IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nehemiah George Roberts, of Birmingham, in the County
•
of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
Sealed the 9th March 1880, and dated the 11th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nehemiah George Roberts
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1879.
NEHEMIAH GEORGE ROBERTS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
This Invention relates more particularly to improvements in that class of
bedsteads known as chair bedsteads.
Hitherto great inconvenience and expense has been incurred in packing such
bedsteads for transit owing to the large space occupied therewith.
In order to obviate these disadvantages I make the centre rests or supports of
the bedstead to work at the top in folding joints or hinges, and about midway I fix
a rigid cross bar which holds them firmly in position and effectually prevents their
springing when the bedstead is extended.
Moreover, in order to impart additional firmness thereto, I affix to each of the
hinder supports of the bedstead a tie rod, the hinder end whereof works loosely in
an eyelet hole formed about midway in each of such hinder supports, while the
forward end of each of such tie rods is bent to a convenient angle and takes into a
lug or eye either formed on or affixed to each of the centre supports. Both the
head and foot, as well as the centre, rests or supports are made with folding hinges
and provided midway with a cross bar to increase their strength and rigidity.
By this means every requisite degree of firmness and security is imparted to the
frame of the bedstead, at the same time that it can be readily folded together and
packed into a small compass for the purposes of removal.
It will be obvious that my improvements may be readily applied with equal
advantage to chairs, couches, and other articles of furniture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nehemiah George Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
June 1880.
_NEHEMIAH GEORGE ROBERTS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDSTEADS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
This Invention relates more particularly to that class of bedsteads known as chair
bedsteads.
Hitherto such bedsteads have been ordinarily manufactured with plain folding
iron legs owing to its having been found impracticable to attach ornamental legs
thereto in such a manner as to allow of their being readily folded up for the
purposes of removal. For this reason the attempt to improve their manufacture
has been abandoned, and this class of furniture, owing to its poverty of appearance,
has been adopted chiefly for use in servants' apartments and other minor uses.
Now my Invention consists in fitting brass, wood, composite, or any other kind
of ornamental legs to such bedsteads so that such legs may be readily folded up
with the rest of the bedstead, thus rendering the bedstead easy of removal at the
same time that it imparts to it a much handsomer appearance, thereby fitting
it for use in libraries, offices, and elsewhere, and greatly increasing its commercial
value.
In order to carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-About midway of the
frame of the bedstead, and just above the hinges which allow the lower portion of
such frame to fold up so as to form a chair, I place an additional central revolving
cross bar made of iron, brass, wood, or any other suitable material, and either flat or
round as preferred. Such additional central revolving cross bar works loosely upon
suitable pivots placed one at either end thereof and fitted in the side angles of the
frame of the bedstead, while a suitable nut or stop is cast on or fitted in such side
angles of the bedstead frame just beneath either end of such additional cross bar
so as to impart increased strength and firmness thereto, either when the frame is
extended for use as a bedstead or when folded together to form a chair, in which
latter caso such additional cross bar forms the principal support of the front of the
chair. To this additional central revolving cross bar I rivet or otherwise firmly
fasten a pair of legs manufactured either in brass, wood, composite, or any other
material as desired, and either plain or carved or otherwise ornamented, which legs
when the bedstead is folded together for use as a chair form the front legs thereof.
From these legs forming a prominent feature in the structure, it is obvious that
chair bedsteads so fitted have a very superior appearance and are considerably
enhanced in value.
Moreover, in order to impart additional firmness to the entire framework, I affix
to each of the hinder rests or supports of the bedstead an angle tie rod, the hinder
ends whereof have notches formed therein, which take into a projecting stud
conveniently placed about midway externally on each of such hinder rests or
supports, while the forward end of each of such angle tie rods is bent to a convenient
angle so as to allow of its taking into a lug or eye, either formed on or affixed to
each of the centre legs or supports, and has a screw thread formed thereon, so that
when inserted in the lug or eye a nut can be screwed thereon, thus obviating all
risk of its being jerked out of the eye or socket.
Another advantage of employing such angle tie rods is that the greater the
superincumbent weight placed thereon, the greater becomes the rigidity and firmness
of the framework owing to the increased tension.
By this improved construction of chair bedsteads not only is great additional
strength and firmness imparted to the frame of the bedstead, but a far more elegant
and handsome appearance is obtained, at the same time that it admits of the

page_text: bedstead being readily folded together and packed into a small compass for the
purposes of removal.
I would here observe, that if desired, a second additional revolving cross bar may
be fitted in a similar manner to that already described at the rear of the bedstead
frame, thus allowing of two additional brass, wood, composite, or other ornamental
legs being aflixed thereto, so that when in use as a chair the hinder as well as the
front legs may also present a handsome appearance, and at the same time be capable
of being folded up.
It will be obvious that my improvements may be readily applied with equal
advantage to chairs and other articles of furniture.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The principle of constructing a chair bedstead with an additional central
revolving cross bar made of any suitable material, working loosely upon pivots and
resting upon nuts or stops, and otherwise fitted substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein before described and set forth.
Secondly. The fitting a second or supplementary revolving cross bar to the rear
of the frame of the bedstead, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and set forth.
Thirdly. The application and use of my improved additional revolving cross bar,
whether centrally or otherwise, to the construction of chairs and other articles of
furniture.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nehemiah George Roberts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
N. G. ROBERTS. (L.S.)