Combined Table and Folding Bed.
Year: 1898

page_text: Late of Application, 16th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Combined Table and Folding Bed.
I, JOHN HAMILTON REFORD, 2, Ethel Terrace, Mount Florida, Glasgow, Scotland,
a Brewer by profession, and a Native of County Antrim, Ireland, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a combined table and folding bed. The top of the
table is divided so that the two halves open out upon hinges so that when the
table is required to be converted into a bed, the said halves of the table assume
vertical positions forming the head and foot of the bed. The frame or body
of the table is made sufhciently deep to contain a mattress. In order to convert
the bed into a table, the two halves of the table top are turned inward on their
hinges so that they meet in the centre and thus produce an ordinary table top.
The divided portions of the table top are preferably so hinged that when they
are opened out into their vertical position to form a bed, they extend beyond the
length of the table so that a full length bed, which is greater than the ordinary
length of a table, is produced. In order that the stuff mattress may be of a
corresponding greater length than that of the body of the table, I form the ends
of the stuff mattress with hinged portions, which, when a table is required, are
folded so that the stuff mattress lies wholly within the table top; and when a
spring mattress is used below the stuff mattress, its ends may similarly be folded up.
In order to give rigidity to the hinged halves of the table top, I may provide
the under side of the two table top portions with flanges which fit telescopically
inside the hollow body of the table between the inner side of the table body and
the side of the mattress. The same flanged pieces also act as filling pieces at the
sides of the bed when the table top portions are in their vertical position to fill
up the space between the end of the body of the table and the upright table top
portions.
In order to lock the table top portions when a table is required, I provide a hole
or passage on each side of the table on the under side of the table top, the said
passage receiving a bar or rod, the end of which is received into a hole or recess
In the other half of the table top.
In order to unlock the table top, I pull out the bar.
In order to lower the height of the bed, I divide the legs into two portions, the
said portions being hinged."

page_text: declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement —
The object of my invention, is to produce a table which has all the appearance
of such and to conceal all identity, of its use as a bed and to do away with all
springs or weights which are liable to get out of order and cause the bed to colapse
on the occupant and this danger I reduce to a minimum, to produce at small
cost, and also for use on passenger ships, and what I claim is
1st. The combination of a table and folding bed with telescopic frame with
wire bottom or spring attached to frame with space for matrass & clothes sub-
stantially as, specified.
2nd. The combination of a folding bed concealing all identity, substantially as
specified.
.
3rd. Construction of tops being movable with side rails attached or otherwise
substantially as specified.
4th. Method of attaching legs and ends to a table & folding bed also legs folding
or telescopic substantially as specified.
5th. Construction of frame grouved with inner frame.
The foregoing objects I attain by the construction as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings, in which,-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a table showing one half open as a bed, with the
matrass and spring complete. The other half shows the top closed as a table.
Fig. 2, is a plan view of frame showing how I attach legs and ends.
Fig. 3, is a section of frame with telescopic arrangement shown.
Fig. 4, is a section of leg showing pin which enters frame.
Fig. 5, is a side view of matrass showing the ends folded.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1 shows the tops A, A, one is open forming head or foot of the
bed with a view of matrass and spring wire bottom in place the other half is
closed down to represent the table, both halfs being hinged to the end rails C,
and which are attached to the frame B, with dowls placed in suitable holes in the
edge of the rail C to correspond with the holes in the frame B, and which are
glued in place or if preferable screws may be used. The end rails C, attached to
The table frame B, have short ends or sides C dovetailed onto the ends, of the
end rails C, and all of which form a rim on the ends of the frame B, when solidly
attached to the frame B, and which can be seen by reference to Fig. 2 as shown
by C, C, C. The legs E are shown to be attached at D, to the frame B, the pin P
entering the holes H.
Fig. 2, Sheet 1, shows a plan view of the frame B, which is made in two parts
and which can be seen by reference to the fig. at b, b, the dotted lines show where
the groved or sliding way is cut to receive the inner frame F, as shown in the
section view Fig. 3, Sheet 2, at s, s, the frame B slides along the inner frame F
when it is required to lengthen for the bed or telescope for a table. H shows
the holes in the frame B, which receive the pin P, on the shoulder of the leg E, and
which are attached as shown at D, to the frame B, the holes,, are those which
receive the dowls or screws placed in the edge of the end rails C and the short
sides or ends of the end rails C, and C, C, C, which forms the rim on the frame B.
Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a section, view of the frame B and the inner frame F. in
place, which shows how the frame B. can slide or telescope on the frame F, and to
form the bottom of the bed I attach in separate parts to the frame B, a strong
spring wire net work or other suitable material, which allows the frame B to
part at the centre, and slide along the inner frame F. The inner frame F, being
two thirds the thickness of the frame B permits of a passage way between the wire
bottom on the frame B, and the inner frame to which also is attached a spring
wire bottom, which can be seen by reference to the fig. at w, w, which represents
the spring wire bottoms on both the frames B, and F, and the space between the
dotted lines at w and w, showing clearly how one spring is clear of the other when
required to telescope.

page_text: Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a side view of the matrass e, which shows that the end
parts d, d are folded over the centre of the matrass e, the matrass being made in
three sections alowing the two ends d, d, to hinge or fold over on the center e
and which leaves sufficient space for the bed clothes to be placed in when the bed
is required for use as a table and which can be seen by reference to the fig. at e
between the ends d, d..
in
Fig. 4, Sheet 2 is a section of the leg E and showing the pin l' with the holes h
into which I drive through the frame B, dowels well glued in, into the holes
the shoulder of the leg E and which keeps the leg E from twisting on the frame B,
but the leg E, as shown at Fig. 4, is solid, although if desired to have a folding
one so the table may be lowered the height of a bed a leg can be made in two
parts to hinge, by making a three sided box N, which is attached to the table
frame and into the box N, Fig. 7, is placed or fitted a solid part L Fig. 6, and
through the opposite sides of N, I bore holes k, to receive a pin which passes
through the leg L which has a hole r, to correspond with the hole k, in N, but
as there are brackets attached to the leg L, which enter grooves G, in the sides
of the part N, it is necessary to make the hole in the leg L sufficiently long to
allow the leg L to drop the brackets bout of the grooves G, so that the leg L
may be folded inwards when the table is lifted off the brackets b. Again if the
leg is to be telescopic I simply make a box as before with a solid piece to slide
in or out and held in position with a set screw, or an arrangement similar to the
pillar of a music stool when it is required to be lowered, or raised.
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
claim is;
1st. In a combined table and folding bed the telescopic frame with an inner
frame to both of which is attached spring wire or any other suitable material for
a bottom in accordance with this invention substantially as specified.
2nd. In a combined table and folding bed the combination concealing all identity
of its use as a bed when in use as a table with a telescopic frame with inner
frame with spring wire or other suitable material for bottom in accordance with
this invention substantially as specified.
3rd. In a combined table & folding bed the movable tops having side rails
attached or fixed to the frame with inner frame with spring wire or other suitable
material for bottom and in accordance with this invention substantially as specified.
4th. In a combined table and folding bed, the legs solid, folding, or telescopic,
attached by a pin entering a telescopic frame with an inner frame with spring
wire or other suitable material for bottom with space for clothing in accordance
with this invention substantially.
5th. In a combined table and folding bed the general construction of a frame
groved to telescope on an inner frame with spring wire or other suitable material
for bottom attached, with legs, solid, folding or telescopic attached to a telescopic
frame with inner frame with dowels into the shoulder of the leg and with a fold-
ing matrass with space for clothing and all in accordance with this invention
substantially as specified.
Dated this 0th
TA