IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS
Year: 1884

page_text: 1 EDWARD LONGLEY of King Street West, Hammersmith in the County of
Middlesex, Upholsterer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of be isteads and
cots, the object in view being to render then capable of being folded or collapsed
in such a manner as to occupy but little space and to reduce their weight without
loss of strength.
The Invention also relates to improvements in certain of the details of construction
and to means for simply but firmly uniting and bracing the parts when fully
extended for use.
In carrying my Invention into effect I take say four uprights and connect them
rigidly together in two pairs near their upper ends by a light framework of wicker
work or cane, constituting the sides of the cot. The lower ends of the uprights
serve as the legs of the bedstead or cot, and may be fitted with castors.
The ends of the cot I make each of two parts hinged together so as to fold
inwardly and I secure the said folding ends in place by hinges attached to the side
frames or uprights.
The bottom of the bedstead is also collapsible and preferably consists of two
parts hinged together along a longitudinal central line and so arranged as to fold
downwards out of the way of the ends when the latter are collapsed to fold the
cot flat.
When the collapsible bottom is fully extended in a horizontal position it is
firmly braced in that position by a double hooked iron rod or swinging bar pivotted
to the folding bottom at or near its centre, its hooks or ends engaging with eyes or
lugs secured in or on the side frames.
The folding bottom having been distended or opened out, and rigidly secured in
place, the folding ends are pressed fully outwards and perfectly straight and are
locked in that position by means of pins entering metal loops or eyes attached to
the two halves of the folding ends, after the manner of butt jointed hinges. The
folding ends are fitted towards their lower parts with projecting studs or plates,
which, when the parts are in proper juxtaposition engage with slots or slotted
plates in or projecting from the ends of the collapsible bottom.

page_text: Thus when required for use the parts can be rapidly extended and firmly secured
together. By withdrawing the pins at each end and disengaging the central
transverse stay rod or swinging bar, the entire bedstead can be folded so as to
occupy a space of some 4 inches in width, and by reason of its lightness of
construction, it can then be readily and conveniently handled, The ends of the
bedstead or cot might be made to fold outwards, and the bottom to fold upwards,
and in some cases Ĭ form a part of each end frame rigid or non-collapsible so that
when the remaining part of each end frame is collapsed or folded, a space of some
4 inches wide will be left between the two side frames of the bed-tead or cót which
space I utilize to contain the mattress belonging thereto, when packing the bed for
storage or transport. The sides may consist of panels of wood, filled in with
lattice or open work in wood, cane, or willow, and similarly the ends and bottom
may be made of some light strong material like those abovenamed or of bamboo.
The sides need not be continuous or of uniform height but may curve downwards
in the centre to facilitate access to the bed when in use.
For hospital use one or both sides of the bedstead may be constructed so as to
let down, or be disconnected, to facilitate the placing of a patient therein or his
removal therefrom.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Petitioner.

page_text: I, EDWARD LONGLEY of King Street West, Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, Upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of bedsteads and
cots, the object in view being to render them capable of being folded or collapsed
in such a manner as to occupy but little space, and to reduce their weight without
loss of strength.
The Invention also relates to improvements in certain of the details of
construction, and to means for simply, but firmly uniting and bracing the parts
when fully extended for use.
The nature of my Invention will be understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3
an end elevation of a folding cot constructed according to my Invention and
expanded ready for use. Fig. 4 is a side elevation and Fig. 5 an end elevation
of the same cot collapsed for packing or storage. Figs. 6 and 7 show in side and
end elevation a folding cot constructed according to my Invention but having one
of its sides adapted to let down, or open outwards; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a
folding cot arranged so as to allow space, when folded, for the reception of its own
mattress set on edge, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation on a reduced scale of a
collapsible bedstead constructed according to my Invention.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A A' are the uprights, preferably four in number on which the cot stands, these
uprights being conveniently fitted with castors as shown. These uprights are
connected rigidly in two pairs A A and A¹ A¹, by a light framework of wood
filled in or fitted with trellis and ornamental panels of wicker or cane work,
constituting the sides a of the cot.
The ends B of the cot I make each of two parts b b, hinged together as shown
at b, so as to fold inwardly and I secure the said folding ends B in place by
hinges attached to the side frames or uprights.
The bottom C of the bedstead or cot is also made collapsible and preferably
consists of two parts c c hinged together along a longitudinal central line (xx
Fig. 1), and so arranged as to fold downwards out of the way of the ends B.B
when the latter are collapsed to fold the cot flat, see Figs. 4 and 5. The sides of
the collapsible bottom C are hinged to the lower part of the frame carrying the
sides of the cot, as will be well understood.
In the case of bedsteads for adults this framework must be low to admit of
access to the bed, and I preferably dispense with the trellis work entirely above
the level of the bed proper, bracing the uprights to the horizontal side bars in the
manner indicated in Fig. 9.
When the collapsible bottom C is fully extended in a horizontal position, it is
firmly braced in that position by a double hooked iron stretcher or swinging stay
bar D, pivotted to the folding bottom at or near its centre, its hooks or ends d d
engaging with eyes or lugs e e secured in or on the side fraines.
The folding bottom having been distended or opened out and rigidly secured in
place, the folding ends are pressed fully outwards until they are perfectly even and
in line, and are locked in that position by means of pins fentering metal loops or
eyes attached to the two halves of the folding ends, after the manner of butt
1

page_text: jointed hinges. The folding ends are fitted towards their lower parts with projecting
studs g, or plates, which, when the parts are in proper juxtaposition, engage with
slots or slotted plates g¹ in or projecting from the ends of the collapsible bottom C,
as shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Thus, when required for use, all the parts can
be rapidly extended and firmly secured together, but other means might be devised
for rigidly securing the parts in their distended position. By withdrawing the
pins ffat each end of the cot, and disengaging the central transverse stretcher or
swinging stay bar D, the entire bedstead can be folded flat as shown in Fig. 5, so
as to occupy a space of only some 4 inches in width, and by reason of its lightness
of construction, it can then be readily and conveniently handled. The ends of the
bedstead or cot might be made to fold outwards, and the bottom to fold upwards,
but it has not been thought_necessary to illustrate that arrangement, as the former
is prefered.
Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I have there shown in side and end elevation a
folding cot bedstead intended for hospital use constructed according to the above
principles, but having one, or it might be both, of its sides a a arranged to fall or
be lowered outwards and downwards to facilitate the placing of a patient therein,
or his removal therefrom. This arrangement is also convenient for the removal or
renewal of the bedding.
In some cases I form a part of each end frame B rigid or non-collapsible, so that
when the remaining part of each end frame is collapsed or folded; a space of some
4 inches wide will be left between the two side frames of the bedstead or cot,
which space I utilise to contain the mattress belonging thereto, when packing the
bed for storage or transport, and this arrangement I have shown in the plan view
Fig. 8. The sides of the cot may consist of panels of wood filled in with lattice or
open work in wood, cane, or willow, and similarly the ends and bottom may be
made of some light strong material like those above named, or of bamboo. In
some cases the sides, ends and bottom of the cot may be made of light iron or
brass work, filled in with wire netting or thin perforated metal, so long as due
attention is paid to the lightness of the cot as a whole.
I would also remark that the sides need not be continuous or of uniform height,
but may curve downwards in the centre to facilitate access to the bed when
in use.
When applying my Invention to bedsteads I prefer to dispense with the side
panels of trellis or cane work as above stated, and to relieve the strain on the
horizontal side bars, to which the folding bottom is attached, by a central leg and
brackets of bent wood, cane or other suitable material, as shown in the reduced
side elevation Fig. 9, The ends and bottom of such a bedstead being made to
collapse in the manner above described with reference to the folding cots.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Constructing bedsteads and cots as herein above described with reference to
the accompanying Drawings, whereby I am able to secure rigidity when in use, and
compactness when collapsed for transport or storage.
2. The folding cot described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the
Drawings consisting of the standards A A¹ rigidly connected in pairs by means of
light open frames of wood and wickerwork or cane, forming the rigid sides of the
cot, collapsible ends B B, and bottom C, made of similar material, and adapted
when distended to be securely fixed and braced in position or to be collapsed and
closely folded when the retaining pins and bracing bar or their equivalents are
withdrawn from their sockets, for the purpose set forth.
3. The folding hospital cot described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the
Drawings, adapted to be readily folded for storage or distended for use, and having
a side or sides which can be lowered to admit or remove the patient or the bedding,
as set forth.

page_text: 4. The modification of my Invention described with reference to Fig. 8 of the
Drawings, consisting of a light strong cot having a collapsible bottom and ends and
means for holding the same firmly distended when in use, but adapted, when
folded, to allow of the insertion of the mattress belonging thereto in a position
convenient for transport or storage.
5. The flat folding bedstead for adults described with reference to Fig. 9,
provided with a collapsible bottom and ends and means for holding the same
firmly distended when in use, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated 1 ord
11001
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.