IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNITURE FOR BED ROOMS
Year: 1877

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
FURNITURE FOR BED ROOMS." A communication from abroad by William
Cooper, of the City of Montreal, in the County of Hochelaga, and Province of
Quebec, Canada.
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 21st March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNITURE FOR BED ROOMS." A communication
from abroad by William Cooper, of the City of Montreal, in the County of Hochelaga,
and Province of Quebec, Canada.
This Invention consists in the combination in one article of furniture of a bed-
stead, table, chest of drawers, washstand, and other fittings of a bed room, with the
exception of chairs.
It is proposed to construct this article of furniture by filling up the space below
the level of the bed rails with drawers carried in a proper frame. In connection
with this frame there is also formed under the bed a chamber closed, which may be
placed in any position relatively to the drawers, and furnished either with single or
double doors.
In addition to these there is formed a compartment, opening preferably to the
foot of the bed, which will serve to contain a wash basin and ewer, a shelf arranged
to pull out and be raised to any level desired, being provided to carry the basin
when in use, or the basin, soap dish, and the like may be permanently set in this
shelf.
Lastly, between the bed bottom and drawers just described it is proposed to
arrange shelves, sliding in and out, either the whole length of the bed or in sections,
adjustable as to height, and serving either as a table, or to give additional bed
accommodation; the supports for these, also adjustable in length, do not when the
shelves are pushed in project beyond the side of the bedstead.
'
This Invention will be found of the greatest advantage in every case where
economy of room is desired, as, while affording for each purpose more accommo-
[Pmine B1

page_text: dation than is usually given by the several articles of furniture above mentioned
when separate, it occupies no more room than an ordinary bedstead.
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
20th September 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNITURE FOR BED ROOMS." A communication
from abroad by William Cooper, of the City of Montreal, in the County of Hochelaga,
and Province of Quebec, Canada.
The said Invention consists in the combination in one article of furniture of all
the necessary fittings of a bed room, with the exception of chairs, that is to say, a
table, bureau, washstand, and appurtenances with a bedstead, the Invention being
particularly advantageous in every case where economy of room is required, since
while affording for each purpose more accommodation than is usually given separately
by the several articles of furniture above mentioned, it occupies no more room than
an ordinary bedstead.
In carrying out the said Invention this compound article of furniture is con-
structed by filling up in any bedstead the space below the level of the bed with
drawers, at the same time forming therein a chamber closet, both opening by
preference on the side of the bed, also by providing a compartment which serves as
a receptacle for the ewer and basin a shelf or drawer arranged to hold the latter.
In addition to the fittings before mentioned there may also be arranged immediately
above the drawers, shelves serving as tables, which may be drawn out at pleasure on
the side of the bed, the same being supported on legs or stands which when not in
use do not project beyond the bedstead.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side view illustrating the Invention;
Figure 2 is an end view.
Figure 3 is a part plan and part horizontal section; and Figure 4 is a vertical
longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 5 is a side view illustrating a modification of the Invention; and Figure G
is an end view of the saine.
And Figure 7 is a side view of another modification.
A, A, are the rails, and B, B, the posts of a bedstead, the same being of any desired
height and shape.
Below the level of the rails A and bed bottom B¹ are placed any suitable number
of drawers C, carried in a frame D, so constructed as to admit of its being easily
taken apart and put together at will by means of hinges, screws, or bolts, and nuts,
as shewn at d, or in any other suitable manner. These drawers may be in one or
two tiers of any front desired, and either run back the whole width of the bed, or
in cases where three sides of the bed are accessible they may open outwards on
either side, and be separated by a longitudinal division running down the centre of
the bedstead; or, when opening on one side only, these drawers may be of such
depth as when in place to leave a space between them and the moveable back
C¹, in which linen and the like may be stored. It should be remarked that
drawers arranged in this manner afford more room than is obtained in the
ordinary bureau.
.
E is a chamber or night closet arranged relatively to the drawers and other parts
in either of the positions shown, or it may be placed in the centre of the drawers, so

page_text: as to allow either side of the bed to be placed against the wall, or may open at the
foot of the bed. In this closet may be arranged a chair E, capable of being moved
out when required, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2.
F is a compartment, by preference enclosed by hinged door, and in which are
deposited when not in use the ewer and basin, or the latter may be carried in a
drawer G of sufficient depth to hold it, the said drawer being provided, if required,
with a brace or like support to prevent it from overbalancing when drawn out.
In any double bedstead two drawers and basins, as shown in Figure 2, may be
used, and a central drawer G, holding soap dishes and the like.
In lieu of such drawers a shelf may be employed, the same being caused to slide
out preferably above the compartment F, and provided with means by which it can
be raised and held at the required level, or, for the sake of economy, the modifi-
cation shown in Figure 5 may be adopted, in which the shelf marked H is hinged
to the foot of the bed, and so arranged as when not in use to fall down against it in
order to cover the compartment F, braces or stays I being provided for supporting
the shelf in its elevated position.
A mirror K see Figures 1 and 2 may be arranged in any suitable manner in
connection with the bed, and be made adjustable in height. If desired a small rack
for brushes and the like, and one for towels may be attached to the bedstead at any
convenient point.
Under the bed bottom B¹ and above the drawers C may be placed shelves L
arranged to slide in and out, the same being either in two or more divisions, as
shewn, or made in one continuous piece, thus providing a table or stand of any
length desired, or giving additional bed accommodation. The outer edges of these
shelves are carried by any suitable supports M, which may be arranged either to
fold under the shelves, as in Figure 3, or to set against the face of the drawers, so as
not to be in the way.
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 wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular style
of construction or finish, as the same may be greatly varied to suit the price of the
article and the room in which it is to be placed, nor do I restrict myself to wooden
bedsteads, as the Invention may be applied to those made of iron, or of iron and
wood combined, if required, but 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 combination with a bedstead of drawers set in a frame placed under
the rails and between the posts, and arranged substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Second. The combination with a bedstead of drawers, a chamber closet, and a
ewer compartment in conjunction or not with a shelf or shelves, all substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before described.
Third. In combination with a bedstead the shelves L and supports M, substan-
tially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.