AN IMPROVEMENT IN A FOLDING COUCH, SETTEE, LOUNGE, OR SOFA, WHICH WHEN OPEN FORMS A DOUBLE SPRING BED
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Lloyd and Edwin Lloyd, of 82, Charlotto Street,
Fitzroy Square, West, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN A
FOLDING COUCH, SETTEE, LOUNGE, OR SOFA, WHICH WHEN OPEN FORMS A
DOUBLE SPRING BED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Lloyd and Edwin
Lloyd at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November
1880.
ALFRED LLOYD and EDWIN LLOYD, of 82, Charlotte, Street, Fitzroy Square,
West. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN A FOLDING COUCH, SETTEE, LOUNGE, OR SOFA,
WHICH WHEN OPEN FORMS A DOUBLE SPRING BED."
That as a couch, settee, lounge, or sofa, when used or shown as such, has the
appearance and comfort of an ordinary, couch, settee, lounge, or sofa, & has not
the unsightly appearance that is general in inventions of this kind, and when open
and used as a bed is sufficiently large for two persons, and is so constructed with
spiral springs and other stuffing that persons lying thereon receive the same comfort
as when on an ordinary spring bed. The construction is as follows:-The seat is
formed by two frames hinged together by the front rails, these rails being so
arranged & with chamfered edges to allow the springs to work over them, thus
avoiding the discomfort that would otherwise arise from the rails, the top frame
lifting from the back over to the front on to the ground, the back of couch, settee,
lounge, or sofa, or any part thereof forming a rest when used as a bed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Lloyd and Edwin Lloyd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th May 1881.
ALFRED LLOYD and EDWIN LLOYD, of 82, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square,
West, Manufacturers' Agents. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN A FOLDING COUCH, SETTEE,
LOUNGE, OR SOFA, WHICH WHEN OPEN FORMS A DOUBLE SPRING BED."
The object of our Invention is to produce couches, settees, lounges, and sofas,
which are readily convertible into spring beds sufficiently large for two persons, and
which, notwithstanding such adaptability, have, when used as couches, settees,
lounges, or sofas, the usual appearance and comfort of those articles without the
unsightliness which is general in furniture intended to serve a double purpose, and
when used as beds afford to those occupying them the same comfort as ordinary
spring beds.
We construct our said Invention as follows :-
We form the seat of two frames hinged together by the front rails, these rails
being so shaped as not to interfere with the action of the springs or inconvenience
a person using it as a bed. The upper frame we construct to lift and turn over on
its hinges from the back to the front, so that the part which forms the back of the
couch, settee, lounge, or sofa then rests on the ground and supports in a horizontal
position the outer edge of that part of the frame so turned over to form a bed,
the back being in each case constructed of the proper height to answer the
purpose.
The springs in that portion of the frame which is constructed to turn over are
secured between the usual linen tapes both above and below, and finished alike
(except as to the material with which it is covered) on both sides so as to present
an equally comfortable surface whether open or folded up.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood, we will now proceed more
particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a couch bed folded up
as a couch; Fig. 2 represents the same opened out as a bed; Fig. 3 represents a
setteo bed folded up as a settee; and Fig. 4 the same opened out as a bed; Fig. 5
represents the front rails of the above with the covering removed. The same letters
of reference indicate the same parts in all the Drawings. A indicates the lower or
fixed frame, and B the uppor or moveable frame, both shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4
upholstered in the usual manner, and part shown in Fig. 5 without covering. Theso
two frames are attached together by hinges, the joints of which are shewn at C, C,
in Fig. 5, but which are concealed in the finished article by the covering which is
fastened over them, which hinges we prefer should be of wrought iron, and we
strengthen the frames where the hinges aro attached with blocks of wood fixed
within the frames, to which blocks as well as to the frames the hinges are screwed.
The front rails of the frames which are shewn in Fig. 5 we make of the shape there
represented, in order that when opened out as a bed the edges of those rails may be
sufficiently below the surface of the bed to escape being felt by any one lying
thereon. In order to give additional strength to these parts of the frame we screw
on to the inner surface of each a lath of iron about three sixteenths of an inch thick,
shown by the dotted lines g, G.
We construct the back 1 so that its highest points upon which, when inverted, it
will rest, are at the same distance above the hinged joint as tho joint is above the
floor, so that when it is opened as a bed the two parts A and B may lie evenly in
one plano.
In order that the frames may close properly we cut a rabbet about one eighth of
an inch deep round those parts of the meeting faces of the frames marked ƒ, f, and

page_text: into this rabbet we nail the edges of the covering of the spring bed, whereby wo
prevent its projecting beyond the frames in such a way as to interfere with the
frames closing evenly and closely.
We also supply a board, shown at E in Figs. 2 and 4, which serves to form a head
to the bed, and which fixes by two small dowells which fit into the frames A and B,
and which board when the bed is to be folded up may conveniently be stowed away
between the parts A and B.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that what we claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is, constructing couches, settees, lounges, and sofas in
the manner described, which, while preserving very nearly the appearance of those
in general use, are yet capable of being opened out into spring beds, substantially
as hereinbefore described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Lloyd, for and on behalf of myself and
the said Edwin Lloyd, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sichty one.
Signed and scaled by the above
named Alfred Lloyd, in the
presence of
F. W. NEWNHAM,
Clerk to N. Browne,
Patent Agent,
91, Queen Street,
Cheapside, E.C.
ALFRED LLOYD. (L.S.)