AN IMPROVED FOLDING BEDSTEAD, APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson
& Boult, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 323, High Holborn, London,
in the County of Middlesex, and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer & Patent Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
FOLDING BEDSTEAD, APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Octave Guinchard, of Geneva, in the Swiss Republic.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1881.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult, Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 323, High Holborn, London, in the County of
Middlesex, and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
& Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED FOLDING BEDSTEAD, APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Octave Guinchard, of Geneva, in
the Swiss Republic.
This Invention relates to that class of devices which are known as "folding
bedsteads," "sofa beds," or "chair-bedsteads," and which devices, whilst serving for
a bedstead, can also be converted into or used as other articles of furniture, say, as
a sofa or an armchair.
The object of this Invention is to so construct such a folding bedstead that it
will be applicable for the purposes of a bed, a sopha, an invalide-chair, a wash-
stand, and a night-table.
A folding bedstead embodying this Invention consist of three parts suitably
hinged together. The central part contains in its base two compartments, each
containing a box. One of the said boxes forms the washstand. It is closed by a
suitable lid, in which a looking glass may be mounted, and has a small ledge or
shelf, and is so arranged as to accomodate the usual toilet requisites, such as a
washing basin, water jug, soap-dish, towel, and so forth. The second box serves
for containing the usual bed-room requisites, blacking brushes, boots, and other
articles.

page_text: When the three parts of the bedstead are adjusted in such a manner as to be
in one horizontal line, this devico will serve either as a bed or a sopha. In the
former case frames which are hinged to the outer ends of the whole structure will
be caused to stand up, and being supported by suitable brackets or arms will form
the head and foot ends of the bed.
If it is desired to use the device as a sopha these frames will be laid close against
the legs of the outer parts of the whole.
Only the central part of this improved bedstead has fixed or rigid legs, whilst
both outer parts have hinged adjustable legs, so that the two outer parts may be
raised or lowered as required. The legs of one of these outer parts have a series
of notches, with which pins or studs on the frame of this part engage and thus
allow this frame to be supported at varying angles.
Thus, when the folding bedstead is to be used as an invalide-chair this part will
be raised to a conveinent height fixed by a suitable catch and supported on the
notched legs (the other legs of this part hanging down from the frame), and the
other end-part is kept in line with the central-part, or it may be lowered as may
be desired. A rod or bar on the central part is raised by another bar hinged to
the raised part of the frame, and these two bars form a convenient arm rest.
If an arm chair is to be formed, the part with the notchod legs is raised to a
perpendicular position, and the frame which forms the head end of the bed may be i
caused to extend rearward therefrom, being supported by the brackets or arms
hereinabove referred to, and a board or plate being placed on said frame it will
serve as a small table, upon which sundry articles may be placed for convenience.
Suitable bars are provided for supporting the springs of said bedstead, and in
the frames provision is made for mounting the usual fittings. The legs of this
bedstead I prefer to make with castors of the usual kind.
When this folding bedstead is not in use both end-parts may be raised, the
frames which form the head and foot-ends be folded one over the other, and the
whole resting on the central part will present an orderly appearance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd May 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult, Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 323, High Holborn, London, in the County of
Middlesex, and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED FOLDING BEDSTEAD, APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Octave Guinchard, of Geneva, in
the Swiss Republic.
This Invention relates to that class of devices which are known as "folding
bedsteads," "sofa beds," or "chair bedsteads," and which devices, whilst serving.
for a bedstead, can also bo converted into or used as other articles of furniture,
say, as a sofa or an arm chair.
The object of this Invention is so to construct such a folding-bedstead that it
will be applicable for the purposes of a bed, a sopha, an invalide-chair, a wash-
stand, and a night table.
This improved piece of furniture is shown in the accompanying Drawings, in
which
Figures 1 and 2 represent the piece of furniture unfolded, and forming in this
position a bed and sopha.
At the centre there is a box A, serving as a washstand, and containing all that
is required for the toilet, viz., a basin, water jug, soap-tray, and puff box, a looking
glass, brushes, combs, etc., etc.; this box is movable, that is to say, it can be
removed at will.
On the other side of this piece of furniture, also at the centre, is a box A¹ which
opens on hinges and serves as a night table. This box is of sufficient size to
contain the chamber utensil, a spittoon, blacking brushes, and a pair of boots, or
the like; these boxes may be made either of wood sheet metal, or other suitable
material.
B is a hinged support attached to a likewise hinged stud or bolt N (Figure 6).
The end of this support may be furnished with a suitable caster, which allows this
piece of furniture when it forms an invalide chair (as shown in Figure 4) to be
rolled along; it is however preferable to adopt that shown in Figure 9, this
permitting it not only to roll along, but also to pivot, like the other casters of the
bed. This support has notches or slots K, K, K, which serve to incline the
head end of the bed when it is desired to form an invalide chair by engaging
the stud J in one of said notches according to the inclination required.
This support is provided either on the part F or on another part of the piece of
furniture; C, C, are iron bars upon which the springs are fixed; D is a small
spring catch which serves to keep the side F of the piece of furniture raised when
it is desired to form an arm chair, as in Figure 3; it is shown detached and on an
enlarged scale in Fig. 7.
E represents the two joints which serve as arm-rests in the arm chair and
invalide chair.
F is the side on which the catch D is fixed. This catch may however bo fixed
on the other side and like the support B. Whichever side is raised to form an
invalide chair or an armchair, the piece of furniture can yet be placed in any
required direction in a room; for instance, if it is desired that the back F of the
armchair be towards the left, the piece of furniture is turned round so that it
shows the side A'.
Q is the frame which holds the washstand and night table.

page_text: H is a movable arm notched at one end and may bo deached from the stud M,
and this allows this part of the bed to be lowered to form an easy chair, as shown
in Figure 3.
I, I, represent two brackets which serve to rigidly maintain the head and foot
ends of the bed. The said head and foot ends form hinges, as clearly shown in
Figures 3 and 4, and to this end it is only required to remove the pin L.
M is a stud to which the arms H are hooked for the purpose of maintaining the
rigidity of the piece of furniture when the same forms a bed or sopha.
N is the hinged support already hereinabove described.
O is a shelf in the wash stand box (Figure 8) which serves to receive towels,
brushes, &c., &c.
The upper frame of the piece of furniture has at its interior a wood fillet or
band for attaching the fittings usual in folding furniture.
Figure 3 shows this picco of furniture when forming an armchair, the head end
being turned outward and supported horizontally by the bracket I and the pin L.
On this head end a plate or board is placed which serves for placing bottles,
glasses, cups, tea-pots, etc., for the person who uses the arm chair. When this
piece of furniture is folded up, the said board is kept between the two ond-pieces;
the end piece may also be allowed to remain pendent, as in Figure 4.
Figure 4 shows this piece of furniture when forming an invalide chair, the
hinged support B supporting the inclined head end of the piece of furniture.
Figure 5 shows the piece of furniture folded up, the hinged support B being
raised to the side F.
Figure 6 is the hinged stud or bolt N to which the support B is attached.
Figure 7 is the spring catch D which serves to keep the side F rigid when the
piece of furniture serves as an arm chair.
Figure 8 is the box A serving as a wash stand; on the inner side of the hinged
lid a looking glass is fixed if desired. The shelf 0 serves for receiving toilet
accessories. The lid is beld open either by means of two bands or by two hinged
brackets.
Figure 9 ropresents the lower end of the hinged support B.
Having now described the said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be
understood that what I claim and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part
rocited Letters Patent is,―
A folding bedstead or piece of furniture applicable for the purposes set forth and
constructed substantially as specified and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Julius Boult, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED I ROLLT Gol