Improvements in Folding Cribs, Crib Cots, and Bedsteads.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Cribs, Crib Cots, and Bedsteads.
We, GEORGE HENRY NEEDHAM of 7 Cologne Road, Wandsworth in the
County of Surrey, Gun Maker, and RICHARD STAPLEY and WILLIAM SMITH
both of 128 London Wall in the City of London Warehousemen do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention refers to the construction and arrangement of folding cribs, crib
cots, and bedsteads as hereafter described, and the chief object of the invention is
the production of such articles of furniture which are capable of being folded for
packing, and expanded for use, with the greatest facility and without having any
separate parts.
According to our invention we unite the two end standards of the crib, crib cot,
or bedstead by a central and longitudinal bar braced and firmly secured at each
end to the standards, and this bar may be strengthened by having another bar
above it and connected together by vertical rods forming a girder like structure.
The standards may be carried in any suitable and convenient manner but we
prefer to employ centrally jointed bars, composed of tubular metal or bent
parallel bars into or between which these jointed bars are free to slide and
such tubular frames are described in the Specification of "Needham's" Patent
No. 3,332 A.D. 1883. The mattress frame is made in two parts, and pivotted
at each end by fixed pivots to the standards, and in such manner as to fold
together centrally and longitudinally and within one another. Under each pivot,
fixed to the standards there is a bracket, which supports the mattress frame
when in its opened out position. The mattress may be made of spring wire
webbing, and so arranged that when the frames are folded the wire is slack,
but when the frames are opened for use the wires are stretched and kept so by
the spring. The vertical end frames are hinged at their lowest ends to the
standard brackets; at the upper ends they are hinged to similar brackets at
the upper ends of the standards, and the distance between the centres of each
The side
of these brackets is sufficient to allow the mattress frame to fold.
frames are connected by jointed links to the hinged end frames, along which
the links of the side frames are free to slide, so that in closing up the frame
the side frames are slidden along the end frames, towards the centre, where the
mattress frame is between them; the hinged end frames are then turned on
their centres inwardly, and against the side frames-which they are free to do
by reason of the links forming joints between the end and side frames. The
spring like action of the side frames tends to keep the parts together when
folded. To prevent any liability for the side frames to deflect transversely,
there is a nut thereon, or some equivalent, to connect the side and mattress
frames. When folded the cots constructed according to our invention lie flat
and in the same plane as the standards and which only represents practically
the depth of the side of the cot. For a bedstead the side frames are dispensed
with. When folded as above described the end frames come outside the side
frames they may however be so arranged as to have the side frames outside
when folded.
That this 10th day of Ionua 1901

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Cribs, Crib Cots, and Bedsteads.
We, GEORGE HENRY NEEDHAM, of 7 Cologne Road, Wandsworth, in the
County of Surrey, Gunmaker, and RICHARD STAPLEY, and WILLIAM SMITH,
both of 128 London Wall, in the City of London Warehousemen, 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:-
Our invention refers to the construction and arrangement of folding cribs, crib
cots, and bedsteads, as hereafter described, and the chief object of the invention is
the production of such articles of furniture which are capable of being folded for
packing, and expanded for use with the greatest facility and without having any
separate parts.
In order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, we will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cot constructed according to our invention
showing the same opened out and ready for use.
Figure 2 is a plan of same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same cot as it appears when folded or packed for
carriage or stowage.
Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same or a similar cot showing it open
for use.
Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the cot closed.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
According to our invention we unite the two end standards A. A of the crib, crib
cot, or bedstead, by a central and longitudinal bar B, braced and firmly secured at
each end to the standards A A, and this bar B may be strengthened by having
another bar above it such as that marked B' and connected together by vertical
rods C C, forming a girder like structure. The standards A may be carried in any
suitable and convenient manner but we prefer to employ centrally jointed bars or
legs D D. The standards A may be composed of tubular metal or bent parallel
bars, into or between which these jointed bars D D are free to slide, and such or
similar tubular frames are described in the Specification of "Needham's" Patent
No. 3332 A.D. 1883. The mattress frame is made in two parts E E', and pivotted
at each end by fixed pivots F to the standards, and in such manner as to fold
together centrally and longitudinally and within one another as shown at Figure 3.
Under each pivot fixed to the standards there is a bracket G which supports the
mattress frame E E¹ when in its opened out position.
The mattress may be made of spring wire or webbing and so arranged that when
the frames are folded, the wire is slack, but when the frames are opened for use the
wires are stretched and kept so by the spring, and such a mattress
drawings; or fabric or other material may be used.
shown in the
A mattress constructed in this manner can be used alone and separate from the
cot when required, and it will then form a useful, and at the same time a very
portable mattress, applicable for use with cots constructed as described or with
other cots or bedsteads of another construction.
The vertical end frames H are hinged at their lower ends to the standard
brackets G, and at the upper ends they are hinged to similar brackets G¹ at the
upper ends of the standards, and the distance between the centres of each of these
brackets G G G¹ G' is sufficient to allow the mattress frame E E' to fold. The
side frames J are connected by jointed links K to the hinged end frames, along
which the links K of the side frames are free to slide, so that in closing up the
frame the side frames J are slidden along the end frames H towards the centre,
where the mattress frame E E' is between them; the hinged end frames H are
then turned on their centres inwardly, and against the side frames, which they are

page_text: free to do by reason of the links K forming joints between the end and side frames.
The spring like action of the side frames tends to keep the parts together when
folded. To prevent any liability for the side frames to deflect transversely, there
is a nut L thereon or some equivalent to connect the side and mattress frames and
a similar or equivalent appliance is necessary when the mattress is used alone and
not in connection with such a cot as that described.
When folded as shown by Figures 3 and 5 the cots constructed according to our
invention lie flat and in the same plane as the standards, and which only represents
practically the depth of the side of the cot. For a bedstead the side frames are
dispensed with. When folded as above described the end frames come outside the
side frames, they may however be so arranged as to have the side frames outside
when folded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In folding cribs, crib cots, and bedsteads, the end standards in combination
with the girder like structure, a mattress frame and folding mattress, the hinged
vertical end frames, and sliding side frames, whereby the whole frame, sides, and
ends, can be brought together for packing, or opened out with the mattress for use
as required, all constructed, arranged, and acting substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The particular construction and arrangement of folding mattress frame and
mattress substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
3. The folding cribs, crib cots and bedsteads as claimed by Claim 1, in com-
bination with frames or standards for receiving the supporting legs when the said
cribs are not required for use and substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts
forming folding cribs, crib cots, and bedsteads, all substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings together
with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Ilated this Tenth day 01 October 1891
Llated this Tenth day of Uctober 1891
G. H. NEEDHAM.
R. STAPLEY.
W. SMITH.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.