Improvements in bedsteads
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan.; 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
I, MARY WEIGHTMAN, The Minories, Jesmond Road, Newcastle on Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland, Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
.
This invention relates to Improvements in bedsteads as furniture and has for its object
the construction of a bedstead and bed adaptable at will for use as a table.
To effect my purpose the head pillars of the bedstead may be carried up above
the level of the bedstead framing to a height preferably equal to the length of the
bedstead, the head-pillars being arranged to turn on hinges at or about their point of
juncture with the-bedstead frame and they may be designed to carry a canopy or
not as found desirable. When a canopy is used, the juncture of the framing of the
canopy with the headpillars may be arranged with hinges or their equivalent to
allow the canopy frame to open out or shut up against the headpillars and when
closed the headpillars may be lowered so as to lie parallel with the bedstead
framing.
When the canopy framing is extended it may be supported by struts preferably
hinged to the canopy frame and arranged to abut against the headpillars or their'
equivalent, the latter being strengthened by lateral struts abutting against the
bedstead side frame. Alternatively I may shorten the headpillars by projecting the
footpillars proportionately and arranging the latter on hinges or their equivalent
acting substantially in the manner described for the former or I may use a portion of
the length of the headpillars to act as a canopy by hinging such portion and arranging
struts to carry the same. Further I may arrange the headpillar frame or the head-
pillar & footpillar frames combined wholly or partially of such a depth as to provide
space for drawers therein or otherwise I may provide drawer-space in the framing of
the bedstead. When in use as a table, the mattress, bedlinen and drapery are concealed
within the table the side framing of the latter being partially formed by preferably
one permanent and three adjustable stringers, its surface consisting of the boarded
area of the head pillar frame or of the head-and-foot pillar frames combined and
securable by lock and key or otherwise to any suitable point of attachment.
Dated this 20th day of January 1888
A. C. CHAPMAN,
2, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Patent Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bedsteads as Furniture.
I, MARY WEIGHTMAN, The Minories, Jesmond Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the
county of Northumberland, Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 improvements in bedsteads as furniture and has for its
object the construction of a bestead adaptable at will for use as a table. To effect
iny purpose the headpillar frame of the bedstead may be carried up above the level
of the bedstead framing to a height preferably equal to the length of the bedstead the
head pillar frame being arranged to turn on hinges at or about its point of juncture
with the bedstead frame and it may be designed to carry a canopy or not as found
desirable. When a canopy is used the juncture of the canopy frame with the head-
pillar frame may be arranged with hinges or their equivalent to allow the canopy
frame to open out or shut up against the headpillar frame and when closed the latter
may be lowered so as to lie parallel with the bedstead framing.
When the canopy framing is extended it may be supported by struts preferably
hinged to the canopy or headpillar frame and the latter may be strengthened and
stiffened by lateral struts or brackets abutting between the headpillar frame and
bedstead side frame. Alternativly I may shorten the headpillar frame by projecting
the footpillar frame proportionately and arranging the latter on hinges or their
equivalent acting substantially in the manner described for the former or I may use
a portion of the length of the headpillar frame to act as a canopy by hinging such
portion and arranging struts to carry the same.
Further I may arrange the headpillar frame or the headpillar and footpillar frames
combined wholly or partially of such a depth as to provide space for drawers therein
or otherwise. I may provide drawer space in the framing of the bedstead. When in
use as a table the mattress, bedlinen and drapery are if so desired concealed within
the table the surface of which consists of the boarded area of the headpillar frame or
of the head and footpillar frames combined which may be secured by lock and key or
otherwise to any suitable point of attachment.
I will now proceed to fully describe my invention in reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of framing constructed
according to my invention and arranged for use as a bedstead. Fig. 2 is an half
plan of the same on line W X in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on
line Y Z in Fig. 1 and the right and left hand portions of Fig. 4 represent respec-
tively an half longitudinal section and an half longitudinal elevation of my invention
adapted for use as a table the saine arrangement of framework being used in this
Figure as in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 but the several parts are shown in the form which they
assume when required for use as a table and throughout this description similar letters
of reference designate corresponding parts.

page_text: a a are the legs of the table or bedstead the side and end frames to which the
auxiliary pieces c c are attached. e eff are internal ties to the external frame, and
within the internal frame formed by the ties the box or drawer g with lid g¹ is fitted
for the purpose of holding the bed material when the structure is in use as a table.
i is the headframe when used as a bed and the table top itself when used as a table.
The head frame i is centred on hinges attached to the bedstead at k so that it can
radiate from this centre as shown by the dotted lines k¹. The portion of the head-
frame i is centred on hinges at ' so that it can radiate from this centre as shown by
the dotted lines 12 and thus act as a canopy to the bed in the one case and as a portion
of the table surface in the other. When is used as a canopy it is supported by
brackets which can be hinged as shown at 14 to the underside of the frame i so
as to open out or shut up against the same as desired and when the frame i is used
as a headframe to a bedstead it is strengthened and stiffened in position by means
of the brackets 15 hinged at 1 in such a manner as to enable them to open out or
shut up substantially as described in reference to the brackets 13 and to further ensure
rigidity a small slide bolt m may be fitted as shown in the drawings, to lock or
unlock the bracket to the side string 6 and the brackets 131 when closed assume
the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and partly in full and partly in dotted
lines in Fig. 4. n is the mattress shown dotted in Figs. 1 and 3 and it is obvious
that instead of a rigid wooden base for the mattress a light resilient iron frame with
iron or steel bed laths can be substituted between the external frames b b or if
found desirable the box or drawer g can be dispensed with and the bed material
stored elsewhere and further 1 may vary the construction herein before described by
the addition of a foot rail to the bedstead which may be hinged to the bedstead
frame and arranged to lie parallel to and within the table when the structure is
used as such. The main frame may also be constructed so as to permit of its being
lengthened or shortened for use as a table by the well known telescopic and separate
leaf device and when fitted as a bed side-curtains p and valance p¹ are best arranged
as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 the whole of these appurtenances being entirely
removed from view when the interchangeable framing is required for use as a
table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A combined Interchangeable Bedstead and Table adaptable at will for use either
as a Bedstead or as a Table the several parts being arranged in the manner and for
the purposes substantially as herein before set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Santambar 1888