Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which invention has
been communicated to me from abroad by Victor Charles Thuan of Paris in the
Republic of France 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 elastic bedstead bottoms and consists in
various improvements in the construction and arrangement of the parts as herein-
after described. In bedsteads constructed according to this invention the various
parts such as the legs, the elastic bottom and the head and foot rails are so
constructed and arranged as to admit of their being connected and disconnected
with facility and celerity. The elastic bottom or spring mattrass which may be
used separately or in combination with the other arrangements hereinafter described
is provided with means whereby its tension can be adjusted as required and the
framework of the whole is very light and folds up into a small space for standing
vertically or travelling whilst the general arrangement and construction are such
us to enable it to be used either as a fixed or moveable bedstead as a folding or
a sofa bedstead or the like and render it comfortable and healthy to sleep on.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively a longi-
tudinal section a plan and a transverse section of a bedstead according to this
invention the principal parts consisting of a frame or bedstead bottom mounted on
legs and provided with a head rail. The frame or bedstead bottom is rectangular
in plan and of the usual dimensions. It is constructed with two side bars A of
wood and two transverse or end bars B formed by two parallel flat bars or plates
CD031

page_text: of iron connected together at intervals and between which are arranged grooved
pulleys b. A cord C one end of which is attached to the frame at c as indicated
at figure 2 the other end of the cord being connected to a tension pulley b¹ shown
drawn to a large scale in section in Figure 4 and in plan in Figure 5. The cord C
is attached to this pulley by being passed through a hole in the axis or body of
the pulley. Figure 4 shows a modified construction of the pulley which in this
case is removeable being provided with an axis made in a separate piece from the
flanges as indicated in the drawing. In the upper side or flange of the tension
pulley b¹ there are provided holes with which engages a pin or catch a shown
detached in Figure 5* having a bevelled end and attached to a spring d jointed to
the one of the bars or plates B. A square hole or socket is provided in the upper
part of the tension pulley b¹ figures 4 and 5 for the reception of a bent lever b*
whereby rotary motion is imparted to the pulley in order to wind the cord C
thereon and adjust the tension of the latter as required.
The axis of the pulley illustrated in Figure 4 is prolonged and presents a
hole bs at its lower extremity for the insertain of a lever for the purpose of turning
the pulley and regulating the tension of the cord C.
In order to complete the elastic or spring surfaces of the bedstead bottom and
impart to it flexibility and elasticity as well as to cause all the parts to act in
concert or bear a due share of the strain by an equal distribution of the pressure
and also to protect the bedding from wear by rubbing against the cord C, thin
latbs L of wood metal or other suitable material are arranged upon the cord
transversely to its length and follow the general curve of the surface of the
bedstead bottom which is regulated by the form of the transverse bars B.
At the extremities of each of these laths there are rivetted three loops or
eyes, the middle loop being arranged out of the plane of the loops as
indicated more clearly in the detail figure 6 in order to maintain the laths
in position by preventing them from slipping laterally. With the same object the
laths may be provided with any other suitable clamping devices which engage
with the cord and retain the laths in position. When supported directly by the
frame instead of by the cord the laths are likewise prevented from shifting laterally
by means of a claw m figure 13 in the form of a T rivetted to the ends of the
laths and capable of engaging with a hole formed in the long sides A of the frame
or in a bracket attached thereto according to the nature of the frame. This hole
is made in the form of an ellipse for the introduction of the claw m which intro-
duction can only be effected by turning the lath on edge. The stem of the T
which may be either straight or curved is of sufficient length to allow the laths
to bend freely when a weight is placed upon them. Another way of retaining
the laths in position is by employing in place of the T piece or claw hereinbefore
described a small bar with projecting extremities engaging with a corresponding
stirrup fixed to the frame the inner sides of the latter when made of wood being
tapered to allow for the bending of the laths Any other suitable means for
producing the same results may be employed if desired, for example the laths may
be provided with a keyhole shaped longitudinal slot engaging with a button
screwed to the frame. This button is in the form of a T so that when passed
into the slot and turned one quarter of a revolution it retains the lath which is
supported at the other end by a suitable loop or stirrup.
The side pieces A of the frame are connected to the transverse or end pieces B
by tenons t figures 4 and 5 provided on the ends of the latter which engage with
corresponding mortices in metal plates A¹ on the extremities of the side pieces A.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the tenon T is fixed or locked
in the mortice by means of tubular or hollow legs P which are introduced into
a hole o in the tenon t. Figure 7 illustrates another arrangement in section and
side elevation according to which the tenon is secured by a hook e pinned to the
side of the plate A¹. According to another arrangement illustrated in transverse
and longitudinal section and in plan in figure a notched key f is employed
engaging with a corresponding opening in the tenon or as illustrated in plan in

page_text: figure 8 a notch 1, 2, 3, 4 may be made in the side of the tenon and arranged that:
the strain of the cord C draws in the tenon sideways in the mortice in the
direction included by the arrow and causes this notch to engage with the side.
of the mortice. Any other suitable device may be employed if preferred for
connecting these parts of the frame. The sides of the leg P and of the key f are
inclined so as to act as wedges for tightening the tenon in the mortice. The
herein before described mode of securing the joints by means of the legs as illus-
trated in figures 4 and 5 is suitable for bedsteads combined with the improved
bottom the key f figure 9, hook e figure 7 notch 1, 2, 3, 4 figure 8 and other
equivalent arrangements being preferably employed when the improved elastic
bottom or frame is employed independently as a mattrass or elastic bedstead
bottom in combination with an ordinary bedstead or the legs form part of the
head rail as hereinafter described.
The head and foot rails are made of hollow or tubular iron, the extremities of
the uprights being inserted in the tubular legs P, whose upper extremities are
flush with the surface of the bedstead bottom. When the legs form prolongations.
of the uprights of the head and foot rails, the said uprights are provided at the
level of the bedstead bottom with a metal bracket or plate A' Figure 10, provided
with a mortice corresponding to the mortice in the iron A-This bracket or
plate A is interposed between the side bars and the transverse or end bars, as
indicated in Figure 10a and the whole is secured by the tenon t, and a hook key
or other device as hereinbefore described.
Figures 11 and 12, illustrate in vertical section and plan a modified form of the
improved bed bottom, according to which the parts, A, A, B, B, in place of being
capable of being taken to pieces as herein before described are made of angle iron
permanently connected together by rivets-In this case the foot and head rails
may be arranged to engage in sockets formed in or otherwise connected to the side
bars. This socket may be made in a jointed piece, which allows of the foot and
head rails being turned down upon the bedstead bottom, in which case struts
should be employed to retain the head and foot rails in position when open.
The frame or bedstead bottom is placed upon legs or supports and for this
purpose may be provided with bars presenting elliptical holes with which engage
corresponding pius projecting from the legs or supports-The frame may be con-
nected to legs jointed to the underside of the frame so as to constitute a bedstead
capable of holding up or being stood on end as shewn in figure 14. In this
arrangement a hook g figures 11 and 14 maintains the bedstead in the upright or
folded position the head rail being likewise jointed to the bedstead bottom so as to
take up less room.
According to the arrangement illustrated in figures 11 and 14 the bedstead
bottom is supported at the head end on jointed or hinged legs G attached to the
frame and at the foot end by legs h also jointed to the frame as hereinafter
explained Figure 15 is a detail drawn to a larger scale showing in section the
joint by which the legs are attached to the bedstead bottom-On each side of the
bedstead and at the upper part of the legs or supports there is provided a pin or
stud n capable of engaging in a hole in a plate or bracket p attached to the side.
bar A-One of these pins is fixed but the other is capable of being pulled outwards
so as to be disengaged from the socket in order to enable the legs or supports to be
separated from the frame.
Figure 17 is a vertical section of another arrangement having the same object-
At a suitable place on the sides of the side bars of the bedstead bottom there is
provided a stud i which engages with a fork I formed in the upper part of the
uprights of the supports and is retained therein by a pivotted or swinging catch a¹.
This catch is so hung as to fall of its own accord into the position for closing the
opening of the fork-The frame or bedstead bottom may then be connected to
the support by simply inserting the studs i into the forks of the supports and
the catches after swinging to one side as indicated by the dotted lines in order
to allow the studs to pass return to their original position and retain the studs i̟.

page_text: securely in position in the forks. The catch may be moved to one side by means or
a suitable projection in order to liberate the studs from the forks when it is
necessary to separate the frame from the supports.
The legs or supports h at the foot of the bed may be either jointed or hinged to
the frame or constitute an independent or separable part-In the former case they 5
are formed as illustrated in figure 11 but when the latter arrangement is employed
they are so arranged as to admit of being used to support a table or seat when the
bed is turned up into the vertical position.
When hinged or jointed to the frame or bed bottom is indicated in figure 11 an
eye or loop u is attached to the frame near the foot end and is connected to the 1
legs h by a hinge pin v engaging with a slot in the said legs as indicated in the
detail figure 16. When the bedstead is turned down or in use the ends of
the uprights or legs h are inserted into mortices or sockets provided for their
reception in the side bars A in order to fix the supports and prevent the bedstead
from shifting When the bedstead is turned up into the vertical position the legs
are enabled to be folded back against the frame by means of the elliptical or
elongated form of the holes which allow sufficient play to the pins v to admit of
the ends of the legs h being drawn out of the mortices so that they can be folded
back against the frame as indicated in figure 4.
When the legs are made detachable from the bedstead bottom or frame a
horizontal bar Q figure 18 connecting the upper part of the legs is provided at
each extremity with a pin working in a slot in an arm r of such a form that when
in the position indicated by full lines in the drawing it cannot be turned down by
force applied sideways In order to turn it down into the position indicated by the
dotted lines the arm must first be lifted or drawn upwards so that the slot slides
upon the pin until it assumes such a position as to admit of its turning through a
half of a revolution. When turned up this arm r prevents the frame or elastic
bedstend bottom from shifting laterally upon its supports. When the arm is turned
down the upper surface of the support presents no projecting parts.
In order to further reduce the space occupied by the bedstead bottom when
folded and enable it to be packed in a more convenient form for travelling the side
bars A may be made in several pieces connected by sockets or by any suitable
arrangement of sleeves or collars or the like.
These parts may also be jointed or hinged in the same way as ordinary folding
bedsteads It is preferable to arrange the transverse or end bars B out of the plane
of the central part so that the stress of the cord tends to stiffen or impart rigidity
to the bedstead instead of tending to double it up. It is evident that the
modification which this arrangement involves in the details of the construction and
arrangement of the bedstead do not affect the principle of the invention which
moreover is not limited to the precise forms and details of construction illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings as there may evidently be varied in various ways
whilst retaining the special features and advantages hereinbefore enumerated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The elastic bedstead bottom or mattrass provided with the cord C stretched
over pulleys b and transverse laths L the whole being constructed and arranged
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to
figures 1. 2. 3. 11. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. The means for retaining the transverse laths L in position substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 3. 6 and 13 of the accompanying
drawings.
Third. The modes of connecting the transverse bars B carrying the pulleys b
with the side bars A of the frame of the elastic bed bottom or mattrass substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to Figures 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 10* of
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Fourth. The general construction and arrangement of the bedstead capable of
being rapidly put together or taken to pieces with facility as herein before explained
the said bedstead being formed by the combination of the elastic bedstead bottom,
tubular legs P connecting the transverse bars B to the side bars A, and a head rail
or a head and foot rail all substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The general construction and arrangement of the bedstead formed by the
combination of the elastic bedstead bottom with the jointed or detachable legs
substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 11 to 18 of the
accompanying drawings.
Sixth. The improved elastic bedstead bottom or spring mattrass constructed and
arranged substantially as hereinbefore set forth.