US2850745A - Vertical bed - Google Patents

Description

VERTICAL BED Nancy Cowell, Valley City, N. Dak.

Application September 30, 1955, Serial No. 537,776

3 Claims. (Cl. --327) This invention relates to improvements in beds and is particularly directed to a novel vertical support for attachment to a bed so as to support the back, arms and head of an occupant of the bed.

A primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a simple, compact and easily adjusted support which is maintained in a vertical position on a bed by a simple base structure which is superimposed on the bed.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a back rest or support which is adjustable in height and width so as to comfortably support persons of varying heights and builds.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a back rest or support which is formed so as to comfortably support a person in a sitting position so as to enable such a person to be firmly supported in a position where they may restfully sleep, as in the case of persons ill from heart or asthmatic conditions.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, the preferred form of which is set forth in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure l is a sectional view of the new device, taken substantially along lines 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the new device having parts broken away and others depicted in section thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the new device having parts broken away.

It is believed that adequate provision has not been made for persons sufiering from heart conditions, asthma, and the like, who find it more comfortable to sleep in an erect or upright position, and the instant device seeks to proyide a means whereby the said sufferers may, by proper use of the new device, have a comfortable means for obtaining sleep by sitting erect or substantially erect.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious thatit may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral indicates the mattress or direct body supporting portion of a bed, which is not entirely shown, and the numeral 12 generally indicates the back support or rest of the present invention, which support or rest also supports the head and arms of a user.

The support or rest 12 includes a base structure 14 which is adapted to be superimposed on the bed portion 10 and comprises a pair of laterally spaced, parallel base United States Patent 0 ice 2,850,745 Patented Sept. 9, 1958 rods and have lateral inwardly extending sockets 26, the

sockets and sleeves being integral in a T-shape. The

sleeves are held in fixed positions on the base rods by suitable means, such as set screws 28.

Upstanding supporting rods or tubular posts 30 and 32 have offset lower ends 34 which are tightly fitted in the sockets. The lower ends are horizontally offset from the.

straight lower end portions 36 of the tubular members, which lower end portions are in parallel relation. The tubular members also include upper end portions 38 which are disposed closer together and are positioned rearwardly of the lower end portions. The upper and lower end portion of each tubular member are connected by a horizontal connecting portion 40, the connecting portion being integral with the end portions and being rearwardly and inwardly extended from the lower end portion.

The lower end portions 36 are held apart and braced in such spaced relation by a transverse brace bar 42 which is suitably attached thereto and is curved along its axisso as to encircle a portion of the back of a person using,

the device. The brace bar 42 is covered with a suitable cushion or pad 44, preferably formed from sponge rubber or the like. The upper end portions are also held apart and braced by transverse brace bars 46 and 48, which are constructed identically to the brace bar 42 and are covered with cushions 44. A canvas or other heavy cloth or flexible member 50 is provided and is attached at its ends to the brace bar 42 and the uppermost brace bar 48. The

member 50 extends over the brace bar 46 and is positioned between the tubular members 30 and 32.

A pair of arm rests 52 and 54 is provided and are identically formed and adjustably attached to the lower end portions 36 of the tubular members. The arm rests are flat and are arcuate in plan view, as shown in Figure 3. The arm rests are preferably formed from wood but any other suitable sturdy material may be used. The arm rests have flat upper faces which are covered with sponge rubber pads 56. Also, the arm rests and pads may be covered by a suitable removable cover formed from a washable cloth material. The arm rests have narrow inner ends 58 to the underside of which braces 60 are attached. The braces carry vertically disposed sleeves 62 which are rotatably and slidably fitted on the lower end portions 36. The sleeves are provided with set screws 64 which engage the lower end portions to lock the sleeves in selected positions of rotational or sliding adjustment.

A pair of head rests 66 and 68 is provided. The head rests are arcuate in plan view, as shown in Figure 3, and are rotatably and slidably mounted on the upper end portions 38 by sleeves 70, in an identical manner to the assembly of the arm rests and sleeves 62. The head rests are each provided with a cushion 72 for comfortably supporting the head of a user and, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the cushion has substantially greater depth on the outside perimeter of the head rest than on the inside perimeter thereof. The cushions 72 are of greater depth than the cushions 56. The head rests also may be covered with removable and washable covers, formed,

for example from cloth material.

Operation In use, the instant device is placed on the mattress of a bed or the like, preferably on the bed covers, whereby the base rods 16 and 18 are disposed longitudinally with respect to the bed, and are held in position by means of the straps or the like attaching means 20. The remaining portion of the new device may be adjusted along the base rods 16 and 18 to the desired position and will be held there in place due to the pressure applied thereon by the user and by the set screws 28. An operator may then loosen the retaining screws 64 for the sleeves of the arm and head rests. The arm and head rests may then be swung outwardly, permitting the entry of the user of the new device, and after the user has assumed the sitting position, the arm and head rests may be swung back into position, and if necessary, adjusted vertically to suit the comfort of the user. When the desired location has been reached, the retaining screws are tightened, thereby holding the arm and head rests in the desired position for the user. In this manner the patient or user will be in a relaxed position for resting or sleeping.

It is believed that the instant device will be of valuable use for invalids and other persons including those suffering from asthma or heart ailments by providing a back rest whereby a patient recuperating from a disease, illness, or the like will be able to comfortably sit erect to read or otherwise obtain pleasure or therapy, and in case the said patient should become tired and desirous of rest, he may lean his head against the head rest and nap, without having to rely on a nurse or operator to raise and lower his position in a bed, thereby accomplishing a convenience greatly desired in hospitals, rest homes and the like.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A body support for use on a bed comprising spaced vertically disposed posts having inwardly offset portions in intermediate parts thereof, spaced parallel horizontally disposed rails having sockets on intermediate portions thereof, the lower ends of the posts being positioned in said sockets, a pair of arm rests mounted on the intermediate portions of the posts and positioned below the offset portions thereof, a pair of head rests mounted on the upper inwardly offset portions of the posts, and arcuate bars extended between the posts.

2. A body support for use on a bed comprising spaced vertically disposed posts having inwardly offset portions in intermediate parts thereof, spaced parallel horizontally disposed rails having sockets on intermediate portions thereof, the lower ends of the posts being positioned in said sockets of the rails, arm rests adjustably mounted on lower portions of the posts, head rests adjustably mounted on the inwardly offset upper portions of the posts, arcuate braces extended between the posts providing supporting means therefor, and a flexible fabric cover extended over the braces providing a back for the support.

3. In a body support for use on a bed; the combination which comprises spaced longitudinally disposed rods, horizontally disposed sockets slidably mounted on the rods, posts having horizontally disposed end portions extended into the sockets of the rods, and offset intermediate portions from which upper portions thereof extend, horizontally disposed arcuate braces connecting upper and lower portions of the posts, arcuate arm rests adjustably mounted on lower portions of the posts, arcuate head rests adjustably mounted on upper portions of the posts, and a flexible fabric back extended over the arcuate braces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,672 Ebbecke Jan. 6, 1914 1,171,712 Gibson Feb. 15, 1916 1,731,709 Cropsey Oct. 15, 1929 2,492,383 Jones Dec. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,118 Germany Nov. 23, 1931

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