IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSIBLE FRAMEWORK FOR BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, & OTHER LIKE ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Adolphe Rainé, of 16, Wells Street, Grays Inn
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSIBLE FRAMEWORK FOR BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, & OTHER
LIKE ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
Sealed the 17th December 1858, and dated the 22nd June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Adolphe Rainé at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd June 1858.
I, JULES ADOLPHE RAINE, of 16, Wells Street, Grays Inn Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSIBLE FRAMEWORK FOR BEDSTEADS, SOFAS,
& OTHER LIKE ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in collapsible frames for bedsteads, couches,
& other articles, consists in the application of a system of cross levers similar
to lazy-tongs, in such manner that by a single set or system of cross levers
on each side of the bedstead or other frame, it can be distended or collapsed,
and fixed either at full length or in a collapsed state, or at any intermediate
length required. This is effected by simply disconnecting one of the cross
bars from the end uprights or frames at either end, and again fixing it when

page_text: the frame has been contracted or expanded to the desired extent; by fixing
these detached bars it is fixed in the position required.
I further construct such frames so that they may be expanded and collapsed
transversely or at right angles to the direction of their length, & fixed in any
position by a similar application of the cross levers or lazy-tongs as before
explained with reference to the length. To each joint of the upper ends of
the cross bars I joint a right-angled piece which has a horizontal surface to
receive side or end rails, with an upright pin to enter holes in those rails.
These rails are jointed at lengths corresponding with the end joints of the
cross bars, girth, or other material, stretched between these rails forms the
bottom surface to receive the bedding or cushion if for a seat. By collapsing
in both directions this bedstead, couch, or other frame may be condensed to
occupy very small space, & is therefore extremely portable, or it may be only
contracted in one direction for portability, if small bulk is not so much an
object. For portable bedsteads or couches I prefer to make this frame less
than the whole length, & by a hinged foot & head-board (which can be fixed
in a horizontal position) to complete the length, which boards may be inclined
in any position desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jules Adolphe Raine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
ADOLPHE RAINE, of 16, Wells Street, Grays Inn Road, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jules Adolphe Rainé, Her special licence that I, the said Jules Adolphe
Rainé, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jules Adolphe Rainé, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the torm therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN

page_text: COLLAPSIBLE FRAMEWORK FOR BEDSTEADS, SOFAS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES OF
FURNITURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jules
Adolphe Rainé, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jules Adolphe Rainé, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of improvements in collapsible frames for bedsteads, couches,
and other articles, consists in the application of a system of cross levers similar
to lazy-tongs, in such manner that by a single set or system of cross levers on
each side of the bedstead or other frame, it can be distended or collapsed,
and fixed either at full length or in a collapsed state at any intermediate
length required. This is effected by simply disconnecting one of the cross
bars from the end uprights or frames at each end, and again fixing it when
the frame has been contracted or expanded to the desired extent; by fixing
these detached bars it is fixed in the position required. To each joint at the
upper ends of the cross bars I joint a right angle piece, which has a hori
zontal surface to receive the side rails with an upright pin to enter holes in
those rails, or those pieces may be dispensed with, and the side rails simply laid on
the upper joints of the levers. These rails may be jointed at lengths cor-
responding with the lengths between the end joints of the cross levers if
desired to fold up short, but a single joint in each is generally sufficient; girth,
iron laths, or other material is stretched between the rails to form the bottom
or surface to receive the bedding, or cushion if it is for a seat. By col-
lapsing this bedstead, couch, or other frame, it condenses into small space,
and is then very portable. For portable couches, adapted also for chairs,.
beds, &c., I make this frame less than the whole length, and by hinged foot
and head boards (which may be fixed in a horizontal position) complete the
length, which boards may be also inclined and fixed in any position desired.
I further so fit and furnish the cross levers or lazy-tongs, that the couch or
bedstead may be fixed at different lengths, and be therefore suitable for different
articles of furniture.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a bedstead constructed according to
my Invention; and Fig. 2 a similar view of the bedstead in a collapsed state;
Fig. 3 represents an end view of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4, a partial view,
showing the inside of the leg, and the mode of securing the bedstead in an
extended form. As before mentioned, the side franie consists of series of
levers a, a', combined in the form commonly known as lazy-tongs, one of the
cross levers a at each end being secured and jointed to the posts of the bed-
stead, while the other a¹ is movable, but capable of being fixed so as to secure
the bedstead in an expanded position so as to form a rigid framework and sup-
port for the bedding; each set of cross levers a, a', consists of flat bars of
iron jointed to each other at b, the middle of their length, and at their ends
c, c, c, as well understood in forming lazy-tongs. In order to keep the sets of
cross levers stretched from each other, I extend suitable stays between the joints
b, b, of the opposite sides of the bedstead, the ends of such stays forming at same
time the joint pins of the cross levers, or these stays may extend between some of
the upper & lower joints c, c. The posts or uprights d, d; I also make of iron in
any suitable form, jointing the the ends of levers a, a, thereto as before explained.
The ends of levers a', a', are each furnished with a thumbscrew e, which are
screwed into holes f, in order to secure the beḍstead in a distended position, as
seen at Fig. 1; they may be also screwed into holes g, in order to secure the
bedstead in the collapsed position as at Fig. 2. Instead of fixing the end
levers by thumbscrews e as described, the ends of those levers may have a
notch and be received in fork or notched pieces fixed to the posts & when the
frame is expanded, such notches locking into each other, and securely fixing
the framework in that position. If the cross levers be sufficiently strong and
well made, a rigid framework will be presented when the bedstead is expanded,
but in order to relieve the cross levers in some degree, I make one of such
levers on each side with a prolongation a", which when the bedstead is
expanded form legs or supports at midlength of the bedstead. I sometimes apply
an angle piece i, see Fig. 5, jointed to the upper ends of cross levers a, a', with
pins to receive and support the side rails h, h, but for sake of economy these
may be dispensed with, and the side rails simply laid on the upper ends of the
cross levers; I make them of angle iron as usual, so that the vertical ribs of
the angle bars being on the outside, embrace the ends of the levers sideways.
I make these side. rails with joints at midlength so as to fold, I also
dispose a stretcher bar at this point to distend the frame in its breadth; the

page_text: side rails carry the lattice or lath bottom, they being connected at each end by
the strong tie bars 1, to which the longitudinal laths m are fixed, the cross latbs
n, n, are fixed immediately to the side rails h. Notches or other suitable
fittings being provided at either end of the side rails so as to embrace or other-
wise hold the posts d, the side rails and lath bottoni are merely laid in posi-
tion on the levers as seen, or removed bodily and folded up, if it is desired to
collapse the bedstead. The posts d, d, are connected at the ends of the bed-
stead, and at all times kept distended by suitable stretcher bars j, j, forming
a rigid framing as in ordinary iron bedsteads.
i
Fig. 6 represents another arrangement of portable bedstead, which is
adapted either for a bedstead, ottoman, couch, or chair. The framework
consists of a series of cross levers a, a', as before, but the whole number are
short of the necessary length required for a bedstead, which I make complete
by two frames p, p, hinged or jointed at q, q, in such manner that they may
assume the different positions required. These end pieces consist of two light
frames to which I apply padding, and cover it with leather or other suitable
material; these frames are jointed to the legs or upright ends r, r, to which
also is jointed the upper ends of levers a, a, the lower ends of levers
a, a, being movable, and capable of being adjusted and fixed in different
positions according to the purpose to which the framework is to be applied.
In this case I employ leather or other straps winstead of longitudinal laths,
and connect them with buckles to lengthen or shorten as required, I secure
the cross laths s, s, to the upper joint c of the cross levers a, a¹, the ends of
those laths being bent at right angles for that purpose. The end levers a, a,
are each furnished with thumbscrews, which enter either of the four holes
1, 2, 3, 4, in each leg of the upright end frames; according to the hole in
which the screw is fixed so will the frame be secured in a more or less
extended position. When entered and fixed in the upper hole 1, the framing
will be fixed in its extreme extended position, and as for a bedstead or couch,
see Fig. 6, while with the screws in hole 2, the position will be as for an
ottoman, see Fig. 7; in holes 3, as for a chair, see Fig. 8; while in holes 4 the
framing will be secured in a collapsed state as at Fig. 9. Fig. 10 represents
an end view of the framing. In order to adjust and fix the swing frames p, p,
in the different positions desired, I fix to the end frames r, r, semicircle
plates u, u, described from the centre of the joint q; in these plates are holes
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, into which small bolts t, t, are inserted; these bolts are fitted to
slide through the side rails of frames p, p, so that they may be inserted into
either of the five holes (one of these plates u, u, are fixed at each corner), and

page_text: so fix and secure the frames p, p, in any required position. Thus for a bed
as at Fig. 6, with the frames p, p, upright, they would be inserted in holes q, q,
and for an ottoman, with the ends p, p, pendent, the bolts would be inserted
in holes 5, 5, while inclined or intermediate positions may be adopted by using
the intermediate holes in plates u, u. For the purposes of this article of
furniture I employ moveable cushions, which are so made as to fold or dis-
connect in three or more parts, so that they may be adapted to occupy the
full length of the bedstead, or made suitable for the ottoman, couch, or chair,
as will be readily understood from the Drawing.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the ex-
clusive use of systems of cross levers as collapsible framework for bedsteads,
sofas, or other articles of furniture, as I am aware that jointed levers com-
bined with other parts have been before use for that purpose, and I declare
that what I claim as my Invention, to be secured by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the arrangement of cross-jointed bars combined with other parts
represented in the Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, as
and for the purposes herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim the combination of parts represented in the Figs. 6, 7,
8 & 9 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, constituting collapsible framework
adapted to form a bedstead, sofa, couch, chair, or other article of furniture,
all as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Adolphe Rainé, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London.
J. AD. RAINÉ. (L.S.)