AN IMPROVED PORTABLE OR CAMP BEDSTEAD AND TRAVELLING TRUNK COMBINED
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark,, of 53,. Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PORTABLE OR CAMP BEDSTEAD AND TRAVELLING TRUNK
COMBINED." A communication from abroad by Charles Joseph
Everickx, Trunk Maker, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 23rd February 1869, and dated the 3rd September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents; with his
Petition; on the 3rd September 1868:
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE. CLARK,, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE OR CAMP BEDSTEAD AND
TRAVELLING TRUNK COMBINED," to be as follows:―
This Invention consists. in. the combination of a travelling trunk or
box and bedstead, serving at the same time to hold clothes and other
articles; and also. as a couch, camp or travelling bed, or litter for the
transport of wounded or sick persons.

page_text: The characteristic points of this Invention consist,
1st. In the employment of a trunk or box the lid of which is opened
out to form an additional bearing surface for the bedstead, which is fixed
upon the same, the body of the trunk serving as the principal support
on which the bedstead is raised from the ground.
2ndly. In the arrangement of the said trunk, which is so disposed
that the bedstead is contained in the lid, which forms an upper capacity
distinct from that in which the clothing or other articles are placed.
This bedstead is jointed and opens out automatically by the opening of
the lid, so as to form either a couch, bed, or litter. It may be placed in
a confined space, as it occupies little room.
This improved arrangement of travelling trunk is especially applicable
for officers of armies in campaign to replace the ordinary bed. In
countries containing musquitoes uprights may be adapted to the trunk
for supporting cloths to form a tent, and thus keep off these insects.
The trunk may rest on either of its sides to form a base or support, pro-
vided that the lid when opened out is in the same horizontal plane as
the upper part of the box, so that it may serve as a bearing surface for
the bedstead contained therein.
In order to better explain this Invention I have represented in the
accompanying Drawings several arrangements of trunks serving as a bed
or as a bed and litter.
Figure 1 shows in vertical section an arrangement of trunk serving as
a bedstead. In this Figure the mattress is removed, and the red lines
indicate the tent which encloses the bed; Figure 2 is a plan of the
same; Figure 3 shows in perspective the trunk of an officer in
campaign, to which is applied this extending bed; Figure 4 also shows in
perspective a trunk placed on its front side, the lid being opened and tho
bed placed above; lastly, Figure 5 shows in section a trunk serving as
a child's crib. In all these Figures the same letters of reference indicate
like parts.
The trunk is formed of two capacities a for holding the clothes, linen,
or other articles, and 6 in which are placed the jointed frames forming
the bedstead, the latter capacity 6 is closed by a hinged lid c; d, two
metal or other frames forming the bedstead; they are each composed of
three parts connected together by means of joints fand g, which allow
of their being easily folded up and placed in the capacity b. The
E

page_text: opening out of these frames is effected automatically by the opening of
the lid c, which is provided with an interior slotted support h. i, canvas
sacking or sheep skin forming the support for the bedding, it is
attached to the frames d by cords passing through eye bolts. In order
to stiffen and maintain the sacking I make a double seam along each
side of the canvas, through which I pass rods also jointed, so that they
may fold up crosswise into the capacity b. A certain amount of
elasticity might be imparted to the canvas sacking either by disposing
spiral springs underneath, or by making the frames d elastic by resting
on curved springs similar to those of carriages. k, supports for the
head of the bed, opened out and fixed in the earth; 1, foot support
similar to k; m, tent, shown in red lines, entirely enclosing the bed;
this tent is supported by uprights n fixed by means of staples to the
sides of the box. The mattress is not shown, it may be an ordinary or
even an elastic mattress if desired.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show other arrangements of this Invention, which
will be readily understood. It will, however, be remarked that in all
these arrangements the body of the trunk forms the base, and the
upper part, such as the lid opened out, forms a portion of the bedstead
and at same time forms a point of support.
In Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 I have shown an arrangement of this
combined trunk and bedstead, which can be quickly transformed into a
litter, if desired, for the transport of wounded or sick persons. This is
effected by the addition of two shafts fixed to the bedstead frame.
Figure 6 is an elevation of this arrangement, the trunk itself being in
section; Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8, a perspective view of the
same; lastly, Figures 9 and 10 show in elevation and in plan one of
the two additional shafts to be fixed to the bed frames when opened out
to form a litter. In all these Figures the same reference letters indicate
like parts.
a, body of the trunk; b, lid of same; c, bed frame formed of two
hinged rods; d, head of the bedstead hinged to one end of the frame c.
These two hinges are provided with a ratchet, so that the head piece
may be placed at any inclination. The legs e are provided with an
inner return piece which enters a slotted plate f fixed in the lid b.
At the centre of the body a are also two small rods x entering recesses
or slots g in the interior of the body a of the trunk. Two other feet h, h,

page_text: '
rest directly on the ground; thus disposed a camp bedstead is formed.
In order to transform it into a litter the two shafts shown in Figures 9
and 10 are applied as herein-after described. i, i, two pieces of wood
hinged together at j, the total length of these two pieces is equal to
that of the body of the bed. At the ends,j, of the support i, i, is
a hook or clasp to receive the logs e, h; k, k, shafts fitting into
staples 1, 1, fixed on the inside of parts i, i, and firmly attaching the
latter to the legs. Behind hingej is a recess m in parts i, i, receiving
rods and partn; the supports i, i, being thus fixed to the legs of the
bed it is only necessary to raise it by means of the shafts k, k, to
disengage it from the trunk for carrying any person from place to place.
To facilitate the transportation I can further adapt wheels to any of the
legs, as shown in red at o, o, Figure 8.
The following modifications may be made in the arrangement of this
combined bedstead and trunk :-
1st. The bedstead may be contained in the lid of the box.
2ndly. The same bedstead can be used as a litter by the addition
of the parts shown in Figures 9 and 10, and, if necessary, wheels o, 0,
Figure 8.
3rdly. The bedstead together with a small mattress may be contained
in the lid of any suitable trunk opening in two parts to form the seat or
support for the bed.
4thly. The bedstead may be contained in the lid of a travelling
trunk capable of being placed beneath the seats of a railway carriage.
5thly. It can also be contained in the lid of a bench or seat of a
waiting or other public room.
.
6thly. The bedstead and mattress may be contained in the lid of a
ladies' travelling trunk, being opened out automatically by the opening
of the lid.
7thly. It may also be applied as a child's crib or cradle. The bedstead
may be made of wood, metal, or other material of convenient dimensions,
and may be made elastic by any suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRÉSENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her‍
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence.
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,.
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,.
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED.
PORTABLE OR CAMP BEDSTEAD AND TRAVELLING TRUNK COMBINED," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Charles Joseph Everickx, Trunk Maker, of:
13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others):
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent.
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same-
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and:
by the following statement,. reference being had to. the Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters: and figures markedl
thercon (that is to say):
:-
This Invention consists in the combination of a travelling trunk or
box and bedstead, serving at the same time to hold clothes and other:

page_text: articles, and also as a couch, camp or travelling bed, or litter for the
transport of wounded or sick persons.
.The characteristic points of this Invention consist,―
1st. In the employment of a trunk or box the lid of which is opened
out to form an additional bearing surface for the bedstead, which is
fixed upon the same, the body of the trunk serving as the principal
support for the bedstead which is raised from the ground.
2ndly. In the arrangement of the said trunk, which is so disposed that
the bedstead is contained in the lid, which forms an upper compartment
distinct from that in which the clothing or other articles. are placed.
This bedstead is jointed and opens out automatically by the opening of
the lid, so as to form either a couch, bed, or litter. It may be placed in
a confined space, as it occupies little room.
This improved arrangement of travelling trunk is especially applicable
for officers campaigning, as a substitute for the ordinary camp bed. In
countries where mosquitoes abound uprights may be adapted to the
trunk for supporting cloths to form a tent, and thus keep off these
insects. The trunk may rest on either of its sides to form a base or
support, provided that the lid when opened out is in the same horizontal
plane as the upper part of the box, so that it may serve as a bearing
surface for the bedstead contained therein.
In order to better explain this Invention I have represented in the
accompanying Drawings several arrangements of trunks serving as a
bedstead, or as a bedstead and litter.
Figure 1 shows in vertical section an arrangement of trunk serving as :
a bedstead. In this Figure the mattress is removed, and the red lines
indicate the tent which encloses the bed; Figure 2 is a plan of the
same; Figure 3 shows in perspective an officer's trunk, suited for a
campaign, to which is applied this extending bed; Figure 4 also shows
in perspective a trunk placed on its front side, the lid being opened and
the bed placed above; lastly, Figure 5 shows in section a trunk serving
as a child's crib. In all these Figures the same letters of reference
indicato like parts.
The trunk is formed of two compartments, a, b; a being used for
holding the clothes, linen, or other articles, and 6 for receiving the
jointed frames forming the bedstead, the latter compartment 6 being
closed by a hinged lid c; d, two metal or other frames forming the

page_text: bedstead; they are each composed of three parts connected together.
by means of joints f and g, which allow of their being easily folded
up and stowed in the compartment b. The opening out of these frames
is effected automatically by the opening of the lid c, which is provided
with an interior slotted support h. i, canvas sacking or sheep skin
forming the support for the bedding attached to the frames d by cords
passing through eye bolts. In order to stiffen and support the sacking
I make a double seam along each side of the canvas, through which I
pass rods also jointed, so that they may fold up crosswise into the com-
partment b. A certain amount of clasticity might bo imparted to the
canvas sacking either by disposing spiral springs underneath, or by
making the frames d elastic by resting on curved springs similar to
those of carriages. k, supports for the head of the bedstead opened out
and fixed in the ground; 1, foot support similar to k; m, tent, shown in.
red lines, entirely enclosing the bed; this tent is supported by uprights n
fixed by means of staples to the sides of the box. The mattress, which
is not shown, may be an ordinary or even an elastic mattress if desired.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show other arrangements of this Invention, which
will be readily understood. It will, however, be remarked that in all
these arrangements the body of the trunk forms the base, and the upper
part or lid opened out forms a portion of the bedstead, and at same
time forms a point of support.
In Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 I have shown an arrangement of this
combined trunk and bedstead, which can be quickly transformed into a
litter, if desired, for the transport of wounded or sick persons. This is
effected by the addition of two shafts fixed to the bedstead frame.
Figure 6 is an elevation of this arrangement, the trunk itself being in
section; Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 a perspective view of the
same; lastly, Figures 9 and 10 show in elevation and in plan one of
the two additional shafts to be fixed to the bed frames when opened.
out to form a litter. In all these Figures the same reference letters
indicate like parts.
a, body of the trunk; b, lid of same; c, bedstead frame formed of two
hinged rods; d, head of the bedstead hinged to one end of the frame c.
These two hinges are provided with a ratchet, so that the head piece
may be placed at any inclination. The legs e are provided with an
inner return piece which enters a slotted plato in the bed b. At the
centre of the body a are also two small rods 2 entering recesses or.

page_text: slots g in the body a of the trunk. Two other feet h, h, rest directly
on the ground; the parts thus disposed form a camp bedstead, and
in order to transform it into a litter the two shafts shown in Figures
9 and 10 are applied as herein-after described. i, i, two bars of wood
hinged together at j; the total length of these two bars is equal to that
of the body of the bedstead. At the ends j³, j¹, of the bar supports i, i,
is a hook or clasp to receive the legs e, h; k, k, shafts fitting into
staples 1, 1, fixed on the inside of parts i, i, and firmly attaching the
latter to the legs. Behind hinge j is a recess m in parts i, i, receiving
rods x and part n; the supports i, i, being thus fixed to the legs of
the bedstead it is only necessary to raise it by means of the shafts k, k,
to disengage it from the trunk for carrying any person from place to
place. The parts i, i, k, k, when fixed render the joints of the bedstead
framing sufficiently rigid to permit of the trunk and hid being dispensed
with as supports. To facilitate the transportation I can further adapt
wheels to any of the legs, as shown in red at o, o, Figure 8.
The following modifications may be used in the arrangement of this
combined bedstead and trunk.
1st. The bedstead may be contained in the lid of the box.
: 2ndly. The same bedstead can be used as a litter by the addition of
the parts shown in Figures 9 and 10, and, if necessary, of the wheels o, o,
Figure 8.
3rdly. The bedstead together with a small mattress may be contained
in the lid of any suitable trunk opening in two parts to form the base
or support for the bedstead.
4thly. The bedstead may be contained in the lid of a travelling trunk
capable of being placed beneath the seat of a railway carriage.
5thly. It can also be contained in the lid of. a bench or seat of a
waiting or other public room, as seen in Figure 11.
6thly. The bedstead and mattress may be contained in the lid of a
lady's travelling trunk, being opened out automatically by the opening
of the lid.
7thly. It may also be applied as a child's crib or cradle. The bed-
stead may be made of wood, metal, or other material of convenient
dimensions, and may be made elastic by any suitable means.
Sthly. It may be applied to any article of furniture having folding
doors, and provided with a drawer to be slid out between them, so as

page_text: to form together a support for the bedstead. The top of the article
might be used as a table desk or for other purpose.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the heroin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. I claim an improved combined trunk and portable or camp
bedstead in which the bedstead framing is jointed so as to fold into the
lid of a trunk apart from the trunk proper, which serves to contain
clothing and other articles, said trunk and lid forming a base or support
for the bedstead when extended substantially as shown and described.
Secondly. I claim the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings, in which the bedstead is extended by opening the trunk, and
forms an integral portion of the said trunk.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangements shown in Figures 3, 6, 7, and 8 of
the Drawings, in which the jointed bedstead framing is made separate
from the trunk and lid, and is fixed or supported on the latter by means
of feet fitting in suitable sockets for their reception.
Fourthly. I claim the arrangement of parts shown in Figures 9
and 10 of the Drawings to be fixed to the bedstead, Figures 3, 6, 7,
and 8, for the purpose of forming a litter, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
ninc.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A: M. CLARK. (L.S.)