A NOVEL SYSTEM OF CAMP BEDS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No 11 Wellington Street Strand London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "A NOVEL SYSTEM OF CAMP BEDS" (communicated by Edmond Guilloux of
N° 15 Rue Bertin Poirée, Paris, France Manufacturer), to be as follows:-
It is now agreed, that to preserve the health of troops campaigning, it is
necessary to give to the soldier healthful bedding.
The bedding the subject of this Invention, meets every requirement; it is in the
first place hygienic the men are isolated from the ground, which as regards
humidity and insects, prevents epidemics in an army of occupation, and it is easily
set up without special tools or workmen.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figs. 1 and 2 show the beds of this
Invention in front and side view.
A division or section is composed of 6 posts or uprights A, arranged 3 and 3 to
an indefinite length.
To these posts are fixed three superposed pieces of canvass D in two rows.
The posts rest upon sole-plates B placed on the ground, they are joined together
longitudinally by longitudinal cross pieces C which keep them suitably apart.
They are held laterally by an iron rod H, fixed to one of the uprights and
taking into two hooks d d in the two other posts, further by a cross bar, rods or
bars Fig. 2.
To keep the entire system of posts completely rigid, the two middle ones are
united by a diagonal cross-piece or strut M extending from the base of one post to
the top of the other.
The canvasses D forming the hammocks are hooked to these posts and superposed,
The details of the combination of the various pieces are as follows
Fig. 3. shows the combination of the posts and cross pieces C.
Two iron plates E are bolted to the top of the post A, these two plates have two
pins or studs f. f¹, the one serving as joint to the piece g, the other receiving the
hook a

page_text: To set up the hook g¹ it is only necessary to slightly incline the post, to engage
it, once set up it can no longer uplift.
place between each middle post a
To keep the posts in a vertical position
diagonal cross piece M extending from the top of one to the foot of the other.
Figs. 4. and 5 show the setting up.
The post A has an iron plate pierced with an eye into which enters a hook fixed
on the cross-piece M.
The opposite side is provided with a plate pierced with a hole which enters into
the stud or pin m, and which is held by the covering plate n brought down
upon it.
The side posts are fixed to the sole-plate by an angle iron O screwed on one side
to the post and traversed on the other by a spike which enters the ground after
having passed through the sole-plate.
Laterally the posts are upheld by the rod H Fig. 2 set upon a bolt fixed to one
of them and then hooking upon the hooks dd; this rod pivoting on its bolt is
easily disengaged.
To insure the rigidity of the posts and prevent any bending or flexure, they are
supported by an iron cross composed of 4 inovable arms P bolted to the side posts,
two above and two below, and joined to the central post by two pins q which the
plate will cover to prevent their coming out (see Figs. 2. 6 and 7).
The setting up or fitting of these pieces is very simple, it is only necessary to
engage them on the studs and to keep them there by lowering the cover plate.
Fig. 8 shows a tent set up with the bedding inside.

page_text: I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of N° 11 Wellington Street Strand London, in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention (communicated
to me Edmond Guilloux of N° 15 Rue Bertin-Poirée, Paris, France, Manufacturer)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
$
It is now agreed, that to preserve the health of troops campaigning, it is
necessary to give to the soldier healthful bedding.
The system the subject of this Invention is intended to meet every requirement.
The bedding is in the first place hygienic, the men are isolated from the ground,
which as regards humidity and insects, prevents epidemics in an army of
occupation.
It is easily set up without special tools or workmen.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figures 1 and 2 show beds of this
Invention in front and side view.
A division or section is composed of 6 posts or uprights A, arranged 3 and 3 to
an indefinite length.
To these posts are fixed three superposed pieces of canvas D in two rows.
The posts rest upon sole plates B placed on the ground, they are joined together
longitudinally by longitudinal cross pieces C which keep them suitably apart.
They are held laterally by an iron rod H, fixed to one of the uprights and taking
into two hooks d, d on the two other posts, further by a cross bar rods or
bars. Fig. 2.
To keep the entire system of posts completely rigid, the two middle ones are
united by a diagonal cross piece or strut M extending from the base of one post to
the top of the other.
The canvases D forming the hammocks are hooked to these posts and superposed.
The details of the combination of the various pieces are as follows:-
Figure 3 shows the combination of the posts A and cross pieces C.
Two iron plates E are bolted to the top of the post A, these two plates have two
pins or studs fƒ¹, the one serving as joint to the piece g, the other receiving the
hook g¹.
Each post is therefore united by the piece g to a cross piece C.
To set up the hook g¹ it is only necessary to slightly incline the post, to engage
it, once set up it can no longer uplift.
To keep the posts in a vertical position I place between each middle post a
diagonal cross piece M, extending from the top of one to the foot of the other.
Figures 4 and 5 show the setting up.
The post A has an iron plate pierced with an eye into which enters a hook fixed
on the cross piece M.
The opposite side is provided with a plate pierced with a hole which enters
into the stud or pin M and which is held by the covering plate n brought down
upon it.

page_text: The side posts are fixed to the sole plate by an angle iron. O screwed on one side
to the post and traversed on the other by a spike which enters the ground after
having passed through the sole plate.
Laterally the posts are upheld by the rod H Figure 2. set upon a bolt fixed to
one of them and then hooking upon the hooks d d this rod pivoting on its bolt is
easily disengaged.
To ensure the rigidity of the posts and prevent any bending or flexure, they are
supported by an iron cross bar composed of 4 movable arms P bolted to the side
posts two above and two below and joined to the central post by two pins q which
the plate Qwill cover to prevent their coming out see Figures 2 and 6.
The setting up
or fitting of these pieces is very simple, it is only necessary to
engage them in the studs and to keep them there by lowering the cover plate.
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:
A system of Campbeds permitting complete isolation from the ground, easy
transport, rapid setting up and taking to pieces, all like pieces being inter-
changeable, and characterised by:
1. The arrangement of the posts set upon wooden sole plates with tenon and
hinge.
2. The combination of the longitudinal cross pieces with the posts for the purpose
of upholding them.
3. The cross bar and lateral cross pieces supporting the posts in this direction.
4. The method of combining the iron work with pins or studs and cover plate
permitting a certain and rapid setting up and taking down.
,
5. Sectioning by groups, as may be desired all the pieces of same nature being
alike and fixing on to a similar piece in any order.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated on the accompanying sheet
of Drawings.
Thi Thanth day of Tul 1886