An Improved Convertible Berth and Settee...
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Convertible Berth and Settee...
I, JAMES MATTHEW MOODY Cane Hill Asylum, Purley, Surrey, Physician
and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a settee convertible into two sleeping berths containing ready made beds,
with the means for making a third berth if required. The back of the settee is
oblong. It consists of a hollow tray the bottom of which formed of woven wire,
is anterior, and upholstered. It is attached to the under frame of the settee by
two metal arms hinged at either extremity. On making traction on the upper edge
of the back it comes forward on the arms, the lower edge gliding up the wall of
the compartment to which it is fastened by two sliding attachments. The hollow
tray forming the back thus becomes horizontal, its former posterior aspect now
being uppermost, and forms berth No. 1, containing a bed ready made. This berth
is supported in front by the metal arms which have become perpendicular, and
behind by two spring bolts which when the berth assumes its horizontal position,
enter sockets in the wall.
The upholstered seat of the settee (also woven wire) now lifts up on hinges
from the front, and is fastened against the wall by means of a bolt. Beneath is
the berth No. 2 containing a bed ready made. The bottom of this berth is made
of woven wire.
Should a third berth be required, the upholstered seat of the settee has
detachable hinges, and it can be fixed to another part of the wall of the
compartment with a duplicate attachment, the front being supported on hinged
legs.
To limit the width of the settee when acting as such in narrow compartments
the front edges of the berths are made to double down, thus increasing the width
of the berths for sleeping in.
Dated this Fighth day of April 1893
JAMES M. MOODY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Convertible Berth and Settee.
I JAMES MATTHEW MOODY, Cane Hill Asylum, Purley, in the County of
Surrey, Physician and Surgeon, 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:—
The object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture for the
cabins of yachts, house boats, caravans, and other confined apartments, which can
be used as a settee during the day, and can be converted into sleeping berths for
two or more persons at night.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I, shew in front and end view the subject of my inventiou
in the form of a settee.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the same sheet shew parts thereof detached, on an enlarged

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side view of a portable bed for a third person, which bed, in the day
time, forms part of the settee.
Figs. 4 a partial plan view of the upper side of the upper berth, seen in Fig. 1,
Sheet II. The straps are to keep the bed clothes in position, when the upper
berth assumes the perpendicular position, as hereafter explained.
The convertible berth and settee consists of a lower portion or chest A, wherein
may conveniently be arranged drawers a a. The top of the chest A, which is, by
preference, fixed against the wall of the compartment, is upholstered to form a
bed, and it also forms a resting place for the portable bed shewn at Fig. 3, Sheet II,
which forms the upholstered seat of the couch or settee during the day.
In that case, the portable bed, properly upholstered, forms, when folded up, the
ordinary seat of the settee in day time.
In movable connection with the lower portion A of the settee, is an upper
part B, which forms the back of the settee, and also, when in a different position,
the upper sleeping berth. This upper part or back B is formed of a rigid frame
upholstered on both sides, and is capable of being raised into a horizontal position,
as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet. II.
bb are strong rods having their opposite ends hinged to the chest A, near the
front, and to the back B, as best seen at Figs. 2 and 3, Sheet I.
ccare a pair of blocks hinged to the back B (see Fig. 5, Sheet I), and sliding
In vertical guides C C, which may be fixed to the wall, behind the chest A.
To change the settee into sleeping berths, the handles 61 are grasped, and the
back B is pulled forward. This will have the effect of bringing the supporting
rods bb into a vertical position (see Fig. 2, Sheet II), and of raising the blocks cc
in their guides, until the part B is brought to a horizontal position (see Sheet II,
Figs. 1 and 2). The blocks cc are then fixed at the proper height in the guides,
by catches d, one of which is clearly illustrated at Fig. 4, Sheet I, engaging with
the underside of the block c
Springs may be provided for giving a forward tendency to the catches d, and
also pins, as e (Fig. 4, Sheet 1), to be inserted in suitably placed holes, for the
purpose of engaging the tail of the catches d, and holding the same out of
action.
It will thus be seen, that the conversion of the settee into sleeping berths, and
vice versa, is but the work of a moment; the detachable bed shewn at Fig. 3,
Sheet II, may or may not form part of the arrangement, according to the space
available for setting up sleeping accommodation for a third person, and the
probability of such accommodation being required.
The material from which the convertible article of furniture is constructed, is
a matter of convenience, but it will be found that wire gauze will be a good
foundation for the upholstery work.
During the day, the supporting rods 66 form arms for the settee, and hold the
back B in its vertical position, see Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I.
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 :-
My improved convertible sleeping berth and settee, wherein the part forming
the settee back is connected with the bottom portion by hinged supporting rods,
and provided with a sliding attachment to vertical guides, in such a way, that
the position of the said back may be changed, and fixed in the manner explained
with reference to the drawings, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of January 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.