IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIR BEDSTEADS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FOLDING CHAIR BEDSTEADS." A communication from abroad by Jean
François Régis Freydier, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 11th February 1879, and dated the 15th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIR BEDSTEADS." [A communi-
cation from abroad by Jean François Régis Freydier, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in folding or convertible chair bedsteads
constructed of iron, wood, or other material, which may be readily converted into
an invalid or reclining chair, or into a bedstead or ottoman at will. The chair also.
folds up into a very small compass for carriage.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate three different arrangements of folding
chair by way of examples, the first one being convertible to six different forms,
viz., arm chair, chair with leg rest, couch or reclining chair, bedstead, ottoman, and
as folded for transport; the second one to three different forms, viz., arm chair,
chair with leg rest, and bedstead; while the third, besides being similarly con-
vertible, is capable of having the back frame adjusted to two different inclinations.
Figure 1 shows a front elevation; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a side elevation ;
and Figure 4, a perspective view of the first arrangement of folding or convertible
chair.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the chair provided with an extension or leg

page_text: :
3
rest, the dotted lines in this Figure also showing the position of the back or head
frame when used as an invalid's couch or reclining chair.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chair converted into a bedstead.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the chair folded to form an ottoman.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the chair folded up into a small compass for
transport.
Figure 9 is a front view of the back frame detached, to show the means of
securing it in the raised position.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all these Figures.
The chair is composed of three principal rectangular frames a, b, c; a and b being
hinged together at d, d, to enable b to be folded down upon a when required, while
The back frame c is also
the back frame c is hinged to the seat frame a and e, e.
hinge jointed to a small intermediate part f, f, to enable it to be folded down upon
the frames a, b; g, Figures 3 and 9, is a bolt inserted in staples h for connecting
the part frigidly to the back frame c; i, i, arms jointed to the back frame c by
a triple hinge r; j, uprights supporting the arms, their lower ends being received.
in sockets k or 1, according to whether the chair back is upright or inclined; m, m,
legs jointed to the seat a, so as to fold up within the seat frame; n, struts; o, legs
jointed to frame b, which fold up within the same when not in use; p, hooks by
which the arms i are retained when used as legs or supports for the frame c, and
the chair is used as a bedstead (see Figure 6). The chair is converted to the form.
shown in Figure 6 by extending frame b and supporting it on its legs o; or into
a couch or lounge by inclining the back frame c and fixing the arms i in sockets /;
or into a bedstead by placing the back frame in a horizontal position and supporting
it upon the arms i, which are reversed for the purpose.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, show the second arrangement; in this case the chair
is constructed entirely of wood, and presents the same appearance and possesses the
-same solidity as an ordinary chair or bedstead.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the frame of an arm chair, the stuffing and
covering being removed; and Figure 11 is a front view of same.
Figure 12 shows the same provided with an extension or leg rest; while Figure 13
represents it converted into a bedstead.
The same letters of reference are used in the three Figures to indicate like parts.
a, seat frame, supported on legs b, b, provided with castors; c, leg rest or
extension frame hinged to the front of seat frame a at d, d, and folding down upon
it when not in use; e, back frame hinged to the seat frame a, and provided with
arms f hinged at g to the back frame e; h, links for holding up the back e;
i, hinged stop for supporting the back e when inclined backwards, as in Figure 12;
j, jointed legs similar to legs m and o in the previous arrangement.
It will be readily seen how the chair is converted to the form shown in Figure 12;
as shown in Figure 13 the arms f, f, are turned down on their hinges g over the
.sides of the back frame e, so as to form legs or supports. To enable the back frame
.to be lowered it is necessary to turn the stop i down.
'
Figure 14 shows a side elevation of the third example of folding chair, Figure 15
shows the same arranged as a reclining chair, and Figures 16 and 17 show it as
a bedstead, in the former of which the back frame and the intermediate frame, by
which it is connected to the seat, are loosely jointed together, whilst in the latter
Figure they are rigidly braced together.
Figure 18 shows the folding legs on the front bar of the extension frame c; the
dotted lines show the legs folded when the frame is turned back on its hinges to
form the seat.
; Corresponding letters of reference are used in these latter Figures.
:
a, main frame supported on legs b; c, leg rest or extension frame, hinged at d to
the front of frame a. The back is formed in two parts e, f, hinged together at 9
and is also hinged to the seat frame at h, hi, bar which engages with a staple j,

page_text: so as to brace together the two parts e, f, of the back frame; k, hinged bracket.
or stop, which supports the back when raised, and must be turned down to lower
the back; l, arms hinged to f; m, links or catches; n, blocks fixed on frame a to
support the extension frame c when folded down on a; o, blocks on frame c to
support arms l; p, staples in which the latches m engage to fix arms l, as in
Figure 14; and q, similar staples on blocks n for the same purpose ween arranged
as in Figure 15; r, legs hinged to the plates & fixed on the frame c, the legs
standing at a slight inclination outwards, limited by stops t to give greater stability
and also prevent their collapsing under the weight.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th February 1879.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIR BEDSTEADS." A communi
cation from abroad by Jean François Régis Freydier, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in folding or convertible chair bedsteads,
which may be constructed of iron, wood, or other material, and are capable of being
readily transformed either into an invalid or reclining chair, or into a bedstead or
ottoman, at will. The chair also folds up into a very small compass for carriage.
:
The accompanying Drawings illustrate three different arrangements of folding
chair by way of examples, the first one being convertible to six different forms,
viz. arm chair, chair with leg rest, couch or reclining chair, bedstead, ottoman,
and package as folded for transport; the second one to three different forms, viz.,
arm chair, chair with leg rest,, and bedstead; while the third, beside being similarly
convertible, is capable of having the back frame adjusted to two different
inclinations.
Figure 1 shows a front elevation; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a side elevation;
and Figure 4, a perspective view of the first arrangement of folding or convertible
chair.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the chair provided with an extension or leg
rest, the dotted lines in this Figure also showing the position of the back or head
frame when used as an invalid's couch or reclining chair.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chair converted into a bedstead.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a chair folded to form an ottoman.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the chair folded up into a small compass for
transport.
Figure 9 is a front view of a back frame detached to show the means of securing
it in the raised position.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all these Figures,
The chair is composed of three principal rectangular frames a, b, c, a and b being
hinged together at d, d, to enable b to be folded down upon a when required, while
the back frame c is hinged to the seat frame a at e, e. The back frame c is also
hinge-jointed to a small intermediate part f, f, to enable it to be folded down upon
the frames a, b. g, Figures 3 and 9, is a bolt inserted in staples h for connecting
the part frigidly to the back frame c.. i, i, arms jointed to the back frame c by a
triple hinge r. j, uprights supporting the arms, their lower ends being received in
sockets or l, according as the chair back is upright or inclined. m, m, legs jointed
to the seat a so as to fold up within the seat frame. n, leg struts. o, legs jointed
to frame b, which fold up within the same when not in use. p, hooks by which the
arms i are retained when used as legs or supports for the frame c, and the chair is
used as a bedstead (see Figure 6). The chair is convertible to the form shown in
Figure 6 by extending frame b and supporting it on its legs o, or into a couch
or lounge by inclining the back frame c and fixing the arms i in sockets l, or into
a bedstead by placing the back frame in a horizontal position, and supporting
it upon the arms i which are reversed for the purpose of forming legs.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, show the second arrangement. In this case the chair
is constructed entirely of wood, and presents the same appearance and possesses the
same solidity as an ordinary chair or bedstead.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the frame of an arm chair, the stuffing and
covering being removed, and Figure 11 is a front view of same.
Figure 12
shows the same provided with an extension or leg rest, while Figure 13 represents
it converted into a bedstead.

page_text: ་
The same letters of reference are used in these three Figures to indicate like parts.
a, seat frame supported on legs b, b, provided with casters; c, leg rest or extension
frame hinged to the front of seat frame a at d, d, and folding down upon it when
not in use; e, back frame hinged to the seat frame a, and provided with arms f
hinged at g to back frame e; h, links for holding up the back e; i, hinged bracket
or stop for supporting the back e when inclined backwards as in Figure 12;
j, jointed legs similar to legs m and o in the previous arrangement.
It will be readily seen how the chair, Figures 10 and 11, is converted to the
form shown in Figure 12 by extending frame c and supporting it on its legs j, aud
by tilting the back frame e backwards until it rests on the stop i.
To form a bedstead, as shown in Figure 13, the arms f, f, are turned down on their
hinges g, over the sides of the back frame e so as to form legs or supports therefor,
the stop i being first turned down to enable the back frame e to be lowered.
In the third example of folding chair, the following modifications are adopted :-
1st. Two brackets are fixed to the back of the seat frame to support the back
frame and relieve the strain on the hinges. These brackets also form rests for the
arins when the apparatus is arranged as a reclining chair.
2nd. Two blocks are fixed to the extension or leg frame to form rests for the
arms when said frame is folded down to form the seat of an arm chair.
3rd. The back is made in two parts hinged together, and capable of being rigidly
connected by suitable catches. By this means, additional length is obtained in the
case of a reclining chair, and facility is afforded for placing the two parts of the
back frame at different inclinations, when the chair is converted into a bedstead.
4th Simple hinged legs are substituted, if desired, which are made to incline.
outwards to afford greater stability.
Figure 14 shows a side elevation of the third example of folding chair.
Figure 15 shows the same arranged as a reclining chair; and Figures 16 and 17
show it as a bedstead, in the former of which the back frame and the intermediate
frame by which it is connected to the seat are loosely jointed together, whilst in the
latter Figure they are rigidly braced together.
Figure 18 shows the folding legs on the front bar of the extension frame c; the
dotted lines show the legs folded when the frame is. turned back on its hinges to
form the chair seat.
-
Corresponding letters of reference are used in these latter Figures.
a, main frame supported on legs b; c, leg rest or extension frame, hinged at d to
the front of frame a. The back is formed in two parts e, f, hinged together at g,
and is also hinged to the seat frame h, h. i, bar which engages with a staple j so
as to brace together the two parts e, f, of the back frame; k, hinged bracket or stop
which supports the back when raised, and is turned town to allow the back to be
lowered;, arms hinged to f; m, links or catches; n, blocks fixed on frame a to
support the extension frame c when folded down on a; o, blocks on frame c to
support arms; p, staples in which the latches m engage to fix arms l, as in
Figure 14; and 7, similar staples on blocks n for the same purpose when arranged as
in Figure 15; r, legs hinged to the plates s fixed on the frame c, the legs standing at a
slight inclination outwards, limited by stops t, to give greater stability and also
prevent their collapsing under the weight.
Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22, show further modifications in these improved con-
vertible chair bedsteads, consisting,―
1st. In the employment of an extension frame fitted to slide telescopically in the
main frame and furnished with legs and an inner frame suitably stuffed and
mounted in the extension frame so as to be reversible, in order to bring it to a level
with the principal or seat frame.
2nd. In the application to the back frame of sliding bolts for securing the arms
when the chair is converted into a lounge or bedstead.
Figure 19 is a side view of an arm chair having the above modifications applied,
and Figure 20 a longitudinal section of the same.

page_text: Figure 21 is a longitudinal section of the same as a chair with leg rest extended,
and Figure 22 a plan of the same.
Figure 23 is a cross section of the telescopic extension frame and inner reversible
frame, and Figure 24 a similar section, the inner frame having its stuffed side turned
down in the former Figure and up in the latter Figure.
The same reference letters and numerals are used to indicate the same parts in
these several Figures.
a, main seat frame supported on two front legs b provided with castors, and in
rear upon two legs b' without castors; 2, telescopic frame fitted to slide in and out
beneath frame a, the back bar of said frame 2 being furnished with brackets 4, 4,
running upon longitudinal guide bars 1, 1, fixed beneath frame a; 3, 3, are the
front legs of sliding frame 2; 5, inner reversible frame having side flanges or
shoulders which rest upon the side bars of frame 2, as shown in Figures 20 and 23,
so as to allow of the latter being drawn out beneath the frame a when required.
After drawing out frame 2, the inner stuffed frame 5 is lifted by the handle 6
and then reversed in position upon frame 2, as indicated in Figure 24, so as to
bring its upper surface upon a level with the seat frame a when the chair is
converted into a reclining chair or bedstead. 7, 7, dowells on frame 5, fitting in
corresponding holes in the sliding frame 2 to keep frame 5 in place. Instead of
making the frame 5 to lift out, as described, it may be pivoted so as to enable it to
be reversed without the necessity of removing it. 8, staples fixed on each chair
arm, which engage when the arms are turned down to form a reclining chair or
bedstead, with spring bolts 9 on the back frame f, and so hold the arms rigidly in
position.
I would observe that these convertible chair bedsteads may be constructed of
various materials, and upholstered in various ways.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The several arrangements of convertible chair bedsteads, constructed substantially
as herein shown and described.
I also claim to modify each of the several arrangements in such a way that it is
susceptible of one or more only of the changes herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
A
STADI
Gol