IMPROVEMENTS IN SOFA-BEDSTEADS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Albert Barber at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1883. Communicated to
him from abroad by Robert W Taylor of San Francisco California and
George Sauel Barber of the city and county of Ouray State of Colorado
both in the United States of America
CHARLES ALBERT BARBER of 5 Furnivals Inn in the county of Middlesex
Gentleman " IMPROVEMENTS IN SOFA-BEDSTEADS a cómmunication to me
from abroad by Robert. W. Taylor of San Francisco California and George
Samuel Barber of the city and county of Ouray State of Colorado both in the
United States of America"
This invention relates to the class of sofa-bedsteads, and to certain new and
useful improvements therein, consisting in sundry details of construction which
will hereinafter be more fully described.
The object of the invention is to provide a neat, convenient, strong, and durable
sofa-bedstead which object is attained by reason of the various improvements in
construction hereinafter explained.
The seat has in front at its ends a wide and curved face-plate set on ordinary
legs the rear ones of which extend beyond the seat and have slotted top plates.
The back is hinged to the seat by hinges. This back is adapted to be adjusted
in any position by means of ratchets or by sawing out a small piece of the end of
the lower back frame piece next to the outward end frame piece of said back a slot
is formed in which the upward end of the ratchet end bar is inserted and through
the upward end a screw or bolt is passed from the outward end of the said back
which secures the upward end of the ratchet. This is so placed as to bring a
long pointed projection on to the ratchet in close connection with the underside of
the back.
For the purpose of preventing the back going too far forward when raised to a
perpendicular position also to prevent its going too low down when lowered to a
horizontal position. Instead of a ratchet passing down through a slot on the inside
of the leg it is passed down through a slot on the outside of the leg at the bottom
notch of which is placed a screw or bolt which makes a much better and more
convenient plan of construction.

page_text: These ratchets are hinged or pivoted under the back to bearings and extend
down through slotted plates to a pin driven into the inner side of the leg. The
ends of these ratchets are made with a hook to guard and limit the upward play of
the ratchets. In these ratchets thus arranged there are two advantages. By means
of the hooked end the guard which has heretofore been used is dispensed with to
inclose the bearing pin and prevent the ratchets from going too far, and in placing
the bearing pins with which the ratchets engage lower down the ratchets can be
made longer, and by carrying them through the slotted plates provide a means for
keeping them down to the pin as they will come in contact with the rear end of
the slot if they should rise.
Usually the pins are placed in the slotted plates and the advantage is that unless
provided with guards inclosing the bearing pin they are liable to become entirely
disengaged from said pin. Suitably guided cords are connected with the ratchets
whereby in the usual manner they may be disengaged from the pins and the back
adjusted. Upon the ends of the back are raised blocks upon which the folding
halves of the ends rest when opened out.
The heads or ends are fitted to the ends of the seat, their outer sides passing
down behind wide faced plates which conceal their hinges or joints. These ends
are supported and hinged as follows:-Bolted by one arm to ends of the back, of
the seat are irons having an elbow shape. The other arm extends up by the inner
sides of the ends and receives a rod or shaft which passes through the ends from
side to side and is supported in a step or socket upon the inner side of the face
plates. These rods form hinges or centres upon which the ends may be lowered
from a vertical to a horizontal position. By loosening the nuts on the ends of the
rods and withdrawing them the ends may be readily taken out when desired. The
upper arm of these supporting irons is bent outward. slightly to allow the covering
or upholstering to pass between it and the wood-work.
Hinged to the inner edges of the ends by hinges are the folding ends adapted
when the back and ends are lowered to fold over and rest upon the blocks on the
back finding thereon a firm support. In connection with these folding ends there
are three improvements. The first is in the position of the hinges in regard to the
supporting irons. They extend beside these irons and by coming into contact with
them limit the upward movement of the ends.
The next consists in making the folding ends somewhat narrower than the main
ends whereby their outer faces shall not be flush but a small angle will be left.
The advantage of this is in upholstering a cord may be run down in that angle
thus effectually concealing the line of separation and making a very neat appear-
ance. The last improvement is in the cleat or strip secured across the lower ends
of these folding ends. The advantage of this lies also in the upholstering. It
enables us to draw the covering tighter and make a rounder surface, but its chief
use is in preventing the stuffing from working down out of place.
At each end of the seat or extension therefrom are curved plates which when
the ends are raised form a neat joint therewith and at all times conceal the internal
mechanism by which the ends are operated.
The ends as being adapted to be moved up or down have been thus far
described and the means for adjusting will be now described and supporting them
at any desired angle
Upon the inner surface of the sides of the seat or upon extensions thereof at
each end are curved ratchets. The last or inner tooth of these is made into a
long upwardly extending point or stop.
To small irons upon the inner surface of the sides of the ends are pivoted pawls
extending down to and engaging with ratchets. These pawls have a small
projection to which cords are secured for raising them. The projection is bent
outward slightly away from the wood to prevent the cords from rubbing and
wearing. Small pins driven in the ends limit the upward movement of the pawls.
The operation of these pawls is as follows:-When one end is raised and the pawl
is in the outmost notch the end is held in position. By drawing on the cord the

page_text: pawl is raised out of the notch but is stopped by a pin in a position just sufficient
to clear the teeth. As the end approaches the horizontal some provision must be
made to prevent the pawl from passing beyond the ratchet and thus failing to
afford support to the end. For this purpose the long point or stop is on the inner
end of the ratchet. The pawl is not raised high enough to clear this point and
its end coming in contact with it is directed down into the notch. In this position
it can go no farther and affords a strong support for the end.
The last improvement refers to the underlying drawer.
Drawers are usual in connection with furniture of this class, and are ordinarily
put in on cleats as in any bureau or stand. There are two objections to the way
in which drawers are now connected which it is desired to overcome.
The first is the binding of the drawer when operated and the second is that no
limit is fixed to its outward movement and it therefore frequently happens that
it is drawn entirely out and has to be replaced with considerable trouble.
These are overcome by dispensing with guiding cleats and by providing suitable.
stops both to secure it in place and to limit its movement.
The drawer is provided with castors and is inserted loosely under the seat. It
cannot be pushed from under end-wise because the end plates are too low and it
cannot be pushed out in front because the front plate of the seat is too low.
Upon the drawer there is a knob which operates a button or stop upon the inside..
When the drawer is in place the stop is turned up inside the back of the seat and
thus the drawer is completely inclosed.
The sofa-bedstead will of course be mounted on casters, and can be rolled
about. The drawer must accompany it as it is confined underneath
By turning down the stop the drawer may be readily pulled out and all
difficulty from binding avoided but to limit the outward movement of the drawer
to prevent it from being withdrawn entirely unless desired shoulders or stops are
formed at each end near its back. These when the drawer is pulled out come in
contact with the back of the seat and prevent farther movement in that direction.
When the drawer has to be taken out entirely its front is slightly raised and thus
releases the shoulders from their contact..
If it should be found desirable to make the back less clumsy in appearance and
give to it a finished look it is made of fine wood suitably carved in portions which
show and then put very thin upholstering upon it either having short springs or
dispensing with them.
In such a case to compensate for the diminished thickness of the back it is
hinged in proper manner to bring its surface upon a level with the seat and thus
the user can have a soft or a hard bed at pleasure