IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF PORTABLE METALLIC FOLDING BEDSTEADS, CHAIR BED- STEADS, CHAIRS, SOFAS, COUCHES, SETTEES, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES FOR THE USE OF EMIGRANTS AND OTHERS, AND PART OF WHICH IM- PROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES IN GENERAL
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Perkes, Civil Engineer, 1, Walbrook,
City, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PORTABLE METALLIC FOLDING BEDSTEADS, CHAIR BED-
STEADS, CHAIRS, SOFAS, COUCHES, SETTEES, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES
FOR THE USE OF EMIGRANTS AND OTHERS, AND PART OF WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, COUCHES,
CHAIRS, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES IN GENERAL."
Sealed the 18th January 1854, and dated the 18th July 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Perkes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th July 1858.
I, SAMUEL PERKES, Civil Engineer, 1, Walbrook, City, London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE METALLIC FOLDING BEDSTEADS, CHAIR
BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS, SOFAS, COUCHES, SETTEES, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES FOR
THE USE OF EMIGRANTS AND OTHERS, AND PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND SUCH
LIKE ARTICLES IN GENERAL," to be as follows, viz' :—

page_text: My Invention consists of an improved method of constructing such
like articles as above named, and a portion of which was patented by
me under the Registration of Designs Act, July 27th, 1850, N° 2390,
and is now well known throughout the country generally as Perkes
Patent Folding Bedstead, which will well illustrate the principle of
construction of these kind of articles, and principally consists of the
two sides being formed in several pieces with a peculiar description of
rule joints, and attached together by means of a series of stay bars
rivetted firmly to the sides, end pieces, and legs at any required dis-
tance apart, and the sacking is stretched from end to end, and fixed to
the end rails, and attached to the sides by means of lacing cords and
eye holes, and when required for use the ends and legs are merely
opened out, and the bedstead is perfectly ready for use. These articles
have been almost universally admired for their simplicity, portability,
and general utility,. as they can be used for a variety of purposes.
Now with a view of rendering all such description of articles still.more
useful and more portable, I construct them as follows, viz.: instead of
rivetting the articles firmly together, as formerly, I take all the con-
necting pieces or stretching bars, and form upon each end thereof a
good serviceable shoulder, and screwed pin, and portable screwed nut,
of any required shape, or else a cotter pin or other sliding portable
connecting joint, whereby the stretching bars may each be connected or
disconnected at any moment required by the party in whose possession
it is, which will render the article firm, stronger, and more portable,
as by this means the entire bedstead or other afore-mentioned article
can be disconnected, and will pack very, closely together, nearly resem-
bling so many rods of iron lying side by side, and when tied or strapped
together they are rendered so compact and portable (being little larger
than an umbrella) that about six bedsteads made on this principle will
pack into the space of one bedstead made on the ordinary principle,
which is of great importance for the purposes of travelling and export-
ation, as an enormous amount will be saved in freight thereby. I
construct each of the cross stay bars for connecting the legs or feet
together in two separate parts on the principle of a scissors or central
swivel joint, instead of welding theun solid together as at present, and

page_text: each half of such cross stays to have a neatly prepared swell or hemi-
spherical or ornamental boss in the centre, and through which I fix
the axle or joint rivet or screw, and when the cross stays are taken out
of the bed frame or other article for removal they will simply close
together and pack very closely indeed. In certain cases I also con-
struct and use elastic or other looped rings and hooks or chains for
the purpose of connecting the sackings to the sides of the bedstead, or
such like articles as aforesaid, where required, instead of the ordinary
lacing cords, which will render the sackings more convenient for fixing
or removal; also, underneath the sackings I attach one or more straps
or bandages for the purpose of binding the whole nicely together in
one small bundle when required for removal, and when hempen sack-
ings are used I employ the same as a wrapper to fold the framework
in, and at the ends of such sackings I form large hems for the purpose
of running the end stay bars right through instead of sewing them on
to the bar as at present; also, in certain cases, I construct, apply, and
use thick felt, wire, wire chain, wire lattice, or iron laths for bottoms,
and also air or water sackings for these kind of articles, and the two
latter of which I construct- so as to answer the double purpose of
sacking and mattress.
I do not confine myself to any particular shape or make or size of
portable folding bedstead, chair bedstead, chair, sofa, couch, settec,
or such like articles as aforesaid; but what I claim as my Invention
is, the construction of such like articles as aforesaid on this portable
disconnecting principle, and the construction and use of loose stay
bars and folding cross stays with well shouldered ends, and screws,
pins, and nuts or catches, for conveniently connecting or disconnecting
them when required, and as before described. I also claim for the
application and use of brass screwed nuts either thumb fly nuts or
otherwise for the afore-mentioned purposes to such like articles. I
also claim the afore-mentioned method of forming the hempen sackings
with large finished hems at each end before attaching the same to the
article required, also for the application and use of elastic or other
looped rings or chains and hooks to fix the sackings where required.
I also claim the application and use of wire, wire work, or chains for

page_text: sackings (galvanized or otherwise), and also felt, also water or air
sackings or mattresses, or either of the above combined to the afore-
mentioned kind of articles in general. Also I claim as my particular
Invention the application and use of wire, wire work, or chains as
aforesaid with convenient fastenings to any kind of bedstead, couch,
sofa, chair, settee, crib, or anywhere where ordinary descriptions of
metallic or other sackings are used and required, or where they may be
found applicable.
I also make another improvement in the construction of ordinary
portable folding bedsteads, &c., in general, viz, instead of having at
the extreme ends separate stay bars rivetted to the side frames as at
present, I weld the said stay bars to the side rails, whereby the solidity
of such bedstead, &c. is very much improved, and the liability of the
rivet breaking off by use is prevented, and they are also rendered much
more convenient when in use, as a very unpleasant projection upon
cach corner is thus dispensed with. This improvement I also claim
for, and apply the same to all such like articles as aforesaid wherever
it may be found applicable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Perkes in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 18th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
SAMUEL PERKES, Civil Engineer, 1, Walbrook, City, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Perkes, Her special
licence that I, the said Samuel Perkes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Perkes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during

page_text: the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE METALLIC FOLDING
BEDSTEADS, CHAIR BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS, SOFAS, COUCHES, SETTEES, AND SUCH
LIKE ARTICLES FOR THE USE OF EMIGRANTS AND OTHERS, AND PART OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY BEDSTEADS, SOFAS,
COUCHES, CHAIRS, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES IN GENERAL," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Perkes, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Perkes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists of an improved method of constructing
portable folding bedsteads, chair bedsteads, chairs, sofas, couches,
settees, and such like articles for the use of emigrants and others, and
part of which improvements are applicable to ordinary bedsteads, sofas,
couches, chairs, and such like articles in general, and the improvements
apply more particularly to articles made by me, and registered under
the Registration of Designs Act, July Twenty-seventh, One thousand
cight hundred and fifty, N° 2390, and is now well known throughout
the country generally as "Perkes's Patent Folding Bedstead;" these
kind of articles principally consist, each of the two sides being formed
in several pieces, with a peculiar description of rule joints, and attached
together by means of a series of stay bars rivetted firmly to the sides,
end picces, and legs at any required distance apart; and the sacking
is stretched from end to end, and fixed to the end rails, and attached to
the sides by means of lacing cords and eye holes, and when required for
use the ends and legs are merely opened out, and the bedstead is
perfectly ready for use. These articles have been almost universally

page_text: upon
admired for their simplicity, portability, and general utility, as they can
be used for a variety of purposes. Now with a view of rendering all
.such description of articles still more useful and more portable I
construct them as follows, and describe the accompanying Drawing:
instead of rivetting the parts a, a, firmly together, as formerly: I take
all the connecting picces or stretching bars b, b, and form cach
end thereof a good serviceable shoulder 6', and screwed pin 6, and
portable screwed nut c, of any required shape, or else à cottar pin or
other sliding portable connecting joint, whereby the stretching bars may
cach be readily connected or disconnected; when required, by the party
in whose possession it is, which will render the article 'firm, stronger,
and more portable, as by this means the entire bedstead or other afore-
mentioned article can be disconnected, and will pack very closely
together, nearly resembling so many rods of iron lying side by side,
and when tied or strapped together they are rendered so compact and
portable (being little larger than an umbrella) that about six bed-
steads made on this principle will pack into the space of one bedstead
made on the ordinary principle, which is of great importance for the
purposes of travelling and exportation, as a considerable amount will be
saved in freight thereby. I construct the cross stay bars d, d, for
connecting the legs or feet together in two separate parts on the
principle of a scissors or central swivel joint e, instead of welding them
solid together as at present, and each half of such cross stay d, is to
have a neatly prepared swell or hemispherical or ornamental boss in the
centre, and through which I fix the axle or joint rivet or screw e, and
when the cross stays are taken out of the bed frame or other article for
removal they will simply close together and pack very closely indeed.
In certain cases I also construct and use elastic or other looped rings f,
and hooks, g, or chains, for the purpose of connecting the sackings h, to
the sides a, a, of the bedstead, or such like articles as aforesaid, where
required, instead of the ordinary lacing cords, which will render the
sackings more convenient for fixing or removal; also, underneath the
sackings I attach one or more straps or bandages for the purpose of
binding the whole nicely together in one small bundle when required
for removal, and when hempen sackings are used I employ 'the same

page_text: as.a wrapper to fold the framework in, and at the ends of such sackings
I form large hems for the purpose of running the end stay bars right.
through instead of sewing them on to the bars as at present; also, in
certain cases, I construct, apply, and use thick felt, wire, wire chain,
wire lattice, iron laths for bottoms in place of sacking, and also air or
water-tight sackings, such as are commonly used for air and water beds,
and tlie two latter of which may, if fixed to the side and end rails a, a, -
b, b, will answer the double purpose of sacking and mattress.
I do not confine myself to any particular shape or make or size of
portable folding bedstead, chair bedstead, chair, sofa, couch, settee,
or such like articles as aforesaid; but what I claim as my Invention is,
the construction of such like articles as aforesaid on the portable
disconnecting principle above described, and the construction and use
of loose stay bars and folding cross stays with well shouldered ends b',
and screwed pins 6, and nuts or catches c, for conveniently connecting
or disconnecting them when required, and as before described. I also
claim for the application and use of brass screwed nuts c, either thumb>
Hy nuts or otherwise for the afore-mentioned purposes. I also claim
the afore-mentioned method of forming the hempen sackings h, with
large finished hems at each end before attaching the same to the
article required, also for the application and use of elastic or other
looped rings f, f, or chains and hooks g. 9, to fix the sackings h, where
required. I also claim the application and use of wire, wire work, or
chains for sackings h, (galvanized or otherwise,) and also felt, also
water or air sackings or mattresses, or either of the above, when com-
bined with the side and end rails a, a, b, b, so as to serve as sackings
and inattrasses.
I also make another improvement in the construction of ordinary
portable folding bedsteads in general, viz', instead of having at the
extreme ends separate bars rivetted to the side frames as at present,
I weld the said stay bars b, b, to the side rails a, a, whereby the solidity
of such bedstend, &c. is very much improved, and the liability of the
rivets breaking off by use is prevented, and they are also rendered
much more convenient when in use, as a very unpleasant projection
upon each corner is thus dispensed with; this improvement I also

page_text: claim, and apply the same to all such like articles as aforesaid
wherever it may be found applicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Perkes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
FRED HARBIS.
SAMUEL PERKES.