Improvements in and relating to Bedsteads and Cots.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in and relating to Bedsteads and Cots.
.
'
We, CHARLES WILLIAM TRENHOLME, and MADENA MORAN VAUGHAN,'
subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of Montreal, in the Province
of Quebec, and Dominion of Canada, and ALMIRA ANN PARKER,' residing at
Poughkeepsie, in the County of Dutchess, and State of New York, one of the
United States of America, 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 an improvement.in cots.
The object.of the, invention is to provide a cot which may be folded so as to
decrease its bulk and thus facilitate its being handled or transported; furthermore,
to provide a folding cot having means for bracing, the sides intermediate the ends
and also. for preventing collapsing of the cot when in use.; furthermore, to provide
a folding cot having means, for holding it, in its opened position; and, finally, to
provide a cheap and durable cot.
With these objects in view, the invention: consists broadly in a cot having sides
adapted to be, folded longitudinally and..transversely of their length, whereby,
when closed, the length of the cot will be equal to its width when opened; the
invention further consists in a cot having sides adapted. to. be folded longitudinally
and transversely of. their, length and legs.. adapted to be closed, against the said
sides; the invention further consists in a cot having longitudinally and transversely
foldable sides and a series of pivoted legs carried. thereby, a number of which legs
are adapted to be locked together to prevent the sides from collapsing when the
cot is, in use.;, the, invention further consists, in a. stretcher, brace to be used in
conjunction with the frame, and, designed to support and hold taut, the mattress or
bed portion; and finally the invention consists in the various novel details of
construction of a foldable cot, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification, andy in which
like-numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts-..
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cot, showing it opened and ready-for use; a
portion of the mattress being cut, away, to show the stretcher-brace...
Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing the sides folded to bring the two ends of
the frame together.
Figure 3. is a similar view, showing the sides folded down transversely of the
width of the cot.
Figure 4.is a perspective view, showing the cot as it appears when ready.for
transportation..
Figure 5. is a perspective view of the stretcher-brace..
Figure 6 is a detail view of a link connecting the side sections.
Referring to the drawings,.,1 and 2 designate the sides of the frame, and 3 and 4
the ends,..which parts are constructed of any. suitable material, but preferably of
iron or steel, although wood and iron or aluminium may be used if desired, the
latter.on account of its great. lightness and, durability.. The sides are each-made
preferably of two sections, which are connected at their inner ends, by links, 5 and 6,
between which the, said sections are pivotally held by means of rivets or bolts, 7,
forming joints which allow the sides to be folded longitudinally of their length; as
shown in Figure 2. .The ends, 3 and 4, are preferably rectangular in form and are
provided with recessed shoulders, 8, which are engaged by similar shoulders,,9,,on
the sides, the two shoulders being pivotally connected by rivets or bolts, 10, and
forming joints which lie in a plane at right angles to the joints in the sides, by

page_text: which means the sides may be folded transversely of length, as shown in Figure 3.
At points near the inner and outer ends of each of the side sections are pivoted
legs, 11 and 12, which are adapted to close against the said sides, the inner series, 11,
being locked together by means of a pin, 13, on one engaging an opening in the
other, by which means the frame will be prevented from collapsing or closing up
when pressure is brought to bear on the mattress, and the outer series, 12, engage
stops, 14, on the sides, which prevent their opening out too far. As will be seen,
there is no connection between the legs on one side of the frame with those on the
other, as such an arrangement would tend to prevent folding the cot into the small
compass shown in Figure 4.
The spreader-brace, 15, to which reference has been made, is constructed of a
strip of metal having its ends bent up to form arms, 16, to which are secured
rectangular plates, 17, designed to engage cleats or plates, 18, carried by the inner
link, 6, on each side of the frame. By means of the arms, 16, the body of the
brace is out of contact with the mattress, 19. The object of this spreader-brace is
to prevent the sides of the cot collapsing when occupied, obviate the lateral
motion, and also to give additional stiffness thereto, and thus contribute greatly to
the comfort of the occupant.
The mattress may be held upon the frame in any desired manner, but preferably
in this instance, by lacing, to accomplish which the sides and ends of the frame
are provided with a plurality of openings, 20, which are in line with eyeletted
openings, 21, in the said mattress, a lacing, 22, inserted through the respective
openings serving to hold the mattress in place.
From the foregoing description, the operation of the cot will be apparent.
It will be seen that to set it up for use it will only be necessary to open the sides,
secure the spreader-brace and intermediate series of legs in position and then lace
the mattress to the frame, when the cot is ready for occupancy. On account of
the small amount of room it occupies when folded up, this cot will be especially
valuable for army and hospital service, but it is equally as well adapted for hotel
and private use.
Instead of making the sides and ends of metal I may, if desired, construct them
of wood and provide iron plates or sockets at the joints, which will be found to
answer the requirements in many cases.
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. A cot, having sides foldable longitudinally and transversely of their length,
whereby, when folded or closed, the length of the cot will be equal to its width
when opened.
2. A cot, having sides foldable longitudinally and transversely of their length,
and legs adapted to be closed against the said sides.
3. A cot, having sides foldable longitudinally and transversely of their length,
and a series of pivoted legs carried by the sides, a number of which legs are
adapted to be locked together to prevent the sides from collapsing when the cot is
in use.
4. In a cot, the combination of the ends, the sides pivotally connected therewith,
each of which sides is formed of sections, links connecting the said sections, and a
spreader-brace engaging the said links.
5. In a cot, the combination of the ends, the sides pivoted thereto, each of
which sides is formed of sections, links connecting the sections, a spreader-brace
engaging the links, and pivoted legs carried by the sides, a number of which are
secured together.
6. In a cot, the combination of the ends, the sides pivoted thereto, each of
which sides is formed of sections, links connecting the sections, a spreader-brace
adapted to engage the links, and pivoted legs carried by the sides, a number of
which are adapted to be secured together.

page_text: 7. A cot having sides foldable longitudinally and transversely of their length, a
series of pivoted legs carried by the sides, a number of which legs are adapted to
be secured together to prevent the sides from collapsing in the direction of their
length, and a spreader-brace adapted to engage the sides to prevent them collapsing
laterally.
001 1
11001
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.