CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN OR BELONGING TO METALLIC BEDSTEADS, A PORTION OF WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER ARTICLES OF METALLIC FURNITURE
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WALTER WINFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchant
and Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Twenty-second day of March, in the fourth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert
Walter Winfield, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
Robert Walter Winfield, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times hereafter during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN OR BELONGING TO METALLIC
BEDSTEADS, A PORTION OF WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER ARTICLES OF METALLIC
FURNITURE;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that
I, the said Robert Walter Winfield, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in
Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as upon
reference thereunto will fully appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Walter Winfield, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
The nature of my said Invention consists in various improved modes of
constructing the connecting joints of metallic bedsteads, and other framed
metallic furniture; also in peculiar modes of applying' certain materials in
the, manufacture of the said bedsteads and furniture, also in certain new
methods of stretching or arranging the sackings (or substitutes for sackings)
of bedsteads; also certain improvements in the construction or combination
of castors for metallic bedstends and furniture, all of which I will proceed to
describe consecutively in detail. First, as relates to the connecting joints; these
may be conveniently arranged under the following heads:-First, those with
wrought-iron corner pieces, adapted to solid frames and pillars; second, those
with cast-iron corner pieces, adapted to solid frames and pillars; third, those
with wrought-iron corner pieces, adapted to tubular frames and pillars; fourth,
"those with cast-iron corner pieces, adapted to
to tubular frames and pillars fifth,
7.7.
various connecting joints, adapted to angle iron frames, &c.
First, connecting joints made with wrought-iron corner pieces, adapted to
"solid frames and pillars, hich are illustrated by the "Sheet of Drawings
marked A. Figures 1 to 4 are explanatory of a joint of a simple and cheap
construction; hence I apply it usually in the fabrication of stump and 'other
common bedsteads.
Figure 1 is a plan, shewing "one of 'the end and side rails of the horizontal
frame connected to one of the pillars, posts, or legs of a bedstead; Figure 2
exhibits a vertical and longitudinal section made in the direction of the dotted
line a, b, on the plan Figure 3; A is an elevation of a leg or pillar"only;
Figure 4 shews by a transverse section the form of the rods or bars I frequently
use in the construction of the horizontal frames of common bedsteads. "Two
of the sides of each pillar or leg are forged or otherwise reduced to flat faces
at right angles to each other, as shewn at c, c. These flat faces are to receive
the ends of the horizontal rails d and e, which are made of iron b
bars, of the
form delineated at Figure 4, wherein f represents the common round rod, and
g a lateral feather, which I denominate the sacking" flange," as it affords a
complete and efficient means of lashing with the cords passed through it, and
likewise of preventing flexure of the rails by the tension of the sacking o
laths. Each end of this flanged iron is forged to a flat surface, as shewn at
1
or

page_text: h, h, so as to fit against the faces c, c, of the pillars, the ridges i, i, of which
tend to support and keep them steady after they have. been firmly screwed up
by the screws j, j, which pass through.the holes k,-k, and are screwed into the
solid metal of the horizontal rails; Figure 3, B shews an improvement upon
the corner piece represented at Figure 3, A being so. forged that the holes for
the screws may be in the centres of the frame rods instead of being near the
outsides, as seen in Figures.2; Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are illustrative of another
connecting joint of simple construction; Figure 5 being a plan; Figuré 6, a per-
spective sketch
the joint of a pillar; Figure 7, a side elevation; and Figure
8, a section of the bars of. the horizontal frame. At a, a, is a portion of the
pillar, forged out of a square bar; b, c, shew the recesses made in the square
bar for the reception of the flanged or flattened ends of the frame rods d'and e,
the end of a fitting the recess 6, wherein it. is made fast by a screw f, which
is passed through the hole g, and screwed into a tappet hole in the frame rod d.
In like manner the end of e fits into the recess c, wherein it is made fast by a
screw h, which is passed through.the hole i, and is screwed into the solid metal
of the rod e. The parts are thus.drawn together with great force, and all
lateral shake is prevented by the abutting of the opposite faces in the angles
of the rebates ("rabbits.") By the transverse section given in Figure 8, it
will be seen that in addition to the "sacking flange "k on one side of the rod j,
there is a depending feather or rib i, which is designed to prevent flexure of
the rod downward by the pressure of a weight above, which it of course does
very effectively; Figures 9 and 10, are explanatory of a. third kind of wrought-
iron joint, Figure 9 being a perspective view of a portion of the pillar, and
Figure 10 a plan of the joint in connection with the side rails of the horizontal
frame. a, a, is the pillar; b, c,. the corner piece, and .d, d, collars, above and
below. e, f rails of the horizontal frame, to the ends of which are forged the
rectangular clips g, g, and h, h, which fit against the. faces b, c, of the corner
piece, their backs coming flush with the edges of the collars' d, d; i and jare
screws which pass through both clips, the holes k; 1, and are screwed into
the solid metal of, the rails e and f. By this arrangement it is. obvious
that a great degree of solidity and firmness is obtained.
The construction of a fourth kind of wrought-iron joint is illustrated by
the, Figures 11 and 12, Figure 11 shewing the .pillar separately, and 12 its
combination with the horizontal frame. The pillar a, a, is forged at the joint
into a flat piece b, and a solid collar c is; formed beneath. To the end of the
rod dof the frame is forged a double clip e, which embrace each side of the
flat piece of the pillar, fitting under the rebate f, and resting upon the collar c.
The end of the frame rod g is flattened, so as to face against one side of the

page_text: clip e, and the vertical face h of the collar c; a bolt i is then passed through.
the clip, the hole j of the pillar, and screwed into the solid metal of the rod g,
by which all is made very fast. A fifth kind of wrought-iron joint is delineated
in Figures 13 and 14; Figure 13 is a perspective sketch of the solid pillar, to
which is forged two square collars a, a, and a flattened corner piece 6 between
them, having a screw hole c made through it. At Figure 14 are shewn the
two rods d and e of the horizontal frame; that marked d is furnished with.a
double clip ff, which embraces the two sides of the corner piece, and is fixed
thereto by a bolt g, which passes through the hole c and is screwed into the
solid rail e. The collars a, a, have only three of their sides projecting beyond
the pillar, by which means the ends of the clip are made to lie.flush with the
fourth side h.
Second, connecting joints with cast-iron corner pieces adapted to solid frames
and pillars, illustrated by the Sheet of Drawings marked B. Figure 15 is an
elevation of the leg of a stump bedstead, and Figure 16 is a horizontal section
of the frame and leg. At a is the cast-iron corner piece, fixed to the top of
the leg b, and c is an ornamental boss, cast on the top of the corner piece. (In
the case of using pillars or posts, I substitute the boss c by an ornamental
collar.) dande are cavities for the reception of the ends of the frame rods f
and 9, shewn on the plan, which are secured by screws h and i, as already
sufficiently explained in the previous descriptions. Figures 17, 18, and 19 are
illustrative of another cast-iron corner piece and its connections. Figure 17
shews perspectively one view of the corner piece; in the centre is a hole a,
through which is forcibly drawn the rod or pillar b; c, d shews a recess, formed
out of the two sides of the square, for the reception of the rectangular flange
f, e, of the frame rod g, shewn in the horizontal section, Figure 19. Figure 18
shews perspectively a view of the opposite corner or sides h, i, of the square
block; j, k, are the cavities for the reception of the rectangular flange l, m, of
the frame rod n in Figure 19. The mode of fastening these flanges to the
corner pieces and to the frame rods has already been fully explained, and is
clearly indicated in Figure 19. Figures 20 and 21 are explanatory of a third
kind of corner pieces, adapted to receive a double or forked clip and plate,
with a single screw to secure them both. Figure 20 shews the corner piece
in perspective; the recess a and that part of the other recess marked b, b, being
for the reception of the forked clip c, c, of the frame, shewn in the horizontal
section (taken in the direction of the plane indicated by the dotted line x,,)
while the other part of the recess d, d, receives the flange e of the frame. At
fis the screw by which the whole joint is secured. Figures 22 and 23 exhibit
a plan and perspective view of a cast-iron corner piece (on a scale of half

page_text: the real size, lineal measure), having holes of a suitable form (that of the
transverse section) to receive the ends of the iron rods with the lateral sacking
flanges, delineated in Figures 4, 10, 12, &c. in the Sheet of Drawings marked
A. At a, a, are the holes or recesses; b, b, the flanged rods of the frame fitted
into the holes; c, c, the heads of screws, which screws pass through the corner
pieces, and are tapped into the solid rods, and draw them up tightly in the
recesses a, a.
At d is a vertical hole for the reception and fixing of the pillar.
Figures 24 and 25 exhibit a plan and perspective view on the same scale as
the last mentioned, of another cast-iron corner piece, having holes adapted to
receive the ends of the iron rods, having two flanges at right angles to each
other, as delineated at Figures 5, 7, 8, in the Sheet of Drawings marked A..
The combinations of the framing with the corner piece and pillar are too
obvious in the Drawing taken in connection with the preceding description to
need more explanation.
The foregoing examples of casting (or otherwise forming) the corner pieces
of metallic bedsteads must be only considered as illustrative of a system of
jointing or connecting the metallic frames to the corner pieces, by making holes
or recesses in the latter of the same configuration as the cross section of the
iron or other material employed in the construction of the framing, let the
shape of the latter be what it may.
Third, connecting joints made with wrought-iron corner pieces, and adapted
to bedsteads made of tubes, illustrated by the Sheet of Drawings marked C.
Figures 26 and 27 shew two sections of a wrought-iron joint with square plates.
Figures 26 being a horizontal section of the frame and joint, and Figure 27 a
vertical section of the pillar, joint, and frame. At a, a, are the tubes (which
may be the single or the double, commonly called cased tubes,) which form the
pillar fixed to the corner piece by means of solder, by the pins b, b, passing
through them and the plugs c, c, which plugs are forged in one with the corner
piece d. At e and f are the tubes of the frame, to which are pinned and
soldered the plugs g and h. To the ends of these plugs are forged the flanges
i and j, which fit into corresponding recesses formed in the corner piece;
k and are the screws by which all are bound firmly together; m and n are
ornamental mouldings to the pillars; and o, o, the ferrules to the frame tubes.
Figures 28 and 29 represent the application of tubes to wrought-iron joints,
combined with rectangular clips, whereof 28 is a perspective sketch, and
29 a cross section. At a and b are the tubes pinned through the plugs c and d,
to which are forged the rectangular clips e and f, which fit against the faces
g and h, between the square collars i, i, and are fastened by the screws j, j ;
k, k, are ornamental brass ferrules. Figure 30 exhibits a perspective sketch,

page_text: and Figure 31 a vertical section of a' wrought joint, wherein the frame is
united to the pillar by means of a forked clip and flange, drawn together by a
single screw. At'a, a, is represented the pillar' or post formed of tubes; to
connect the upper with the lower piece, iron plugs 6,6, ate forged in one with
the top and bottoni flanges of the corner piece c, c; over thesec plugs, the tubes
are put and soldered and pinned together, after which they are further secured
by external ferrules d, d. Each of the rails or tubes of the frame are provided
with similar plugs; that in the tubee has forged to it a flange f, and that' in
the tube 9 (seen only in the perspective, is provided with the forked' clip'h, h,
the screw i being employed to draw up all firmly together. Figure 32' exhibits
a vertical section of a joint, like the last described, but applied to a' bedstead' of
a large size. a, a, shews the upper and lower tube constituting the pillar,
which are connected by the plugs b, b, forged on to the corner pièce c;,; c; à, à,
is the forked clip, and e the flange of the frame; f is the connecting screw;
9, 9, are ornamental mouldings.
.
Fourth, connecting joints with cast-iron corner pieces adapted to bedsteads
made of tubes, illustrated by the Sheet of Drawings marked D. Figures 34'
and 35 exhibit a vertical section and plan of a pillar and frame tube, with a
cast-iron corner piece and square plates. a is the upper tube; b; the lower;
c, the connecting plug; and d, d, ornamental mouldings to the pillar; e, e, are
the tubes of the frame; fif, plugs with rectangular flanged plates g, g, forged
thereto, that fit the rectangular recesses in the corner piece, wherein they are
secured by screws h, h, in the manner before described; and as evidenced in
the Figures. Figures 36 and 37 are illustrations of the application of a cast-
iron joint with rectangular clips to tubular pillars and frames; Figure 36 being
a perspectivė sketch of the corner piece and pillar; and 37, a horizontal section
of the joint. At a and b are the tubes of the pillar; c and d, recesses of the
corner piece, wherein are fitted the rectangular clips f, g, of the frame tubes
h, i; land m are the screws to fasten the whole together; o; o, little screws
for fixing the ornamental caps p. Figures 38 and 39 shew the double clip
and. flange joint in combination with a cast-iron corner piece and tubular
pillars and frame, 38 being a vertical section of the pillar and one rail of the
frame; and 39, a horizontal section through the tubes and corner piece. a is
the upper tube of the pillar, and the lower tube of tlie same, 'connected
together by a wrought-iron plug c, c, made to fit the two different dimensions
of the tubes;, it is soldered and pinned through at d, d. The pillar thus
united is passed through the corner piece c, in which is formed a hole of two
suitable diameters to fit it accurately. To one of the two rails or tubes of the
frame which meet at each corner of the bedstead, is fitted a forged 'plug f

page_text: furnished with a flange g; and to the other tube is fitted. a plug h, on which is
forged the forked clip .i; i. A stout screw j is employed.in the manner before.
described, to draw up all the parts together.
Fifth, various connecting, joints, adapted, to angle-iron frames, &c., illustrated.
by the Sheet, of Drawings marked E. Figures 40, 41, and 42. are illustrative
of the combination of cast-iron corner pieces with a frame made of angle iron;
Figure 40 is a perspective sketch of the corner piece and pillar; Figure 41
is a section in the horizontal, plane, indicated by. the dotted lines a, x; and
Figure 42 shews a transverse section of, the angle iron. To the ends of the
angle iron frame a, a, are welded, cubical pieces. of., metal b, b, the projecting
extremities c, c, of which are squared to fit exactly into the recesses d, d, of
the corner pieces. The cubical pieces b, b, are also tapped to receive the
threads of the screws, e, e, by which all the parts are firmly united together.
Figure 43 is explanatory of another peculiar joint combined with an
angle, iron frame. a and b represent the latter, having solid masses of irön
c, d, welded to their ends; one of these, c, has a square projection e, which
fits into a corresponding recess made in the corner piece f. The other
solid mass d has also a square abutting piece. 9, from the middle of, which
there proceeds a flattened piece h, having a hole at i, through which a bolt j
is passed, and is screwed into the solid mass c, by which arrangement it
evident the pillar and the frame are bound firmly together, Figüre 44
shows an arrangement wherein the pillar is. formed of two tubes a and b
of different diameters, fitting closely one within the other. The combined
tubes are next forced by the process of drawing through the centre hole
of the corner piece d, thereby compressing and reducing the tubes in their
sectional area a little, also producing thereby such a forcible contact and
adhesion between the pillar and the frame as to be absolutely immovable
by the application of any ordinary force. The frame e, f, to this pillar is of
angle iron, provided with square abutting plates like those. last 'described,
which will therefore need no further explanation.
From the illustrations already given of the application of frames made of
angle iron to square or plate. joints, it will be easy to conceive that the solid
lumps which are welded to the ends of the horizontal rails may have rectangular
or double clips welded to them, and that so provided they are applicable to the
several joints already delineated under other combinations; I shall therefore
close this part of my subject by reference to Figure 45, which represents a
perspective sketch of a piece of angle iron a, to the lump 6, which is welded a
rectangular clip c, as shewn in full lines. It is also obvious from the same

page_text: Figure that by the addition of the dotted lines at d a forked or double clip is
produced. Figure 46 is, explanatory of a fourth kind of cast-iron joint,
adapted to tubular bedsteads of that kind denominated portable, on account of
their being constructed so as to be capable of being easily taken to pieces and
assembled into a close compact body. At a, a, is the cast-iron corner piece,
having recesses at the sides of a suitable depth and breadth for the reception
of a double clip b, b, before explained, which is attached to one of the side rods
of the frame, but is hidden from. view by the figure. One of the said recesses
is likewise adapted for the reception of the square plate c, attached to the
other side rod d of the frame. At e is a cylindrical iron plug, made fast to the
tubular leg f, and having at g a square flange, which fits into a corresponding
recess; in the corner piece above this flange the plug re-assumes the cylindrio
form, and fits into a corresponding hole made in the corner piece, and the
upper end of the plug is formed into a hollow screw. At h is the tubular
pillar, which is made fast to a cylindric iron plug i, having at its lower end a
solid screw j, which screw by means of a square head at k, k, is turned by a
spanner and screwed fast into the hollow screw. Thus the pillar is readily
connected to or disconnected from the leg, and by means of screwing or un-
screwing the bolt 7, both rods of the frame are speedily attached or detached,
as before mentioned.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements in the method of stretching
or arranging the sackings of bedsteads, and, firstly, those of the cloth kind,
which I have illustrated by the Sheet of Drawings marked F. Figure 48
exhibits the lower portion of a metallic bedstead, the four sides of the frame
of which is constructed with ribbed or flanged rods a¹, a³, a³, a', which are of
the kind before noticed; to those parts are added at each end a round rod b
and c, which may be solid, and turn upon their axes d and e, or they may be
tubes turning freely upon central rods. Above the latter at the head of the
bedstead there is a flanged rod 9, and another hat the foot. These are
formed at their ends into stout collars or rings i, i, which are passed down
over the pillars and the squares j, j, and lodged upon the collars k, k, which
collar are forged solid with the top of the pillars. Two of the pillars, and m
(for example), are divided near their middles into two parts, in the manner
shewn by the dotted lines p, being the lower end of the upper portion of the
pillar m, and q the upper end of the lower portion of the same pillar. On
the end P. is cut a solid screw, which works in a hollow screw tapped in the
end . The same arrangement exists in the pillar l, though not delineated,
and these parts are hidden by an ornamental ferrule outside it. Let the

page_text: screw in each pillar be supposed to be screwed down to their lowest extent,
and it be required to put on and stretch the sacking. First, the tension rod
g is lifted off the pillare l and m, and passed through the loop r of the sacking
s; the other end of the sacking s' is then passed upwards between the frame
rod a' and the rollar b, and pulled onward to the other end of the frame,
where it is passed downward between the roller c and the frame rod a³, after-
wards pulled upward at the back, and attached by the straps t, t, to the
tension rail upon which it is strained, and the straps buckled next the straps
v, v, and u, u, are brought into action to stretch the sacking transversely by
straining it against the frame rods a³ and a', whereto they are readily secured
by the buckles. This being done, a spanner is applied to the square j, j, of
the pillars d and m to turn back the screws at p, which of course irrisistably
raise the tension rod g, and gives it the final strain. When the sacking by
the operation of time and use becomes relaxed, it is very readily tightened
by turning in the screws at p, drawing up the sacking by the straps and
buckles, and then raising the tension rod g by turning back the screws
at p. Figure 49 is explanatory of another mode of stretching the sackings
of bedsteads. In this case the sacking is of greater area than the frame
a¹, a², a³, a', over which on all sides it extends a few inches, pieces at the
corners being cut out to make it lie smooth over the cylindrical surfaces of
the frame rails, made of the kind of iron represented at Figure 48.
61, 62, 63, 6, are four other tension rails screwed to the four pillars, which
while they give an uncommon degree of stiffness to the whole structure, serve
the purpose of distending the sacking and securely attaching it thereto. Now,
there are two modes of producing these effects, represented in the same
Figure 49, merely by way of illustration. One mode consists in sewing the
straps and buckles to the sacking, as shown at a¹³, then passing the straps.
round the tension bar b', putting the ends through the buckles, and therewith
drawing the sacking down tightly. The other mode is shewn on the side a¹.
and 6, whereat the sacking edge is formed into a.loop, and a rod or tube c is
inserted therein. The straps are then passed round the tube c, and the
tension bar pulled tight and buckled. Figure 50 is explanatory of a more
mechanical and efficient mode of distending a sacking of the form of the last
described. In this case the lowermost rails 6 are entirely dispensed with.
Let s represent a piece of the sacking lying over the top of the frame rail a,
and having a loop at c, iuto which is passed a tension rail d, the extremity e
of which is forked to clip the leg or pillar f, and slide up and down against it
at g. The rod d is spread out and tapped through to receive the screw h,
At

page_text: which, turns, in a pivot hole made, in the rail A, both, ends of each side of, the
frame, being provided in a similar way to that represented. It will be obvious.
that by turning the screws h backwards, the tension rail will be forced down-
ward, drawing the sacking with it,, and, thereby, distend it to, any. degree. within.
the limits of its strength.
The Diagram-marked 5.1 .is, illustrative, of another method, of producing
the, same effect, but with a simpler and more stable, arrangement of parts
than in the last, described. & represents the sacking; a, the top, fixed, rail.;,
and b,,the, lower sliding rail; & is the leg, the, upper, part of which for, three.
or four inches in length is cut into a screw, and is provided with, a travelling.
nut or bar e, ff, represent the forked rod of the cross rail at the head or
foot of the bedstead. In this position of the parts, suppose, a, spanner, to be.
applied to the nut e, it irresistably forces down both the tension sliding, rails.
6. and f, and thereby stretches the sacking in both directions, at the same time.
The reduced diameter of the leg below, the screw is made up by putting over.
it a tube as a case, as partly shewn at 9. Figure 52 exhibits a skeleton
sketch of a bedstead,, to. which is applied a sacking a. By suspending it to a
tension rail bin such manner that it may be readily elevated or depressed.to, the
desired angle or curve, that portion towards the feet being fastened by straps
or any convenient manner. When a person lies upon the sacking, which has
been suspended as represented, its surface undulates by the pressure, and
comes into contact with a considerable surface of the body, hence subduing in
a great measure the sensation of hardness, and becoming a desirable couch
under many. circumstances; this mode of suspending is not, however, confined
to a simple sacking. The cloth may be doubled, and stuffed or padded, so as
to accommodate in any manner the more tender limbed, the Invention con-
sisting not in the material or substance, but in the construction of metallic
bedsteads or couches provided with such a facility as has been described, for
suspending a sacking, mattress, squab, or any other flexible material.
The following methods of distending the sackings or metallic substitutes for
the same are illustrated by the Sheet of Drawings marked G:--The first of
these which I shall notice is a modification of the common stretcher, technically
so called by manufacturers of metallic bedsteads, though it is rather of the
nature of A HOLDFAST. It consists usually of a curved bar extending from
side to side, or from head to foot of the frame, and its office is to prevent the
opposite sides from collapsing, owing to the force of tension of the sacking or
bottom of the bedstead. The object of the improvement is to give it the
faculty of a stretcher as well as the name. Figure 53 represents a portion of

page_text: the stretcher, divided at the middle into two parts a and b.; these ends are cut.
into-screws, one right and the other left handed. c is a connecting screw,
being cut for nearly one half its length with a right-handed hollow screw, and
the other with a left-handed one. The outside of the connecter is made
hexagonal, as shown by the end view at Figure 54, so that it may be turned
either by the hand or by a spanner, for the purpose of dilating or contracting.
the stretcher. Figure 55 exhibits a vertical section, and Figure 56 an end.
view, of the application of a screw' motion to one or both ends of the ordinary,
střetclier or holder. At a is one of the frame rails: made of tubes, around.
which is fixed a stout ring b; having a lug c; through this lug, is passed a
stout screw d, which enters the tapped hole of the stretcher e; that end of d
which passes through the lug has a square / screwed on to it for being taken.
hold of by a spanner. Now, there being two fixed collars at f, g,. the screw
can have no motion longitudinally, but merely turns round; consequently the
effect of. such turning round in one direction must be to increase the space
between the lug and the stretcher, and as these are united to lengthen in effect
the stretcher, and by turning the screw in the reverse direction to diminish the
aforesaid space, which in effect shortens the stretcher.
Figure 57 shows a modification of the last-described contrivance, which differs
from it only in shape, and not at all in action. At a is the frame rail passing.
through a rectangular block b. The end of the stretcher c is formed into a
hollow screw d, and a solid screw e is made to operate upon it, as in the last
described, to dilate or contract the stretcher. Figure 58 is a plan of one
corner of the franic of a metallic bedstead; and Figure 59 is a vertical section,
taken in the direction of the dotted line a, a, marked on the plan. The object
of this arrangement of parts is to give to the screws which are employed to
connect the pillars or posts to the frame the faculty of stretching the sacking
also. At a and b is represented the pillar formed of tubes, and having a plug
c of suitable diameters to give solidity to the same at its corner piece. e, f, is a
stout ferrule, which may be either screwed into or cast in one with the corner
picce. The part f is bored out, so that the end of the frame rail g may slide
accurately therein. h is one of the screws of the pillar; (it is made in all
respects the same as in the last described, except as to dimensions); it enters
the fixed plug of the sliding rail g, causing it by turning in one direction to
make the rail recede from the pillar, and by turning it in the other direction
to make it approach to the pillar. In putting up a bedstead so constructed,
the screws at each corner are to be screwed home as usual, after which the
sacking may be put on in the usual manner, but without the necessity of

page_text: drawing it very tight. All is now done but stretching out the sacking, which
is effected with the greatest ease by merely turning the corner screws in a
backward direction, which expands the frame of the bedstead in both directions,
and consequently produces any degree of tension of the sacking that may be
required. In the case, however, of applying the said means to metallic
sackings or bottoms to bedsteads, the range of motion need not be more than
half an inch, for which a suitable cavity may be made in the corner piece
itself. The expanding of the bed frame to the extent of several inches, of
course entails the necessity of expanding the frame of the tester, and this
expansion is effected by precisely the same means as have been specified with
respect to the bed frame; it will, therefore, be quite unnecessary to describe them.
It will be proper to mention that the various connecting joints which I have
specified as applied to the bed frame, are equally applicable for combining the
frame of the tester; to render this obvious I have given a single illustration in
Figure 60, which is a perspective sketch of two angles of the tester. At a
and bare the pillars c, c, one of the end rails & and e, two of the side rails. To
the two last-mentioned rails is fixed the double clip f,f, and to the rail C is
fixed the plate g. h is the screw which passes through all and completes tho
joint, which has been minutely described and delineated in the previous part of
this document. Instead of fixing castors of the ordinary kind, consisting of
one or two wheels running upon the floor to the bottom of the pillars, posts,
or legs of metallic furniture, I prefer the use in some cases of three, four,
or more wheels or castors connected to one revolving frame, especially to
furniture of a very heavy description, on account of the tendency which such
a combination possesses of throwing the entire pressure arising from the weight
upon a more extended surface of the floor.
In the Sheet of Drawing marked H, Figures 61 and 62 afford an illus-
tration of this combination, 61 being an elevation, and 62 a vertical and
diametrical section. At a, a, a, are represented three out of four castors, the
vertical pins b, b, b, on which they turn being passed through an annular plate
c, c, which projects equatorially around the interior of a dome-shaped case d, in
the top of which a strong screw e is passed to secure it to the furniture. Figure
63 shows the same arrangement of castors, but fixed at the end of a cross frame.
In the previous part of my Specification I have described two kinds of
cylindrical iron bars with lateral ribs, and the uses to which they are there
applied. Those materials are original, and are exclusively claimed by me for
the fabrication of metallic bedsteads and other framed metallic furniture, in
the construction of which it will sometimes be advisable to place the ribs in

page_text: positions different to those represented, in order to counteract the effect of
strains. A third kind of material which I find to be advantageous in the
construction of metallic bedsteads, consists in taking rods or bars of iron and
subjecting them, after preparing the surface (as may be found necessary), to
the operation of drawing between plates, that is to say, to the same process as
that by which wire is drawn, only that the force employed must be greater in
proportion to the surface acted upon, or the velocity must be proportionally
reduced. The effect thus produced upon the rods is of course similar to that
produced upon drawn wire, the asperities of the surface being removed or
levelled, the cylindrical figure improved, and the whole surface brightened; no
precise rule can or need be given in performing this operation, as the degree
of finish produced by one, two, or more drawings of the rods through. the plates
depends upon the quality of the iron, the condition of its surface, and other
circumstances, which workers in metal will readily appreciate and be guided
by. The process I have now described is or may be known and practised
by other persons; but what is decidedly novel, and highly efficacious in the
manufacture of metallic bedsteads, is to complete the operation of drawing by
substituting the corner piece for the draw plate, and by thus powerfully
forcing the smooth bright rod or pillar of the bedstead through the hole of the
corner piece, the latter becomes very closely fitted and firmly fixed in its place,
after which it may be pinned, if required. A fourth kind of material which I
employ in the construction of metallic bedsteads, consists in covering bars,.
rods, or cylinders of iron with an external drawn case, made of brass or some
other comparatively soft and ductile metal or alloy. This operation of casing
solid rods is not new, but the novelty of my plan consists in taking a rod that
is so cased and "drawing" over it the corner piece of a metallic bedstead,
which makes an exact fit, and causes it to be firmly fixed in its place, after
which it may be pinned through for further security.
Having now fully explained the nature of my improvements in or belonging
to metallic bedsteads, and having particularly set forth the manner in which
I carry the said improvements into effect, I desire that it shall be clearly
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form or construction of
the parts described, as the same may be varied without departing from the
principle of their construction; but what I do claim as original under my
Patent are as follows:-
First, I claim all the connecting joints I have described and illustrated by
the various figures, not merely as relates to their adaptation to the several
kinds of materials mentioned, or other combinations therewith; but I claim

page_text: the said joints under every combination of which they may be susceptible,
when applied in the fabrication of metallic bedsteads or other articles of
metallic furniture.
Second, I claim the application of round iron with one or more lateral
feathers or ribs, in the construction of bedsteads and metallic furniture.
Third, I claim the-disposition of a-sacking to a bedstead,.as. delineated.in
Figure 48, and all such modifications of the same wherein the sacking is
distended. at the head and foot (one or both), so as to form in effect a. head or
'foot board.
Fourth, I claim the arranging of the sackings. of bedsteads, by drawing the
same entirely over the bed frames; and I claim not only the several methods
or apparatus.described, by which the tightening or stretching of the sacking is
'therein produced, but every means by which the sacking so arranged or disposed
may be tightened.
Fifth, I claim the mode of suspending a sacking, delineated in Figure 52,
and whatever may be the article,.material, or substance that may be employed
in lieu of the ordinary cloth sacking.
'Sixth, I claim the several modes described and delineated of forming, ex-
panding; and contracting stretchers or holders, as explained with reference.to
Figures 55, 56, 57.
'Seventh, I claim that application of screws to the corner pieces of metallic
bedsteads, by which they may be expanded..or contracted in length and in
breadth, whether the.:said, screws. be made to operate, upon the bed frame, or
the tester, and whether the said screws be applied to, cloth.sackings or other
'substitutes for.the.same.
Eighth, I claim the application of three, four, or more wheels to castors
mounted in a single revolving frame, which is illustrated in Figures 61, 62, 63.
Ninth, I claim that process of constructing metallic bedsteads by which the
corner pieces are forced into their required positions,.by the operation denomi-
nated "drawing" when.applied to drawn rods, or to rods that have been cased
with another metallic-substance.
And such..my Invention-being, to the best..of my knowledge.and belief
entirely new, and never before. practised .in .this kingdom, I declare. it to be
my intention to maintain an exclusive privilege for.the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rob Walter Winfield,.,have. hereunto set
. my+
hand and. seal, this 21 day..of: September;, in the year. Eighteen
hundred and.forty-one.
.
ROBERT WALTER. (L.s.) WINFIELD.
.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1841, the aforesaid Robert Walter Winfield came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.