Improvements in Bedsteads, Cots, or other similar Structures having Enclosing Sides or Side Rails.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bedsteads, Cots, or other similar Structures having
Enclosing Sides or Side Rails.
1, ADELBERT HENRY GALE, trading as Geo. Gale & Sons, of Upper Dean Street,
in the City of Birmingham, Woven Wire Mattress Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to childrens bedsteads, cots or other similar structures
having enclosing side rails or side framings, and its object is to provide the said
cots or bedsteads with a crossly directed board, platform, or rest extending from
the one side of the cot to the other, for the purpose of constituting a table upon
which food or other similar articles or toys can be placed, either for being con-
sumed by, or for the amusement of, the occupant of the cot or bedstead.
According to this invention the table or support is made easily removable,
the means for supporting it simply consisting of two suitably shaped apertures
or holes formed in the side rails, one within each rail, and arranged opposite each
other. These apertures are preferably of an elongated right angled formation,
or of a rectangular figure, and are built up within the cot or bedstead sides by
the rod or tube members of which the said sides are composed. The dispositions
of the said apertures are such as to enable the board or table to be carried across
the part where a child could comfortably sit upright in bed against it, and
upwardly directed flanges or webs are formed in the corners of the said apertures
for the purpose of holding the said cross board or table rigid, or fairly so, when
in position.
A means may be provided for adjusting the said table to a tilt, or the same
may be carried by circular bearing parts in the cots sides so as to oscillate or
be inclined in any way, in order to present a platform or a table upon which
mechanical toys could be operated, or structures built, for the purpose of affording
an amusement and a pastime for sickly and crippled children.
In a modification the table may be made in two parts, one carried by each
of the cot's side rails, and these parts may be adapted to fold down against the
inner sides of the cot sides when the table is not required to be used, but to
extend and bridge over the space between the cot sides when the said table is
required for use."
50
101
T

page_text: Improvements in Bedsteads, Cots, or other similar Structures having
Enclosing Sides or Side Rails.
I, ADELBERT HENRY GALE, trading as Geo. Gale & Sons, of Upper Dean Street,
in the City of Birmingham, Woven Wire Mattress Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: —
This invention has reference to children's bedsteads and cots and to similar
structures having enclosing side rails or framings, and its object is to provide the
said bedsteads or cots with a suitable crossly-directed board, platform, or rest,
which is capable of being placed easily into and out of position and stowed away,
and of extending from the one side of the cot to the other at a proper height when
the said board, platform, or rest to constitute a table upon which food,
books, or toys, can be placed for the accommodation and amusement of the
occupant.
in use;
In the accompanying sheet of drawings the invention is shown practically
applied to a child's cot, various methods of carrying the same into effect being
shown in the several figs.
In Figs. 1 and 2 an extremely simple method of fixing the table in a horizontal
position is shown in longitudinal perspective and in cross section. In these
views a is the table or rest which is supported crosswise to the cot by its ends a³,
a, taking within clearances holes or gaps a³, a³, formed within the vertical side
rails a, a, of the cot's body; the said clearances being preferably of an elongated
right-angled formation, or rectangular, to conform to the size and the section of
the table a. The clearances a³, 3, are formed within the bedstead sides a, a,
by the rod or tube members of which the said sides are composed, and the ends
of the table are simply slid into position within them, first on the one side, and
then on the other.
In Fig. 3 is shown a slight modification of the fitting of the board a, Figs. 1
and 2, within the clearance. In this case the lower edges of the clearances a³, a³,
are formed with upwardly-directed flanges or webs c, c, which project outside
the extreme ends of the table a, and form abutments for it against any longi
tudinal displacement.
In the modification, Fig. 4, the table a is built up of two parts or halves d, d²,
which are connected by a tongue and groove joint 3, but the said table is fitted
to the cot's sides in the same way as in Figs. 1 and 2. The two halves d, ², are
designed to separate when the table is not desired for use and to hang upon
the side rails or framings at in the manner shown in dotted lines; hook and eye
parts e, e, being fitted to the respective parts for the purpose.
The table, as aforesaid, may be attached to the side rails at, at, so as to tilt
or incline across the cot either to the right or to the left, or backward or forward,
in respect of the occupant; the principal purpose being to provide an inclined
plane down which a mechanical toy may be run to afford amusement to the
occupant of the cot, and also to form an inclined rest for picture books, and
other similar matter. In the sheet of drawings four arrangements for obtaining
.such a tilt or inclination of the table a are shown by Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. In
Fig. 5 the clearances a³, a³, in the side rails are duplicated or arranged in double
order and opposite, and one of the ends of the table a rests within the top
clearance on one side rail, and the other end within the bottom clearance upon
the other side rail.

page_text: In Fig. 6 the clearance a³, within which one of the ends of the table rests, is
made vertically adjustable upon two of the rod members of the side framing a,
the said clearance being carried by sockets or sleeves a³, which work upon the
said rods. These sockets or sleeves are clamped or connected to the rods carrying
them, either by set pins such as a, or by a cross cotter taking through holes a
within the rods a*.
case,
In Fig. 7 the table a is given a transverse tilt or an incline towards or away
from the occupant of the cot. The clearances a³ in the side rails are, in this
of sufficient depth to allow of the desired inclination of the table between
the top and bottom edges, and hinged pieces are provided in the angles of the
said clearances to come underneath the lifted end of the table and form props or
supports therefor.
In Fig. 8 the table a is carried upon pivots a³ which take their bearing within
suitable holes in the side rails, and a transverse tilt of the said table is made
by rocking the said table on its pivots and clamping it in its adjusted position.
In this fig. a sliding support such as m may be fitted upon the rod m³ of the
side rail, either at front or back, or both front and back, to affix the said table
after adjustment.
It will be obvious that the provision of a table or rest capable of being easily
placed into and out of position and of taking various tilts or angles will be of
considerable utility in the case of children who are confined to their bed for any
length of time (such as are children in hospitals) as the said tables will allow
of a child sitting comfortably upright in bed to read or write, to play with toys,
take its meals, and to do many things which necessitates a flat and rigid support
of some kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. In bedsteads and cots of the kind described, the provision of a trans-
versely-directed table or rest so carried within or by the opposite side rails or
framings as to form a detachable fitting below the level of the top longitudinal
bars of the said side rails or framings, in order to ensure a suitable height of
the said table or rest in respect of the actual bottom of the bedstead or cot, sub-
stantially as described and set forth.
Second. In bedsteads and cots of the kind described, forming within the side
rails or framings, at a suitable height, clearances or gaps such as a², for the
purpose of supporting the opposite ends of a transversely-directed table or rest,
either made in one piece, or in two parts, substantially as described and set forth
in Figs. 123 and 4.
Third. In bedsteads and cots of the kind described, the use of a transversely-
directed table or rest which is carried by the opposite side rails below their sur-
faces, and which is capable of being inclined transversely and longitudinally,
for the purposes substantially as described and set forth.
Fourth. The methods of obtaining the angular positions of the table or rest a
and effecting its adjustment, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5,
6. 7. and 8.
6. 7. and 8.
Dated this 16th day of November 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.