IMPROVEMENTS IN COTS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Washington Moon, of 164, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COTS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON."
Sealed the 29th April 1879, and dated the 30th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Washington Moon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1878.
GEORGE WASHINGTON MOON, of 164, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COTS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES
FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON."
The primary object of my Invention is to construct at a small cost a cot which
can be readily made to rock, which shall not be liable to be overturned, and which
can be folded up into a small compass when not in use or for transport.
My improved cot is composed of a pair of U shaped pieces, the limbs of the one
piece being jointed to the limbs of the other at about the middle of their height.
These two U shaped pieces thus jointed together are moved on their joints to au
angle of say 40° more or less to each other. Their two curved bases then constitute
the base of the cot, while the width of the cot is equal to the distance between
the U pieces at their upper ends. These upper ends are connected together by
cross pieces or stays to keep the whole in place. At that end of the cot which is
to form the head I secure to the U pieces and to the cross piece a bar or rod, bent
to the proper shape to support a hood or curtains when such are required. From
the construction of the cot, as before described, it will be seen that it can be easily
rocked as the bases of the U pieces are curved, that it cannot be readily overturned,
as the distance between the bases of the U pieces is sufficient to keep it in place,
Davis Il

page_text: and that it can be readily folded into a small compass by simply removing the cross
pieces and hood piece and bringing the U-pieces-close-together-on-their joints. In
order to limit the distance to which the cot can be rocked knobs or feet are fitted
to the U pieces, and these knobs may be made adjustable if required. The U pieces
may be made with advantage of gas piping. The foot of the cot should be weighted
to compensate for the weight of the hood, and this may be conveniently done by
running lead into the gas piping at that part.
Although my Invention is specially intended to apply to cots I can make
reclining chairs, couches, and bedsteads in the same manner, and if they are not
intended to rock the knobs before referred_to_may_be_placed accordingly.-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Washington Moon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1879.
GEORGE WASHINGTON MOON, of 164, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COTS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES
FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON."
The primary object of my Invention is to construct at a small cost a cot which
can be readily made either to rock or to be immovable, which shall not be liable to
be overturned and which can be folded up into a small compass when not in use or
for transport.
My improved cot is composed of a pair of pieces shaped like the Greek capital
letter "Oinega," inverted and rather flattened at the bottom, the limbs of the one
piece being jointed to the limbs of the other at about the middle of their height.
These two inverted Omega" shaped pieces thus jointed together are moved on
Their two
their joints to an angle of say 40° more or less to each other.
curved bases then constitute the base of the cot, while the width of the cot is equal
to the distance between the pieces at their upper ends. These upper ends are
connected together by a frame to keep the whole in place. At that end of the cot
which is to form the head I secure to the U pieces and to the end of the upper
frame a bar or rod bent to the proper shape to support a hood or curtains when
such are required. From the construction of the cot, as before described, it will be
seen that it can be easily rocked as the bases of the pieces are curved, that it
cannot be readily overturned, as the distance between the bases of the pieces is
equal to or greater than the width of the upper frame, and that it can be readily
folded into a small compass by simply removing the upper frame and hood piece and
bringing the pieces close together on their joints. In order to limit the distance
to which the cot can be rocked or to make it immovable knobs or feet are fitted to
the pieces, and these knobs can be adjusted as required.
The pieces may be
made with advantage of gas piping, or they may be solid iron, or brass rods, or
bent wood, or any other suitable material.
The foot end of the cot may be, weighted to compensate for the weight of the
hood at the other end, and this may be conveniently done when gas piping is
employed by running lead into the gas piping at that part.
The accompanying Drawings show one of my improved cots in several views.
A, A', are the two shaped pieces jointed together at B, B, and placed at an angle
of about 40° to each other; C, C, D, D, is a frame connecting the ends of
the pieces. The frame C, C, D, D, which has a hole at cach corner is passed
over screws at E, E, which are fastened into the pieces, and the frame is secured
in its place by a knob being screwed on to the top of each screw after the frame is
on; F is a bar or rod at the head of the cut shaped so as to support a curtain or
hood and may be more or less curved. This rod may either pass through a hole
in the end of the upper frame and be fastened by a screw at its lower end, as
shown, or it may be fastened to the upper frame by a screw passing through both
as well as by a screw at its lower end; G, G, are knobs or feet, which may be made
adjustable so as to regulate the distance to which the cot may be rocked or to
prevent its rocking if required to be made to stand firm. The lacing or fabric for
containing the bedding and clothes is suspended as shewn from the top frame
C, C, D, D, and is kept distended at the bottom by a frame H. The top frame
C, C, D, D, may be made in separate pieces or as a complete frame, in which latter
case it may be made with a middle joint at the head and foot so that the cot can
be folded without removing the frame from the pieces. The pieces may each
be made in one piece, or, as seen in the Figures, they may each be made in two
pieces connected together when in position by screws I, I, the object of this latter

page_text: arrangement being that the cot when not in use may be folded into a smaller
compass.
Although_my_Invention is specially intended_to_apply_to_cots_I_can_make_
reclining chairs; couches; and bedsteads in the same manner, with such modifications
as are necessary to adapt the Invention to such respective articles, as will be readily
understood, and if they are not intended to rock the knobs before referred to may
be placed accordingly or the base be flattened.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,
Constructing cots and other articles for lying or reclining upon, substantially as
herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
I claim especially the ʊ shaped pieces (either curved or flattened more or less
than shown), and jointed together, and stayed or kept apart at their upper ends
when in use, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Washington Moon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.
GEO. WASHINGTON MOON. (L.S.)