Improvements in and relating to Box Couches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 2nd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
Improvements in and relating to Box Couches.
We, JOHN HEALY and JOEL LEVI ISAACS, citizens of the United States of
America, both residing at 156 West Twenty-third Street, in the City, County and
State of New York, one of the United States of America, Manufacturers, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improvement in what is known as "box-couches,"
and has for its object to provide a means for affording a material assistance when
it is desired to raise the lid thereof for the purpose of having access to the interior
of the box. It is well known to persons using this class of furniture that the weight
of the lid, provided, as it is, with springs, upholstery, and the like, presents a dead
weight to the person lifting the same that taxes the strength of a man in good
health, and from this fact offers an almost insuperable obstacle to their use by
women and invalids, who under most circumstances are more usually called upon to
operate the same. It is to do away with this almost fatal objection to their use
that our invention is directed, and this we accomplish by providing the same with
springs of any suitable construction and so arranged that they will exert their
tension to afford a material aid to the person lifting the lid, or, if desired, will
perform the whole work of raising the lid. This object we accomplish in the
manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box-couch, showing the lid thereof partly
open and one form of spring in position therein and exerting its tension on
the lid.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the lid closed, a portion of one end of the box
being broken away to show one of the springs in its compressed position.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a different form of spring, and
Figure 4 is a detail.
In said drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the box portion of an ordinary box-
couch, and 2 the lid thereof hinged to the box portion in any suitable manner, the
parts being properly upholstered and the latter provided with the usual springs
and tufted or mattress top.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, we have shown in the interior of the box two
leaf-springs 3 bent into U-shape and having their lower ends securely fastened to
the bottom of the box 1 by screws 4, or otherwise. These springs are preferably
located at each end of the box, and have their ends toward the front of the same,
the free upper ends thereof engaging with the under side of the lid,2, as shown. If

page_text: desired, metallic wear plates 5 may be attached to the lid where the springs contact
therewith. It will thus be seen that when the lid is down said springs will be
compressed and in position to exert their tension to raise the lid, as shown in
Figure 2. It will be understood that said springs may either be of sufficient
strength to merely aid in lifting the lid, or may be strong enough to lift the lid
of themselves in which latter event we provide a suitable catch 6 on the front edges
of the lid and box to retain the lid until it is desired to have the same opened.
In Figure 3 we have illustrated another form of spring which consists of two
coiled springs 7, each having one end connected to the back of the box and its
other end to the lid, as shown.
From the above it will be readily understood that by employing 'our improved
construction the labor of opening boxes of this character will be reduced to a
minimum, or, if desired, entirely obviated, and the same can be readily manipulated
by women or invalids thereby doing away with the greatest objection to their use
as heretofore constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is
In a box couch, the combination with the box portion thereof adapted to be used
as a receptacle, and the lid suitably hinged thereto, and upholstered to form a
couch, of springs adapted to be engaged between said box and lid,.and to exert
their tension to force the two apart, a catch for connecting the two parts together
when in their closed position, and means for releasing the catch from the outside of
the box, whereby the springs neutralize the dead weight of the upholstered lid and
aid in lifting the same, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.