Improvements in and relating to Metallic Bedsteads and Mattresses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1394
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Metallic Bedsteads and Mattresses.
JOSIAH BROOKES and HENRY JAMES BROOKES, both of the Cape Bedstead
Works, Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Metallic Bedstead Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in metallic bedsteads and mattresses for
attaching to same.
The sides of the bedsteads may be constructed of angle iron or tubes as usual.
Instead of the dovetail joints which are usually cast upon the sides we provide
dovetail joints with projecting pieces on the upper side of the joints. These
projecting pieces are provided with a transverse slot, thus allowing means of
adjustment to suit any variation in the width of the bedstead. The mattress
which is to be fixed to the bedstead is fitted with rigid ends, either wood or
metallic, as usual, and these ends are fitted on the outer face of the projecting
pieces. In order to 'keep the ends in position bolts are passed through same, and
also through the holes in the projecting pieces above mentioned, the whole being
screwed together and made rigid by means of nuts as usual. In some cases the
slot in the projecting pieces is T shape, the narrow portion extending to the top
Sometimes
of the projecting pieces so as to allow the bolt to drop through same.
the bolt is made with a wide shoulder which when passed into the transverse part
of the slot will prevent the ends of the mattress being pulled up through the
vertical part of the slot when in use. In some cases this shoulder is loose upon
the bolt, and is slipped on to same before the outer nut is screwed on to the bolt.
It is evident that having a T shaped slot obviates the necessity of removing the
bolts and nuts from the ends, thus preventing their getting lost in transit and use.
When a wood mattress is to be used in combination with a metallic bedstead,
and therefore wood sides are employed, we fix metallic dovetail joints on same in
the usual manner in order to attach the mattress to the bedstead. These dovetail
joints may be fixed on the extreme ends of the wood sides, or underneath the sides.
On the upper surface of the wood sides we fix projecting pieces to perform
functions corresponding to those above mentioned. These projecting pieces may
be of any convenient shape, and may be screwed to the wood sides by bolts or
The projecting pieces are provided with slots similar in shape to those
above mentioned, and the ends of the mattress are fixed to same in the manner
above described. When bedsteads are provided with extended foot ends these
projecting pieces are sometimes shaped so that they may extend or project
horizontally beyond those ends of the wood sides which are fixed to the foot ends.
In some cases the dovetail joints, and the projecting pieces, are combined in one
casting or shoe, which is fixed to the woed sides in the positions above described.
The upper projecting portion of these castings can be so made as to extend or
project horizontally so as to fill up the space ordinarily existing between the ends
of the mattress and the pillars when applied to extended foot ends.
screws.
In some cases the removable sides are dispensed with, and the whole of the frame
is fastened together. It is sometimes desirable that the ends of the bedstead
should also be attached to the frame so that the whole bedstead should be in one
piece, and at the same time allow the ends to be detached from the dovetail joints
while remaining attached to the frame, and also to allow the ends to be folded flat
on to the frame. To achieve this we attach a small bracket to the head and foot

page_text: angles or tubular ends of the frame at each corner. This bracket is provided with
an eye, and in this eye we fix the upper end of a metallic bar. The other end of
this bar has a long slot, and in this slot there is placed a bolt or other suitable
projecting piece. This bolt or projecting piece is secured to the legs of the
bedstead. When the ends have to be folded up they are removed from the
dovetail joints, the slots in the bar allowing this to be done, and they can then be
folded on to the frame as above stated.
Dated this 7th day of December 1894.
PIC Deusteaus and LTESSES.
JOSIAH BROOKES and HENRY JAMES BROOKES both of the Cape Bedstead
Works Smethwick, in the County of Stafford Metallic Bedstead Manufacturers,
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in metallic bedsteads and mattresses for
attaching to same.
The sides of the bedsteads may be constructed of angle iron or tubes as usual.
Instead of the dovetail joints which are usually cast upon the sides we provide
dovetail joints with projecting pieces on the upper side of the joints, these
projecting pieces are provided with a transverse slot, thus allowing means of
adjustment to suit any variation in the width of the bedstead. The mattress
which is to be fixed to the bedstead is fitted with rigid ends either wood or metallic
as usual, and these ends are generally fitted on the outer face of the projecting
pieces. In order to keep the ends in position bolts are passed through same and
also through the holes in the projecting pieces above-mentioned, the whole being
screwed together and made rigid by means of nuts as usual.
In some cases the slot in the projecting pieces is T shape, the narrow portion
extending to the top of the projecting pieces so as to allow the bolt to drop through
same. Sometimes the bolt is made with a wide shoulder which when passed into
the transverse part of the slot will prevent the ends of the mattress being pulled
up through the vertical part of the slot when in use. In some cases this shoulder
is loose upon the bolt and is slipped on to same before the outer nut is screwed on
to the bolt. It is evident that having a T shaped slot obviates the necessity of
removing the bolts & nuts from the ends, thus preventing them getting lost in
transit and use.
When a wood mattress is to be used in combination with a metallic bedstead and
therefore wood sides are employed, we fix metallic dovetail joints ou same, in order
to attach the mattress to the bedstead. These dovetail joints may be fixed on the
extreme ends of the wood sides or underneath the sides. On the upper surface of
the wood sides we fix projecting pieces to perform functions corresponding to those
above mentioned. These projecting pieces may be of any convenient shape and
may be secured to the wood sides by bolts or screws. The projecting pieces are
provided with slots similar in shape to those above mentioned and the ends of the
mattress are fixed to same in the manner above described.
When bedsteads are provided with extended foot ends these projecting pieces
are sometimes shaped so that they may extend or project horizontally beyond the
ends of the wood sides which are fixed to the foot ends. In some cases the dovetail
joint and the projecting pieces are combined in one casting or shoe, which is fixed
to the wood sides in the positions above described. The upper projecting portion.

page_text: of these castings can be so made as to extend or project horizontally so as to fill
up the space ordinarily existing between the ends of the mattress and the pillars
when applied to extended foot ends.
Although the mattress ends are frequently fitted to the outside of the projecting
pieces it is evident they can be equally well fitted to the inside of the said parts...
In this case the heads of the bolts are of course made to pull against the said
parts.
In some cases the removable sides are dispensed with and the whole of the frame.
is fastened together. It is sometimes desirable that the ends of the bedstead.
should also be attached to the frame so that the whole bedstead should be in one-
piece and at the same time allow the ends to be detached from the dovetail joints.
while remaining attached to the frame, and also to allow the ends to be folded flat
on to the frame. To achieve this we attach a small bracket to the head & foot
angles or tubular ends of the frame at each corner. This bracket is provided with
an eye, and in this eye we fix the upper end of a metallic bar. The other end of
this bar has a long slot, and in this slot there is place a bolt or other suitable
projecting piece. This bolt or projecting piece is secured to the legs of the
bedstead.
When the ends have to be folded up they are removed from the dovetail joints,
the slots in the bars allowing this to be done, and they can then be folded on to the
frame as above stated.
The invention will be understood by reference to the drawings which accompany
this Specification.
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation, Figs. 2.3 & 4 show end elevations of the improved
arrangement.
at
The dovetail joint is at A with the vertical projecting piece b. This projecting
piece is provided in some instances with a transverse slot C and in other instances
with a slot d. The mattress ends are fixed to the faces of the said projecting
pieces generally on the outside faces, bolts being passed through the projecting
pieces as shown at Fig. 3. These bolts are sometimes made with a wide shoulder,
or such wide shoulder is sometimes inserted loose on the bolts as shown at f Fig. 3..
When the mattress ends are fitted to the insides of the projecting pieces the bolt
head as shown at y Fig. 4 pulls against the projecting piece. In this case we
prefer to form a recess around the hole on the outside face of the casting as shown
y such recess being to receive the head of bolt and thus preventing any change
of position when the bolt is once placed in position and the stretch of the mattress
has forced the bolt into position. When wood sides are used the projecting pieces
are sometimes made separate from the dovetail joints as shown at h and Figs. 5, 6,
& 7 the castings being secured to the wood side by one or more bolts. Fig. 8 is a
front view of this arrangement. In other cases a portion of the mattress side is.
cut away so as to bring the upper edge of the projecting piece & of the side as
shown at K Figs. 6 & 9. Figs. 7. 11 & 13 show a method by which the mattress
may be made to come quite close to the foot pillars even if the bedstead is fitted
with what is known in the trade as an extended foot end. The upper projecting
piece is placed horizontally in advance of the dovetail as shown at Fig. 11
& 13 and this can be so adjusted that no space is left between the foot pillars and
the foot end of the mattress. Figs. 9. 10. 11. 12 & 13 show the method of
applying our invention where the dovetail joints and the projecting piece are
combined in one casting or shoe. Figs. 9. 10, 11 & 13 being side views, and Fig. 12
being a front view. The projecting pieces in some cases are flush with the dovetail
joints and in other cases they project horizontally as shown in Fig. 13.
Fig. 14 shows the head or foot of a bedstead which is attached to the angles or
tubular ends of the frame M by means of the bars N. These bars are jointed at
the top end to small brackets Ŏ which project from the end of the frame M as
shown at p Fig. 15. The lower end of these bars is provided with long slots r.
These slots work upon studs or projecting pieces S fixed in the pillars t. Each
corner of the frame and each pillar is provided with the arrangement as shown at

page_text: Fig. 14, which applies equally to head & foot of the bedstead. When the bedstead
has to be folded up the head & foot ends are removed from the dovetail joints, the
slots in the bars allowing this to be done. The ends being quite free to move on
the bars they can be readily folded on to the top of the frame, thus occupying
much less space, while as there are no loose pieces it is impossible that auy portion
of the bedstead should be lost.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The construction of mattresses and bedsteads with the vertical projecting
pieces in which transverse and tee shaped slots are employed as shewn in
Figs. 2. 3. & 4 or any modification of same which allows side adjustment and the
insertion of bolts from the top of the castings as in Figs. 3 & 4.
2. The use of the recess formed in the vertical projecting pieces to fix bolts in
position as shewn Fig. 4 and described herein, or any modification thereof.
3. The construction of mattresses and bedsteads with the vertical projecting
piece made to project horizontally beyond the end of the side, either when such
projecting piece is separately fixed to the side or when it is combined with the
dovetail in one casting or shoe, substantially as described in the foregoing
Specification or any modification thereof.
4. The construction of mattresses and bedsteads in which the sides are allowed
to project over or beyond the dovetail joint, either in combination with or without
the vertical projecting piece as described in the foregoing Specification.
5. The construction of bedsteads the head and foot ends of which fold on to the
top of the bedstead or mattress frame by means of the slotted bars N the brackets O
and studs S Fig. 14 as herein.described.
Dated this 6th day of September 1895.
HENRY JAMES BROOKES,
JOSIAH BROOKES,
Applicants.