IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR COMBINATION OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Zebedce Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1871.
I, WILLIAM ZEBEDEE COOKE, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR COMBINATION OF CERTAIN
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," to be as follows, that is to say :-
i
My Invention relates to the construction of a table, bed, child's
rocking cot, settee, folding chair, drawers, and press, in such manner
that the articles named may be contained together, partially or wholly,
so as to be used as desired, and at the same time capable of being folded
up into a small compass for removal or otherwise.
"The table is formed in folding leaves hinged together and also hinged,
pivotted, or otherwise secured to the legs, supports, or trestles, which
may be formed solid or consist of a pair of counterpart vertical standards
on either side, secured together by a suitable pin upon which they are
capable of moving a certain distance apart to contract or expand the
width of bearing for the table.

page_text: The bed part I form in two or more sections suitably hinged together
or sliding within each other, and connected by a cross bar between the
standards or legs, and capable of folding up within such standards and
beneath the table part when not required for use. To support the bed
part I purpose employing any suitable description of legs or arms hinged
for folding up or capable of removal, or by forming upon the under
side of the bed for the purpose of strength hollow cross ribs. I may slide
the legs or supports of the bed part into such hollow ribs when not in
use.
The rocking cot is formed by having a cradle provided with side
hooks or suspenders so as to be hung within the table legs or standards
upon pins or hooks thereupon. The cot may have, if desired, a self-
acting rocking motion by means of a pendulum movement similar to
that of a clock imparted by a coiled spring, weights, or other similar
arrangement.
The settee will be formed by drawing the rocking cot forward upon
its suspenders and folding down one side of such cot hinged for the
purpose, which will support the settee at front, the bottom of the cot
becoming the seat and the ends the arms of the settee, and a higher
back may be obtained thereto by drawing together or closing the
counterpart standards or legs on either side, so as to allow one or more
of the folding leaves of the table to be let down.
The folding chair consists of a pair of contracting and expanding
standards or trestles similar to those described for the table and provided
with a seat and back, either fixed or folding. I also use with such
chair, if desired, cross arms connected to the top of the standards, and
to which I attach a sliding and folding table leaf for reading or writing
purposes if desired.
The drawers I use in combination with the table, and suitably arrange
them as a tier between the table supporters or legs; or in place of
drawers I purpose using a folding up press, or the folding sections
of the bed I have described may also be used as a press if required.