IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR SHUT UP BEDS OR BEDSTEADS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Hodgson, of Berners Street in the county of
Middlesex, Architect and Designer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOLDING OR SHUT UP BEDS OR BEDSTEADS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Hodgson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1883.
ALFRED HODGSON of Berners Street, in the county of Middlesex, Architect and
Designer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR SHUT UP BEDS OR BEDSTEADS
"
This invention relates to the construction of a folding bed or bedstead in such a
manner that the bed can be made in the morning in the ordinary way and then
be quickly closed, presenting only the appearance of a cupboard. When required
for use it is as quickly opened ready to get into, avoiding the necessity of having
to make a bed the last thing at night when tired and sleepy.
In carrying out my invention I employ an ordinary cupboard casing or the like
the door of which is fastened to the underside of the frame of a wire or other
suitable mattress; the frame is strongly hinged to the bottom of the casing. The
legs at the foot of the bedstead are also hinged and may form trusses outside when
the bed is tilted up and closed.
At a suitable distance from each outside edge of the wool mattress, overlay or
bed, a strap is strongly attached to the ticking; to this strap a catch is attached
which fastens onto a small metal stud on the foot rail of the frame of the wire or
other mattress; this strap and catch retain the woollen mattress, overlay or bed, in
position when the whole is raised, thereby preventing it slipping down towards
the bed head. The space at the side of and under the said strap allows room for
tucking in the bed-clothes so as to keep all in position. The said mattress, overlay
or bed is made slightly smaller than the frame of the wire mattress, so that the
bed clothes shall not project beyond it and prevent it closing. When the bed is
made the pillow must be placed on the overlay by the bolster, not on top of it.
The space underneath may serve to contain utensils and boots, shoes and the
like. At the top of the casing iron or brass rods to carry curtains may be so fitted
as to fold in and shut up with the bed.
The herein before described straps and catches are placed at each end but on
opposite sides of the mattress, overlay or bed, to allow of its being turned when
required; the two not in use would thus come under the bolster and pillow and
would not be felt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Hodgson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st July
1883.
ALFRED HODGSON of Berners Street in the county of Middlesex, Architect and
Designer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR SHUT-UP BEDS OR BEDSTEADS
"
This invention relates to the construction of a folding bed or bedstead in such a
manner that the bed can be made in the morning in the ordinary way and then be
quickly and easily closed presenting only the appearance of a cupboard or the
Jike. When required for use it may be as quickly and easily opened ready to get
into, thereby avoiding the necessity of having to make a bed the last thing at
night when tired and sleepy.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, represents
a front elevation and figure 2, a vertical transverse section of a folding or shut up
bed or bedstead constructed according to my invention and shewing the bed or
bedstead folded or shut up when not required for use for sleeping purposes;
figure 3, is a side elevation shewing the bed open. Similar letters in all the figures
represent similar parts.
In carrying out my invention as represented in the accompanying drawing I
employ an ordinary cupboard casing or the like such as a, the door b, of which is
fastened to the underside of the frame c, of a wire or other suitable mattress such
as d;
the frame c, is strongly hinged at c, to the bottom part of the casing a;
ff, are legs at the foot of the bedstead such legs being hinged as shewn at g,
figure 3, to the front or door b, of the casing, and such legs form trusses outside
when the bed is tilted up and closed as shewn in figures 1, and 2.
h, is an ordinary wool mattress, overlay or bed; at a suitable distance from each
outside edge of the said wool mattress, overlay or bed h, I attach a strap i, to the
ticking as shewn in figure 4, which is a plan on a larger scale of the under corner
of the wool mattress, bed or overlay h, to this strap i, is attached a catch j, which
fastens onto a small metal stud /, on the foot rail of the frame c, of the wire or
other mattress d,. This stud is shewn more clearly in the enlarged view at
figure 5, which is a view of the corner of the frame c; this strap i, and catch j,
serve to retain the woollen mattress, overlay or bed h, in position when the whole
is raised into the position shewn in figure 2, thereby proventing it slipping down
towards the bed head. The space at the side of and under the strap i, allows
room for tucking in the bed clothes so as to keep all in position or I sometimes as
shewn in figures 6 and 7 employ a valance v, fastened to the inner top edge of the
frame of the wire mattress which valance can be turned over the bedclothes and
bed after the bed has been made, the edges of the valance being buttoned or
hooked together as shewn in figure 7, so as to hold the whole of the bedding
securely in position. The mattress, overlay or bed h, is made slightly smaller than
the frame c, of the mattress d, so that the bedclothes shall not project beyond it
and prevent it closing. When the bed is made and it is required to shut up or
close the same the pillow Z, must be placed on the overlay h, at the side of the
bolster m, as shewn in figure 2. The parts are kept closed by any suitable
fastening.
The space n, underneath the bottom r, of the casing may serve to contain
utensils, and boots, shoes and the like as shewn in figure 2; p door closing the
space n. At the top of the casing a, iron or brass rods such as at figure 3 to carry
curtains may be so fitted as to fold in and shut up with the bed.

page_text: The straps i, and catches j, are placed at each end but on opposite sides of the
mattress, overlay or bed h, to allow of its being turned when required the two
straps and catches not in use would thus come under the bolster and pillow and
would not be felt.
Having thus described my said invention and a suitable means of carrying the
same into effect I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein laid down and shewn in the drawing as the same may be
varied without departing from the principle of my invention for example the
door b, of the casing may be dispensed with the bed when closed being concealed
from view by curtains, screens or the like; and the wool mattress, overlay or bed
may be attached and held to the framework by other arrangements than those
described and shewn But what I do claim is :-
Firstly. A folding or shut up bed or bedstead having the appearance when closed
of an ordinary cupboard or the like and so constructed and arranged that the bed
may be "made" before closing and be ready to get into when opened substantially
as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The combination of parts forming the improved folding or shut up
bed or bedstead arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. In a folding bed or bedsteads the use of straps and catches and studs
or their equivalents or of a valance for holding and keeping in position the wool
mattress, overlay or bed and thereby the bed clothes as and for the purposes
hereiubefore described and represented in the annexed drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Hodgson have hereto set my hand
and seal this thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
ALFRED HODGSON. L.S.)