Improvements in and relating to Combination Furniture.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combination Furniture.
1, JAMES PRESTON, of 13 Nicolson Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
and arrangement of the parts of a folding down bedstead, combined with a frame
containing a drawer or drawers, all so formed as to take the form and have the
appearance of a chest of drawers when folded up, and so constructed that it may be
folded down either to form a short child's crib, or a full sized bedstead and be more
convenient and useful than such articles of furniture as heretofore constructed.
Under one arrangement this improved article of furniture would be constructed.
as follows.
The lower part of this improved combination folding bedstead would be formed
of a rectangular frame close on the back and two sides but open in front to receive
one or more ordinary drawers, the whole preferably mounted on casters for ease of
moving. On and above this lower frame would be mounted another and larger
front folding frame consisting of a front two panelled sides and top, hinged to the
lower frame in the front by edge or other hinges and open to the back. This
upper frame would be formed of stiles and rails and cross boards side pieces
preferably panelled and a flat top and the outer front side would be formed or
painted in imitation of drawer fronts so as to give the whole in combination with
the drawer or drawers in the lower frame the appearance of a chest of drawers.
This upper frame would be fitted with two short legs pivotted or hinged to the
upper corners, and when the bedstead is in the folded up position these legs would
be partly received in slots prepared in the sides of the frame, and these lega could.
be carved or ornamented in front to form a truss on each side of the top part of the
imitation drawers. A longitudinal stay on each side would be hinged to each of
these legs and be pivotted to the lower frame and these stays would in the folded
up position also enter slots in the sides of both upper and lower frames so as to be
flush, or almost so, with the front surface of these. The legs would also be
connected by a transverse stay which in the folded up position would lie against
and might form a bead across the front of the imitation drawers. When in the folded
up position small bolts, spring or other catches or hooks fitted at the lower back
corners would secure this upper front folding frame in position. This upper frame
as described would be closed at the back by a folding back frame composed of side
and end bars and cross boarding and hinged to the lower frame so as to fold up and
partly into the open back of the upper frame. This folding back frame would be
fitted with a board noross it to form a foot board for the bedstead, and have also
small side pieces to assist in keeping the bedding in position. The legs and
longitudinal and transverse stays for same would all bo fitted in a manner analogous
to that described in reference to those of the front folding frame, and enter slots in
the sides of the frames. To use this improved combination bedstead it is turned
first with its back outwards and to form a childs crib, the back folding frame is
lowered down from within the front folding frame, but if a bedstead of full length
is required it is taken out sufficiently far from the wall to permit of the front
folding frame being lowered down till its feet rest on the ground.
To give it a further ornamental appearance the top of the front folding frame
may be fitted at the back with a mirror in an ornamental frame so hinged as to
fold flat down on said top and be held in its raised position by bolts, spring or other
catches, or hooks. This mirror may have small shelves on each side hinged to fold
down, and resting when in their raised position on brackets pivotted at the top and

page_text: bottom within oponings in the frame so that the whole may be folded almost flat
when lowered down to lie on the top of the upper front folding frame part.
In some cases the sides or a portion thereof of the upper front folding frame may
be hinged to the top of the frame, instead of being rigidly attached to the top and
front, in such a way that whon this upper folding frame is folded down the sides
could be folded inwards one over the other against the inside of the top leaving the
strong side bars of the front hinged to the lower frame to act as side boards to keep
tho bedding in position.
Dated the 30th January 1893.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
98, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combination Furniture.
I, JAMES PRESTON of 13 Nicolson Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by 'the
following statement in writing :-
My invention has reference to and comprises Improvements in the construction
and arrangement of the parts of a folding down bedstead combined with a frame
containing a drawer or drawers, all so formed as to take the form and have the
appearance of a chest of drawers when folded up, and so constructed that it may
be folded down either to form a short child's crib or n bedstead of full length and
be more convenient and useful than such articles of furniture as heretofore
constructed.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into practice may be properly understood I have hereunto appended an
explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 of these drawings shows one arrangement of my combination bedstead
as folded up,
Figure 2 the same partly folded down to form a child's crib, and
Figure 3 shows it as fully folded down to form a bedstead of full length and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show another arrangement in the same relative positions
repectively.
Under one arrangement as illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 8 of the drawings
this improved article of furniture is constructed as follows:-The lower part of
this improved combination folding bedstead is formed of a rectangular frame A
close on the back and two sides but open in front to receive one or it might be..
more ordinary drawers A' the whole preferably mounted on casters for ease of
moving. On and above this lowor frame A is mounted another and larger front
folding frame B consisting of a frout B' two pannelled sides B' and top B³ hinged
to the front of the lower frame A by edge or other hinges and open to the back.
This upper frame B is formed of stiles B and rails and cross boards, side pieces B³
preferably panelled, and a flat top B' and the outer front side B is formed or
painted in imitation of drawer fronts so as to give the whole iu combination with
the drawer A' in the lower frame A the appearance of a chest of drawers. This
uppor frame B is fitted with two short legs C pivotted or hinged to the upper
corners, and when the bedstead is in the folded up position these legs C are partly
received into slots or grooves prepared in the sides of the frame B and these legs C
are carved or ornamented in front to form a truss or pilaster top on each side of the
upper part of the imitation drawers. A longitudinal stay C¹ on each side is hinged
to each of these logs C and hinged or pivotted at the other end to the lower
frame A and these stays C' in the folded up position also enter slots or grooves in
the sides of both lower and upper frames A and B so as to be flush,, or almost so,

page_text: with the front surface of these and form ornamental pilasters. The legs C are
also connected together by a transverse stay Cª which in the folded up position
would lie against and form a bead as at C Figure 1 across the front of the
imitation drawers. When in the folded up position small bolts, spring or other
catches or hooks fitted at the lower back corners secure this upper front folding
frame B in position over the lower frame A. This upper frame B as described is
closed at the back by a folding back frame D composed of side bars D' and cross
and partly into
boarding D' which is hinged to the lower frame A so as to fold is fitted with a
the open back of the upper frame B. This folding back frame
board D across it to form a foot board_for_the_bedstead, and side pieces D' to
assist in keeping the bedding in position. The legs E and longitudinal and transverse
stays E, E, respectively, for same, are all fitted in a manner analogous to that
described in reference to those of the front folding frame B and may enter slots in
the sides of the frame D. To use this improved combination bedstead it is turned
first with its back outwards, and to form a child's urib, as shown in Figure 2 of the
drawings, the back folding frame D is lowered down from within the front folding
frame B, but if a bedstead of full length is required it is taken out sufficiently for
from the wall to permit of the front folding frame B being lowered down till it's
feet rest on the ground as shown in Figure 3.
To give it a further ornamental appearance the top B' of the front folding
frame B is fitted at the back with a mirror Fin an ornamental frame F¹ so hinged
as to fold flat down on said top B' and is held in its raised position by bolts, spring
or other catches, or hooks. This mirror F has small shelves F" one on each side
hinged to fold down, and resting when in their raised position on brackets F³
pivotted at the top and bottom within openings in the frame F' so that the whole
may be folded almost flat when lowered down to lie on the top B³ of the upper front
folding frame part B.
In some cases the sides B or a portion thereof of the upper front folding frame B
are hinged to the top B³ of the frame B instead of being rigidly attached to the
top B' and front B' so that when this upper folding frame B is folded down the
sides B' are folded inwards one over the other against the inside of the top B' as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 leaving the strong side bars or stiles B₁
of the front B' hinged to the lower frame A to act as side boards to keep the
bedding in position.
Under another and analogous arrangement as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of
the drawings the combination bedstead has a lower foundation frame A fitted with
a drawer A' essentially the same as that described in reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3 but as shown in Figure 4 the upper framing above this lower frame A is
equally divided transversely so as form a front folding down frame B and a back
folding down frame D both equal in depth and when folded up meeting together
and secured by spring catches or other suitable fastenings. These frames B and D
are fitted with legs and longitudinal and transverse stays all much in the same
manner as already described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, but preferably
folded close against the front of the frame without grooves or slots in same.
To form a childs orib the spring catches or other fastenings are released and the
front frame B folded down as shown in Figure 5 and in this position a small
panel G is dropped into place at each side to fill the space left between the lowered
down frame B and the frame D left upright. When it is desired to form a bed-
stead of full length the back frame D is also lowered down as shown in
Figure 6. With this arrangement it is not necessary to turn the back of the
combination bedstead outwards as in the former arrangement, and the mirror is
preferably dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of combination

page_text: bedsteads all substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Second. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of a combi-
nation bedstead all so that it may be partially folded down to form a child's crib or
cot, or fully so to form a full length bedstead, and when folded up have the
appearance of a chest of drawers all substantially as described in reference to and
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of a combination
bedstead all so that it may be partially folded down to form a child's crib or cot,
or fully so to form a full length bedstead, and when folded up have the appearance
of a chest of drawors all substantially as described in reference to and shown in
Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Deted 30th October 1893
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.