IMPROVEMENTS IN TURN-UP OR FOLDING BEDSTEADS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TURN-UP OR FOLDING BEDSTEADS."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Elisha Everitt Everitt and Henry North, both
of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th June 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TURN-UP OR FOLDING BEDSTEADS," a
communication to me from abroad by Elisha Everitt Everitt and Henry
North, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of bedsteads in which the bed-
supporting frame can be turned up and made to represent a wardrobe

page_text: or other analogous article of furniture, and the object of the Invention
is to so construct a bedstead of this class, that when turned up the
imitation of the wardrobe may be complete, and when turned down
the bedstead will afford every convenience of an ordinary bedstead,
and will present none of the appearance of a convertible article of
.furniture.
The bedstead consists of three main parts, namely, the head board,
the bed supporting frame, and the foot board, the latter as will appear
hereafter serving as an entablature when the bed is turned up.
The head board is secured to and supported by projecting feet,
which are connected together by a cross bar, the front of the latter
being suitably ornamented, as it must be exposed when the bed is
turned up. The face of the head board must also be properly ornamented
as the taste of the constructor and the proposed cost of the bedstead
may suggest.
The bed supporting frame consists of two opposite side bars, the
transverse foot bar and a transverse bar at the head, with transverse
slots for supporting the mattress and a bottom board, the face of which
should be arranged in panels or otherwise ornamented to represent the
front of a wardrobe or other article of furniture, which the bedstead
when turned up is intended to imitate. The bed supporting frame is
hinged to the feet of the head board, and when depressed bears on the
cross bar connecting the said feet, so that the pivot shall not be sub-
jected to severe strains.
The portion of the bed supporting frame which overhangs the pivot
towards the head board may be weighted so as to facilitate the raising
of the said frame and foot board, but for this purpose the system of
springs referred to hereafter is preferred.
It will be understood that the bed supporting frame should bo
constructed in substantially the same manner as ordinary frames, so
that it can be readily taken apart for storage or transportation.
The foot board is hinged to the end of the bed supporting frame, and
has legs projecting over or forming shields to the side bars of the bed
supporting frame, and this foot board and its legs or shields are so con-
structed that when the bed is arranged for use it forms a neat support
for the bed frame and an ornamental foot board, and when elevated

page_text: To one of the side bars may be hinged a light frame, retained by
suitable fastenings in an elevated position to prevent children from fall-
ing out of bed. When the bed has to be turned up this frame may be
turned down over the mattress, as shown.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
'Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of Junc, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during 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 TURN-UP OR FOLDING BEDSTEADS," a communication to
me from abroad by Elisha Everitt Everitt and Henry North, both of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the con-
.dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by
an instrument 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: %
to represent the front of a wardrobe or other article of furniture, which
the bedstead when turned up is intended to imitate. The bed supporting
frame is hinged at s to the feet h, h, of the head board, and when
depressed, as in Figure 1, bears on the cross bar i, so that the pivot
shall not be subjected to severe strains.
The portion of the bed supporting frame which overhangs the pivot
may be weighted so as to facilitate the raising of the frame and foot
board, but for this purpose the system of springs referred to hereafter
is preferred.
It will be understood that the bed supporting frame should be con- ]
structed in substantially the same manner as ordinary frames, so that it
can be readily taken apart for storage or transportation.
The foot board D is hinged to the end of the bed frame at x, and
has legs f,f, projecting over the side bars b, b, of the bed supporting
frame; and this foot board and its legs are so constructed, that when
the bed is arranged for use, as in Figure 1, it forms a neat support for
the bed frame and an ornamental foot board; and when elevated will
form a suitably ornamented capital or entablature of a wardrobe or other
analogous article of furniture, as shewn in Figure 3.
When the bed is arranged for use, as in Figure 1, the foot board:
should be secured to the bed frame by a turn-bucklo latch or other
suitable fastening, and when the bed frame has to be turned up the
mattress may be retained in its place by suitable appliances, the above-
mentioned fastening loosened, and the entire bed frame may then
raised, as shewn in Figure 2, the foot board D turning on its hinges as the
frame is elevated, and finally taking its place as the capital or entabla-
ture of the wardrobe, as shewn in Figure 3, on, reference to which it
will be observed that the foot board not only forms the desired finish
for the top of the wardrobe and conceals the head board, but forms a
receptacle in which pillows and bed clothing can be deposited.
It will be noticed that when the bed frame is elevated so as to exhibit
an imitation wardrobe, as in Figure 3, the front of this wardrobe is
formed partly by the face of the foot board, partly by the face of the
bottom board of the bed frame, and partly by the front of the cross
bar; while each of the opposite sides of the imitation wardrobe is
formed partly by a legf of the foot board, partly by the exterior of a side

page_text: bar of the bed frame, and partly by one of the feet / of the head
board.
In order to complete the finish of these sides of the imitation ward-
robe, the said side bars of the bed frame may be pannelled or otherwise
ornamented.
On referring to Figure 2 it will be observed that the head board is
slotted at c, c, to receive the edges of the side bars of the bed frame,
this however is not essential to the Invention.
ย
In order to facilitate the raising of the bed frame the system of
springs, shewn in Figures 4 and 6, is preferred. In this case u represents
the pivot pin by which the bed frame is hinged to the feet of the head
board, this pin or rod extending entirely across the frame for receiving
the coils of a series of spiral springs. One end v² of the wire of which
the spring is composed passes through an eye of a bolt t secured to a
cross bar attached to the feet. of the head board, the other end v³ of
the wire passing into a tube q secured to the bed frame. These springs
are so adjusted that their tendency is to clevate the bed frame and
its foot board, so that but little exertion is required to turn up the
bed.
To one of the side bars 6 may be hinged a light frame M; shewn in
Figure 5, this frame being retained by suitable fastenings in an elevated
position to prevent children from falling out of bed. When the bed
has to be turned up, this frame may be turned down over the mattress,
as shewn.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and use of a turn-up bedstead in which a
foot board is so constructed and so hinged to the pivotted bed frame
that it will serve as a suitable support for the latter, and as an entabla-
ture or capital of an imitation wardrobe or other analogous article
of furniture which the beadstead when turned up is intended to
represent, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Second. The construction and use of a turn-up bedstead in which
the bed supporting frame is pivoted to the feet or base of the head
board, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction and use of a turn-up bedstead in which the
side bars of the bed frame form, when the latter is turned up, parts
of the sides of an imitation wardrobe or other analogous article of
furniture, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction of the foot board, that when elevated it will
constitute a receptacle for pillows and bed clothing, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings..
Fifth. The system of springs or a weight for balancing or facili-
tating the raising of the pivoted bed supporting frame and its foot
board, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The applicating and use of the frame M hinged to one of the
side bars of the pivotted bed supporting frame, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth
day of November One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.