IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BERCEAUNETTES AND OF STANDS OR HOLDERS THEREFOR."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julia Simpson, of Hackney Road, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BERCEAUNETTES AND OF STANDS OR HOLDERS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julia Simpson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1878.
JULIA SIMPSON, of Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BERCEAUNETTES, AND OF STANDS OR HOLDERS
THEREFOR."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction
of berceaunettes and of stands or holders therefor, are to form the same of a light
construction, but of sufficient strength to secure all necessary safety, and of an
elegant appearance, and in such a manner as that they can be readily moved about
to any desired position, together or separately, and folded up into a very small
compass for transit or travelling purposes, or until required for future use without
crushing or spoiling the trimmings or fittings.
In constructing berceaunettes according to this Invention I make the support
for the bed of half hoops (of cane, wire, bent wood, metal, or any suitable material)
suitably connected to a surrounding rail or hoop, from which rise at each end other
half hoops, which are connected to the rail so as to admit of being raised and
lowered, and when raised, connected centrally to form a canopy at each end, the
canopy at the head end being suitably covered in, but that at the foot end being
preferably left open, and curtains being suspended from the centre and hung over
the head and foot.
The canes, wires, or rods all fold flat so as to be capable of being placed in a
small case and readily moved from place to place.
In constructing the holders or stands I make them with a surrounding frame,
to which are hinged supporting legs, which slant outwards, and are provided

page_text: with castors, and from which rise uprights, which are also hinged thereto, the
uprights also slanting outwards and carrying a removable surrounding band of cane
which goes as far as the hood each side to prevent the infant falling out. With this
construction the holder, together with the berceaunette (which is hung to the
uprights by hooks), can be readily moved about and folded up for transit or
packing.
The legs may be further distended or kept apart without fear of collapsing or
doubling up by removable cross bars or otherwise.
The legs, frame, and uprights of the holder may be formed of wood or metal, and
plain or of any desired ornainental shape.
In another modification I construct each leg with its upright, of the holder or
staud, in one piece, and unite them by a top rail as above, and by removable bars
at the bottom to keep the legs apart as desired. The berceaunette is suspended or
hung as in the previous modification.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Julia Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th February
1879.
JULIA SIMPSON, of Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BERCEAUNETTES AND OF STANDS OR HOLDERS THEREFOR."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to the construction of borceaunettes
and of stands or holders therefor, are to form the same of a light construction, but
sufficient strength to secure all necessary safety, the same being of an elegant
appearance and being constructed in such a manner as that they can be readily
moved about to any desired position, together or separately, and so that they
can be folded up into a very small compass for transit or travelling purposes, or
until they are required for future use without crushing or spoiling the trimmings or
fittings thereof.
The improved berceaunettes and the stands or holders therefor are illustrated on
the accompanying Drawings in Figures 1 to 5.
According to the modification illustrated in Figure 1, the improved holder or
stand is made with a surrounding frame 1, to the under surface of which supporting
legs 2 are hinged, or as I profer, into which they are screwed; or they may be
otherwise secured thereto so as to be capable of folding up or of being removed.
The legs 2 slant outwards so as to ensure a wide extending base and secure the
greatest safety, and they are provided with castors 3 to allow of the holder (and
the berceaunette when being supported therein) being readily moved about as
desired. From the upper surface of the frame 1 rise supporting arms 4, which are
preferably hinged to the frame as at 5, though they may be otherwise connected
thereto to allow of their being folded down flat or of their being removed. The
arms 4 also slant outwards for convenience of placing and supporting the borceau-
nette, and at their tops they are provided with fixed or movable hooks 6 or other
equivalent holding contrivances for retaining the berceaunette in position when once
placed, until it is required to be removed.
The arms 4 can also be provided with a fixed or removable surrounding band or
rail of care, metal, or other suitable material (as shown at 7 in Figure 2), which
may go each side as far as the hood, or entirely around, to prevent the infant from
fulling out.
If required the legs 2 may be kept rigidly distended or apart when hinged to the
frame 1 without fear or chance of their collapsing or doubling up by hinged or
removable cross bars or stays in a manner well understood.
According to the modification illustrated in Figure 2, each leg 2 is formed in one
piece with a supporting arm 4, and the frame 1 rigidly connecting the legs 2, as in
Figure 1, are substituted removable bars or side and end arms or stays 8, 9, which
secure the whole combination rigidly together.
The junctions of the legs 1 and stays 8, 9, are preferably made as any carpenter
or joiner will understand by slotting the legs 1 at the junction part 10, and by
inserting a broad flat end part 11 (formed at each end of the end stays 9) through
one of the slots and then screwing an ornamental end piece 12 through the part 10
and through and at right angles to the part 11 of the stay 9, and into the end of
the side stay 8, but the junction of these parts may be otherwise suitably formed.
From the surrounding rail 7 (the use of which was herein-before mentioned when
describing the construction of the holder illustrated in Figure 1) rises at either one or
both ends (the application at only one end being shown in this Figure) a half hoop 13,
which is secured to the rail 7 by ornamental screws 14, similar to those which
secure the rail 7 and the berceaunette supporting hooks 6 to the upper ends of the
arms 4, and which secure a semi-elliptic canopy rail 15 at each end to the rail 7.
The rail 15 may be made in one piece, as shown in Figure 2, or of two parts,
hinged or otherwise suitably connected at a central point, where it is formed or

page_text: provided with an ornamental ring 16, to which silk, muslin, or other curtains or
hangings 17 (as shown in Figure 3) can be suitably attached, and from which they
can be suspended over the head and foot, the canopy at the head end being
(preferably) enclosed for protection against draught, but that at the foot end being
(preferably) left more open for convenience of access to the occupant of the
berceaunette,
The legs, frames, arms, stays, rails, and other parts of the above described
improved holders may be formed of wood or of metal, and they may be either plain
or of any desired ornamental shape.
The holders can be readily folded up or taken apart for packing away until
required for future use or for travelling, and they can be packed together with the
berceaunette into a canvas case or bag of about three inches in depth (as at 18,
Figure 4), which is found to be a very great convenience, and the parts can be as
readily opened apart and put together again, and when together, the whole can be
most easily moved about from one part of a room to another or elsewhere as
required.
In constructing berceaunettes according to my Invention I make the support for
the bed of surrounding hoops 19 (as shown in Figure 5) of cane, wire, bent wood;
metal, or any other suitable material, sewing, quilting, or otherwise securing the
same in position in the usual bag or bed 20 of the berceaunette, and as in the case
of the holder above described and illustrated in Figure 2, I connect to the upper
hoop 19 at either one or both ends (the application to only one end being shown in
this Figure) a half hoop 21, in such a manner as to be capable of being raised_to
form a hood or canopy as shown, or of being lowered to be packed away in its flat
state.
Should such a half hoop be provided at each end, when raised, they may be con-
nected centrally somewhat in the manner above described with reference to the
the canopied holdor, and covered in with curtains in the manner illustrated in
Figure 3.
The canes, wires, or rods will all fold flat so as to be capable of being placed in
a small canvas case together with the holder, and so as to be readily packed up
and removed or put away.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Inven-
tion secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the above-
described improvements in or connected with the manufacture or construction of
berceaunettes and the stands or holders therefor, or any analogous modification
thereof, and the employment or use of the same for the purposes set forth, substan-
tially as described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julia Simpson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.