Improvements in Canopies for Bedsteads, Couches, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Canopies for Bedsteads, Couches, and the like.
I, WARREN COLE Jr., a citizen of the United States residing at Gratz Avenue
in Knoxville, in the County of Knox, and State of Tennessee, U.S.A. retired, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in canopies for beds, couches and like
furniture, and has particular reference to that class which is arranged to fold or
swing from over the bed, or couch and out of the way, when not in use.
It has for its object to produce an arrangement which can be easily applied to an
ordinary bedstead and adjusted to the proper width and length, and one which can be
more easily thrown back when not in use."
To this end it consists, generally stated, of a frame constructed preferably of metal,
and arranged to automatically swing or fold back out of the way upon having its free
end released.
It also consists of certain details of construction and arrangement or combination
of parts which will be fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which show an arrangement having the
essential elements of my invention.
and
Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of a bed supplied with my improvements,
Fig. 2, a detail view showing more plainly the bracket or support by which the
frame is secured to the bed.
The reference letter a, indicates a bed of ordinary or any preferred construction
having as usual the head and foot-boards b, b. To the head boards 6 are secured my
improvements. This is done by means of the brackets c. These are formed of metal,
preferably of cast steel, and provided with arms d, and d¹. Arm d, is secured by
means of screws or bolts, passing through openings therein, to the head-board of
the bed, as before stated, in such position that the arm d', will extend horizontally
and parallel with the vertical sides of the head-board. Two of these brackets are
provided for the canopy, each being used to support one of the side portions of
the frame, as will more fully appear hereinafter. The arm d', of the bracket c, is
formed in the shape of an angle iron in cross section and arranged with its
respective sides horizontal and vertical. In the horizontal portion or side of the
arm d, is formed a series of openings or recesses e, extending entirely through it,
the vertical portion having its upper edge formed with a series of notches or
indentations e, conforming in number and alignment to the holes e, in the horizontal
portion.
The frame of my invention consists of the curved metallic side bars f, f, joined
at their outer ends by means of a cross bar or connecting piece g, secured thereto
in any preferred manner. The inner ends of the bars f, f, are each curved down-
wardly and formed so that a spiral helical spring g', of several coils is formed.
The extreme inner ends of the bars, f, and f¹, are formed or hent at right angles
to the remaining portion and adapted to fit into the holes e, in the horizontal
portion of the arm d. From thence it extends up and over the edge of the vertical
portion, it being held securely and prevented from swinging laterally by means of
the notches e', into one, of which it fits. The helical spring g', is constructed with

page_text: a tendency to throw the arms f, and f¹, into a vertical position, such being the
normal condition of the arm.
By means of the opening e' in the brackets e, the arins f, /, may he moved
toward or from each other to compensate for the difference between the size of the
canopy netting and with the width of the bed. Thus if the netting was one size
and the bed wider than the netting it would be necessary to move the arms toward
each other so that they would conform to the width of the netting.
In practice
this condition of affairs will very often if not always-occur, for the netting on the
market at present is adapted to be used in connection with the usual hanging supports
which are always smaller or narrower than the bed.
Secured to the frame of the canopy. is the netting h, which may be of any suitable
quality or kind. This netting is arranged to hang loosely from the frame and when
the canopy is in the position shown in Fig. 1, to drop or hang from the frame and
cover the bed as is usual in this class of inventions. Connected to the onter ends of
the bars and f, are the cords i, preferably two in number, and joined at their
lower ends to a tassel, or an ornamental handle . These cords are arranged to
be connected at their lower ends to the button or thumb-screw j, fastene to the
foot board of the bed. By this means the canopy frame is held in a horizontal
position against the tendency of the spring g'.
When it is desired to use the canopy in connection with a bed, it is secured in
position, as previously explained and the arms /, and /, drawn down to a substantially
horizontal or over hanging position, and secured in such by means of the cords,
, and button j, the netting, being allowed to hang from the frame and envelop
the bed, as previously explained. To fold the canopy back and out of the way, as
will be desirous when it is not preferred to use the canopy, all that will be necessary
is to unfasten or release, the enrls i, whereupon the frame and its attachment will,
of its tendency, swing back to a vertical position, theroby-disposing of the netting.
This operation is shown in Fig. 1.
The function of the resilient arms, is twofold, first, by means of their peculiar
properties when the ends are secured by the cords i, they will describe a curve or
arch over the body of the bed, thus permitting the arms to be arranged so low on the
headboard a, that when swung to a vertical position they will not be affected by the
ceiling, and yet render it possible for a person to get in and out of the bed without
striking the arms or canopy netting supported by them. This is shown in dotted and
full lines in Fig. 1. Second, if the ceiling should be so low that it would be
.impossible to prevent its contact with the arms when raised, all harm which would
otherwise result from-such contact, is avoided by the capability of the arms to bend
and conform themselves to the ceiling, and not strike them so violently as to harm
the ceiling or themselves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a canopy frame, the combination of an arm having one of its ends formed
into a coiled or helical spring which spring is adapted to be secured to the bed the
said spring giving the arm a tendency to assume a vertical position, and means for
holding the arm in a horizontal position against the tendency of the spring,
substantially as described.,
2. In a canopy frame, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the
bed, a portion of which bracket extends in a direction at right angles to the
longitudinal portion of the bed and is provided with a series of openings extending
in a line therewith, a spring arm secured to the bracket by means of the openings
therein and having by reason of its inherent spring properties a tendency to assume a
vertical position, and means for holding the arm in a horizontal position against its
spring tendency, substantially as described.
8. In a canopy frame, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the
bed, an arm having one of its ends formed into a spring and thereat secured to the

page_text: bracket, said spring giving the arm a tendency to assume a vertical position, and
means for holding the arm in a horizontal position against the tendency of the spring
substantially as described.
4. In a canopy, for beds, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the
bed, an arm having its end formed into a coiled or helical spring and thereat secured
to the bracket, said spring giving the arm a tendency to assume a vertical position, and
means for holding the arm in a horizontal position against the tendency of the
coiled or helical spring and netting secured to the arm and arranged to envelop the
bed, substantially as described.
5. In a canopy frame, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the
bed, a portion of which bracket extends in a direction at right angles to the
longitudinal portion of the bed and is provided with a series of openings extending in
a line with the said portion of the bracket, an arm having one formed into a spring.
thereat secured to the bracket by means of the openings therein, said spring giving
the arm a tendency to assume a vertical position against the tendency of a spring and
means for holding the arm in a horizontal position, substantially as described.
6. In a canopy frame, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the
bed, a portion of which bracket extends in a direction at right angles to the
longitudinal portion of the bed and is provided with a series of openings extending
in a line with the said portion of the bracket an arm having one end formed into a
coiled or helical spring and thereat secured to the bracket by means of the openings.
said coiled or helical spring giving the arm a tendency to assume a vertical, position
and means, for holding the arm in a horizontal, position against the tendency of the
spring, substantially as described.
7. In a canopy for beds, couches and like furniture, the combination of a pair of
brackets secured to the head or foot-board thereof, an arın on each of said brackets,
and having formed therein a series of corresponding holes, and notches, a pair of bars
or arms having their inner extremities formed into a helical spring and secured to the
arms of said brackets through the medium of the holes and notches, a cross-bar
connecting the outer ends of the said bars, netting secured to the bars and cross-bar
and arranged to envelop the bed, cords depending from the outer ends of the said
bars, and a button fixed to the foot board of the bed, by means of which the cords are
fastened to the foot board and the frame of the canopy held in a horizontal position
against the tendency of the said helical spring.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.