said side rail, and a horizontal clamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in said bracket.

17. An attachment for beds, comprising a two-part clamp adapted to clamp upon the side rail of a bed, one part being outside of and straddling the other, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted to support the desired device in the desired position relatively to the bed, said clamp comprising a horizontally-disposed clamping-screw extending through the outer straddling part and threaded in the inner part.

18. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, a rod pivotally mounted on each clamping device, said rods being connected at their upper ends, and a plurality of strips of flexible material strung across the frame provided by the two connected rods, thereby adapting the structure to serve as the adjustable or tilting back-rest,

` each strip of exible material being removably secured in band form around and across the frame from one rod to the other by means of a buckle securing its ends together.

19. In an attachment of the character described, the combination of clamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, a frame pivotally mounted upon said clamping devices, strips of exible material strung across and around said frame, and buckles having cross-pieces l, 2 and 3, adapted to cause a binding action on the iiexible material, each buckle connecting the opposite ends of a strip.

20. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamping device adapted to clamp upon the side rail of a bed, said clamping device comprising a bracket adapted to reach under and engage the inner side of the said rail, and comprising also a clamping-screw and an outer clamping member straddling the bracket, said clamping member being adapted to engage the outer surface of the rail at each side of said bracket, and the clamping-screw extending through said member and screwing into the bracket, a rod adjustably mounted upon said bracket, and a receptacle carried by said arm.

21. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to grip the side rail of a bed, said clamp consisting of an upright bracket member provided with a lower portion adapted to reach under and engage the inner surface of the side rail, an outer member adapted to straddle the said bracket member and engage the outer surface of the side rail, and a clamping-screw extending through said outer member and having a threaded engagement with the bracket member.

22. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to grip the side rail of a bed, and a supporting-rod carried by said clamp and mounted for endwise adjustment, said clamp consisting of a bracket member adapted to occupy a position outside of the side rail and provided with a portion for engaging the inner surface of said rail, an outer member adapted to straddle said bracket member and engaging both the outer and upper surface of the rail, and a clamping-screw extending through the said outer member and having a threaded engagement with the said bracket member.

23. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to grip the side rails of a bed, a back-rest swingingly mounted upon said clamping devices, and a pair of fluid cushioning devices for cushioning the downward movement of the back-rest, each cushioning device comprising a piston and a cylinder, the pistons of the two cushioning devices being swingingly connected with the back-rest, and the lower ends of the two cylinders being swingingly connected with the said clamping devices.

24. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to grip the side rails of a bed, each clamping device comprising two relatively adjustable members whereof one straddles'and engages the outer surface of the rail at each side of the other; a frame swingingly mounted on said clamping devices; and a suitable number of iexible bands extending across and around said frame and provided with means for removably securing them in place thereon.

25. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adapted to grip the side rails of a bed, the said clamping devices comprising horizontally-disposed clampingscrews and relatively adjustable clamping members whereof one straddles the other, a frame swingingly mounted upon said clamping devices, means for holding the frame at any desired angle, an adjustable connection between the upper ends of the side portions of said frame, whereby the latter is adjustable to fit beds of different widths.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 8th day of November, 1902.

CHARLES M. BRENNAN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. BULKLEY, HARRY P. BAUMGARTNER.

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