A New or Improved Folding Combination Bedstead.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Folding Combination Bedstead.
I WILLOUGHBY EDWARD BRYAN of Eastlands House Basingstoke in the County
of Hants Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide bedsteads which are more especially.
intended for use on emergency where sleeping accommodation is required for several
persons in a restricted floor space and which can be folded up to occupy but little
room when not required for use. The bedsteads made according to this Invention
are adapted to be used one above the other in tiers each consisting of a framing mado
by longitudinal or side members jointed or hinged together at or about the mid
portion of the length so that one part can be folded upon the other part and when
opened out they may be kept in position by a bolt or bolts or other fastenings. The
said longitudinal or side members are connected by transverse stretcher rods pre-
ferably secured by nuts and screws. On centres which may be projecting ends of the
stretcher rods are mounted at each side and near to the centre cross legs centred
where they cross and secured in place by means of a cross hook or the like. The
stretcher rods at each end can project to form the centres upon which are mounted
the end logs. The top of the lower bed or beds may have studs or projections and the
legs of the upper bod or beds be formed with recesses in their ends or of tubes to take
over the said studs or projections and keep the upper bed or beds in place.
The following is a more particular description of the arrangement I prefer although
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself, to the precise details hereinafter
described. The four sides of each hed are formed of four pieces of wood joined
underneath by a hinge in the centre enabling the bed to fold on the said hinges and
when the bed is extended being secured by a strong bolt under over or at the side of
each hinge. On either side of the hinge are two cross rods screwed at the ends and
with nuts inside and outside of the wood to strengthen and keep the frame in its place
on the outside of each of these two rods, are fixed on a pivot two iron or steel light
legs the lower ones resting on the floor and secured by a cross hook from each the
upper ones formed of hollow tube, resting on a small spike fixed in the wood work of
the lower bed, all these legs will fold up with the bed. The bottom of each bed may
be formed of laced sacking and the wood work sides can be further strengthened by
thin sheets of steel. At the end of each side, there is an eye through which a steel or
iron bar at the top and bottom is run, the said bar having two shoulders leaving two
axles.
On the lower bed the wood sides are placed next the shoulder with a bar and the
leg which has likewise an eye to fit on to the axle outside the frame. The four legs
thus move on a pivot fold with the bed and can be secured on the outside of the axle
by a strong nut and cap. The legs of the upper bed rest on the side and axle of the
wood work of the lower bed with a prong each side of the axle, the woodwork of
the lower bed extending beyond the eyes through which the axle passes at both head
and foot the legs of the upper bed being next the shoulder of the axle. This makes
the upper bed the same width as the lower. To secure the bed perfectly a chain may
be passed round the bars of the upper bed head and foot and be attached by spring
hooks to staples in the wall. The lower legs are secured by a small hook attached to
the wood work and fitting into an eye in the leg. Light folding head and foot frames
can be arranged on bars top and bottom inside the shoulders and secured by a hook
and chain from the frame. As everything thus acts on a pivot except the two hingos
in the middle nothing can get out of order or break.
For camp and field use the bed can be fitted with air
making the thickness of each bed when packed still less.
mattress, pillow and bolster
Also to give stability to the

page_text: hed and to prevent the legs from sinking into soft ground four iron sheaths with an
open groove can be used so as to admit the eye in the leg to which is attached the
hook, fixed to the wood frame to steady the legs. At the end of this sheath is a spike
which when not in use folds into the said groove like a pocket knife, when in use and
open it passes through a hole in the centre of an iron plate fixed in the ground to
prevent sinking.
These extra sheaths, plates and the like can all be placed in a small case, underneath
the bolster and pillow and the mattresses for travelling are made of such a size that
the bolster and pillow may lie evenly with thein when packed in a tarpaulin case
which can be secured by straps and buckles, thus keeping everything compact and
dry. The head and foot bars and legs in each bed can be made of tubular iron or
of steel for increased lightness or wood rivetted into a steel sheath and axle may
be used.
By unshipping the bars and unlacing the sacking the beds can be packed into a
small box.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Folding Combination Bedstead.
WILLOUGHBY EDWARD BRYAN of Eastlands House Basingstoke in the County
of Hants Gentleman 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 :-
The object of my Invention is to provide bedsteads which are more especially
intended for use where sleeping accommodation is required for several persons in a
restricted floor space and which can be folded up to occupy but littlo room when not
required for use. Bedsteads made according to this Luvention are adapted to be used
one above the other in tiers each consisting of a framing the longitužinal or side
members of which are jointed or hinged together so that one part can be folded upon
another part and when opened out they may be kept in position by bolts or other
fastenings. The longitudinal or side members are connected by transverse stretcher
rods preferably secured by nuts and screws. The stretcher rods at each end can
project outside the side members to form the centres upon which are mounted the
legs. The top of the lower bedstead or frame may have studs or projections, and tho
legs of the upper bedstead or frame be formed of tubes or provided with recesses in
their ends to take over the suid studs or projections to keep the upper bedstead or
frame in place.
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
premising however that I do not limit myself to the precise details hereinafter
described.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 an end view of a combination bedstead
constructed according to my invention and consisting of two bedsteads or frames one
above the other. Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1 and Figure 4 shows
the bedstead when folded up out of use.
Each longitudinal or side member of each bedstead may consist of two pieces A A³
joined underneath at about the centre of the length of the bedstead by a hinge: B for
enabling the two pieces to fold together for convenience of packing when not in use.
When the bedstead is extended for use the opposite longitudinal or side members are
connected together, about where the pieces A A³ are hinged, by a rod band nuts and at
each end of the said side members they are connected together by strong rods C formed
with reduced ends c which pass through holes in the sides A A² and project outside
thereof where they are screw threaded to receive nuts ². On the outside projecting
ends cof each of the two.rods () of the lower frame are pivoted short iron or steel
legs which rest on the floor. These legs are secured on the rod C by the nuts.c

page_text: screwed onto the screwed end of the rods C and are further secured in position by
hooks & attached to the sides A A' and taking into eyes e provided on the legs. The
legs D are each provided above where they are pivoted to the rods C with projections
or studs which fit into sockets in the lower ends of the legs E of the upper frame or
bedstead which legs E may consist of metal tubes. Or the projections with which the
upper legs engage may be fixed on the sides A A' of the lower frame and if desired
the said sides, if of wood work, may be strengthened by thin sheets of metal. The
holes in the siles A A of the frames through which the journals on the steel or iron
rods pass may if desired be lined or bushed with metal. The upper bedstead or
frame is constructed in the same manner as the lower one and the like parts are
indicated on the drawings by the same reference letters except the legs B which are
longer than the legs D so as to give space between the two frames when connected
together but when the two bedsteads are used separately short legs may be
substituted for the long ones.
More than two frames may be connected together in the manner described and the
uppermost one I prefer to provide with head and foot frames as at F and G fitted to
the projections on the legs E in the same manner as the said legs are connected to
the legs D of the lower frame these frames F and G giving increased rigidity to the
structure. Or if desired the said head and foot frames may be hinged to the upper
frame so as to be capable of being folded thereonto when not in use. The sides A A
of each frame are provided with studs g on which the bed bottom or sacking H is
supported.
If desired a chain may be passed round the bars C at the head and foot of the upper
frame and be attached by spring hooks or otherwise to staples in the walls so as to
more securely support the bedstead.
When the bedstead is not required for use the several frames may be lifted off the
one from the other and each frame be folded up, so as to occupy but a very small
amount of space the legs being folded up to the sides A. A and the said sides folded
together as shown in Figure 4 whilst the parts being so simply connected together as
shown and described may be readily taken apart and packed into a very small compass
for transport.
For camp and field use the bedstead may be fitted with air mattress, pillow and
bolster so as to occupy a minimum of space when packed. To give stability to the
structure and to prevent the legs from sinking into soft ground each leg of the lower
frame may bo provided with a metal sheath having hinged thereto a spike which when
in use passes through a hole in an iron plate, into the ground the lower end of the
sheath bearing on the plate and preventing the leg sinking. When the sheath is not
in use the spike may be shut up into a groove in the sheath after the manner of the
blade of a pocket knife.
These extra sheaths plates and the like can all be placed in a small case arranged
underneath the bolster and pillow, and the mattress for travelling purposes may be
made of such a size that the bolster and pillow may lie evenly with them, when
packed in a tarpaulin case, and the whole may be secured by straps thus keeping
everything compact and dry. The head and foot frames and the logs can be made of
tubular iron or of steel or other metal for increased lightness or wood rivetted into a
steel sheath may be used. Instead of wood for the sides of the bedstead as shewn in
the drawing angle (or other section) iron or other metal may be used therefor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
clain is:
1. A folding bedstead the longitudinal or side members of which are each composed
of two parts hinged together so as to be capable of being folded the one part upon
or against the other part the two side members being connected together at their ends
by rods on which the legs of the bestead are pivoted so as to be capable of being
folded against the side members substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. A folding combination bedstead consisting of two or more bedsteads or frames,
constructed as herein before described and arranged one above another, the legs of the
upper frames or bedsteads engaging projections on the next lower frame or bedstead
or otherwise connected thereto so as to be capable of being readily detached when
required substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
3. The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting a
combination bedstead capable of being readily taken to pieces for the convenience of
packing into a small space substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
13
001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.