IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNITURE APPLICABLE TO COUCHES, BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS, OTTOMANS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Morris Samuel, of Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF FURNITURE APPLICABLE TO COUCHES, BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS, OTTOMANS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
Sealed the 1st May 1874, and dated the 7th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Morris Samuel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1878.
I, MORRIS SAMUEL, of Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, do
5 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNITURE APPLICABLE TO COUCHES, BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS,
OTTOMANS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the construction of articles of furniture
which shall in some cases be capable of being used for one or several
purposes, and in others that the coverings may be with facility changed.

page_text: I shall describe my Invention particularly with reference to a couch.
The frame consists of a box or frame supported on legs to receive
a mattress, which on one side is covered, as desired, with leather, rep,
or other material, and on the other side as a mattress, so that either
one side or the other may be presented upwards, as may be necessary,
according to whether the piece of furniture is to be used as a bedstead
or as a couch. The back of the couch is made so that it can be
attached to either side as required, according to whether a right or
left handed couch is wanted, which may be done by fitting the said
back with two or more clips, or the back may be removed altogether
if desired. The bolster or head support is made in two halves, one
half being hinged to the other half, so that when opened out the
bolster or head rest becomes double the width, the outside of the
head rest is covered, as desired, to correspond with the other covering
material of the couch; when the head rest is opened it is then intended
that the piece of furniture should be used as a bedstead, all as here-
after more fully described. The interior of the head rest is hollowed
out, forming a sort of box, the top half being the lid or cover thereof.
Each hollowed out portion contains the half of a bolster or pillow,
which when required to be used has its position reversed in the box,
so that when the head rest is closed up the two surfaces of the bolster
are flush with the tops of the two halves of the head rest, and con-
sequently when closed the bolster or pillow is enclosed in the same.
For forming the couch into a double bedstead I provide a frame
of or about the same size in breadth as the couch frame; or of course
it may be wider or smaller, stuffed and fitted as a mattress, and fitted
with folding legs to be turned out of the way when not required for
use. To use the whole apparatus as a double bedstead I place the
frame just described by the side of the couch, I place uppermost the
mattress side of the couch mattress, I open the head rest, I reverse
the half bolsters therein, and I have a bedstead double the breadth
of the couch. The side piece or arm of the couch may be retained
on one side, or by placing it on the other side it will form a division
between the couch proper and the additional or other half of the so-
formed double bedstead; or it may be removed altogether.
The space in the frame below the head rest may be utilized as a
receptacle for valuables, cash box, or for other articles or utensils.

page_text: The additional mattress frame may if desired be used separately, and
detached altogether from the couch itself.
For chairs, ottomans, and other articles of furniture I make the frame
with a box as for couch, and use a reversible seat, covered on one side
with one description of material, and covered on the other side with
another description of material, so that whichever seat is desired may
be exposed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Morris Samuel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MORRIS
SAMUEL, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Morris Samuel, Her special
licence that I, the said Morris Samuel, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Morris Samuel, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF FURNITURE APPLICABLE TO COUCHES, BEDSTEADS, CHAIRS, OTTOMANS,
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Morris Samuel, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Morris Samuel, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The object of this Invention is the construction of articles of furniture
which shall in some cases be capable of being used for one or several
purposes, and in others that the coverings may be with facility changed.
Also by my Invention I form a lounge which will suit any side
of the room by shifting the back, the cushion or squab being reversible,
one side being covered to suit a sitting room, the other as a bed, and 1
this will be readily understood by describing my Invention particularly
with reference to a couch.
The frame consists of a box or frame supported on legs to receive
a mattress, which on one side is covered, as desired, with leather, rep,
or other material, and on the other side as a mattress, so that either
one side or the other may be presented upwards, as may be necessary
according to whether the piece of furniture is to be used as a bedstead
or as a couch. The back of the couch is made so that it can be
attached to either side, as required, according to whether a right or
left handed couch is wanted, which may be done by fitting the said 2
back with two or more clips or pegs, or the back may be removed
altogether, if desired. The bolster or head support is made in two
halves, one half being hinged to the other half, so that when opened
out the bolster or head rest becomes double the width. The outside
of the head rest is covered, as desired, to correspond with the other 2
covering material of the couch; when the head rest is opened it is
then intended that the piece of furniture should be used as a bedstead,
all as hereafter described. The interior of the head rest is hollowed
out, forming a sort of box, the top half being the lid or cover thereof.
Each hollowed out portion contains the half of bolster or pillow,
which, when required to be used, has its position reversed in the box,
so that when the head rest is closed up the two surfaces of the bolster
are flush with the tops of the two halves of the head rest, and con-
sequently when closed the bolster or pillow is enclosed in the same.
In place of the above I make the head rest to contain the various a
articles, and when used as a double bed have a separate and distinct

page_text: Fig. 5, view of mattress to be fitted to sofa when made as a bed to
form double bed.
Fig. 6, view of head of lounge open; Fig. 7, section of same.
Fig. 8, view of iron bracket which is let into foot of bed on which
rests the extra cushion to form whole length of bed.
In these Figures A. is the frame; B, supports or legs; C is the
mattrass, the upper side (Fig. 1) being covered with any suitable
material suitable for a lounge, the lower side as a mattress; D represents
the shifting back which is held to the side of furniture by pegs E which
fit into holes F formed on the frame A (Fig. 2); G is the head shown
in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. This head is made to open as in Fig. 6,
and with a receptacle G hollowed out inside in which may be placed
pillows (when the piece of furniture is not used as a bed), and also
other parts necessary to be hidden or stowed away. This head may
if preferred be hinged at the back or front instead of the ends; I is
the drawer made in frame A into which is placed the mattress J
(Fig. 5) used for converting the piece of furniture into a double bed.
This mattress J (Fig. 5) is constructed with legs K which are made
to turn up out of the way, and held up by button or other means
when stowed away, as shown by dotted lines. These legs when down
are held firmly by stays L, which, when the legs are turned up, are
taken off and put away into the receptacle in the head before described,
as is also the bracket, Fig. 8, which is, when in use, fitted in slot
in foot of frame of sofa on which rests the cushion or extra length to
make up full length of bed; M represents the cushion; N, the bracket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim, the particular construction
and arrangement of furniture applicable to couches, bedsteads, chairs,
ottomans, and other articles of furniture, herein-before set forth and
described, it being understood that I do not limit myself to the precise

page_text: details shown and described, as they may be varied without departing
from the principles of the constructions and arrangements constituting
my said Invention, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Morris Samuel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
MORRIS SAMUEL. (L.S.)
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited.
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.