IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS AND CRIBS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, CHARLES TOWNSEND SHEPARD, of 578 Madison Avenue, Albany in the
County of Albany and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS AND CRIBS," and in what manner the same is performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the Drawings hereunto annexed are represented the certain devices and parts'
and combinations of devices and parts hereinafter particularly described, and which
constitutes my "Improvements" aforesaid.
And in reference to the Drawings Figure 1. represents a side elevation of a
bedstead embodying my Improvements; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same illustrating the parts of the bedstead folded
together; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line No 1, in figure 1, and
illustrating the manner of operation of the hinged side rail brackets; Figure 5 is a
plan view (of a section) showing the arrangements of parts in the bedstead ;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the gear housing plate; Figure 7 is a vertical cross
section taken through a side-rail, end-board bracket, and gear housing plate; and
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a crib bed, embodying the improvements in my
invention.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In reference to the Drawings A, represents the bed-frame, which frame is made.
of wood and is composed of side rails, a a, and end-rails, a¹ a'. B, Figures 4 and 5,
represents the bed-bottom, which is shown to be composed of slats bb, suspended
within the bed-frame A, and at near the plane of the lower side of the same from
horizontal bars (one at each end) 61 which are secured to the end rails a¹ a¹.
I prefer to suspend said slats by means of horizontal spiral springs bª b³, shown in
Figure 5.
C is the head-board, and C¹ is the foot-board. These boards form the folding
end-boards, and are adapted to be turned downward and inward from vertical
positions shown in Figure 1, to horizontal positions shown in Figure 3, and
the reverse. For effecting these movements these end-boards C and C¹ are each
made seperate and indipendant from the bed-frame A, but are hinged thereto
by means of end-board-brackets D D. These brackets are preferbly made wholly
71

page_text: of metal, though they may be made in part of wood, with their hinging portion
made of metal. The lower ends of these brackets are extended downward to
a short distance below the plane of the upper edges of the side rails of the bed-
frame and are pivoted thereto as with pivots c.
The lower ends of said brackets, D are each provided with a section of cog-gear e,
which section of gear is in situation occupying the lower inner quarter of the hinge
portion of the bracket, when it is standing vertical as shown in Figure 1. Made
at the lower end of each bracket, proper, and at a point on a line with the plane of
the upper edge edge of bed frame A, is shoulder 8, the purpose of which will be
hereinafter explained..
E E are the legs of the bedstead. These legs are preferbly made of metal, and
are each hinged to the bed-frame A, by pivot cl, located at a point on a vertical
line with the center of pivot c of its neighbouring bracket D, as shown. The
binged ends d¹ of these legs are each provided in their inner upper sections
with cog-gear e¹, corrosponding with cog-gear e of bracket D and co-acting with
the same, by the teeth of each gear section engaging with those of the other
neighbouring pivoted one, as shown in Figure 1.
Euch leg is provided with a shoulder s at its rear side, on a line on a horizontal
plane with the lower edge of the bed-frame. The purpose of these shoulders »¹ will
be hereinafter described.
e
For the purpose of uniting the end rails a¹ a¹ securely with the side rails a a
and strengthing the joints of the same, and for the further purpose of holding
pivots c c firm and unyielding without their passing through side-rails a a
I provide the gear-housing plate F.shown in Figures 1, 2 3, 6, 7 and 8. This plate
is made of metal, and with portion fat right angles with portion f¹, as shown in
Figures 6 and 7. Portion f¹ is perforated at several points as m m for receiving
screws or bolts for its attachment to end rail a'. Portion f, has made with pivots c c¹
of brackets D and legs E, and also an inwardly projecting peice n which serves as a
stop against which the upper edge of leg E will bear when the leg is folded up
the lower side of the bed-frame as shown in figure 3. This gear housing plate also
operates with pivots c c¹ to retain them in place, while pivots c c¹ and stop n
operate together to hold the said plate from binding on the face sides of the
hinged ends of brackets D and legs E. The portion f of plate F is perforated
as at n¹ to receive a bolt (or screw) for binding said portion to the side rail of the
frame. When plate F is secured in place over the pivoted ends of the bracket and
leg, the gear cogs on the same will be covered over and inclosed from view and from
access from without.
at
Plate F is made with a vertical extension or depth of that of the side and end
rails of frame A so that shoulders 8, of the bracket D, pivoted with the plate, will
have bearing on the upper edge of portion f¹, and be held from inclining outward,
while shoulder 8' on leg E will bear on the lower edge of said portion f¹ of the
plate to hold the leg from turning outward past a perpendicular.
Each leg E is provided at its rear side with a caster g, consisting, preferably, of
a ball working loosely in a socket formed with the leg as shown in Figures, 1 and 2.
A caster wheel may be employed in lieu of the ball if preferred. At the lower end
of each leg is provided with a caster wheel h. These legs E are each capable of
being turned on its pivot, inward and upward from a vertical position, and the
reverse, but are prevented by shoulders 8 and plate F from turning rearward and
outward past a perpendicular position.
Hinged to each side rail a, of the bed-frame, at end-boards C C¹ are the folding
side rail brackets A¹ A¹, the outer ends of which are at right angles to said side
rails so as to have bearing against the end-boards, (or peices attached thereto) when
the end-boards are standing vertical. These brackets A¹ A¹, when in a vertical
position, operate to hold the end boards from being accidentally turned inward and
downward. Each said bracket A' is provided with catch i, which engages with
pin j, fixed to the end-board, to hold the bracket from being accidently turned

page_text: down. These same catches i, when the brackets are turned, engage with catches k
fixed to the end rails a' a' and hold the same down.
The manner in which my improved bedstead is operated, is as follows:-
When it is desired to fold the parts of the bedstead compactly together, as shown
in figure 3, so as to adapt it to be run beneath a large upright bedstead, or to be
set against the side of a wall; the operator will loosen catches i from engagement
with pins, when he will fold side rail brackets A' A¹ downward from vertical
positions shown in figures 1, and 4 to that of a horizontal one as shown in figure 4.
He will then with one hand push one of the en'i boards, (head board C, or foot
board C) inward to a short distance when gears e e on the end board-brackets DD
will operate legs E E through their gear sections e¹ e¹ to move their lower ends
inward, and from perpendicular positions; the ends of. the legs in the while riding
on caster wheels h h At this time in the operation, the weight of the bed-stead
and its adjuncts will be borne by the inwardly moving legs, and cause the legs to
fold fully inward and upward to the sides of the bed frame. In this upward and
inward movement of the legs, their attached gear el e¹ will operate with the gear e e
of the brackets D D of the end board to fold the same downward; and to prevent
a sudden folding of the parts towards the bed frame, the operator will, with his
hand resist this downward movement by holding on the end board and allowing it
to fold downward gently. With this manner of operation, the opposite end logs
and end board will be folded to the bed-frame, when the bed-stead will be reduced
from an upright position to that of a folded one as shown, with the bed-stead
supported on casters gg as shown in figure 3, when said casters will, by the weight
of the bed-stead, force the legs up to have bearing on stop n n of the gear-housing
plate F, when the upward movement of the legs will be checked. In this position
of legs E, their cog-gears e¹ el will operate with the cog-gears ee of brackets D D
and hold the end boards C C¹ down in a folded position.
To elevate the bed stead from a folded position of parts as shown in figure 3 to
a standing one as in figure 1, the operator will simply lift upward each end board
and turn it from a horizontal position to a vertical one, when the cog-gears ee will
act with gears el e¹ of the legs E and force them to ride backward on their caster
wheels h from folded to vertical positions as shown in figure 1.
In figure 8, is shown a folding bed-crib embodying the above described improved
parts. In this crib the hinged side guards A' operate the same as the side rail
brackets A¹ for holding the end boards CC from being accidentally turned down,
while at the same time they prevent a child occupying the crib from falling out.
In this crib I prefer to use a turn button p, at each end of the guards to lock the
guards from falling down.
By means of the above described parts arranged and operating as above
described, I am enabled to produce a cheep and handsome bed stead or crib
which may have its parts readily folded together, in a compact manner, for
storage or for transportation, with the mattress M enclosed within, and be readily
opened out and male to stand erect, in a few moments, by the simple operation of
lifting up on the end boards.
This improved bed stead is adapted to be used with great advantage in families
having a lack of sleeping chambers, and in hotels, and other places of residence
where room is to be economized.
Having particularly described and shown the nature of my said invention,
I declare that what I claim 'is
1-The combination and arrangement with bed-frame A, of end boards provided
each with brackets D D having gear cog sections e e made with their lower ends,
and the folding legs E E also provided with gear cog sections, with said brackets
and legs pivoted to the bed frame in such a manner that each will engage with the
other for operations substantially as set forth.
2-The combination with bed-frame A, end boards C C¹ pivoted thereto by
brackets D D provided with gears ee of legs E E pivoted to said frame and

page_text: provided with gears e' e¹, and caster wheels h, secured to the lower ends of said
legs for operations substantially as set forth.
3-The combination with bed frame A of folding legs E pivoted to said frame
and provided with gear el e¹, and folding end boards C C also hinged to said frame
and provided with gear e e, of casters g g situated on the outer rear sides of said
legs so as to adapt them to support the same when folded, and through the folded
legs support the bedstead from the floor and free to be moved on said casters,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4-The attaching gear housing plate F made with an angular form and provided
with means for attachment to a bed frame A as above described, and also provided
on portion f with stop n, and pivots co' adapted to receive, respictively, the hinge
end of an endboard bracket and hinged end of a folding leg. which are geared
together substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
5-The combination with gear housing plate F secured to the corners of the bed
frame, of shoulders a made with bracket D provided with gear e and shoulder 8¹
made with leg C, also provided with gear e¹ substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.

page_text: I, CHARLES TOWNSEND SHEPARD of 578 Madison Avenue in the City of Albany
in the County of Albany and State of New York, one of the United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of his invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS AND CRIBS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In the drawings hereunto annexed are represented certain devices and com-
binations of devices in bedsteads and cribs which constitute my " Certain .
Improvements" as aforesaid.
And in reference to the drawings, Figure 1, represents a side elevation of a
bedstead embodying my improvements; Figure 2, is an end elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same illustrating the parts of the bedstead
folded together; Figure 4, is a cross sectional view taken at line No 1, in fig. 1,
and illustrating the manner of operation of the hinged side rail brackets; Figure 5,
is a plan view (of a section) showing the arrangements of parts in the bedstead;
Figure 6, is a plan view of the gear housing plate; Figure 7, is a vertical cross
section taken through a side rail, end board bracket and gear housing plate; and
Figure 8, is a side elevation of a crib bed embodying the improvements in my
invention,
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In reference to the drawings, A represents the bed frame, which frame is made
of wood and is composed of side rails a a, and end rails a¹ a¹,
B, in figs. 4 and 5, represents the bed bottom which is shown to be composed of
slats bb, suspended within the bed-frame A, and at near the plane of the lower
side of the same from horizontal bars (one at each end) b¹ which are secured to the
end rails a a. I prefer to suspend the said slats, by means of horizontal spiral
springs 6 6, shown in fig. 5.
C, is the head board; and C¹ is the foot board. These boards form the folding
end boards, and are adapted to be turned downward and inward from vertical
positions shown in fig 1, to horizontal positions shown in fig. 3, and the reverse.
For effecting these movements these end boards C and C¹ are each made separate
and independent from the bed frame A, but are hinged thereto by means of end
board brackets D D. These brackets are preferably made wholly of metal, though
they may be made in part of wood, with their hinging portion made of metal. The
lower ends of these brackets are extended downward to a short distance below
the plane of the upper edges of the side rails of the bed frame and are pivoted
thereto as with pivots c.
The lower ends of said brackets D are each provided with a section of cog-gear e,
which section of gear is in situation occupying the lower inner quarter of the hinge
portion d of the bracket, when it is standing vertical as shown in fig. 1. Made at
the lower end of each bracket, proper, and at a point on a line with the plane of
the upper edge of bed frame A, is shoulder 8, the purpose of which will be herein-
after explained.
EE are the legs of the bedstead. These legs are preferably made of metal,
and are each hinged to the bed frame A, by pivot c¹, located at a point on a
vertical line with the centre of pivot c of its neighboring bracket D as shown. The
hinged ends d of these legs are each provided in their inner upper sections with
cog-gear e¹, corresponding with cog-gear e of bracket D and coacting with the same

page_text: by the teeth of each gear section engaging with those of the other neighboring
pivoted one, as shown in fig. 1.
Each leg is provided with a shoulder s¹ at its rear side, on a line on a horizontal
plane with the lower edge of the bed frame. The purpose of these shoulders &¹ will
be hereinafter described.
.
For the purpose of uniting the end rails a¹ a¹ securely with the side rails a a
strengthening the joints of the same, and for the further purpose of holding
pivots co' firm and unyielding without their passing through side rails a a
I provide the gear housing plate F shown in figs. 1 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. This plate is
made of metal, and with portion fat right angles with portion f¹ as shown in
figs. 6 and 7. Portion fis perforated at several points as m m for receiving screws
or bolts for its attachment to end rail a¹. Portion f has made with pivots c c¹ of
brackets D and legs E, and also an inwardly projecting piece n which serves as a
stop against which the upper edge of leg E will bear when the leg is folded up at
the lower side of the bed frame as shown in fig. 3.. This gear housing plate also
operates with pivots c c¹ to retain them in place, while pivots c c¹ and stop n
operate together to hold the said plate from binding on the face sides of the hinged.
ends of brackets D and legs E. The portion f of plate F is perforated as at n¹ to.
receive a bolt (or screw) for binding said portion to the side rail of the frame.
When plate F is secured in place over the pivoted ends of the bracket and leg, the
gear cogs on the same will be covered over and inclosed from view and from access
from without.
4,
Plate F is made with a vertical extension or depth of that of the side and end
rails of frame A so that shoulders 8, of bracket D, pivoted with the plate, will have
bearing on the upper edge of portion f¹, and be held from inclining outward, while
shoulder 8 on leg E will bear on the lower edge of said portion fl of the plate to
hold the leg from turning outward past a perpendicular.
Each leg E is provided at its rear side with a caster g, consisting, preferably, of
a ball working loosely in a socket formed with the leg as shown in figs. 1 and 2.
A.caster wheel may be employed in lieu of the ball if preferred. At the lower end
of each leg is provided with a caster wheel h. These legs E are each capable of
being turned on its pivot, inward and upward from a vertical position and the
reverse, but are prevented by shoulders 8 and plate F from turning rearward and
outward past a perpendicular position.
Hinged to each side rail a, of the bed frame, at end boards C C¹ are the folding
side rail brackets A¹ A¹, the outer ends of which are at right angles to said sido
rails so as to have bearing against the end boards, (or peices attached thereto)
when the end boards are standing vertical. These brackets A¹ A¹, when in a
vertical position, operate to hold the end boards from being accidently turned
inward and downward. Each said bracket A¹ is provided with catch i which
engages with pin j, fixed to the end board, to hold the bracket from being
accidently turned down. These same catches i, when the brackets are turned,
engage with catches k fixed to the end rails a¹ a¹ and hold the same down.
The manner in which my improved bedstead is operated is as follows-
When it is desired to fold the parts of the bedstead compactly together as shown
in fig. 3, so as to adapt it to be run beneath a large upright bedstead, or to be set
against the side of the wall, the operator will loosen catches i from engagement
with pins j, when he will fold side rail brackets A¹ A¹ downward from vertical
He
positions shown in figs. 1 and to that of a horizontal one as shown in fig.
will then with one hand push one of the end boards, (head-board C, or foot
board C¹) inward to a short distance when gears e e on the end board brackets
DD will operate legs E E through their gear-sections e¹ e¹ to move their lower
ends inward, and from perpendicular positions; the ends of the legs in the while
riding on caster wheels hh. At this time in the operation, the weight of the
bedstead and its adjuncts will be borne by the inwardly moving legs, and cause
the legs to fold fully inward and upward to the sides of the bed frame. In this

page_text: upward and inward movement of the legs, their attached gear e¹ e¹ will operate
with gear ee of the brackets D D of the end board to fold the same downward,
and to prevent a sudden folding of the parts towards the bed frame, the operator
will with his hand resist this downward movement by holding on the end board
and allowing it to fold downward gently. With this manner of operation, the
opposite end legs and end board will be folded to the bed frame, when the
bedstead will be reduced from an upright position to that of a folded one as
shown, with the bedstead supported on casters g g as shown in fig. 3, when said
casters will, by the weight of the bedstead, force the legs up to have bearing on.
stops n n of the gear housing plate F, when the upward movement of the legs will
be checked. In this position of legs E, their cog-gears e' e' will operate with the
cog-gears è e of brackets D D and hold the end boards C C¹ down in a folded
position.
To elevate the bedstead from a folded position of parts as shown in fig. 3 to a
standing one as in fig. 1, the operator will simply lift upward each end board and turn
it from a horizontal position to a vertical one, when the cog-gears e e will act with
gears eel of the legs E and force them to ride backward on the caster wheels h
from folded to vertical positions as shown in fig. 1.
In fig. 8, is shown a folding bed crib embodying the above described improved
parts. In this crib the hinged side guards A operate the same as the side rail
brackets A¹ for holding the end boards C C¹ from being accidently turned down,
while at the same time they prevent a child, occupying the crib, from falling out.
In this crib I prefer to use a turn button p at each end of the guards to lock the
guards from falling down.
By means of the above described parts arranged and operating as above
described, I am enabled to produce a cheap and handsome bedstead or crib which
may have its parts readily folded together, in a compact manner, for storage or
transportation, with the mattress M enclosed within, and be readily opened out and
made to stand erect in a few minutes, by the simple operation of lifting upon the
end boards.
This improved bedstead is adapted to be used with great advantage in families
having a lack of sleeping chambers, and in hotels and other places of residence
where room is to be economized.
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:
.
•
1-The combination and arrangement with bed frame A, of end boards provided
each with brackets D D having gear cog sections e e made with their lower ends,
and the folding legs E E also provided with gear cog sections, with said brackets
and legs pivoted to the bed-frame in such a manner that each will engage with the
other for operations substantially as set forth.
2-The combination with bed-frame A, end boards C C pivoted thereto by
brackets D D provided with gears ee of legs E E pivoted to said frame and
provided with gears e¹ e¹, and caster wheel h, secured to the lower ends of said legs
for operations substantially as set forth.
3 The combination with bedframe A of folding legs E pivoted to said frame
and provided with gears el e¹, and folding end boards C Ċ also hinged to said
frame and provided with gear e e, of casters g g situated on the outer rear sides of
said legs so as to adapt them to support the same when folded, and through the
folded legs support the bedstead from the floor and free to be moved on said casters,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4-The attaching gear housing plate F made with an angular form and
provided with means for attachment to a bed frame A, as above described, and also
provided on portion f with stop n, and pivots c c¹ adapted to receive, respectively,
the hinge end of an end board bracket and hinged end of a folding leg which are
geared together, substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.

page_text: 5-The combination with gear housing plate F secured to the corners of the bed
frame, of shoulders 8 made with bracket D provided with gear e, and shoulder 8¹
made with leg C also provide l with gear e¹, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
: .
Dated this 29th day of October 1884.