Improvements relating to Bedsteads.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bedsteads.
We, GEORGE ELMER PACK and AMOS PHILLIPPI, both of 1201, Washington
Avenue, Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Manufacturers, 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:-
This invention relates to bedsteads, and particularly to what are known to the
trade as iron or metal bedsteads.
The main objects in view are to produce a cheap, simple and effective coupling
or fastener for connecting the bed-posts and bed-frame or side-rails, the same
being so constructed as to result in a rigid connection between the two and thus
prevent all shaking or movement of these parts; also to adapt the bedstead to
be readily taken down and set up, and to provide for an adjustment of the bed-
frame, thereby overcoming the springing or sagging of the same by the tension
of the woven-wire bottom.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one corner of a bedstead embodying this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side.
Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of a portion of one of the posts and bracket.
Fig. 4 is a detail of the connecting-plate.
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of bracket.
Fig. 6 is a perspective of a modified form of side-rail.
Fig. 7 is a perspective of a further modification; the connecting plate being
detached or uncoupled from the bracket.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the
drawing.
As each of the four corners of the bedstead is alike, a description of one will
suffice for all.
The post 1, has chilled, or otherwise secured thereon, the bracket 2, the same
being curved about the post and having its two terminals 3 horizontally extended
to form an intermediate vertical space, said terminals having their upper edge
provided with inwardly disposed corresponding segmentally-curved or it may
be inclined slots 4.
Between these terminals 3 of the bracket is adapted to be interposed the con-
necting-plate 5, the same preferably being of a somewhat triangular shape, or any
other shape that may be found convenient and desirable, and preferably of a
width or thickness considerably less than the space between the terminals of
the bracket. Lugs 6 substantially conforming to the post may be formed at
the upper and lower ends of the plate near its rear edge, to engage or bear
against the posts 1. From opposite sides or faces of the plate lateral studs 7

page_text: may project, and these may be, if desired, cast with the plate. The studs 7 are
preferably located near the rear edge of the plate and about midway the same
and are of such diameter and so relatively located as to adapt them to enter the
upper ends of the slots 4 which may be curved or inclined as described and in
being forced into the same to draw the rear edge of the plate or the lugs 6 if
they be used, snugly up against the post thereby bracing the same so that no
looseness of the joint can occur.
The bed-frame comprises the usual cross-pieces S between which the woven
wire bottom 9, is stretched, and the longitudinal side rails 10, preferably formed
of angle-iron. Each of the latter near its ends has formed in its vertical portion
an opening 11, into which the stud 7, of the connecting-plate 5 passes, so that
the plates become pivotally attached to the side-rails; or, if desired, an ordinary
bolt may be substituted and passed through these parts. We prefer the stud,
however, inasmuch as we are enabled to save cost of manufacture,
important factor in this style of bedstead, by casting the connecting plates with
the studs thereon and subsequently milling the latter, if necessary, which, how-
ever, we do not believe to be the case in view of the fact that no very great
accuracy of fit of these parts is necessary.
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The plate 5 may also be provided near its upper outer corner with a segmental
slot 12, the same being, if employed, concentric with the stud 7, said slot being
for the accommodation of an ordinary wood-screw 13, which passes therethrough
and into the end of the adjacent cross-piece 8, thereby holding these parts
adjustably together.
The plate 5, may also be provided with a second hole, 14, sustantially in
horizontal alignment with the stud 7, the same accommodating an adjusting-
bolt 15, which passes therethrough and through a short segmental slot 16, formed
in the vertical portion of the side-rail 10, at the inner side of which latter the bolt
carries a clamping-nut 17.
It will be clear from the foregoing that the connecting plates may remain
attached to the bed-frame, although for convenience in shipping, they may be
temporarily removed, and that the bedstead may be easily and quickly set up or
taken down, it being only necessary in these latter operations to insert or remove
the connecting-plates between or from the slotted terminals 3, of the brackets 2,
and at the same time insert and force the studs 7, a short distance into the slots 4,
or disengage the same, as the case may be.
The studs 7, are not intended to rest in the bottom of the slots 4, but against
the edges thereof, as shown, so that the further down into the same they may
be forced, the more rigid the connection becomes. In this manner we overcome
the disagreeable and objectionable looseness of this connection so common in iron
bedsteads. The width of the spaces between the terminals 3 of the brackets
exceeding the thickness of the connecting-plates 5, allows ample room for the
inaccuracy as to the width of the head and foot portions, so that the exact relative
position of the plates 5, does not have to be gauged to that nicety as heretofore
in bedsteads of this class.
Inasmuch as the tension of the woven-wire bottom 9 springs or sags the side-
rails 10, due allowance must be made therefor in the first instance, but after-
wards the wire bottom will lose its tension, whereupon the side-rails will
straighten into normal position. This straightening of the side-rails will cause
the head and foot portions to be thrown out of the perpendicular. It will be
seen that we provide for this almost inevitable contingency by connecting the
connecting-plates 5 to the bed-frame in an adjustable manner, so that should
one or more corners of the bed-frame become distorted, elevated or depressed
more than its companions-the plate or plates 5, are adjusted accordingly,
whereby their outer edges are disposed vertically and the head and foot portions
of the bedstead are always maintained vertical, thus adding greatly to the
appearance and stability of the bedstead as a whole. To accomplish this adjust-
ment, which is nothing more than a moving of the connecting-plates 5, upon

page_text: their pivoting-studs 7, the nut of the clamping-bolt 15, of such plates is loosened,
the adjustment accomplished and the nut retightened.
If desired, the bracket 2, as shown in Fig. 5, may have merely one slot 4, and
likewise the connecting-plate may have but one stud 7, the latter being at its
inner side or face. In this latter construction, the lugs 6, are essential, while in
the former construction they are not so considered, and hence may be, if preferred,
omitted.
It will be obvious that the invention may be applied to that form of iron bed-
stead wherein the side-rails of angle-iron are reversed, that is, appear as L-shaped
In such instance, as we have.illustrated in Fig. 6, the longitudinal side-rails may,
near each end, be flattened so as to produce vertical webs 20, and the stud 7, of
the connecting-plate passed therethrough. The bedstead thus constructed may
receive and support ordinary wooden slats, or, if preferred, an independent,
removable, woven-wire bed-bottom, all as will be readily understood.
In Fig. 7, we show the direct reversal of the pin and slot connection shown in
Figs. 1 to #; that is to say, the pin or stud 7", is carried by the terminals 3, of
the bracket 2, while the curved or inclined slots 4" are formed in the outer
vertical edge of the connecting-plate 5. The side rail 10, moreover, pivots on
a bolt 21, owing to the transfer of the stud 7", to the bracket 2.
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. The combination of the bedstead posts provided with outwardly projecting
brackets, a pair of side-rails, adjustable plates on the ends of the side-rails, and
pin and slot connections between the said plates and the said brackets, the slots
being curved or inclined substantially as and for the purpose stated.
2. The combination, in an iron or metal bedstead, of the bedstead posts, a
pair of terminals extending parallel from each of the same and provided in their
upper edges with slots disposed towards said posts, opposite longitudinal side-
rails adapted to take between the terminals, adjustable plates on each of the side-
rails and studs extending from opposite sides of said plates and adapted to
engage the slots, these parts being so relatively located as to cause the ends of
the side rails and plates to be drawn towards the posts when the studs are forced
into the slots.
3. The combination, in an iron or metal bedstead, of the posts, a bracket
terminal extending from each of the same and having a slot, longitudinal side-
rails, a connecting-plate at each end of each of the same, said plates being
adjustably connected to the side-rails and each having a laterally-disposed stud
for engaging the slot of the adjacent bracket.
4. The combination, in an iron or metal bedstead, of the posts, a bracket
extending from each of the same and provided with an inwardly-disposed slot,
opposite longitudinal side-rails, a connecting-plate pivotally connected to each
end of each of the side-rails, means for securing the plates at any point of their
adjustment, and studs extending from opposite sides of the plate and adapted
to engage the slots of the bracket and so relatively arranged with the latter and
the eage of the plate as to draw said edge against the post when forced into the
slots.
5. The combination, in an iron or metal bedstead, of the posts, a bracket
extending from each of the same and provided in its upper side with an inwardly-
disposed slot, the side-rails, the connecting-plates having studs extending inwardly
therefrom through the side-rails, by which they are pivotally connected, and
inwardly into the slots, concaved bearing-studs located at the outer edge of the
plates, and means for securing the side-rails and plates in their pivotal adjust-
ment.
6. In an iron or metal bedstead, the combination with the corner-posts, each
provided with an inwardly-disposed bracket, of the side-rails, plates pivotally

page_text: connected to the side-rails and provided with means for engaging the brackets,
and means for securing the plates and side-rails in their pivotal adjustment.
7. In an iron or metal bedstead, the combination with the corner-posts and
brackets extending therefrom, of side-rails having their vertical portions provided
with an opening and in advance of the same with a slot, connecting-plates at
each end of each side-rail, a stud extending inwardly from each connecting-plate
through the opening in the side-rail and engaging the bracket adjacent thereto,
and an adjusting-bolt passed through the said plate and through the slot of the
side-rail.
8. In an iron or metal bedstead, the combination with the bed-posts and the
parallel brackets extending from each of the same provided with slots inwardly
curved towards the posts, of side-rails formed of angle-iron and provided near each
end with a hole and beyond the same with a slot, connecting-plates located at
each end of each side-rail and having opposite studs projecting therefrom and
engaging the slots of the brackets and having holes agreeing with the slots in
the side-rails, and above the same with curved slots, adjusting-bolts passed
through the lower holes in the connecting-plates and the slots in the side-rails,
cross-pieces connecting the side-rails and screws passed through the upper holes
of the connecting-plates and into the ends of said side-rails.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1899.
BOULT, WADE, & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.