IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS."
Eugène Domerca. of Marseilles, France.)
A communication from abroad by
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1877.
"
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS."
communication from abroad by Eugène Domercq, of Marseilles, France.]
[A
This Invention relates to an improved construction of bedstead, combining
strength with lightness and simplicity, and which may be made of iron, brass, wood,
or other material. The Invention is also applicable to the construction of children's
cots and toy bedsteads.
This improved bedstead consists of three parts only, viz., a mattress, "head,"
and "foot" the side bars usually employed to impart the necessary rigidity being
dispensed with. Any of the usual kinds of mattresses may be used, the frames of
which are connected to the head and foot of the bedstead, which are specially
adapted for the purpose, all as herein-after fully described.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 3 represents a part sectional side elevation
of the improved combined mattress and bedstead; H, side frame of mattress of any
kind; E, F, G, V shaped clamps, screwed to each end of the mattress frame, and
each provided at the lower extremity with a hook F engaging with the projecting
ends of the cross rail C in elongated slots A, B, formed in or upon the head and foot
pillars, as shown in Figure 1, which is a face view of the head or foot of a metallic
bedstead. The upper ends E of parts E, F, G, are provided with screws and nuts or

page_text: buttons, by tightening which against the parts A, B, of the head and foot rails the
whole is firmly fixed together. The hooks F may also be otherwise made to engage
with the head and foot rails. Thus in order to put the bedstead together it is
simply necessary to place the head and foot rails upon the ground in the position
shown in Figure 6, with the mattress between thein, and the hooks F at each of the
four corners, immediately over the cross rails C, C. By then raising the head and
foot rails the mattress becomes connected therewith and is raised to the position,
Figure 3, the screwed parts E at same time entering the slots A, B, where they are
secured by the nuts or buttons. The dismounting of the three parts of the bedstead
is effected with equal rapidity by simply reversing the operation.
In Figures 1 and 2 the head or foot rail of the bedstead is shown as made of flat
and round iron respectively, in order to illustrate the mode in which the slots A, B,
A', B¹, are made in each case. In Figure 1 also two stays D¹ are shown for sup-
porting the mattress at a higher level than the cross rail C, if desired.
Figures 4 and 5 show an elevation and plan of another mode of arranging the V
shaped clamp for securing the head and foot rails upon the mattress when packed
for transport. The clamp I, K, L, is in this case pivoted at L, so that it may be
moved into the position shown in dotted lines K¹, L', I', where it is secured by
tightening up a nut on I¹. The clamp is returned to position and secured by a
nut M before putting up the bedstead. The plate L, which carries the pivot of the
V clamp, is intended to prevent contact of the clamp with the cover of the mattress
in turning, but a washer or other equivalent may be used in its stead. Although
the use of the side rails is dispensed with, these may also be added, if necessary, for
the purpose of ornament merely.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th March
1878.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND COTS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Eugène Domercq, of Marseilles, France.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of bedstead, and to the means
or devices for connecting the parts together, and is also applicable for children's
cots and toy bedsteads.
This improved bedstead, which combines strength with lightness and simplicity,
and may be made of iron, brass, wood, or other material, consists of three main
parts only, viz., a spring mattress or bed bottom, a head piece and foot piece, the
side rails usually employed to connect the head and foot pieces, and support the
mattress or bed bottom, being dispensed with, and their place supplied by the
frame of the mattress itself. Any of the usual kinds of mattresses having a rigid
frame may be used with the special means of attachment forming part of this
Invention described hereafter.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figures 1 and 2, show the head or foot piece of a
bedstead in flat and round iron respectively, and Figure 3 represents a part sec-
tional side elevation of the improved combined bedstead and mattress. H is the wood
frame of the spring mattress, and E, F, G, are V shaped metal brackets or clamps
screwed firmly to the sides of the frame H, with their ends projecting beyond the
ends thereof. The ends of the two arms of each clamp pass through slots in the
head and foot posts shown in Figure 1, the lower extremity F being hooked and
embracing the cross bar C of the head or foot, whilst the upper extremity E is screw-
threaded to receive a nut, by tightening which against the post A, B, & perfectly
rigid and secure connection is obtained between the mattress and the head or foot,
as the case may be. The bedstead may be put together and taken to pieces with
great facility, it being only necessary in order to put it together to lay the head
and foot pieces down with the mattress upon them, in the position shown in Figure
6, the hooks F being immediately over the rails C. By raising the head and foot
pieces the hooks F engage with rails C, and the ends E enter the slots in the posts
and may then be secured by the nuts. The dismounting of the bedstead is effected
with equal rapidity by simply reversing the operation.
Figures 1 and 2 show the way the slots A, B, A', B¹, are made in the case of flat
and round iron respectively, and in Figure 1 two cross pins D¹ are provided to
support the mattress at a higher level than rail C if preferred.
Figures 4 and 5 show in elevation and plan a V shaped clamp adapted for
securing the head and foot pieces upon the mattress when packed for transport. In
this case the clamp J, K, L, is pivoted at L, so that it may be moved into the
position shown in dotted lines K¹, L¹, J¹, in order to hold the head or foot piece
down upon the mattress, as shewn, the clamp being returned to position and ren-
dered immovable by a screw bolt M before putting up the bedstead. The V clamps
are connected to the head and foot pieces in either position by the hooked ends K
and the screw nuts on their ends I, as before described. Although the side rails are
not required they may be added, if desired, for the purpose of ornament.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. A bedstead, the head and foot pieces of which are connected by the frame of
the mattress itself (without any side bars) substantially as shown and described.
2nd. In a bedstead constructed as above specified, the V shaped clamps attached to

page_text: the mattress frame and connected to the head and foot pieces by hooks and screw
nuts, their ends engaging in slots in the bedposts, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)