Improvements in Bedsteads."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897.
"Improvements in Bedsteads."
I, FREDERICK WooD of 55 Upper Hope Place, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Canine Specialist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
.
This invention has for its object a bedstead that can be folded up when not
required for use so as to occupy a very small space, and thus greatly facilitate
transportation. It can be used either in a room or when camping out in a tent or
otherwise.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a general view of my improved bedstead;
Figures 2 and 3, the same folded and partly folded;
Figures 4 and 5, detail views of the centre joint or hinge.
A are the four posts or uprights of metal or other suitable material arranged in
pairs, the two posts comprising each pair being joined together at the top by the
yoke B which is supported in forks C on top of the posts, so that they can be
removed when required. Each post has a base D upon which they are supported.
Instead of using diagonal stays which have to be fastened to the ground to keep
the posts upright, I provide stays E hinged respectively at G to the uprights A
and converging towards a point located intermediate between the uprights. At
this point the stays are hinged together by the centre hinge or coup-
ling F. Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of this centre hinge or coup-
ling, in which G are jaws in which the ends of the stays E are fitted, H a shoulder
adapted to form a stop for the abutment I on the stays E to abut against and so
keep the stays E when expanded in a horizontal plane. J are diagonal stays
hinged at one end to the stay E and at the other to the posts A. These are adapted to
further strengthen the posts and keep them upright, L are cross stays also hinged
at each end to the post A. Both these stays J & L are hinged in the middle thus
allowing them to be folded. The hinges are however so made that the stays will
only fold one way, thus facilitating the stays being kept rigid when straightened
out. From the yoke B of each pair of uprights is suspended a hammock or bed M,
this being coupled at each end to the yoke B by straps N in such a way that they
can be easily removed. These straps moreover form loops or handles so that the
hammock can be very easily carried as a stretcher when so required. To adjust
the height of inclination of the hammock, the straps are unbuckled and lengthened
or shortened as required.
In the position shown in Figure 1, the bedstead is ready for use and it will be
seen that there are no stays employed which have to be fastened in the ground or
floor. To fold up the bedstead all that is necessary is to remove the hammock and
its yokes, and roll them up, then fold the stays F, J and L on their hinges, thus
bringing the posts nearer together. By this means the bedstead is collapsed both
longitudinally and transversely and when completely collapsed the four posts lie

page_text: close together and occupy very little space as depicted in Figure 2. To these posts
the rolled hammock may be strapped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:
1. The improvement is portable or camp bedsteads which consists in dispensing
with the usual diagonal stays that have to be fastened to the floor or ground to keep
the bed or hammock posts upright, and providing in place thereof a longitudinal
frame or stay hinged at opposite ends to the uprights, diagonal stays hinged at
one end to the uprights, and at the other to the longitudinal stay, and acting to
keep the uprights rigid at right angles to the longitudinal stay when the bedstead
is in use, and hinges so arranged at or about the middle of the stays, that the whole
bedstead can be made to collapse or fold into a small compass when not required
for use, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the uprights for supporting the bed or hammock, of a
longitudinal folding frame or stay connecting one pair of posts with the other pair,
transverse folding stays connecting one post to the other post of each pair, and
diagonal folding stays connecting the top of each post to the longitudinal folding
stay, these stays being so arranged that when expanded they shall support the
posts and retain them rigid in an upright position while if folded the posts will
be brought closely together and occupy a small space to facilitate transportation.
3. The combination with the uprights for supporting the bed or hammock, of
longitudinal stays hinged at one end to the stays, and at the other converging to-
wards a point intermediate between the uprights, at which point they are jointed
or hinged together, and diagonal folding stays hinged at one end to these converg-
ing stays and at the other to the uprights substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. The device for jointing or hinging the stays together at the point where they
converge and keeping the stays when expanded in a horizontal plane, until force
be exerted to fold them substantially as set forth.
5. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved folding bedstead substantially as set forth.
Dotal hi 11 1
2
100%
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.