IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAVELLING TRUNKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz Albert Groth, Civil Engineer and Proprietor
of the Scandinavian Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth & Co.,
97, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C., for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAVELLING TRUNKS." A. communication by
Emil Stiebel, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Albert Groth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1880.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTI, Civil Engineer and Proprietor of the Scandinavian
Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth & Co., 97, Finsbury Pavement,
London, E.C. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAVELLING TRUNKS."
A communication by Emil Stiebel, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
The Invention relates to and consists of improvements in the construction of
travelling trunks, which without taking up a great deal of room contains in itself
the most necessary furniture for a tent, and likewise furnishes sufficient room for
wearing apparel, and other domestic luggage and necessaries, having capabilities of
being transformed into bedstead, stool, table, and washstand, thereby proving of
great value to officers in the army, excursionists, continental and other travellers;
it is also of much worth and exceedingly useful to emigrants.
When the trunk is packed for transport, the stool, table, and washstand are
unscrewed, and the bottom of the bedstead is folded up, and all is placed in the
trunk and thereupon the luggage.
The different parts of the washstand, table, and stool are fixed upon legs by
means of screws, springs, and wedges, or in any other suitable manner.
When the trunk is to be changed to a bedstead, the lid is unfastened at the
middle by hinges; then the buttons are pressed by means of which the other part
of the lid or cover is free and can be removed. A handle is fitted at the bottom of
the trunk, which when lifted disjoints one end of the same, to which the parts of
the lid are hooked by means of side hooks. Iron bars are then turned forward and
upon them is the bedstead to be placed. For a pillow a cushion is employed, and
under which cushion and likewise under the bedstead is left ample room for
stowing luggage.
Should one desire to form the trunk into a couch or sofa iron bolts are shot
forward, and thereupon the bottom of the bedstead, and over which are put the
cushion or cushions as described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Lorentz Albert Groth in the Great Soal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1881.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, Civil Engineer and Proprietor of the Scandinavian
Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth & Co., 97, Finsbury Pavement,
London, E.C. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAVELLING TRUNKS."
A communication from abroad by Emil Stiebel, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden.
The Invention relates to and consists of an improved construction of travelling
trunk, which while occupying comparatively small space is capable of containing
the most necessary articles of furniture for a tent or room, such as for example,
table, stools, what-not, and washstand, as well as affording ample stowage room for
wearing apparel, and other luggage. It may also be readily converted into a
bedstead or couch, thus proving of great value to officers in the army, excursionists,
emigrants, and travellers generally.
Figure (1) of the Drawings shews the improved trunk with lid open; Figure (2)
shews the trunk with its parts so disposed as to form a bedstead.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 shew examples of articles of furniture which may be closely
packed in the trunk. They are by preference constructed in such a manner that
the legs may be easily unscrewed or otherwise detached from the upper parts
thereof.
· Figure 5 shews a washstand, the uprights p of which are by preference threaded
loosely through the shelf portions q thereof, such shelf portions being supported
by means of hinged wedge pieces fitting into slots in the uprights p, or by
wire springs or catches (similar to umbrella) catches fitted therein. Similar letters
refer to like parts in all the Figures.
When it is desired to prepare the trunk for transport, the before mentioned
articles of furniture are taken to pieces and packed closely into the trunk together
with other desired luggage; the lid b is preferably attached to the trunk by
means of suitable spring buttons c, d.
In order to convert the trunk (Fig. 1) into a bedstead (Fig. 2) or couch, the two
sides and top of lid b (which are hinged together) and end e of trunk are
detached, the former is reversed, and then attached to the ends of the sides h of
the trunk by means of the holes f, f, in such a manner as to form a prolongation of
the upper part of the trunk. A handle o on the inside of the bottom of the trunk
is provided for the purpose, of lifting that end of the trunk, when the end e
thereof can be readily detached. The detached end e of the trunk is then
attached by means of the holes f¹, f", to the ends of the sides of the reversed lid,
thus forming either a head or foot board, as preferred, and also a support for that
end of the bedstead. A frame a containing the "sacking" is then laid on the
inside of the lid, and on to suitable hinged brackets or supports g on the inner
sides of the trunk; a pin in one end of such frame taking into a recess in one end
of the bedstead, the other end being held in place by a suitable fastening. This
frame is hinged at n so as to double up and be stowed away in the trunk with
the furniture and luggage when not in use. It will be seen that the arrangement
of the trunk as a bedstead interferes very little with the luggage space, &c.
"1
The bedstead may be readily converted into a couch by raising the "sacking
frame a on to other suitable or similar hinged brackets or supports b, b, placed
at a higher level in the inner sides of the trunk and lid, so as to bring the said
frame flush with the top of the sides of the lid and trunk.
The cushions m of the stools may if desired be detached from their legs and

page_text: laid on to the frame a, and thus form a cushioned sofa. A pillow i may also be
fitted, as shewn.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim as the Invention is,―
First. The construction, arrangement, and adaptation of the trunk so as to be
converted at will into a bedstead or couch, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The construction of portable articles of furniture by threading the legs
thereof through holes in the shelves, and supporting such shelves on the said legs
by means of hinged wedge pieces or umbrella springs, as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Fig. 5 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorentz Albert Groth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH. (L.S.)