IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS OR COT-BEDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEDSTEADS OR COT-BEDS." A communication from abroad by Otis Howe, of
Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS OR COT-BEDS." [A communication from
abroad by Otis Howe, of Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of
America.]
This Invention relates more especially to bedsteads or cot beds, and has for its
object the production of a cot bed which can be easily and readily folded, so that
its legs or supports may be entirely contained within the side bars of the cot.
At or near the centre of the cot-bed is arranged an expanding brace, which
prevents the side bars of the cot drawing together when weight is applied to the
flexible top of the cot; the said brace being so constructed as not to interfere with
the descent of the body of the person occupying the cot.
The side bars of the cot are at their ends held together by means of rigid bars,
having their ends next the side bars reduced to form proper bearings for the end
legs to turn upon, suitable friction springs being located on the said rigid bars to
hold the legs in either of their two main positions.
The legs have cross rods at or near the centre of their length, the projecting ends
of which enter slots in the legs pivotted to the side bars.
These legs, which support each end of the cot, are so pivoted with relation each
to the other, and the ends of the cross-rods are of such length that the legs may be
turned out from between the bars to support the cot when the said legs will cross
each other; or the said legs may be moved together and be made to occupy a
position entirely within and between the side bars when the said legs will be
parallel.

page_text: In this position the friction springs hold the legs in place. The flexible
or canvas top is attached to the side bars and rigid bars by tacks or in any
usual way.
To prevent this top from sagging to any uncomfortable extent when weight is
applied upon it, as would be the case at or near the centre of the length of the cot
if the side bars were not prevented from approaching each other at that point,
an expanding brace made preferably as a metal rod curved is placed between
the side bars.
The ends of this brace are loosely held in the side bars; the brace by its spring-
like action forces the side bars apart, and when turned down the said brace is so
far removed below the top that the top will never come in contact with it.
This removal of the brace is so far below the top as not to be felt by a person
reclining upon the top, the brace however effectually operating directly upon the
side bars is an essential characteristic of this Invention.
Instead of the metal brace there may be employed pivoted blocks connected with
the side bars; the blocks being held together by a cross rod, and these blocks may
be forced against the under side of the bars by a double threaded screw rod.
The cot by reason of the compact folding of the legs may be made to occupy a
space only the thickness and width of the frame which supports the top.
Each opposite leg is connected with its mate.
The bolster is made of a strip of canvas nailed to the side bars, and of a length
sufficient to be raised and held up in strained condition by rests, preferably made
of wire and properly pivotted to the cot frame.
This cot is especially adapted for hot climates and is very strong yet light..
Instead of making the top of the cot of canvas, as described, it may be made of
slats, as it is obvious that the canvas bolster and crossed legs are equally well
applicable to a slat or canvas top cot.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS OR COT-BEDS." A communication from
abroad by Otis Howe, of Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to cot-beds, and bas for its object the production of a cot-
bed which can be easily and readily folded, so that its legs or supports may be
entirely contained within the side bars of the cot.
At or near the centre of the cot bed is arranged an expanding-brace, which
prevents the side bars of the cot drawing together when weight is applied to the
flexible top of the cot; the said brace being so constructed as not to interfere with
the descent of the body of the person occupying the cot.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cot constructed in accordance with my
Invention.
Figure 2 is an under side view of the same with the legs and other parts folded
within the side bars.
Figure 3 is a top view.
Figure 4 an end view of the top of the bed with the bolster forming part
elevated, and
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of one of the bolster rests.
The side bars a, a, of the cot are at their ends held together by means of rigid
bara b, having their ends next the side bars reduced to form proper bearings for
the end legs c to turn upon, suitable friction springs d being located on the said
bars b to hold the legs in either of their two main positions.
The legs chave cross rods e at or near the centre of their length, the projecting
ends of which enter slots fin the legs g, pivoted to the side bars at h.
These legs c, g, which support each end of the cot, are so pivotted with relation
each to the other, and the ends of the cross rods e are of such length that the legs
may be turned out from between the bars to support the cot, as in Figure 1, when
the said legs will cross each other; or the said legs may be moved together in the
direction of the arrow Figure 1, and be made to occupy a position entirely within
and between the side bars a, when, as in Figure 2, the said legs will be parallel.
In this position the friction springs hold the legs in place. The flexible or
canvas top k is attached to the bars a, b, by tacks or in any usual way.
To prevent this top from sagging to any uncomfortable extent when weight is
applied upon it, as would be the case at or near the centre of the length of the cot
if the side bars were not prevented from approaching each other at that point, an
expanding brace / made preferably as a metal rod curved, as shown in Figure 2, is
placed between the side bars.
The ends of this brace are loosely held in the side bars, the brace by its spring-
like action forces the side bars apart, and when turned down into the position
shown in Figure 1 the said brace is so far removed below the top k that the top
will never come in contact with it.
This removal of the brace is so far below the top k as not to be felt by a person
reclining upon the top; the brace however, effectually operating directly upon the
side bars, is an essential characteristic of this Invention.
Instead of the metal brace there may be employed pivotted blocks connected
with the side bars, the blocks being held together by a cross rod, and these blocks
may be forced against the under side of the bars by a double threaded screw rod
(see Figure 2).

page_text: The cot by reason of the compact folding of the legs may be made to occupy a
space only the thickness and width of the frame which supports the top k.
Each opposite leg c or g is connected with its mate by a round p or r.
The bolster a is shown as made of a strip of canvas nailed to the side bars, and
of a length sufficient to be raised and held up in strained condition by the rests b³,
preferably made of wire, shaped as shown in Figure 5, and properly pivotted to the
cot frame.
This cot is especially adapted for hot climates, and is very strong yet light.
Instead of making the top of the cot of canvas, as described, it may be made of
slats, as it is obvious that the canvas bolster and crossed legs are equally well
applicable to a slat or canvas top cot.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,—-
First. A cot-bed composed of side and end bars, and pivotted legs connected
with the said bars, the legs g being slotted, and the legs c being provided with
extensions or rods to enter the said slots, whereby the said legs when turned
outward will be crossed, and when turned inward will rest within and between the
side bars, substantially as described.
Second. In a cot-bed, the pivotted legs c, g, connected with the bars of the cot,
and with each other as described by means of a projection from one leg entering a
slot in the other leg, combined with a friction spring to hold the legs in either their
opened or closed positions, as described.
Third. The combination with the side bars of a cot bed of a pivotted or swinging
expanding brace adapted to be turned below the side bars when the cot is in use,
and hold the side bars apart without coming in contact with the top of the cot
when occupied by a person, substantially as described.
Fourth. As an improved article of manufacture a cot-bed having the canvas-
bolster and bolster-rests, and the cross legs to fold within the side-bars, all
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)