Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads.
I, EDWARD JOEL BARCALO, of No. 115 Barton Street, Buffalo, Erie County,
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly describel and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in metallic bedsteads.
In the manufacture of such bedsteads, it has heretofore been the common custom
to unite the rods or members of the head and foot frames by placing the same in a
mould and casting couplings upon the adjacent or meeting portions of the members,
thus forming the entire frame practically in a single piece. This practice is
expensive, as it requires the employment of skilled labour, and the integral con-
struction of the end frames is objectionable because in case a coupling or member
becomes broken, the whole frame must be returned to the factory for repairing or
renewing the broken part. This construction is furthermore undesirable because
the end frames cannot be dismembered or "knocked down" for a compact
shipment.
One of the objects of my invention is to provide an inexpensive clamp or coupling
which permits the members of the end frames to be conveniently disconnected so
that any broken parts can be renewed or sent to the factory for repairs, without
the necessity of returning the whole frame. Another object of my invention is
the provision of a strong and simple coupling whereby the end and side rails of the
bedstead are firmly connected to the posts or pillars.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bedstead containing my improvements.
Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of one of the side and end rail
couplings and the adjacent portions of the rails.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same and the adjacent portions of
the post.
Figure 4 is a detached perspective view of said coupling.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a modified construction of said coupling.
Figure 6 is a front view of one of the couplings which connect the members of
the head and foot frames of the bedstead.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section thereof, on line 7-7, Figure 6.
Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of the sections of said coupling.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the side rails of the bedstead which connects the head and foot
frames and which are preferably constructed of tubing having a rectangular cross
section. Each of the head and foot frames is composed of the two posts or
pillars B, the connecting end rail B', the transverse rods or members b, connecting
the posts above the end rail, and the upright rods or members 61, which connect
said transverse members. The end rails B' are also preferably constructed of
rectangular tubing.
The side rails are detachably connected with the end rails by couplings, each of
which consists of an upright socket or sleeve C secured to the adjacent post and
provided with two horizontal shanks or stems C¹ Figures 2, 3 and 4 projecting
from said sleeve and arranged at right angles to each other. These shanks fit
respectively into the end portions of the hollow side and end rails and are con-
structed of correspondingly rectangular cross section. The coupling shanks are
formed with shoulders c against which the ends of the side and end rails abut aud

page_text: each shank is provided on one side, preferably on its inner side, with one or more
notches having inclined sides which recede toward the inner ends of the
shanks.
d Figures 1 and 2 represents clamping screws arranged in screw threaded
openings formed in the inner walls of the tubular end and side rails opposite the
notches of the shanks C₁ and bearing with their inner ends against the inclined
sides of said notches. Upon tightening these screws, they tend to move upon the
inclined faces of the notches toward the deepest ends of the latter, thereby drawing
the ends of the rails firmly against the shoulders of the coupling and tightly
clamping the rails to the coupling. If desired other clamping devices may be
employed in place of the screws d, for instance, clamping cams or cam levers d'
may be substituted for the same, as shown in Figure 5. These cam levers are
pivoted horizontally in openings formed in the side and end rails and project
through such openings so as to bear against the inclined faces of the shanks.
Each post of the bedstead is preferably constructed of sections, as shown in
Figure 3, and these sections are provided at their opposing ends with external
screw threads which engage with internal screw threads c³ formed in the end
portions of the sleeve C." This construction permits the coupling to be renewed in
case of breakage, without requiring the post to be sent to the factory, which is
necessary when the coupling is cast upon the post.
The upright and horizontal members b¹ of the head and foot frames are
separably connected together by clamps or couplings E which are detachable from
both the upright and horizontal members, instead of being cast upon these parts
as hitherto constructed. Each of these clamps or couplings consist of two sections
or halves e c' Figures 8 and 9 applied to opposite sides of said members. These
sections are each formed with an inwardly projecting marginal flange e² provided
in its side portions with notches which fit against opposite sides of the horizontal
member and which together form circular openings. The edges of the flanges of
the two sections bear against each other so as to form a close joint and the sections
are firmly united by a transverse screw Figures 6 and 7 passing through the
same below the horizontal member . One of the coupling sections is formed at
its contracted end with an internally screw threaded collar or socket which
engages with an external screw thread formed on the end of the adjacent upright
member. About one half of the screw socket e projects beyond the flange of
the coupling section so as to form a shoulder e against which the lower end of
the outer section bears, the latter section being as much shorter than the first
named section as the depth of the projecting screw socket, so as to form a flush
joint at the upper ends of the sections, as shown.
The ends of the horizontal members of the head and foot frames are connected
with the posts by couplings F constructed in all respects like the couplings E but
arranged horizontally instead of vertically and having the portion thereof which
receives the posts enlarged correspondingly.
These couplings can be cast at small cost and can be applied to the members by
unskilled labour, thereby lessening the cost of producing the bedstead. The
couplings, while securely connecting the members of the head and foot frames,
permit such members to be readily disconnected by removing the screws of the
couplings thus enabling any of the couplings or members to be detached from
the frame in the event of breakage and to be replaced by new parts, or sent to the
factory for repairs, without the necessity of returning the whole frame, which
must be done when the couplings are cast upon the members. This construction
also enables the head and foot frames and the posts to be shipped compactly in
"knock down" form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. The combination with the most of the bedstead and the side and end rails

page_text: provided in their adjacent ends with sockets, of a coupling consisting of a sleeve
which receives the post and a pair of shanks arranged substantially at right
angles to each other and fitted in the sockets of the side and end rails, respectively,
and clamping devices arranged on said rails, and bearing against said shanks,
substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the side and end rails and a post of a bedstead, of a
coupling consisting of a sleeve secured to the post and a pair of shanks or stems
fitted respectively in the ends of said rails and each provided with an inclined
clamping face, and clamping devices arranged on said rails and engaging against
the inclined faces of said shanks, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the side and end rails and a post of a bedstead, of a
coupling having a sleeve secured to the post and shanks or stems fitted in the
ends of said rails and each provided with a notch having an inclined side, and
clamping screws arranged on said rails and bearing against the inclined faces of
said shanks, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the side and end rails, of a post composed of sections
having externally screw threaded ends, a coupling composed of an internally
screw threaded sleeve engaging with the threaded sections of the post and shanks
or stems projecting from said sleeve fitted into the ends of said rails and each
provided with an inclined face, and clamping devices arranged on said rails and
bearing against the inclined faces of the rails, substantially as set forth.
5. In a metallic bedstead, the combination with an upright and a transverse
member, of a detachable coupling consisting of a pair of sections embracing
opposite sides of said members and provided with horizontal notches in which
the transverse member is seated and below said notches with a socket which
receives the upright member, and a clamping screw connecting the two coupling
sections and arranged between the transverse member and the adjacent end of the
upright member, whereby the screw penetrates the coupling sections only,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a metallic bedstead, the combination with an upright, and a transverse
member, of a detachable coupling consisting of a pair of sections embracing
opposite sides of said members, said sections being provided with horizontal
notches for receiving the transverse members and one of said sections being
formed below said notches with a laterally projecting socket which receives the
adjacent end of the upright member and against which the lower end of the
opposing coupling sections abuts, and a clamping screw connecting the coupling
sections, substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.