US2658209A - Self-tilting bed - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS SELF-TILTING BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1947 Nov. l0, 1953 D. c. 'rmwlsv SELF-TILTING BED w Y K w m (J l |I I I l W n Q u O O u Q +MMT vwl Il LII: S. l t .1. a 21 l v m w s 4 nu Filed April 16. 1947 Nov. 10, 1953 D, C, TRAv|s 2,658,209

- SELF-TILTING BED Filed April 16, 1947 4 Smets-Sheet 5 Nov. l0, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS I SELF-nume BED 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1947 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 2,658,209 SELF-TILTIN'GBED Don Carlos Travis, Kenosha, ,-Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1947, Serial No. 741,870

Claims. (Cl. 5-66) v provide improved meansnormally tending to dispose said bedbottomrsections to v.occupy nonhorizontal angular positions; toprovide` such an improved arrangement Iand 'relationshipI of 'said mounting means -an'd said normally-tending means as to kInakeLtIi'e shifting of `thesections out of and into valined horizontal positions easily attained by slight 'mus'cularimovements or body shifts ofthe occupant-ofthe `vbed orlightpressure by an'atte'ndantto an occupant; k'toiprovide improved manuallyiretra'ctable means normally actuated to lock said sections in the horizontal and each of several-'angular positions; `to provide improved latch means f forV rendering said locking means unretractable; Ito provide improved safety means for preventing the suddenl action of said angularity-disposing means when 'said llocking means lis inadvertently retracted "'ata time when the bed'is without lmattress or occupant; toprovide improved Ameans i for effecting ainanual adjustment lof theffoot'isection-in a bed of this kind; and to provide Jan 'improved mounting of a reading -lamp e on 'the' bed; bottom whereby it wi11'be'fadjusted automatically to the most-desired angular-dispositionrelative to the back section for eachl die'rentangular 1 position thereof.

In the accompanyingA drawings,

Fig. 1 'is' aplan view of va self-tiltingbed constructed in accorda-nce with this l invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevationofthe `construction shown in Fig. 1,*'as viewedfrom 4the side on `which the manual controls l-a're located;

Fig. 3 is an 'opposite' side elevation;

Fig. 4 is an-fenlarge'ddetailf-viewfof themanually-retracta-ble locking-y mechanism;

Fig. 5 ris an end viewlr'ofthe same;

Figs. 6, 7, 8,'an'd'1921-are perspective Views illustrating some' ofthefvarious-relative angular positions into which the-.bed bottom l'sections may-be adjusted; and

Fig 10 is a'side-;,elevationl Vof i theybed showing,

inj full; and dottedgoutlines, thega'ltercd langular relationship of the bed lamp and bed-bottom back section when the latter is in its horizontal and extreme angular positions, respectively.

A bed constructed in accordance with this invention comprises, a main supporting frame I 0 whereon is mounted a sectional bed bottom II which, under the control of the occupant or an attendant, may be shifted into and locked in various relative angular positions as determined by a combination balancing and locking mechanism l2 and a foot-section adjusting means I 3.

The supporting frame I0 is preferably of the usual angle iron construction comprising a pair of side rails I 4 and I5 reinforced by transverse struts It, Il, and.l I8 and so assembled and` provided with auxiliary vattachments as to permit the frame I 6 veither to be supported directly on a pair of head and foot ends or to be set on the y side rails of a bedstead, in exactly the same manner as a conventional standard spring isset onto a conventional standard bedstead. lfn the construction herein `shown the side rails I4 and I5 have `ilanfge plates I9 secured at each end which mount pairs of pins adapted to be received in the conventional Atype notches (not shown) formed in plates 2l secured to legs 22 of the head and foot ends.

vand out of position to determine the The transverse struts I6, I'I, and I8 are preferably of angle iron, being riveted at their ends to the side rails I4 and I5. The transverse strut I6 has a bar 23, mounting rubber bumpers 24, swingably attached thereto andvshiftable into n horizontal disposition of the sectional bed bottom II.

The bed bottom section II comprises a back 4section 25, a seat section 26, and a footsection 2l, hingedly connected rtogether at28 and 29 and supported on apair of brackets 30 and 3I- anda pair of links 32 and 33 in such a manner that these several sections r25, 26, and 21 may be shifted into and out of several different non-horizontal angular positions as determined either by vthe desire ofthe yoccupant under certain circumstances or by the desire of the attendant to the occupant under certain other circumstances.

These bed ` bottom sections 25, 26,-and 2l are made up vof the usual angle iron forms, asclearly indicated in the drawings, reinforced by tubular struts 38 and 39, which are welded to'and depend from the underside of the back section frame, and a strut'lll, riveted to the foot section 21 nearthe end thereof adjacent its connection-with the seat-section `26. Thestrut-38-is positioned yso as to engage the bumpers 24 on thebar'23,

when the-latterisin its upright position, so as to limit the downward movement of the back 3 section 25 and thereby dispose all of the sections in a horizontal plane. These reinforced frames provide a support for a fabricated bed bottom 34 secured to the sides and ends of the respective sections by conventional springs 35.

The back section 25 and seat section 26 are hingedly connected together at 28 by means of extensions 36 riveted or otherwise anchored to the side rails of the seat section 26. Similarly, the seat section 26 and the foot section 21 are hingedly connected together at 29 by means of extensions 31 riveted or otherwise anchored to the side rails of the foot section 21. The respective lengths of the sections 25, 26, and 21 are such that the pivotal connections 28 and 29, for most occupants of a bed of this kind, when the bed sections are in horizontal position, will come at about or near to the middle of the buttock and at the knees, respectively.

The brackets 30 and 3| are riveted or otherwise anchored to the side rails I4 and I5 respectively. They are so positioned longitudinally of the frame I that the pivotal connection 4| to the back section 25 is spaced an appreciable distance toward the head end of the back section 25 away from the hinge connection 28 of the sections 25 and 26.

The relative location of the pivots 4I to the hinge connection 23 is of vital importance. The aim is to so locate the pivots 4I and hinge connection 28 with regard to the body of the occupant of the bed that the buttock, when the bed sections are horizontal, will be footward of the pivotal connection 4I and the middle of the buttock approximately alined with the hinged connection 26. Such a positioning of these pivots results in a balancing of the Weight of the occupant on the back section 25 and seat section 26 so that a slight shifting of the weight longitudinally of the bed relative to the pivotal connection 4I will tend to determine the angularity of the bed sections as influenced and permitted by the combination balancing and locking mechanism I2.

The links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected at 32a to the side rails I4 and I5 of the frame I0 and at 32h to the side rails of the seat section 26, The pivotal connection 32h is slightly headward from the hinged connections 29 of the seat section 26 and foot section 21. The position of the pivotal connection 32a is below but slightly headward of the pivotal connection 32h, when the bed bottom sections 25, 26, and 21 are in their normal horizontally-alined positions. The rocking of these links permits the shifting of the seat section 26 longitudinally of the frame I0 and to assume an angular position when the back section is shifted to a non-horizontal position.

The combination balancing and locking mechanism I2 comprises an adjustable tension spring 42, a locking mechanism 43, and a safety device 44.

The tension spring 42 is secured at one end to a lug 45 welded to the strut 39 on the bedbottom back section 25. The other end of the spring is anchored to a nut 46 which is threaded to a rod 41 journaled on the reinforcing strut I6 of the frame I0 and provided with a crank handle 46. Such an arrangement of the spring 42 tends to urge the back section 25 toward a vertical position as shown in Figs. '7, 8, and 9. The force of the spring acting in this manner is of course determined by the adjustment of the nut 45 on the rod 41. That force would be governed by the weight of the occupant of the bed.

The locking mechanism 43 comprises a notched segment 49, a spring-actuated locking pawl 50, and a retracting handle 5 I.

The segment 49 is secured to the side rail of the back section 25 so that the axis of the notched periphery 52 of the segment is coincident with the pivot connection 4I of the bracket 30 and the back section 25. As will be most clearly observed irom Fig. 5, the segment is oilset at 53 and recessed at 54 so that the notched periphery 52 is located inwardly of the bracket 36. Obviously, the number of notches determines the number of angular positions in which the back section may be locked.

The pawl 50 is pivotally mounted at 55 on the bracket 30 and normally is urged by a spring 56 into engagement with the notched periphery 52 of the segment 49. The pawl is so positioned that when the bed-bottom sections are horizontal the pawl engages the next to the last notch (see Figs. 2 and 4). This provides for the back section 25 to be shifted downwardly from the horizontal and locked, as shown in Fig. 6.

The retracting handle 5I is a looped rod, the inner ends of which are anchored to an arm 51 pivoted concentrically with the pawl 56 at 55. A notch 58 formed in the lower end of the arm 51 straddles a pin 59 on the pawl 50. Thus a headward pull on the handle 5I will shift the pawl 50 against the action oi the spring 56 to disengage it from the notched periphery 52 of the segment 49. The notch 58 is slightly larger than the pin 59. This allows the spring 56 to effect engagement of pawl 56 with the notched segment without having to swing the handle 5I through the full arc of its movement.

A latch 60, pivoted at 6I on the bracket 66, is shiftable into and out of position to engage the outer end of the pawl to render it unretractive by means of the handle 5I.

An apron 62 is secured to the side rail of the back section 25 so as to extend below and protectively cover the notched periphery 52 of the segment 49.

The safety device 44 comprises a bar 63 hinged to an arm 64 on the back section 25 and shiftable relative to a pair of spaced shoulders 65 and 66.

The bar 63 is recessed along its upper and lower edges to provide parallel series of cam-shoulders 61 and hook-shoulders rachet teeth 68 adapted to co-act respectively with the pins or shoulders 65 and 66. As will be noted from Fig. 3, the camshoulders 61 are so formed that for the movement of the bar 63 in either direction it will be deflected upwardly by the cam-shoulder or pin 65 but its longitudinal movement will not be checked. On the other hand, the hook-shoulders or teeth 68 are so formed that upon engagement of one of such hook-shoulders with the pin or shoulder 66 no further longitudinal movement of the bar 63 headward o! the frame section III would be permitted.

The pins or shoulders 65 and 66 are spaced apart vertically a distance slightly greater than the width of the bar 63. Thus during a controlled movement of the bed-bottom back section 25 the cam-shoulder 61 will elevate the bar 63 slowly and allow it to recede as the segment 49 moves to change the engagement of the pawl 50 with adjacent notches 52. As a consequence there will be no engagement of any one of the hook-shoulders 68 with the pin or shoulder 66. On the other hand, a sudden headward movement of the bar 63 would cause a cam-shoulder vf'rri'ding' "up'v'er 1ithe pin or shulderfi to elevate the bar 63 enough'to-causefthe engagement fo'f 'a'hook-shoulder "68 with the pin or shoulder 66. 'This Woul'darrest'an'y further 'movement of 'the bar 63 luntil there had been a'sufcient retraction of 'the bar 563 footward as -to Vrelease the hook-shoulder 68 from the pin or shoulder 6'6.

The shoulder V65 ypreferably constitutes a pivot for an arm'69 which mounts thepin 'or shoulder 66. v'A spring 'l'con'nec'ting the lower end of the arm`69 and the reinforcing strut y`f`II of the frame I'I) `normally `urges the arm 69 vinto =a vertical A"position 'as shown in Fig. A3-and is arrested by a shoulder (not shown) on the side rail I5 of the supporting frame I0. This spring v'III serves to `absorb the shock Aof a sudden engagement of one of `the hook-Shoulders 68 on v`the`bar 63 with 'the pin or shoulder YII.

The number and relative disposition of the bar-shoulders l6l and V68 are such that theywill -co-act Awith lthe pins or shoulders "65 and 66 to arrest the movement of the back section v25 for each accidental release of the pawl 50 for the `first four peripheral notches 52 on the segment '49, figuring from right to left on Fig. 4.

vA housing II is 'mounted on the side rail I5 of the supporting frame I0 to enclose these safety device parts and prevent accidental access thereto.

The foot-'section adjusting means I3 comprises a pair-of links or hangers 'I2 and `13 each of which Imounts -f-a spring-actuated roller-arm I4 and 14', respectively, connected by a bar 14a.

The-position o'fthese arms isvcletermined primari1y` byran operating-handle 15.

Thelink 'I2 'includes ageneral vertically extending -arm 'portion "12a rigidly vattached to a .median point Vvof a longitudinally extending straight portion soas to provide a headward extension 18. Thelink 'I3 is'formed from a single lbar which is bent to 'correspond to the angularity of fthe 'arm 'and footwardly Vextending portions :of'the link 12. The upper end ofthe arm portion 12a of link`l2, and the'headward end of link 'I3 are pivoted 'to-'the hinge connection 29 of the -`seatsection 26 'and'foot section21, andthe foot- `Ward-end of `rthe'links 'I2 fand 'I3 are pivoted to links I6 which in turnfare'pivoted'at "I'I to the s'idefr'ails VI4 and I5 of the supporting frame I0. Alever 19 1in-the -form of a plate is pivoted to 'the extension 'Isfand is connected yto'roller 'arm v'I4 by'means'o'f a connecting link 80. An oper- `lating f'handle '15, similar 'in shape to 'handle '5 I -issecured tothe link I9 and serves to 'shift the roller'arm 'M'to elevate Vthe foot section '21, as

willflater be described in detail.

-PI'he roller arms I4 and I4 are'pivoted at 8| fto "therespectivelinks 'I2 and 'I3 near the headwardend of the foot'section 21. Each has'a roller 82 on theupper end thereof engaging the lunder side ofthe flanged side'rail of said foot fse'ction 527. Springs 83and 83' interposed beltweenthe arms 114 and v'I4' and the links "I2 and l"I3 normally urge -the roller arms headward of the bed soas to tend-to elevate the foot section 21 when free of the Weight of a mattress and Lthelegsof an occupant of ther bed.

Apair of arms'or ngers 84 are concentrically pivoted with theconnection of the links I2 and 'I3 to the arms 76, -and are connected 'together upper ends in engagement'-'withfthe vunder faces of the flanged side rails of the foot section 21.

l Pins 86 on thearms'84 arepsitioned'to abut shoulders 8l on thearms'16fand'limitfthe. movement of the "ngers 84 when swung headwardly beyond a vertical position.

Inasmuch as this bed has beendesigned yprimarily for use either by a .convalescent :person or by one whose condition requires such va ione to spend a good deal orall of the ytime inbed, or for one who merely flikes to read in l'bed, .a lamp is mounted on the .bed and kotherwisefconnected thereto sothatits angularity with regard to the back section will be automatically viadjusted with the angular movements of the :bed bottom sections. The vaim is to secure'anadjustment of the light in approximately the position most convenient for reading by the occupant of the bed. To Vthat end a shaded electric lamp 88, preferably of Ithe fiuorescent type, fis mounted on a post 89 pivotally connected to fa clamp plate 90 and further connected by a rod 9I to the bracket 3I.

The post 89, pivoted to the clamp 90 'at 92, has an extension 93 below the side rail kof ithe back section 25 and to which is connected the rod 9I. The clamp plate 90 .is secured to the side rail of the back section 25 by means .of 1.a hand screw l94, so asfto position the lamp'post 89 approximately even with the head endofthe back section 25.

The rod 9I is connected to the bracket 3| at the point 96 below thepivotal connectioni-4| lwith the back section 25 and footwardly 4thereof :so that, when the back section 25 is shifted fromits horizontal position :to any of its upwardlnonhorizontal positions, the transverse.'angularityof the lamp post 39will beincreased gradually, thus throwing the lamp 88 further headward of the bed-bottom back lsection vas it moves into Yits extreme upwardly-inclined `angular position (see Fig, l0). Incidentally, this connection ensures the lamp being kept out of contact with the` head of the bed, particularly when the back section 25 is declined below the horizontal.

The operationofthe bed herein 4'shown issubstantially as follows:

With a mattresson the bed bottom the tension of the spring 152.15 so adjusted to the-'character of the occupant, from thestandpont of weight and length, that upon retracting the .pawl 58 through an elevati-cn ci' the handle AEil the bedbottom sections may be shifted between their normal horizontally-aimed positionsV andany of several angularpostionsby either the loccupant of the bed or an attendant, and with a very slight eifort on the part 'of either.

For the occupant, when the bed-*bottom sections are in their 'alined horizontal positions, a slight sluiting of the 'weight footwardly relative to the hinged connection A28 of the back vsection 25 to the-seat section 26, and-therefore of'necessity relative to the pivotal support'4 I of the'back section 25, will permit the force of the spring'42 to urge the back section 25 'toward its eXtreme angular position. Once the pawl 581s retracted. and the weight of the occupant thus shifted, the back section 25`will move `instantly to suchan. extreme angular position, as shown in Fig. "9, unless arrested by the release of thepawl-retract-- ing handle 5 I.

The seat section 26 andthe foot section "2"Iwill be shifted headwardly 'slightly and, of necessity, into angular positions asshown'in Fig. "9.

AWhenthe bed'bottomsections occupy any'nonyhorizontal angular ipositions Jand the eoccupant desires to have the bed bottom sections assume vwardly-inclined position. -against an emergency where the bed was unoccupied and the mattress was removed and a per- .son was bending over the bed for the purpose of their normal horizontally-alined positions, the occupant has only to retract the pawl l) and then slightly extend the body against the seat section and/or press his head and shoulders against the back section 25. Such a shift in the occupants weight will be sufcient to counterbalance the effect of the spring 52 so as to cause the back section to swing about the pivot 4I to a horizontal position, causing the other sections to shift accordingly.

In the event an attendant desires to do the shifting of the bed bottom sections, in either of the ways above mentioned, it is only necessary to retract the pawl 50, by applying one hand to the handle 5I, and apply a little pressure at the head end of the back section 25.

If at any time it should be desired to have the back section 25 decline below the horizontal, it is only necessary to swing the bumper bar 23 so as to move it out of alinement with the strut 38 whereupon the back section 25 could be depressed, by either the occupant or the attendant in the manner above explained, to occupy the position shown in Fig. 6.

When the section 25 is in its declined position,

the effort which the occupant is required to exert to cause the bed-bottom sections to assume a horizontal position is somewhat greater than is required to start the shift of the back section 25 upwardly out of horizontal position. This fact is apparent for the reason that, when the back section is in a declined position, it is not so easy for the occupant to shift the weight up the inoline of the back section. However, the occupant is aided by the fact that the transverse part 98 of the handle 5I, where it connects with the arm 51, abuts against the surface 99 on the segment 49. Thus, the pull on the handle 5| results in the transverse part 98 of the handle 5| bearing against the segment 49 at the point 99 and providing a cam section that helps to initiate the upward swing of the back section 25 toward its norma-l horizontal position. When the surface 99 on the segment 49 is displaced sufiiciently toward the head of the bed. the transverse portions 98 of the handle 5I are engageable with the bracket 3U to prevent further movement of the handle 5I. It will be apparent, therefore, that whether further movement of the handle 5|, after disengagement of the pawl 50, is arrested initially by its engagement with the surface 99 of the segment 49, as when the back section is disposed in its horizontal or lower-than-horizontal position, or by engagement with the bracket 30, as when the back section is raised above the horizontal, the handle 5| serves as a brace against which the bed occupant can pull to assist himself in adjusting the position of the bed bottom.

In the event it is desired to render the pawl 50 unretractable, either accidentally or by the occupant of the bed, the latch 60 can be thrown up into the position shown in Fig. 4.

The safety device 44 is provided so as to ensure against a sudden swinging of the back section 25 from a horizontal position, or from any of its non-horizontal positions short of its extreme upwardly-inclined position, into such extreme up- This is to provide cleaning or doing other work on the back section.

Were it not for this safety device and the handle .5l were, under such circumstances, accidentally depressed to disengage the pawl 50, the sudden upward swinging of the back section 25 might cause severe head injury.

With this safety device operative, if one were thus bent over the back section and accidentally actuated the handle 5| to retract the pawl 50, the sudden movement of the bar 63 would cause the cam shoulder 64 acting on one of the cam shoulders 61 to throw the bar 63 upwardly with such force as to cause the engagement of one of the hook-shoulders 68 with the pin or shoulder 66. The hook-shoulders 68 in number and in position are such that an uncontrolled movement of the back section could only be for the distance between any one of the first five notches of the segment 49.

When the pair of ngers or arms 84 are in their elevated position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be obvious that, with the shifting of the back section 25 into and out of its horizontal position, the seat and foot sections 26 and 21 are automatically shifted into certain angular positions. As the pivotal connection 28, of the back section 25 to the seat section 26, moves in an arc around the pivotal connection 4| of the back section 25 to the brackets 30 and 3|, said seat and foot sections are not only shifted headwardly or footwardly of the bed frame I6 but are drawn into predetermined angular positions with respect to the back section 25.

Obviously, the headward and footward swinging of the links 32 and 33 will cause a corresponding headward and footward movement of the links 12 and 13 and a rocking of the supporting arms 16. This will alter the angularity of the fingers or arms 84 when in their elevated positions, as will most clearly be seen from Fig. 9. Also, in the absence of any counteracting manual shifting of the handle 15 the roller arm 14 will be further depressed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Thus, because of the weight of the mattress and the occupants feet on the foot section 21, the normal tendency of the foot section 21, when the head section 25 is shifted out of its horizontal position, will be for the footward end thereof to drop toward the supporting frame.

There may be occasions when it is desired to have the foot section 21 elevated with regard to the seat section 26. This can be effected by a headward pull on the handle 15 by either the patient or an attendant. The consequent swinging of the handle plate 19, about its pivot to the link 18, will cause a headward movement of the roller arms 14 and 14 to a position such as shown in Figs. 6 and 8 and as a consequence support the foot section 21 in an elevated position.

From Fig. 10 it will be noted that when the bed bottom sections 25, 26, and 21 are in their normally horizontally-alined positions the lamp post 89 is perpendicular to the plane of these sections. Hence, the light of the lamp 88 will be in the best position for the occupant in such a prone position. As the back section 25 moves from the horizontal toward the extreme inclined position, the rod 9| causes the lamp post 89 to swing headwardly and assume an angular position, with respect to the head section, of considerably more than 90. This receding of the lamp 88 tends to direct the illumination therefrom at an angle best for the occupant of the bed when in an inclined position.

Variations and modifica-tions in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

said". frame: provided at: their' upperends` with' pivotal connections. for,v said". bed-bottom back section at points on said back section mate.'-`

rially headward from the'` hingedconnection of saidback .and seatsections, means on said framev adjustablyk supporting saidiseat andfoot sectionsito permitthe relative angulardisposition of saidisections, means. normally urging said back section upwardly, a notched segmentrsecuredto saidi backsection coaxially of said pivotal connectioncf said back section on one ofv'said brack ets; a pavvlpivoted on said one bracket and normally urged to engage saidnotched segment-for locking'said back section in any one of several angularipcsitions, an upwardly-disposed arm pivotedconcentrically with said pawl, co-acting pinandaslot-means securing said pawl'and arm for unison movement, and a handle secured to said armand extending upwardly above said bed bottom'sections,v said handle` being engageable withsaid'bracket after said pav/l is disengaged from said'fsegment whereby said handle serves as a brace-against which the bed occupant may exert forceto effect a shifting of said sections.

2. Ina bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a bed bottom comprising a back section pivotally mounted on said frame, afVseat section, and a foot section, all of which sections are hinged together at their abutting ends, means for shiftably supporting said seat section on said frame so as to permit the hinging .movement of said seat and back sections when said back section is swung on its pivot, means-for securing said back section in any one of several angular positions, a hanger pivoted at one end to said seat section and shiftably supported 'on Vsaid frame adjacent to the foot thereof, an armpivoted on said hanger and movably engaging said bed-bottom foot section, and mannelly-operable means mounted on said hanger for rocking said arm so as. to rock said foot section and thereby vary the angular relationship of saidfoot'section with respect to said seat section.

3. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a bed bottom comprising aback section pivotally mounted on said frame', .aseat section, andafoot section, all of which sections are hinged together at their abutting ends, .a pair of links eachrpivotedat onefend tosaidframe and at the opposite end to a side of said iseat section adjacent the hingedvconnection of saidseat section and said foot section so as to permit the hinging movement of saidseat and back sec-tions when said back section is lswung on itswpivot, means tending to swing said back sectiont upwardly, manually-disengageable locking means `normally serving to secure said back section-:1in any one of several angular positions,-a hanger'pivoted at one endto said seatfsection andsliiftably supported on saidframe adjacent to the foot thereof, an arm pivotedonsaid hanger, a roller on the upperA end of said arm engaging said footrsection, a lever pivoted to said hangen, a linkv connecting-fsaid leveri and saidv arm, saidlever being manually actuable to shift-A said roller arm to changetheangular relationy ship of said foot section with respect to saidseat section, and a spring connecting'said' arm and said arm whereby. saidf handle 'may` be shifted'r` 10 hanger so as to normally urge said arm toward a positiomthat wouldzelevate,-.saidfifootfsection.

In: azbody supporting structure, theVL cambie nationioffafsupporting frame, an articulatedbedi bottomzm'oyablyrsupported thereon, saidibedkbot tom including azseatisection and:aiootssection hingedlyzfconnectedwtcr,said seat sectionfto'permit" angular adjustment of? said :foot section with: re`.y gardetozsaidiseatfsection, a hangerpivotedzto onei off;saidisectionseadjacent their hinged intercom nection andrmovably? supportedi on said frame; an armipivotedzeonvsaidhanger and normally dise.

poSed'vvithzonee end; iny longitudinally movable:

supporting.v Contact:y withk said footl section;n a

handlef connected to.;v said f arm. and disposedE in:

convenient ,reachpofi an occupant normally. posturedonLsaid bed bottom whereby saidlhandler mayzbe rshiftedzbyfsaidioccupantV to alterl th'eranguiarity ofsaidfrfoot: section :relative to'said seat'i section;

5': In: a: body-supporting structure, the fcombi*- nationfof faiframeg. aback section pivotally mount@v edvomsaidframe,aiseat section hingedly con@v nec-tedftorsaidrback section and'shiftablylfsup-- supported on.;y said vl frame. to 1 permit longitudinal movement ofsaidlhanger relative to saidfframe'y whenxsaidlback 'section is swung onfit's pivot,

an armfpivoted onsaid hanger and-'normallyl disposedi Witlr.y the upper endmovably engaging7 said; foot section,a handle pivoted 'onsaidlhang` erf andi' disposed in' convenient reach of an i. oc'- I cupantzinormally'postured'on said sections, andalinkconnectingasaidhandle to saidarm where-- by-,saidhandlemayfb'e shifted Aby the` occupant-ofi' said sections itorfalter the angularity: of saidifoot' section'rel'ative tosaid seat section.

6:K Ina a; body-'supporting structure the com-1 binati'cn `ofai frame; a back-'section pivotally-l mounted on said frame, a seat sectionhingedlyVv connected tosaid vibacler. section and supported .on

saidtframe to: permit1 movement of said lseatt sec i tionflongitudinally ofsaidframe when sadfback'f sectionlis shifteditochange its angularitywith' regard". to.. sa-id frame;v manually disengageablfv locking;meansinormally servingI toV secure said backsectionin anyy one:A of several angular posi tions, azfooti sectionhinged at one'of its ends tot saidcseati section and being free at rits other enda hangerlpivotedto the hinged connection of;sair;i.rseati7 and.' foot sections and extending-v beneathsaid:footlsection towardA the freeY end'1 thercofyal rocker arm pivotally connecting the footward; endlkoffsaid fh'anger and said frame to permit;longitudinalmovement of said hanger'` relativeit'o said framer when said back section`v` isi swungonits'pivot; an arm pivoted on said hangeru andinormallyV disposed with its upper Aend 4 moveablyengaging-said "'foot section, a handlev pivotedVr onzsaidh'ange-n an'ddisposed in convenient reach' ofx an occupant normally postured on saidy seca tionsVand a. link connecting said handle and angularity:- of said' foot" section relative tol said`4 tion of a supporting frame, a back-support section pivoted on to said frame for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position, means for urging said back-support section toward said upwardly extending position, inter-engageable stop means connected respectively to said back-support section and to said frame for preventing relative movement of said back-support section and said frame, said stop means being normally disengaged throughout gradual upward movement of said back support section, and means responsive to sudden upward movement of said back-support section to effect engagement of said stop means.

8. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supporting frame, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position, means for urging said back support section toward said upwardly extending position, a hook member connected to said back-support section and movable therewith relative to said frame, a shoulder on said frame adapted to be engaged by said hook member to prevent'relative movement of said backsupport section and said frame, said hook member and said shoulder being normally disengaged throughout gradual upward movement of said back-support section, and means responsive to sudden upward movement of said back-support section to effect engagement of said hook member with said shoulder.

9. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supporting frame, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position, means for urging said backsupport section toward said upwardly extending position, a shoulder on said frame, a ratchet member connected to said back section and adapted to engage said shoulder to prevent upward movement of said back-support section, said ratchet member being normally disengaged from said shoulder, and means responsive to sudden upward movement of said back-support section to cause said ratchet member to engage said shoulder.

10. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supporting frame, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position, means for urging said back support section toward said upwardly extending position, a pair of spaced apart shoulders on said frame and a bar connected to said back section for longitudinal axial movement between and relative to said shoulders when said back support section is shifted on its pivot, said bar having teeth formed along one edge engageable with one of said shoulders to prevent upward movement of said back-support section, said bar having on its opposite edge a series of cam surfaces normally engaged with the other of said shoulders to alternately move said teeth toward said one shoulder during said longitudinal movement, said teeth being normally disengaged from said one shoulder during gradual upward movement of said back support section but being deected into engagement with said one shoulder when said back section is abruptly raised.

11. An adjustable bed comprising a supporting frame, a bed bottom including a foot section and an adjacent section hingedly connected to said foot section, means movably supporting said adjacent section upon said frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame, a movable support for said foot section including an upwardly extended arm pivotally connected to said frame and movably engaging said foot section, and a link pivotally connected to said adjacent section and to said arm, said foot section normally resting upon the upper end of said arm.

12. An adjustable bed comprising a supporting frame, a bed bottom including a foot section and an adjacent section hingedly connected to said foot section, means movably supporting said adjacent section upon said frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame, a movable support for said foot section including a link pivotally connected at one end to said adjacent section and a second link pivoted to said frame and to said first-mentioned link, an upwardly extending arm pivoted on said second link and movably engaging said foot section, said foot section normally resting upon the upper end of said arm, said arm being movable on its pivot to a non-supporting position to permit said foot section to be lowered.

13. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a bed bottom comprising a back section pivotally mounted on said frame, a seat section, and a foot section, all of which sections are hinged together at their abutting ends, said seat section being shiftably mounted on said frame so as to permit the hinging movement of said seat and back sections when said back section is swung on its pivot, a hanger pivoted at one end to said seat section and a link pivoted to said frame and to said hanger, an upwardly extending arm pivoted to said link and normally engaging said foot section to determine the normal position thereof, a second arm pivoted on said hanger, a roller on the upper end of said second arm engaging said foot section, a lever pivoted to said hanger, and a second link connecting said lever and said second arm, said lever being manually actuable to shift said second arm to change the angular relationship of said foot section with respect to said seat section, said rst mentioned arm being shiftable to a non-engaging position to permit said foot section to be lowered.

14. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supporting frame, a back support section pivoted on said frame for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position, means for urging said back support section toward said upwardly extending position, a pair of spaced apart shoulders on said frame and a bar connected to said back section for longitudinal axial movement between and relative to said shoulders when said back support section is shifted on its pivot, said bar having teeth formed along one edge engageable with one of said shoulders to prevent upward movement of said back support section, said bar having on its opposite edge a series of cam surfaces normally engaged with the other of said shoulders to alternately move said teeth toward said one shoulder during said longitudinal movement, said teeth being normally disengaged from said one shoulder during gradual upward movement of said back support section but being deected into engagement with said one shoulder when said back section is abruptly raised, said one shoulder being resiliently cushioned on said frame to absorb the shock of the engagement therewith of said teeth.

15. An adjustable bed structure comprising a supporting frame, a bed bottom including a foot 13 section and an adjacent section hingedly connected to said foot section, means movable supporting said sections on said frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame and for angular adjustment of said foot section relative to said adjacent section as an incident to said shifting movement, said means including an upwardly extending arm pfivoted to said supporting frame and siidabiy engaging said foot section, and link means interconnecting said arm and said adjacent section for swinging said arm downwardly when said sections are shifted toward the head of said bed structure.

DON CARLOS TRAVIS.

References Cited in the 111e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Number Name Date Arrigoni Mar. 4, 1919 Muller July 24, 1928 Muller Feb. 12, 1929 Anderson Apr. 30, 1929 Muller Jan. 27, 1931 Bantly Aug. 29, 1932 Caldwell May 23, 1939 Caidwell et al Deo. 1, 1942 Wahl Aug'. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 20, 1936

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