Improvements in the Construction of Folding Bedsteads, Mattress Frames, and Stretchers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Folding Bedsteads, Mattress
Frames, and Stretchers.
We ISAAC CHORLTON of the firm of Isaac Chorlton and Co. of 17 Blackfriars
Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Spring Mattress Manufacturer,
and GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of the same place Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to bedsteads, mattress frames and stretchers having
legs adapted to fold up so as to facilitate packing and transport. The improvements
relate particularly to such bedsteads and stretchers as are constructed with metallic
tubular sides and angle or other ends but are also applicable to similar structures
having sides of angle or other section.
The carriers to which the folding legs or supports are attached are formed in the
case of tubular sides of a trough or semicircular shape to fit the tubular sides, and
the said carriers are hinged or pivotted to the tubular sides in such a manner that
when turned in one direction the legs or supports fold parallel with the sides.
When the legs are turned down at right angles to the sides the trough shaped
carriers partly embrace and support the sides, and to maintain them in this position we
provide at that end of the carrier which is furthest from the hinge pivot, a pin or
other fastening which passes through the carrier and also through the tubular sides
and so locks the leg or support in its turned down position. As already said the
improvements herein described as applicable to bedsteads and stretchers having
tubular sides may also be used in connection with sides of other sections. Instead
of pins any other suitable means of securing the carriers might be used or spring
fastenings may be employed. Each leg or support is connected to the corresponding
leg or support on the opposite side of the frame or stretcher so that each pair folds
simultaneously. The legs or supports enter sleeves or recesses or are attached to
suitable parts of the carriers. Our improved mode of mounting attaching and
connecting the said folding legs or supports enables us to construct a lighter,
cheaper and more stable bedstead or stretcher than heretofore.
Under a modified and in some respects improved form of our invention the
support instead of moving with the leg or support is rivetted or otherwise firmly
attached to the tubular side. The leg or support is hinged by a pivot pin to lugs
on the lower side of the said fixed support the bottom of the support being cut at
an angle so as to enable it to clear the side in turning on its pivot. The end of
the support is drilled to receive a stop pin capable of being removed and replaced
quickly.
When erecting the bedsteads, the locking pins are withdrawn, the legs or supports
are turned down and the locking pins are replaced, the said pins passing the sides
of the legs and not passing through them so that no drilling of the tubular sides is
necessary. To fold the legs parallel with the sides the locking pins are again
withdrawn, the legs folded against the sides and the locking pins again inserted
thereby locking the folded up legs in position. When so folded up the legs fold
more closely and occupy less space than in the former instance where the support
itself moves round with the legs. In addition to the aforesaid folding legs our
invention also applies to bedsteads or stretchers jointed in the centre 'so as to fold
together. To support the joints we apply cradles or carriers similar to those used
in connection with the folding legs and hinge the divided sides thereto. To secure
the sides when extended we thrust pins through the cradles and through the sides
'

page_text: or we may employ other means which will maintain the sides in their extended
position.
Dated this 1st day of March 1802
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Folding Bedsteads, Mattress
Frames, and Stretchers.
We ISAAC CHORLTON of the firm of Isaac Chorlton and Co. of 17 Blackfriars
Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Spring Mattress Manufacturer,
and GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of the same place, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawings:-
Our said invention relates to bedsteads, mattress frames and stretchers having
legs adapted to fold up so as to facilitate packing and transport. The improvements
relate particularly to such bedsteads and stretchers as are constructed with metallic
tubular sides and angle or other ends but are also applicable to similar structures
having sides of angle or other section.
The accompanying sheet of drawings clearly illustrates our invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress frame or stretcher to which our
invention is shown applied.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation and Fig. 3 an end elevation to an enlarged scale of
the pivotted trough shaped carrier connected to the folding leg.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are similar enlarged views of two modifications in which the
trongh shaped carrier is fixed and the leg hinged thereto.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a stretcher jointed in the centre and having the
joint supported by trough shaped supports or cradles.
Referring in the first place to Figs. 1 to 3 the carriers a to which the folding
legs or supports are attached are formed in the case of tubular sides e (such as
are indicated in the drawing) of a trough or semicircular shape to fit the tubular
sides and the said carriers a are hinged or pivotted at d to the tubular sides in such
a manner that when turned upon the pivots the legs or supports fold parallel
with the sides as clearly shown in Fig. 1. When the legs are turned down at right
angles to the sides as for example in Fig. 2 the trough shaped carriers a partly
embrace and support the sides c and to maintain them in this position we provide
at that end of the carrier which is furthest from the hinge pivot d a pin or other
fastening e which passes through the carrier and also through the tubular side and
so locks the leg or support in its turned down position. The pin e is preferably
attached by a chain or attachment to the carrier so as to prevent it from
being lost.
As already said the improvements herein described as applicable to bedsteads
and stretchers having tubular sides may also be used in connection with sides of
other sections. Instead of pins any other suitable means of securing the carriers.
might be used or spring fastenings may be employed.
Each leg or support is connected to the corresponding leg or support on the
opposite side of the frame or stretcher by a tie-rod so that each pair folds
simultaneously. The legs or supports b are attached to plugs or extensions a¹ from
the carriers or they might be otherwise attached to any suitable part of the carrier.
Our improved mode of mounting attaching and connecting the said folding legs or
supports enables us to construct a lighter cheaper and more stable bedstead or
stretcher than heretofore.
Under a modified and in some respects improved form of our invention as
illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 the carrier a instead of moving with the leg or support b

page_text: is rivetted or otherwise firmly attached to the tubular side c. The leg or support b
is hinged by a pivot pin h to lugs i on the lower side of the said fixed carrier a the
bottom of one side of the lugs being rounded as shown so as to enable the supports
to clear the sides as they turn on their pivots. The lugs i are drilled to receive a
stop pine attached by a chain to the carrier, the said pin passing through the lugs
and also through the hinged portion of the leg so that the leg is locked and held when
turned down. The leg may also be locked and held by the pine when folded
parallel with the side by providing a second hole in the leg joint which second
hole comes opposite to the pin hole in the carrier and so enables the pin e to lock
the leg in both positions. When erecting the bedstead, the locking pins are with-
drawn, the legs or supports are turned down and the locking pins e are replaced
thus securely holding the legs in position. To fold the legs parallel with the sides
the locking pins e are again withdrawn, the legs folded against the sides and the
locking pins again inserted thereby locking the folded up legs in position. When
so folded up the legs fold more closely and occupy less space than in the former
instance where the supporting carrier itself moves round with the legs.
j
In Figs. 6 and 7 the carrier a is rivetted securely to the tubular or other side c.
The carrier has lugs i as in the former case and the leg or support b is pivotted
thereto by a rivet which passes through the lugs and through the leg. The top
of the leg bis hollowed or shaped so as to fit the side c. When the leg is standing
at right angles to the side as in Fig. 6 it lies against an abutment in the carrier a
on one side and is supported by a removable pin e on the other side. By removing
the pin e the leg can be folded parallel with the side as shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 6. In addition to the aforesaid folding legs our invention also applies to bed-
steads or stretchers jointed in the centre so as to fold together as shown in Fig. 8.
To support the joints where the stretcher folds upon itself we apply cradles or
carriers a similar to those used in connection with the folding legs and hinge the
divided sides cc thereto. To secure the sides when extended we thrust pins e
through the cradles and through the sides or we may employ other means which will
maintain the sides in their extended position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. The employment of trough or other suitably shaped supports carriers or
cradles pivotted to the tubular or other shaped sides of mattress frames or
stretchers, and carrying the legs of such frames or stretchers and capable of being
turned upon the pivots so as to allow of the legs being folded parallel with the sides
substantially as described and shown.
2. The combination of the trough or other shaped pivotted carriers with means
such for example as the pins e for securing the pivotted carriers in position
substantially as described and shown.
3. The employment of trough or other .shaped carriers fixed to the tubular or
other sides of mattress frames or stretchers and having the supporting legs
pivotted thereto, the said pivotted legs being maintained in position by locking
pins or other suitable means substantially as described and shown.
4. In mattress frames and stretchers arranged to fold together, supporting the
hinges or joints of the folding sides by means of trough or other suitably shaped
cradles or supports substantially as described and as shown in Fig. 8 of the
drawings.
Dated this 1st day of December 1892.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.