Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
We, EDWARD VINCENT JOHN COPPEN of Wellington in the Colony of New
Zealand, Civil Service Clerk, and JAMES O'SULLIVAN of Wellington aforesaid, a
member of the Armed Constabulary, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of portable bedstead, arranged to
fold up so as to form a trunk or portmanteau to contain wearing apparel, &c.
For this purpose we construct the bedstead of a metal or wood framing formed of
four separate parts hinged together, the two middle parts being hinged so as to fold
together in an upward direction, while the two end parts are hinged to the middle
parts so as to fold together in a downward direction. These parts are supported by
adjustable legs at the middle joint and at each end, one end being provided with a
head board. Over the framing is stretched a canvas support for the bedding, the
canvas being divided at the two end parts, and laced together to enable it to be
stretched tight. The canvas at the one end part is stretched on an inner frame
pivotted to the outer frame and capable of being held in a more or less raised position
by means of adjustable lateral stays. The one end part and middle part can be folded
together and held in a raised position by stays, forming a short couch, or the two
middle parts can be folded together, and the one end part be held in a raised position
by stays, forming a seat, or again, all four parts may be folded together so as to leave
spaces between them for the reception of articles of clothing and kit, and be inserted
in a canvas or leather casing, forming a trunk.
Datel this 7th day of May 18s6
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant."

page_text: We, EDWARD VINCENT JOHN COPPEN of Wellington in the Colony of New
Zealand, Civil Service Clerk and JAMES O'SULLIVAN of Wellington aforesaid a
member of the Armed Constabulary do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of portable bedstead arranged
to fold up so as to form a trunk or portmanteau to contain wearing apparel.
For this purpose we construct the bedstead of a metal or wood framing formed
of four separate parts hinged together, the two middle parts being hinged so as to
fold together in an upward direction, while the two end parts are hinged to the middle
parts so as to fold together in a downward direction. These parts are supported by
adjustable legs at the middle joint and at each end, one end being provided with a
head board. Over the framing is stretched a canvas support for the bedding, the
canvas being divided at the two end parts, and laced together to enable it to be
stretched tight. The canvas at the one end part is stretched on an inner frame
pivotted to the outer frame and capable of being held in a more or less raised position
by means of adjustable lateral stays. The one end part and middle part can be folded
together and held in a raised position by stays, forming a short couch, or the two
middle parts can be folded together, and the one end part be held in a raised position
by stays forming a seat, or again, all four parts may be folded together so as to leave
spaces between them for the reception of articles of clothing and kit, and be inserted
in a canvas or leather casing, forming a trunk.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a longitudinal section of a bed stead
constructed according to the before described invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan, Fig. 3
shews the same to a smaller scale, partly folded to form a couch, and Fig. 4 shews a
perspective view of the bed folded together for transport, and forming a portmanteau.
The bedstead is formed of four separate frames A¹ A2 A3 A4, of which the two middle
ones A A³ are hinged together at B B, so that they fold together in an upward
direction, as shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 while the end frames A¹ A' are hinged
respectively to the frames A and A at CC and D D, so as to fold together with these
parts in a downward direction, as also shewn at Figs. 3 and 4. To the frame A* is
hinged a second frame A, that can be held in a raised position at any desired angle,
as shewn, by means of notched struts E E hinged thereto and catching on to studs E¹
on A¹.
The frame A as also the frames A' A² A³ have a covering F of canvas or other
material attached to them the pieces on A¹ and A' being connected to the piece
on A2 A3 by lacing as shewn to allow of tightening. The parts A¹ A3 and A² are
provided with legs G that are attached thereto by hinges G¹, so that they can be
folded inwards, and they are secured in the raised position by sliding bolts H, on the
frames, sliding in front of them. At the sides of the parts A' and A' are handles I I

page_text: attached to the frames by pins so that they can either be turned into the outward
position shewn at Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which they rest against stops I, or they can be
turned back against the frames as shewn at Fig. 4. Figs. 1 and 2 shew the bed fully
extended in which position A² and A3 are secured together at their lower edges by
bolts I and eyes L shewn more clearly at Fig. 4. Fig. 3 shews the parts A¹ and A
raised into inclined positions in which they are supported by the handles of A¹ resting
on the ground, thus forming a couch; or these parts might be folded over into the
dotted position Fig. 3, in which A¹ could either be held by additional stays J, so as to
form a seat with a back, or it might be folded quite down, so as to form a seat without
a back.
When the frames are folded together for transport as at Fig. 4, the spaces existing
between the canvasses of the parts A and A2 and those of the parts A³ and A4 are
available for the reception of articles of clothing etc., the folded bedstead being if
necessary enclosed in a casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
The folding bedstead constructed and arranged substantially as herein described,
so that it can either be partly folded together to form a couch or seat, or be entirely
folded together for transport and to form a receptacle for clothing and other articles.
Dated this 7th day of February 1887.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.