AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR PRESS BEDSTEAD.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Réné Louis Boucher and Prince Marcel Lardon, of No.
160, Rue du Faubg. St. Denis, Paris, in the Department of the Seine, and
Republic of France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR PRESS
BEDSTEAD.
"
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 4th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Réné Louis Boucher and
Prince Marcel Lardon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th February 1879.
RENÉ LOUIS BOUCHER and PRINCE MARCEL LARDON, of No. 160, Rue du
Faubg. St. Denis, Paris, in the Department of the Seine, and Republic of France.
AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR PRESS BEDSTEAD."
The folding or press bed of this Invention as shown, Figs. 1, 2, 3, Sheet 1 of the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawing, has upon the front A. the outward form or
appearance of a combined escroitoire and press or chest of drawers, with or without
flap.
When this press bed is opened, as at Figure 2, the front A forms the bottom of
the bed, the back B (Figure 3) opens on the hinges a, and forms the head of the
bed, giving the desired length of bedstead, and the bottom C of the piece of
furniture forms the foot.
The interior of this piece of furniture encloses a moveable or swing piece G,
carrying a ticking or bands at any desired height, but which may be replaced by a
spring mattress (as shown, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet II.); this mattress pulls out or
pushes in upon itself either to obtain the length required by the sleeper, or to
permit the shutting up of the piece of furniture so as to hold it and return it in its
primitive state. When it is not desired to fold the mattress, it will be set on, say,
21 ordinary springs upon which the laths will be adjusted. The Drawings on
Sheet II. show in detail a mattress which does not slide in and out like that above
set forth. This applies also to the mattress M, folding at N, and receiving the
remainder of the bedding.
The press bed thus arranged, we fit to the seat D, and the upright of the foot of
the bed (Figure 2, Sheet I.) four casters E of wood, metal, or other suitable
material which may be easily fixed to the press bed by screwing into sockets by

page_text: 1
bolts and nuts, or in any way which will make them as small and as little cumber-
some as possible.
We will now describe_our_improved-mattress by reference to Sheet II. of the
Drawings, upon which Figure 1 is a plan or top view thereof; Figure 2, an elevation;
Figure 3, a section at A, B; Figure 4, a view of the mattress folded on itself;
Figure 5, elevation of mattress folded as above; Figures 6 and 7, slots supported
-by-the-springs-which-are-in the middle of the mattress, and are held by a support
-or-fastening-O-on each side of it. The laths, rods, or plates b, coupled two and
two, are introduced into these slots; Figures 8 and 9 show the shape of the laths
or rods fastened together by a large nail, and sliding the one in the other; a indi-
cates the bottom of the bed; b, the laths, rods, or plates; c, the sides of the
mattress; d, springs; e, piece of wood forming handle, to which is fixed a ring bolt
i, or a screw to fix the mattress by screwing into a conduit in a piece of wood p,
when the mattress is spread out; f, plane piece, forming a gentle incline from A to
B, and resting on the bottom of the bed; g, division of the slots in which pass the
laths, rods, or plates b; .h, thin plate placed on the middle of the laths or rods b,
and fixing them on the springs; i, ringbolt or screw; j, hook for fixing the bed
when opened; the hook takes into the ring j; k, small piece of wood at the back
of the mattress and serving to hold it; m, plate supporting the laths or rods b at
the point where they cross each other in the middle slots; n, second small hook for
holding the part folded or slid into the fixed part; this hook takes into the ring n¹;
O, strong screws for fixing the middle slots by the plate m; P, piece of wood in
front, upon which the ring bolt i is screwed; r, parts uniting the laths or rods at
the point where they come on to the springs; S, hinges placed at the spot where
the bed is divided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Réné Louis Boucher and Prince Marcel Lardon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd August 1879.
RENÉ LOUIS BOUCHER and PRINCE MARCEL LARDON, of No. 160, Rue du
Faubs. St. Denis, Paris, in the Department of the Seine, and Republic of France.
AN IMPROVED FOLDING OR PRESS BEDSTEAD."
The folding or press bed of this Invention as shown, Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet I. of the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawing, has upon the front A the outward forin or
appearance of a combined escritoire, and press or chest of drawers, with or without
flap.
When this press bed is opened, as at Figure 2, the front A forms the bottom of
the bed, the back B (Figure 3) opens on the hinges a, and forms the head of the
bed, giving the desired length of bedstead, and the bottom C of the piece of furniture
forms the foot.
The interior of this piece of furniture encloses a moveable or swing piece G,
carrying a ticking or bands F at any desired height, but which may be replaced by
a spring mattress (as shown, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet II.), this mattress pulls out or
pushes in upon itself, either to obtain the length required by the sleeper, or to
permit the shutting up of the piece of furniture so as to hold it and return it in its
primitive state. When it is not desired to fold the mattress, it will be set on, say,
21 ordinary springs upon which the laths or crossplates will be adjusted. The
Drawings on Sheet II. show in detail a mattress which does not slide in and out
like that above set forth. This applies also to the mattress M, folding at N, and
receiving the remainder of the bedding.
The press-bed thus arranged, we fit to the seat D, and to the upright of the foot
of the bed (Figure 2, Sheet I.) four casters E, of wood, metal, or other suitable
materials, which may be easily fixed to the press bed by screwing into sockets by
bolts and nuts, or in any way which will make them as small and as little cumber-
some as possible.
We may also easily fit upon the front of the piece of furniture at n, Figure 1, a
piece of wood, which in sliding will form the two feet of the bedstead, and being
set on pivots and turning in to the interior will be hidden by a flap.
Behind the piece of furniture at the point p, Figures 2 and 3, where the head
board is formed by turning over, we may leave it of any form without turning it
back, completing the closing of the piece of furniture by a sliding board or by a
tongue of metal or of wood, which will permit it being raised or lowered at
pleasure.
;
We will now describe our improved mattress by reference to Sheet II. of the
Drawings, upon which Figure 1 is a plan or top view thereof; Figure 2, an elevation ;
Figure 3, a section at A, B; Figure 4, a view of the mattress folded on itself
Figure 5, elevation of mattress folded as above; Figures 6 and 7, slots supported
by the springs which are in the middle of the mattress, and are held by a support
or fastening O on each side of it. The laths, bars, or plates b, coupled two and two,
are introduced into these slots; Figures 8 and 9, show the shape of the laths,
plates, or bars fastened together by a large nail, and sliding the one in the other;
a indicates the bottom of the bed; b, the laths or plates; c, the sides of the mattress;
d, springs; e, piece of wood forming handle, to which is fixed a ring bolt i, or a
screw to fix the mattress by screwing into a conduit in a piece of wood 22, when
the mattress is spread out, plane piece forming a gentle incline from A to B, and
resting on the bottom of the bed; g, divisions of the slots in which pass the laths
or plates b; h, thin plate placed on the middle of the laths or rods b, and
fixing them on the springs; i, ring bolt or screw; j, hook for fixing the bed when
opened; the hook takes into the ring j¹; k, small piece of wood at the back of the
mattress, and serving to hold it; m, plate supporting the laths, plates, or bars bat

page_text: the point where they cross each other in the middle slots; n, second small hook for
holding the part folded or slid into the fixed part; this hook takes into the ring n';
O, strong-screws-for-fixing-the-middle-slots by the plate m; P, piece of wood in
front, upon which the ring bolt i is screwed; r, parts uniting the laths, plates, or
bars at the point where they come on to the springs; S, hinges placed at the spot
where-the-bed-is divided.
Figures 1×2, 3×, 4*, and 5*, Sheet I., show modifications of the laths or plates
and springs of the mattress,
Figure 1 being a top plan view of lath or plate with hook or catch; Figure 2, a
side elevation, and Figure 3, a front elevation of same; Figure 4, being a top plan
view of lath or plate without hook or catch; and Figure 5, side elevation of same
with springs..
a indicates the bottom of the mattress upon which is fixed the pins b, around
which are wound the spiral springs c; e, the laths or plates, at the end of which is
a thin flat hook. This hook d being laid in the groove f, rests upon the springs c,
and consequently gives elasticity to the mattress.
We also reserve the right of replacing this system of laths or bed plates by
another, in which the lath or plate, instead of having a book d at the end, will
simply be pierced with a round hole by which it may be set on the pin b, and the
hole being only just large enough to admit the pin, the spring above will be pushed
back.
Instead of using a mattress constructed as herein before set forth, I may make one
with springs occupying only so much of the mattress as may be held unfoided
within the press, each end of this mattress being without springs, so that it may be
easily folded and unfolded, and this mattress will, when extended, be supported at
the head, and at the foot by a crosspiece of wood or metal attached to the mattress,
and taking by each end into a groove or slot in the press made to receive it.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed,―
We claim as secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
Firstly. The combination of a bed with a piece of furniture, so that it may be
folded into it and unfolded from it, substantially as herein before described and shown
on the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and application of a mattress, substantially as herein-
before described, and shown on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Prince Marcel Lardon, for myself and on
behalf of my Co Patentee, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this First
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
PRINCE MARCEL LARDON. (L.S.)