Improvements in or connected with Bed Furniture.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Bed Furniture.
I, WILLIAM WHIFFIN, of 23, Brand Street, Broadley Terrace, Lisson Grove,
London, Gentleman, 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 relates to improvements in bed furniture, the object being to
arrange drapery in such a manner that only a minimum of bed clothes or covering
is required, while all draught is prevented and the weight of the said bed clothes
or covering is supported in such a manner that there is no pressure or weight
upon the occupant or occupants.
This improved arrangement of bed furniture is very suitable for use in con-
nection with hospital beds and with beds for invalids and children, also in hot
and cold climates, as in the former case the weight of the clothes being supported
is a great boon, while the arrangement of the bed furniture is such as to facilitate
the excluding of insects, and in the latter case the protection from draught
afforded by the arrangement of the bed furniture renders the bed extremely warm
and comfortable.
•
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is
a side elevation of a bedstead fitted with my improvements and
Fig. 2 a plan of same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are details.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I arrange two side pieces or
screens gathered at the top al upon a suitable cord or connection passing through
this part and secured to the bed posts at any convenient points such as k¹ by
hooks or other suitable fastening devices in such a manner as to allow of the said
side pieces or screens being removed when required for the purpose of entering
the bed and making same. The side pieces or screens a extend around the bed,
while they are each furnished at the top with an over lapping piece or part b
extending over the bed at right angles to the side pieces or screens a, in such a
manner as to leave a V-shaped opening v between them, extending from the bottom
or thereabouts to the top or head of the bed. These overlapping extensions 6 have
a cord or the like passing through their edges 61, while the said overlapping
parts are, at the point g either suitably secured together by hooks and eyes or
the like or each part may, at this point, be furnished with a hook or other suitable
means for attaching it to a small ring or the like secured to the end of the bed
frame.
An end piece or flap c laps over the extremity of the V-shaped opening v which
may be closed for a suitable distance at this point by lacing the parts bb together
by means of a suitable lace passing through the eyelet holes m, or the said
opening may only start from the point g¹ as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 2).
D

page_text: Each side piece or shield a is furnished with a lower extension or flange h, or
a second extending piece h (Fig. 4) designed to be folded under the mattress,
where, if required, it may be secured in position by hooks and eyes, stitching,
or by other suitable method of attachment, to an apron or sheet arranged beneath
the mattress.
I further provide a suitable foot board such as r (which is indicated in dotted
lines (Figs. I and 2) of sufficient height and of a length corresponding to the width
of the bed.
This foot-board r is arranged upon the top of the mattress and beneath the bed
clothes, and is designed to support the bed clothes or covering at this point and
to ensure the space between the top of the mattress and the bed clothes or covering
being free and open to accommodate the feet of the occupant or occupants.
The above described attachments may be constructed of any suitable material
or materials, preferably representing an ornamental appearance upon their outer
surfaces, while the necessary additional bed covering is passed over the top of
the side pieces or shield a in such a manner that it is supported and provides a
free and open space of sufficient depth between the bed or mattress and the covering
or clothing to allow of the occupant or occupants turning or moving freely.
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
The improvements in bed furniture comprising the arrangement of side pieces
or shields a secured a sufficient distance above the surface of the bed, and furnished
with overlapping extensions b, and having flanges or extensions h or secondary
pieces for securing under the mattress or the like for the exclusion of air, in com-
bination with a flap or foot piece c and a suitable foot board such as r, the whole
combined and arranged in such a manner as to support the bed clothes or covering
without pressure upon the occupant or occupants, and to provide a free and open
space between the surface of the bed and the bed covering substantially as herein
described and shown and for the purposes specified.
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.