Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
I, FREDERICK HOSKINS of Bordesley Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to what are commonly known as occasional bedsteads,
or bedsteads which fold up so as thereby to economize space when not in use.
The object of my invention is to construct occasional portable bedsteads with
continuous spring bottoms, so that when folded up upon itself, with the bed between
the folded up parts, the distensible bottom or mattress remains continuous or unbroken
with respect to the framing.
I will describe my invention in connection with what is known as a folding cabinet
bedstead.
I make the framing of three separate parts; a forepart, a middle part and an aft
part, all connected together by suitable joints which fold inwards; so that when the
framing is distended or opened out they all lie in the same horizontal plane.
The middle part which is rigid is equal to the breadth of a bedstead when folded up,
and which said middle part is supported by suitable legs and stretcher and tie bars so as
to form a bench like support or middle; and to the opposite sides of the angle bar of
this middle part the fore and aft frames are jointed; and which fore and aft parts
are provided with jointed legs and parallel jointed bars secured and jointed respectively
to the fixed outside legs of the middle part, and to the movable legs of the fore and
aft parts; so that on the folding of the frame upon itself, the movable legs
automatically fold up with the frame. Other stay bars give the necessary rigidity to
the legs.
The head end of the bedstead is provided with the usual back rail, which is of a
depth equal to the middle part; so that when folded up, the bed is enclosed as it were
within a box with open sides.
The spring bottom or mattress consists of continuous linked lengths of wire,
extending continuously from the head to the foot of the bedstead framing, with
the distance between the wires somewhat graduated in mesh, over the middle. This

page_text: yielding bottom at both foot and head, is connected to a series of coiled springs
attached to the respective end angle bars or framings. That part also of the yielding
bottom lying over the middle is connected to the framing of the middle part by coiled
springs lying in a direction crossing the bed; and further, the wires of the spring
bottom are connected directly to opposite sides of both the fore and aft framings, at
the junction of the said framings with the middle part.
When the bed is in use, the distensible or spring bottom and framing lie in the
same horizontal plane, but when not in use, the folding parts are raised perpendicular
to their former positions, which thereby encloses the bed between the parallel framings
which stand now erect, and of a breadth only of the middle part.
Although I have described a spring bottom made up of combined coiled springs
and looped wires, yet I wish it to be observed that I may use any construction of
distensible bottom or mattress such as woven wire, spring wire or other known forms
which will readily double up on the folding of the framings.
FREDERICK HOSKINS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Occasional or Folding Bedsteads.
I, FREDERICK HOSKINS of Bordesley, Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention has reference to what are commonly known as occasional bedsteads,
or bedsteads which fold up, so as thereby to economize space when not in use.
The object of my invention is to construct occasional portable bedsteads with
continuous spring bottoms, so that when folded up upon itself, with the bed between
the folded up parts, the distensible bottom or mattress remains continuous or unbroken
with respect to the framing.
I will describe my invention in connection with what is known as a folding cabinet
bedstead.

page_text: I make the framing of three separate parts; a fore-part, a middle part, and an aft
part, all connected together by suitable joints which fold inwards; so that when the
framing is distended or opened out, they all lie in the same horizontal plane.
The middle part which is rigid, is equal to the breadth of a bedstead when folded
up, and which said middle part is supported by suitable legs and stretcher and tie
bars, so as to form a bench like support or middle; and to the opposite sides of the
angle bar of this middle part, the fore and aft frames are jointed, and which fore and
aft parts are provided with jointed legs and parallel jointed bars, secured and jointed
respectively to the fixed outside legs of the middle part, and to the movable legs of
the fore and aft parts; so that on the folding of the frame upon itself, the movable
legs automatically fold up with the frame. Other stay bars give the necessary
rigidity to the legs.
The head end of the bedstead is provided with the usual back rail, which is of a
depth equal to the middle part; so that when folded up, the bed is enclosed as it were
within a box with open sides.
The spring bottom or mattress consists of continuous linked lengths of wire,
extending continuously from the head to the foot of the bedstead framing, with the
distance between the wires somewhat graduated in mesh, over the middle. This
yielding bottom at both foot and head, is connected to a series of coiled springs
attached to the respective end angle bars or framings. That part also of the yielding
bottom lying over the middle is connected to the framing of the middle part by
coiled springs lying in a direction crossing the bed; and further, the wires of the
spring bottom are connected directly to opposite sides of both the fore and aft
framings, at the junction of the said framings with the middle part.
When the bed is in use, the distensible or spring bottom and framing lie in the
same horizontal plane; but when not in use, the folding parts are raised perpendicular
to their former positions which thereby encloses the bed between the parallel framings
which stand now erect, and of a breadth only of the middle part.
Although I have described a spring bottom, made up of combined coiled springs
and looped wires, yet I wish it to be observed that I may use any construction of
distensible bottom or mattress, such as woven wire, spring wire or other known forms,
which will readily double up, on the folding of the framings.
Figure 1 represents in plan, an occasional folding bedstead, constructed according
to my invention, and which said bedstead, is provided with a continuous and
distensible bottom or mattress. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, and figure 3
represents a side elevation of the said bedstead, folded. Figure 4 shows the connection
and links of the distensible mattress, with one of the end angle framings.
The bedstead framing is made up, or consists essentially of three separate parts; a
fore-part a, a middle part b, and an aft part c, all of which are connected together by
inwardly folding joints d; so that when a bedstead is opened out, as represented, the
horizontal planes of each of the said connected parts, are the same.
The middle part b, which is immovable, is equal to the breadth of a bedstead when
folded;
and which said middle part of the folding bedstead, is supported by down-
wardly directed legs 62, stayed together by cross stretcher bars 63 (one of which only
is shown), and to the ends of these said bars, other tie bars a², c² of the fore and aft
parts a, c, are connected and jointed. The said fore and aft parts are also provided
with jointed legs a³, c³, to which the tie bars a², c², are connected; so that on the
folding of the parts of the frame, the movable legs automatically fold up into their
proper relative positions with respect to the frame.
The aft part of the bedstead is provided with the usual back or head rail, and is
marked c¹.
e,
Extending within the boundary inside edges of the framings, or the angle irons of
the framings, is a continuous and distensible spring bottom or mattress marked
which comprehends the entire internal space, or superficial area of both the fore, aft
and middle parts of the top framing or framings of the bedstead; that is, the said
distensible bottom, sacking, or meshed surface, extends from head to foot, and from
side to side of the bedstead framing.

page_text: The elevated bottom is made up of connected wires e², linked up together, so as to
form a mesh, or a series of meshed portions, jointed or connected together by longi-
tudinally disposed springs e³, while the said distensible bottom is connected to the
framings, by ends e, e, and also by laterally disposed springs e.
I wish it to be observed that although I have represented a distensible bed bottom,
as being made up of linked wires, with springs, yet any meshed medium, either
distensible or not (but preferably distensible) may be employed with like effect. Thus,
for example, woven wire, spring wire or the like meshed surface, which admits of
being folded, or doubled up at the junctions of the folded parts, may be employed.
I wish it to be also observed, that the jointed and folding bedstead framing may be
varied in construction to suit the different makes, although the essential features
remain the same.
Instead of employing a continuous distensible meshed sacking as described, I may
employ longitudinally disposed distensible metallic bands, which are secured at their
ends to the foot and head ends of the bedstead framing, thus making distensible
metallic laths, or meshed lengths, that will fold or double up at the junctions of the
folding parts of the bedstead frame.
The distensible bed bottoms, mattresses or lengths, may be provided transversely at
the junctions of the folding parts of the bedstead frame with joints, or linked parts
which admit of the said bed bottoms folding up more readily when the material
employed in their formation, is made from a stouter or stronger material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
1 declare that what I claim is :-
First. In an occasional, or other folding bedstead, employing as the bed bottom,
an unbroken or continuous, and preferably distensible metallic sacking, surface or the
like, in which the said bottom or sacking can bend, or fold up (without hinge joints)
at the junctions of the folding up parts, of the bedstead framing.
Secondly. In an occasional, or other folding bedstead employing as the bed
bottom, a continuous and distensible metallic sacking, jointed or linked transversely
at the junctions of the folding up parts of the bedstead framing, substantially as
described.
ऐ
Thirdly. Employing distensible meshed metallic bands or breadths (continuous or
jointed) as the bottom or sacking, of an occasional, or other folding bedstead as
described.
Fourthly. In an occasional folding bedstead with a meshed, and distensible
metallic bottom, or sacking as described and set forth in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawing.