Improved Construction of Portable Furniture, such as Chairs, Tables, Baths, Wardrobes, Camp-beds, and the like, more particularly adapted for Use in Camps or Barracks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
Improved Construction of Portable Furniture, such as Chairs, Tables,
Baths, Wardrobes, Camp-beds, and the like, more particularly
adapted for Use in Camps or Barracks.
I, HUGH DE BERDT HOVELL, of Boreham Holt, Elstree, Herts, Captain
2nd Worcestershire Regiment, 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. -
My invention has for its object, a construction of portable furniture that can
be taken to pieces with great facility and packed for transport in a very small
compass, so as to be applicable with very great advantage for camp or barrack
furniture. The essential feature of the invention is that all the articles of furniture
such as chairs, tables, baths, wardrobes, bedsteads and the like are constructed of a
number of separate strong bars or rods, made of steel tubes, bamboo, or the like,
formed at their ends or intermediate points respectively with sockets and with
pins or studs adapted to be fitted readily into the sand sockets, or in
some cases there are separate socket pieces having two, three, or
sockets into which the ends of a corresponding number of the said
bars, rods or tubes are fitted. When the rods or tubes have been so fitted together,
to form the framework of a certain article of furniture, this is completed by fitting
thereto pieces of a suitable fabric, such as canvas, leather, netting, wood or the
like which are preferably secured thereto by means of loops through which the
bars or tubes are passed.
more
I will proceed to describe the manner of carrying out my said invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which are shewn by way of example
various articles of furniture constructed according to my invention.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of a camp chair or couch that can also be
converted into a bed. In this construction the horizontal tubular rods a are
passed through sockets 61 of the side supports b and fit with their ends into sockēts c¹
on the back support c: the side supports b fit with their lower ends into angular
socket pieces into which also fit the lower ends of the parts c; the front part
of 6 carries firstly a socket 2 into which fits the leg d and secondly a pin, lug or
shoulder-piece that fits into the tubular transverse piece e The legs dare
connected together by a transverse piece f having pins fl fitting into the ends
of d. The two parts c have projecting pins fitting into the ends of a transverse,
piece g, and their upper ends are connected together by fitting into sockets h¹
on the ends of a transverse piece h The seat is constituted by a piece of canvas
indicated by dotted lines at i, which has looped ends through which are passed the
rods e and h; a second piece is fitted with loops on to the ends of a, so as to
constitute a leg-rest.

page_text: The parts may or may not be provided with additional sockets into which are
fitted pieces, to the ends of which can be fitted the sockets h¹ of the rod h in the
event of the chair being used as a camp-bed, the canvas 2 being then held in a more
or less horizontal position.
It will be seen from the above described mode of construction that all the
constitutent parts of the chair are practically only straight rods some of which
have slight lateral projections, or pins, so that when disconnected they can all be
packed closely side by side so as to occupy only a comparatively small space, for
transport or storage, and they can be rapidly fitted together again by unskilled
persons there being no fastenings of any kind but only simple sliding socket
connections.
Figure 2 shews a construction of bedstead with support for mosquito curtains,
or waterproof sheeting which may or may not be used.
In this case the side rods have pins fixed to them which fit into the socket
ends of the legs 7, and these have pins that fit into the ends of the transverse
pieces m The end transverse pieces m have pins m¹ fitting into the lower ends of
the uprights n, into the upper ends of which fit pins o' on the ends of the
curtain-pole o The canvas support 2 for the bed has loops at the sides through
which are passed the rods k.
Figure 3 shews a structure which can either be used as a set of shelves or as
a wardrobe. The corner uprights 9 carry pins q₁ and 92 which fit into the ends
respectively of the longitudinal rods r and of the transverse rods s. When used
for shelves, canvas sheets are attached by loops to the rods s. When used as a
wardrobe the frame is enclosed by a canvas covering, and additional transverse
rods may be provided, as indicated in dotted lines at u, provided with hooks
for hanging clothes
Figures 4 and 4* shew a structure which may be used either as a table or as a
wash-stand, the legs fit with their upper ends into sockets w¹ fixed on or in the
underside of the wooden top w, as shewn more clearly at the section Figure 4*;
the legs have pins fitting into the ends of the transverse rods . A towel horse
is provided by a rod y fitted on to a pin 2 on one of the legs r.
Figures 5 and 5* shew a bath constructed according to my invention
In this case the corner uprights 1 have pins 1' 12, at their lower ends which fit
into the ends of the horizontal rods 2 The bath is formed by the waterproof
fabric 3, which has sockets 31 formed at the four corners fitting over the uprights 1,
as shewn in the section at Figure 5. the upper ends of the sockets being closed so
as to hold the bath in the expanded position
It will be readily seen that various other articles of furniture may be made on
the above described principle of construction, all having the advantages of being
rapidly and easily put together and taken to pieces and of being packed in a
comparatively small space for transport or storage
In the construction shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, should it be found that the
rods a, k, o, q, r, would be inconveniently long, they may be made in two parts
arranged either telescopic, or fitted together by means of sockets like the other
parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 The herein described improved construction of portable furniture, capable of
being readily taken to pieces and put together and packed in a small compass,
consisting in forming the framework of such furniture of separate rods of metal or
other suitable material provided with sockets and pins so arranged that the several
parts are fitted together by simple sliding sockets joints and pins, substantially
in the manner set forth.
2 The several articles of furniture herein described with reference to the

page_text: accompanying drawing wherein the framework is composed of rods having sockets
or pins or both whereby they are fitted together by simple sliding connections,
substantially as herein set forth.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.