IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gardner, of Eversholt Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Carver and Gilder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS."
Sealed the 6th July 1860, and dated the 2nd May 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
May 1860.
I, JAMES GARDNER, of Eversholt Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carver
and Gilder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing the side frames each of four flat
plates of metal, which themselves are united by hinges. The hinges are
placed equidistant or thereabouts between the legs or supports for the head
and central legs or supports at one end, and between the central supports and
the feet or supports for the lower end of the bedstead on the other. A plain.
unhinged band or plate of metal extends across the foot of the bedstead from
side frame to side frame. In order to support the transverse laths, I employ.
on each side of the bedstead two lengths of angle iron; these rest upon the
side frames, and the two lengths are hinged together in such manner as to
allow of the two lengths of angle iron (one on each side) together with the

page_text: laths carried by them to be raised and supported at an angle against or upon
the head of the bedstead. For supporting the longitudinal laths, I make use
of angle iron across the head and foot, and of other angle irons supported
transversely across the bedstead at or about the middle; the longitudinal laths
are each in two lengths. The bedstead may be used as a couch and as a
chair by folding in the side frames near the head, and by doubling over the
angle iron carriers for the laths. For easy stowage both side frames are folded
inwards at two parts, and the lath carriers with their laths are folded over
each other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GARDNER, of Eversholt Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carver and
Gilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Gardner, Her special licence that I, the said James Gardner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Gardner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
ise, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METALLIC BEDSTEADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said James Gardner, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Gardner, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:
My Invention consists in constructing the side frames each of four flat
plates of metal, which themselves are united by hinges. The hinges are
placed equidistant or thereabouts between the legs or supports for the head
and central legs or supports at one end, and between the central supports and
the feet or supports for the lower end of the bedstead on the other. A plain
unbinged band or plate of metal extends across the foot of the bedstead from
side frame to side frame. In order to support the transverse laths, I employ
on each side of the bedstead two lengths of angle iron; these rest upon the
side frames, and the two lengths are hinged together in such manner as to
allow of the two lengths of angle iron (one on each side) together with the
laths carried by them to be raised and supported at an angle against or upon
the lead of the bedstead. For supporting the longitudinal laths I make use
of angle iron across the head and foot, and of other augle irons supported
transversely across the bedstead at or about the middle; the longitudinal laths
are each in two lengths. The bedstead may be used as a couch and as a chair
by folding in the side frames near the head, and by doubling over the angle
iron carriers for the laths. For easy stowage both side frames are folded
inwards at two parts, and the lath carriers with their laths are folded over
each other.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a perspective view of a bedstead
constructed according to my Invention, and fitted with a movable or adjustable
head piece; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a similar bedstead, showing the
hend folded back and fitted with cushions; Figure 3 is a plan of one-half of
the bedstead, the full lines showing it partially folded, and the dotted lines
showing it extended to its extreme length. The other half is made in a
similar manner to that shown. Figure 4 is a plan of the folding seatings or
laths; and Figure 5 is a section through the line a, y, of the same.
a, a', and b, b', are four flat plates of metal on both sides of the bedstead,
the plate a being united to a' by a binge c, and the plate 6 to 6' by a similar
bingo d. The plates have parts cut out of them, as shown, for the sake of
lightness; or they can be perforated, or made of any suitable plain or
ornamental shape. The plates a' and ' are hinged to central legs or supports
e, e, and are prevented from extending farther outwards than necessary to
bring the plates in a line with and parallel to those on the other side by
stops g, g, rivetted to the legs e, e, or made in a piece with them. The plates a
and bare jointed to the top and bottom legs h, h, as shewn in the Drawing,
or in any other convenient manner. The folding seatings or laths are made,

page_text: To
by preference, in two parts i, i, and hinged together in the middle; k, k, are
two lengths of angle irou, which, when the laths are in position, rest on and
lie outside the side plates a, a', and b, b', as seen in Figures 1 and 2.
k', k', are angle iron pieces at the top and bottom ends of the folding seatings;
1, 2, are pins inserted in the under side of the angle iron, which, when the
bedstead is extended, press against the inner sides of the plates a and b, and
prevent them from closing up; m, m, are notches in which the angle irons of
the folding seats rest to prevent any longitudinal motion; n, n, are cushions,
they are made separate for the sake of easy stowage, as hereafter seen.
fold up the bedstead, press the flat sides together against the head, place the
folding seatings or laths at the back of the head with the cushions and bedding
in front, and pass a strap round the whole to bring the bedstead and cushions
into the compact form, shewn at Figure 6; or instead of a strap the whole can
be put in a suitable case. Figure 7 is a view of the bedstead partially closed,
to be used as a chair or couch; the head is placed or pushed near the lower
extended half, the seatings or laths are folded, placed on it, and the cushions
laid on the laths, all as shown; or one of the cushions may be placed against
the head.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in metallic bedsteads,-
First, constructing the side frames of plates of metal united by hinges,
in such manner that they can be folded up into a compact form, in the manner
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, forming the frames which hold the laths or seatings of anglo iron
in two or more parts hinged or jointed together, as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gardner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.