IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS. SOPAS. AND BEDSTEADS."
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hallen Cottam, of Charles Street,
Hampstead Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS. SOPAS. AND BEDSTEADS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hallen
Cottam at the Office of the Commissioners, of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th October 1852.
I, GEORGE HALLEN COTTAM, of Charles Street, Hampstead Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND BEDSTEADS" to
be as follows:--
This Invention consists of combining three frames (either stuffed or
not) by hinges or joints, so that they will fold together and form at one
moment a chair or sofa (one of the frames acting as the back), and at
other times a bedstead. The legs or bearers being connected by move-
able joints to such frames, so that, when, required to be packed, the
three frames come parallel to each other,, and the legs and other parts
also fold thereon, the aims or elbows acting by nearly a parallel
movement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Hallen Cottam in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 5th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE HALLEN COTTAM, of Charles Strect, Hampstead Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Ier
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Hor reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Hallen Cottam, Her special
licence that I, the said George Hallen Cottam, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George ITallen
Cottam, 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 term 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND BEDSTEADS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said George Hallen Cottam, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Soal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that 1. the said George Hallen Cottam, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of combining three frames (either stuffed or
not) by hinges or joints, so that they fold together and form at one
moment a chair or sofa (one of the frames acting as the back), and at
other times a bedstead. The legs or bearers being connected by move-
able joints to such frames, so that, when required to be packed, the

page_text: three frames come paralled to each other, and the legs or other parts
also fold thereon, the arms or elbows acting by nearly a parallel move-
ment. And in order that my said Invention may be more fully under-
stood, and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the
Figures 1, and 4, represent a chair convertable into a bedstead, and
constructed according to my Invention, when expanded, as shown at
Figure 2, and 5; and Figure 3. is a folding squab suitable for the
same. The two sides A, A, are fixed together by means of the bars k,
1, m, n, (or they may be connected by other suitable parts,) which coin-
nect them at the back. The rod i, is rivetted to the front legs to keep
the side frames in their position. J, O, are the two bars which form
the foundation for the seat. The frames B, and C, which are united
together by pin joints at a, and b, on which they turn, form in the chair
the scat and back. E, are the arms, which are attached by pin joints
at c, to the back C, and they are united to the frame A, at a, by pin
joints, and by the curved pieces D, by pin joints d. Figures 2, and 5,
shew the chair extended so as to form the bedstead. In this position
the frames B, and C, (which formed the back and seat of the chair, are
made to move on their joints, as shewn by the blue lines, Figure 2,) now
constitute the framework of the bedstead. The arms of the chair
reversing in this movement, as shewn at D, and E. e, e, are two legs,
which are attached by pin joints to the frame C, at h, h, and to cach
other by the rods f. and y, and they support the end of the frame C.
The two sides of the framework B, B, and the curved piece C, arc
strengthened by means of the bars p, q, 7, 8, which act as stretchers to
keep the frame apart, and which are rivetted through the sides of B, and
C, and on which are fixed the lathing bars, sliewn in Figures 4, and 5, by
the parts colored blue. Figure 3, shows the mattrass or squab made and
stuffed with hair in three distinct divisions, each part being adapted to
the size of the three frames A. B, and C. The three parts of the mat-
trass or squab, as shewn. Figure 4. is a perspective view of the chair,

page_text: shewing how the end of the bedstead folds up against the back rods
k, l, m, n. The legs e, e, are here drawn shut close against the frame-
work. Figure 5, represents a perspective view of the bedstead extended
ready for use with the legs e, c, brought out to support the end. Tt
will be evident that if this arrangement or combination were 'made
wider it would form a sofa and bedstead.
ready for use with the legs e, e, brought out to support the end. It
will be evident that if this arrangement or combination were made
wider it would form a sofa and bedstead.
31
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
PLATE II.
This Drawing shows a similar arrangement or combination of chair
and bedstead to that above described, but differing in some of the
details. Figures 1, and 4, show the combination as a chair; and
Figures 2, and 5, show the combination as a bedstead. Figure 3, the
mattrass. Figure 6, show the combination folded for transport.
Figures 7, and 8, show the joints I prefer to use, but I make no claim
thereto. This bedstead differs from the preceding one by reason of the
legs and head board folding or shutting down nearly parallel with the
sides.. The legs, instead of forming part of the frame in one piece, as
in the other chair, are quite separate, and are attached to the frames as
shewn. The iron bars F. F, connected together by the round bars k, l,
m, and n, form the frame of the head The legs are prevented from
falling under when in use by the peculiar formation of the joints, as
shewn in Figures 7, and 8, which respectively represent the joints of
the two legs on cach side.. .F, is the head piece attached to the frame
A, at a, as describel. The part of the framework B, and the part of
the arm D, are connected at p. E, is the arm of the chair pin jointed
to the frame C, at c, and to D, at d. Figure 2, shows the chair extended
so as 'to form the bedstead. In passing into this position the frames B,
and C, (which formed the back and seat of the chair, are made to move
at their joints, as shown by the blue lines in Figure 2,) now constitute
the framework of the bedstead; the arms of the chair reversing in this
movement, as shewn at D, and E. 6, e, are two logs, which are con-
nected together by the rods f, and 9. The part B, on being lifted
towards A, releases the front leg H. r, 1, 1, 1, and 8, 8, 8, 8, are thin
plates of iron rivetted to the framework A, A, and between which the

page_text: parts F'; and B, and the legs G, G, and H, H, work into each other.
Figure 4, represents a perspective view of the chair. The head pieces
F, F, are united by means of the four bars k, l, m, n, against which the
end frame C, C, of the bedstead comes to form the back. The front legs
are connected together by means of the rods v, and w, and the hinder
legs G, G, are connected by the rods t, u. Figure 5, shews the bed-
stead extended in its shape as a bedstead, with the legs e, e, brought
down to support the end. And it may be remarked, that when made
wide this combination becomes a sofa and bedstead, as mentioned in
respect to the previous one. Figures 7, and 8, are drawn half size, in
order to show more clearly the movements of the joints.
parts F; and B, and the legs G, G, and H, H, work into each other.
Figure 4, represents a perspective view of the chair. The head pieces
F, F, are united by means of the four bars k, l, m, n, against which the
end frame C, C, of the bedstead comes to form the back. The front legs
are connected together by means of the rods v, and w, and the hinder
legs G, G, are connected by the rods t, u. Figure 5, shews the bed-
stead extended in its shape as a bedstead, with the legs e, e, brought
down to support the end. And it may be remarked, that when made
wide this combination becomes a sofa and bedstead, as mentioned in
respect to the previous one. Figures 7, and 8, are drawn half size, in
order to show more clearly the movements of the joints.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
PLATE IJI.
:
This Drawing shows the apparatus constructed as in Plate 1, of the
Drawings, but in this arrangement the frames A, B, C, are stuffed on
both sides in place of having a moveable and separate mattrass or
squab. Figure 1, shows the apparatus as a chair, the mattrass being
folded with the framework. Figure 2, represents the combination as
extended to form a bedstead. From the above description it will be
seen that the frames A, B, C, are combined in such manner that the
frames A, B, fold together to form the seat, when the combination is in
the form of a chair or sofa, and the frame C, becomes the back, and is
supported by the head board or frame or suitable stops; and it will also
be seen that the parts constituting the arms, when the combination is in
the form of a chair or sofa, are so arranged and combined with the
frames A, B, C, that they pass below the frames when opened out into
the form of a bedstead; and in these particulars of combination the
chairs, sofas, and bedsteads above shewn and described differ from those
heretofore constructed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no
claim to the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the details as
herein given, provided the peculiar characted of my Invention be re-

page_text: tained. But what I claim is, the mode herein described of combining
the parts of chairs, sofas, and bedsteads.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hallen Cottam, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
thun
Witness,
W. CARPMAEL, jun.
GEO. HALLEN COTTAM. (L.S.)