IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Allen, of Clifton, Bristol, Ironmonger, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS."
Sealed the 7th June 1859, and dated the 9th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Allen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th December 1858.
I, THOMAS ALLEN, of Clifton, Bristol, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING BEDSTEADS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in folding bedsteads. For
'these purposes the two side rails are by preference made of metal tubes, although
solid metal may be employed. Each side rail is made to fold by having one
or more rule joints formed thereto. The sacking or supporting fabric at its
edges is folded and sewn over the side rails, or the same is otherwise attached
or fixed thereon. Towards the ends of the side rails, and on the under sides
thereof, are fixed projections to enter the sockets of the legs or supports; it
is preferred to cast such projections of malleable cast iron, or it may be of
other metal, in the form of T-pieces, so that two of the. parts of the tubes

page_text: forming a side rail may in each case fit on and be fixed to such T-piece. The
two pairs of legs used for each bedstead are crossed, and have sockets at their
upper ends to receive the projections on the under sides of the side rails. The
bead frame is formed of metal and covered with canvas or other fabric, aud it
has a projection at each end, which enters a hole in the side rail, or the head
frame may be otherwise attached to the side rails..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALLEN, of Clifton, Bristol, Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Allen, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOLDING BEDSTEADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Allen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Allen, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in folding bedsteads.. For
these purposes the two side rails are by preference made of metal tubes,

page_text: although solid metal may be employed. Each side rail is made to fold by
having one or more rule joints formed thereto. The sacking or supporting
fabric at its edges is folded and sewn over the side rails, or the same is
otherwise attached or fixed thereon. Towards the ends of the side rails, and
on the under sides thereof, are fixed projections to enter the sockets of the
legs or supports; it is preferred to cast such projections of malleable cast iron,
or it may be of other metal, in the form of T-pieces, so that two of the parts
of the tubes forming a side rail may in each case fit on and be fixed to such
T-piece. The two pairs of legs used for each bedstead are crossed, and have
sockets at their upper ends to receive the projections on the under sides of the
side rails. The head frame is formed of metal and covered with canvass or
other fabric, and it has a projection at each end, which enters a hole in the
side rail, or the head frame may be otherwise attached to the side rails.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto

page_text: upper ends of the legs to enter into. The head frame g is formed of metal,
and covered with canvass or other fabric, and it has a projection at each end,
which enters a hole in the side rail a; or the head frame g may be otherwise
attached to the side rail.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Allen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
ALBERT COLLINS CHARD,
Bristol.
THOMAS ALLEN. (L.S.)