AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING BEDSTEAD."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Letchford, of Duncan Place, Hackney, in the
County of Middlesx, Metallic Bedstead Maker, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING BEDSTEAD."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Letchford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
June 1855.
I, JAMES LETCHFORD, of Duncan Place, Hackney, in the County of Middle-
sex, Metallic Bedstead Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING BEDSTEAD" to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct bedsteads so that they shall,
when folded up, occupy less space than those of the ordinary construction.
The sacking frame I compose of two parts of equal size, and joint these
two parts to a frame, which forms a support for the central part of the
bedstead.
This jointing of the parts together I effect in such a manner that the
sacking frame will fold down upon the central frame and enclose it between
them; and to give steadiness to the bedstead when open, I provide this central

page_text: frame at its upper part with stops, which will prevent the swaying of the bed
in the direction of its length. The sacking frame is further supported at the
head and foot by folding-in legs, which stop against studs or pins projecting
from the inner face of the side bars of the sacking frame.
In order to permit of the head frame folding within the horizontal frame, I
allow the head frame to slide laterally on its supporting bar, by which means
I am enabled to bring a stop which the head frame carries into contact
with one of the side bars of the horizontal frame, and thereby secure it in
position.
The arrangement of parts above described permits of the folding up of the
bedstead into two thicknesses, and thus a considerable space in packing
is saved without detriment to the strength or durability of the bedstead.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Letchford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LETCHFORD, of Duncan Place, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, Metallic
Bedstead Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five; in the eighteenth y
1-year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give-and grant unto me,
the said James Letchford, Her special license that I, the said James
Letchford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Letchford, my. executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN IMPROVED CON-
STRUCTION OF FOLDING BEDSTEAD," upon the condition (amongst others), that I;
the said James Letchford, by an instrument-in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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....

page_text: NOW KNOW, YE, that I, the, said James Letchford, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, reference, being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The object of my Invention of "An Improved Construction of Folding
Bedstead" is to construct bedsteads in such a manner that the several parts
when-folded up shall occupy less space than those of portable or folding bed-
steads of the ordinary construction. The sacking. frame of my improved con-
struction of folding bedstead is composed of two parts or frames of equal
size, and these. two parts. are jointed. or attached to a frame which forms a
support for the central part of the bedstead. This jointing of the parts
together is effected in such a manner that the sacking frame will fold down
upon the central frame and enclose it between them, and is also, so arranged
as to give steadiness to the bedstead when open.. This, central supporting
frame is provided at it upper parts with stops, which will prevent the bed
from swaying in the direction of its length. The sacking frame is further
supported at the head and foot by folding-in, legs; which, when turned down
to: support the frame of the bedstead, when in use, will, be stopped against
studs or pins that, project from the inner face, of the side bars of the sacking
frame GUÍA
1.
In order to permit of the head frame folding within the horizontal frame, the
head frame may be allowed to, slide laterally on its, supporting bar, by which
means I am enabled to bring a stop (which the head frame carries) into con-
tact with one of the side bars of the horizontal frame, and thereby secure it
in position. Or, in place of this arrangement, I joint the head frame to the
head bar of the sacking frame in such a manner as to allow of its turning
over and lying flat inside the, sacking frame. This head frame when raised;
as when the bedstead is extended and in use; is supported by a stud or by a
movable pin, which is inserted in a hole behind the head rails (see Figs. 4
and 5), and near, the end of the side frame.
.:
This arrangement of parts above described permits of the folding, up of
the bedstead into two thicknesses (Fig. 6), and thus a considerable space
in packing: is, saved, without detriment to the strength or durability of the
bedstead. For the convenience of packing..or folding into a small space,
wrought iron will be found to be the most suitable material of which to
construct the improved bedsteads, but I also propose to make the bedsteads
partly of wood, the arrangement of the several-parts-being-precisely the same
whether made of wood or iron.

page_text: In order, however, that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have
shewn in the accompanying Drawing various views of two metallic folding
bedsteads constructed upon my improved plan.
Fig. 1 is a plan or top view of a folding metallic bedstead to which sacking
is adapted; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is an end
view.
a, a, a, a, are the side rails, to which the sacking b, b, is attached "by sewing
or otherwise. It will be seen that the side rails a, a, are divided at the middle
into two lengths, so that with the head rail c and foot rail d they will form two
distinct frames, connected to the uprights of one common centre frame e, shewn
by dots in Fig. 1. The uprights e, e, support the central part of the bedstead
where the two frames are connected together, and the head and foot part of
the bedstead are supported by the feet f and g, which are jointed at their.upper
ends to the side rails a, a, at their inner side, so that they may be folded back
within the frame when not in use, as shewn at Fig. 6, which represents one of
my improved folding bedsteads, folded up ready for packing or stowing away.
When these feet ƒ and g are turned back for the purpose of supporting the
bedstead wlien in use; the upper end of the feet will bear against studs or pins
fixed in the side frames, as seen at i, Figs. 1 and 2, and these studs or, pins;
by acting as stops to the feet f and g, will prevent them from falling back.
The head frame his jointed to the side rails of the bedstead in the same
manner, and is also supported in an elevated position, and prevented from
falling down when in use by the square projection *, springing outwards as it
is raised up, and catching on the side rail a, as shewn at Fig. 3. When it is
required to fold up the bedstead, the side is pressed inwards, as shewn by
dots; and then turned down; or this head rail'h may be prevented from 'falling
back by pins or studs j on either side, but in this instance I find it convenient
to make the pins or studs ; movable, so that they may be taken out of their
lioles when required to föld-back the head frame. In order to prevent the
pins from being lost or mislaid, I attach them to the side rails by means of
short chains, as shewn in the detached views, Figs. 4 and 5. In order still
further to support the side rails laterally, and increase the rigidity of the
structure or framing, I adapt to the side rails and feet cross bars e&k,
which in order not to incommode any person lying. down on the bedstead are
bent or curved, as shewn in the end view, Fig. 3. In the sacking b, b,
are made two rows of eyelet holes, as seen in the plan view, Fig. 1, and by
means of a cord l; shewn in the Figure, the sacking may be tightened up
when required.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of my improved.construction of folding bed

page_text: steads, in which metallic laths are employed in place of the sacking shewn in
Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the same. As similar letters of
reference are placed on corresponding parts in these Figures as in the Figures
already described, it will not be necessary to recapitulate the description of the
construction of the bedstead, which is very similar in both instances. The
metallic laths b, b, are rivetted at both ends to side or head and foot rails, and
are also rivetted at those points where they intersect each other, as shewn in
Fig. 7, and as these laths will firmly bind the several parts together, the cross
bars k, k, may be dispensed with.
I would here observe that when it is required to fold up the bedstead for
packing or stowing away, the legs ƒ and g are folded back between the side.
rails a, a, of the frame, as is also the head frame h, and the bent transverse
bars k, k, of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The two frames formed by the side rails a, a,
may then be folded back, and will enclose between them the central supports
or legs e, e, and the several parts will then be in the position..shewn in Fig. 6,.
which represents one of my improved bedsteads folded up, while Fig. 9 repre-
sents one of the ordinary portable metallic bedsteads folded up. It will be
seen that not only do my improved folding bedsteads take up much less room
than the ordinary ones, but that by my peculiar mode of constructing and
arranging the various parts I have been enabled to economize the labour of
manufacture.
Having now described my improved construction of folding bedsteads, and
the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect,
I claim, in conclusion, the method herein shewn and described, or any mere
modification thereof, of constructing and combining the various parts. of
folding bedsteads, whereby the said parts may be folded into a smaller space
than heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Letchford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
JAS LETCHFORD. (L.S.)