Improvements in Cots and like Articles of Furniture.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
Improvements in Cots and like Articles of Furniture.
I, ROBERT EVAN LLEWELLYN EVANS, of 53, Willows Road, Balsall Heath, in
the City of Birmingham, Book-keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to cots, and like articles of furniture, and consists in pro-
viding the same with a collapsible side or rail, which, when in a lowered position,
rosts on a level with the bottom framework of the cot, or bedding thereof.
According to one form of my invention, I take an ordinary cot bottom framing,
and provide the uprights or pillars of the same, with perpendicularly disposed
gaps, recesses, races or apertures. I then take the bars, rods, or component parts
comprising the side of the cot, and arrange them horizontally from pillar to
pillar, but with their extreme ends taking and working within the aforesaid
recesses or channels. To the ends of the bars, or members, of each side frame-
work aforesaid, I attach a flexible cord, chain, or equivalent, which is preferably
connected to the bottom of the pillar or support, and it is by means of this chain,
that the flexible side or rail so constructed, is raised or lowered.
The bars or equivalents are arranged at suitable distances apart, having regard
to the pattern of the cot.
The chain or equivalent aforesaid, is of such a length as to admit of a part
extending beyond the confines of the pillar or support, and which part is the
direct means for raising and lowering by hand.
According to another form of my invention, I arrange the rods or bars hori-
zontally as aforesaid, but provide their ends with eyes or equivalents for encircling
the pillars or uprights. The collapsible structure is raised and lowered by a
cord or the like, in a similar manner to the above.
According to another form of my invention, 1 may arrange horizontal races or
channels in or adjacent to the framing of the bottom structure of the cot, within
which, upright rods, bars, or equivalents may work, by means of a chain, cord,
or equivalent. In such a case, an upper support might be employed to act
detachably from pillar to pillar.
Dated this 27th day of March 1900
Improvements in Cots and like Articles of Furniture:
Í, ROBERT EVAN LLEWELLYN EVANS, of 53, Willows Road, in the City of
Birmingham, Book-keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
[Price 8d]

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the rails of cots and like structures, including hospital
bedsteads, and, according to my invention, when the rail is out of use, the com-
ponent parts of it collapse, and rest upon each other.
According to this invention, I construct the rail of bars or equivalents, and
instead of having fixed supports as usual, I employ as a substitute a chain or
cord of any desired substance: For instance, the chain may be made of metal or
leather, and a cord may be made of leather, india rubber, or other suitable
material.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents a portion of a cot or like
article, provided with a rail constructed according to my invention, and from
which it will be seen that the horizontal rods or bars are provided with eyes
or equivalents at their extreme ends, which permit of the said rods sliding up
and down the eye rod, on being raised, or released, and the chain or other con-
necting medium being flexible, and non-resisting, permits of the said rods falling
one upon the other, on the top rod or bar of the rail being released. I do not
confine myself to any particular construction of supporting bracket, but it will
be seen from Figure 1 that one means of supporting may consist of an extension,
preferably cast within the chill of the pillar, and the extreme end of which is
in the form of a hook, within the recess of which, the top rod on being released
after the rail has been raised, may lie.
As a means of preventing the rail being lowered by the occupant of a cot, I
provide the pillar or cot bottom with a lever or equivalent, which may be turned
outwards when the rail is raised, and which, on being turned out-
wards, is disposed against the upper part of the bottom bar or rod of the rail.
It will thus be seen that when this particular lever is in the position as at l'ig. 1,
the occupant of a cot cannot lift the top rod, which is the only possible means
of releasing the side, and that, when the side rail is required to be lowered, the
lever or equivalent before-mentioned has to be turned or pushed aside, thus per-
mitting the bottom rod of the structure being raised when the top rod is lifted.
The securing arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 is only one of a many forms
which may be adopted, and I wish it to be understood that this lever may bo
disposed and work close to the pillar itself, thus being out of the way of the
bedding.
Figure 2 represents a pillar provided with a top supporting bracket as previously
referred to, showing its hooked end, within which the top rod takes, and also
showing the hole within the said bracket wherein the rod on which the eyes
slide, takes downwardly, until it comes in contact with a lower supporting
bracket, preferably attached to the pillar by chilling. This last named or lower
supporting bracket has a hole, through which the end of the eye rod takes, and
the said eye rod is afterwards secured in position by means of a nut or equivalent.
The bars composing the rail on being released, collapse, and take up very little
space, and as their disposition is controlled by the position of the lower support-
ing bracket, it will be understood that if desired, the rods can come adjacent to,
and only take up as much space as the cot bottom framing itself. The chain
or equivalent may be connected to the rods by any suitable means, and the rods
themselves may be in the form of short lengths, the extreme ends of which may
be connected together by the chains, thus forming a collapsible structure.
Figure 3 represents a portion of a pillar and bottom frame work of a cot, or
like article, provided with a rail constructed according to this invention in a
collapsed or lowered position, with the eyes at the extreme ends of the rods o
bars forming the rail taking around the pillars, and necessarily sliding thereon
The chain is attached to the underneath of the frame work of the bottom.
I wish it to be understood that, if desired, the extreme ends of the bars o
rods composing the rail may work within slots, or other formation disposed within
the pillars.

page_text: The several letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the drawings.
A is the pillar of a cot or like structure, B, the bottom supporting frame-work,
C the bars, rods, or equivalents forming the side rail in conjunction with chain,
or equivalents D. E is the upper supporting bracket provided with hook like
extension (E). F is the lower supporting bracket, and F its extension, within
the hole of which latter the extreme end of the eye rod G, (on which the eyes
of the bars or equivalents slide) takes. H is the lever extension referred to, by
which the lower bar or rod of the rail is prevented from being raised on the said
lever being turned outwardly, and taking its bearing upon the top face of the
said bottom bar. E is the hole in the upper supporting bracket within which the
eye rod takes.
This construction of side rail may be raised and lowered if desired by chains or
equivalents affixed, preferably to the upper bar of the rail, and working on a
roller disposed within the pillar of the bedstead. The end of the raising and
lowering chain thus described could be secured by any desired means to the pillar
of a bedstead, and preferably near the bottom thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
Firstly, Constructing the rail or like structure of a cot or similar article, of
rods, bars or equivalents, which are attached or connected together by means of
a flexible connection, such as a chain, cord, or equivalent, whereby the said rods
or equivalents are permitted to take or collapse one upon the other, or against
the other, on the rail being released, substantially as described and set forth
in Fig. 1.
Secondly, In a cot or like structure, the combination with a rail constructed
according to my invention, of a rod or equivalent, upon which the eyes or exten-
sions of the rods or bars forming part of the rail, take or work.
Thirdly, In a cot or like structure, the combination with a rail constructed
according to my invention, of upper and lower supporting brackets or exten-
sions and F, and hook shaped part E', within which latter the top rod or bar
of the rail is disposed or rests.
Fourthly, The combination with a cot or like structure, the rail of which is
constructed according to my invention, of a lever or like extension H, whereby
the bottom rod of the rail is prevented from being raised, substantially as
described and set forth in Fig. 1.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of December 1899.
ROBERT EVAN LLEWELLYN EVANS,
Applicant.