Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1887
Complete Left, 27th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
I, LEONARD HAWKES BRIERLEY of Essington Works, Sheepcote Street Birmingham,
Metallic bedstead manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to the head-ends-brass-mounted ones principally-of
metallic french or stump bedsteads or cots or sofas, and to the foot ends-more
especially those with brass mounts-of metallic french or halftester bedsteads or cots,
or sofas, and consists in utilizing the cast-iron parts which hold the vase-screws or
castor-pegs (or both), and the brass (or other metal) top or bottom rods of the rails
of the said bedsteads &c., as means for producing greater rigidity in the ends of the
said bedsteads &c.
As applied to the upper part of the end of a brass-mounted bedstead, cot or sofa
the object of my invention is attained as follows. I construct the top of the pillar,
either (i) with a groove in the top cast-iron part or, with a groove or grooves in the
top edge of the tube of the said pillar, and fix the top-rod in the said groove or
grooves either by means of a nut on the vase-screw or by means of other nuts & screws
(or, nut & screw) of which either the nut (or nuts) or screw (or screws) is (or, are)
cast in the top cast-iron part of the pillar; or (ii) I omit the groove altogether and
use a screw or screws-of which the vase-screw may or may not be one--& a nut or
nuts in conjunction with or without a peg or pegs (preferably taper ones): the pegs
& also either the screws or nuts being cast into the top cast-iron piece of the pillar,
or (iii) I cut a longitudinal section off the end of the rod-which, it is imperative,
should, in this case, be a tube,-having previously formed the top cast-iron piece with
a curved ridge (instead of a groove) to suit the now-exposed inside surface of the said
rod (tube).
In performing the above methods it is, in some cases, necessary, to use a loose iron
piece which fits in the inside of the top part of the brass top-mount, between the upper
surface of the rod & the upper part of the top-mount. Or, the mount itself may
require to be constructed (i) with a large opening at the top-which can be ultimately

page_text: covered by a small metal cap ; or (ii) with a flat top, or (iii) in some instances with
a sunken top. Or, the neck of the terminal vase may require to be hollow and larger
than usual, so as to be capable of hiding from view any nut or screw or peg which
may project outside the mount.
«
As applied to the lower part of the end of a brass mounted bedstead, cot or sofa,
my invention is adaptable only to what are known as extended foot-ends." I
proceed, with regard to the bottom-rod, in a similar manner to that indicated for the
upper part of the end of a bedstead; the castor-peg, in some instances, being longer
than usual & used either as one of the securing pegs or as one of the fixing screws.
In the latter event it is screwed for a short distance from where it joins the cast-iron.
Instead of the end of the bottom rod, the bent end of the vertical side-rod may
require to be fixed. As a rule no alteration is required to the brass bottom-mount,
but a large fixing nut is necessary, against which the castor bears, and a washer
(preferably a specially shaped one) may or may not be used between the nut & the
surface of the bottom rod-Or the castor may bear directly against the washer, in
which case the fixing nut would be very small so as to be able to pass inside the hole
in the castor & yet not be influenced by the rotation of the same.
It will be seen that the object of the above methods is to connect the upper & lower
rods of the rail to the pillars as effectually as possible so that the parts may form one
rigid whole.
It is obvious that the mounts of the bedsteads, to which my invention can be
applied, need not necessarily be of brass, and that it is also applicable to the upper
part of bedsteads which have no brass mount, but merely a brass cap, on each of the
pillars.
I use the words "top-rod" & "bottom-rod" to designate the upper-most & the
lower-most of the rods of the rail (or end) which connect, or, assist in connecting
together the upper parts or the lower parts of the pillars.
In some instances I may prefer to omit the nuts & screws above referred to & to
make the groove deep & wedge the end of the rod into it.
Dated this 96th dov of Mov 1997

page_text: I, LEONARD HAWKES BRIERLEY of Essington Works, Sheepcote Street Birmingham,
Metallic bedstead manufacturer 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 :-
My invention has reference to the head-ends-brass mounted ones principally--of
metallic french or stump bedsteads or cots or sofas, and to the footends-more
especially those with brass mounts of metallic french or halftester bedsteads or cots
or sofas, and consists in utilizing the cast-iron parts which hold the vase-screws or
castor-pegs (or both) and the brass (or other metal) top- or bottom-rods of the rails of
the said bedsteads &c., as means for producing greater rigidity in the ends of the said
bedsteads &c.
As applied to the upper part of the end of a brass-mounted bedstead, cot or sofa,
the object.of my invention is attained as follows;
1 construct the top of the pillar either (i) with a groove in the top cast-iron part or
with a groove or grooves in the top edge of the tube of the said pillar, and fix she
top-rod in the said groove or grooves either by means of a nut on the vase-screw or
by means of other nuts & screws (or nut & screw) of which either the nut (or nuts)
or screw (or screws) is (or are) cast in the top cast-iron part of the pillar, or (ii) I
omit the groove altogether and use a screw or screws of which the vase-screw may
or may not be one-and, a nut or nuts in conjunction with or without a peg or pegs
(preferably taper ones): the pegs & also either the screws or nuts being cast into the
top cast-iron piece of the pillar. Or (iii) I cut a longitudinal section off the end of
the rod-which, it is imperative, should, in this case, be a tube;-having previously
formed the top cast-iron piece with a curved ridge (instead of a groove) to suit the
now exposed inside surface of the said rod (tube).
In performing the above methods, it is, in some cases, necessary to use a loose iron
piece which fits in the inside of the top part of the brass top-mount, between the
upper surface of the rod & the upper part of the top-mount. Or the mount itself may
require to be constructed (i) with a large opening at the top-which can ultimately
be covered by a small metal cap; or (ii) with a flat top, or (iii) in some instances
with a sunken or recessed top-Or the neck of the terminal vase may require to be
hollow and larger than usual, so as to be capable of hiding from view any nut or
screw or peg which may project outside the mount.
As applied to the lower part of the end of a brass-mounted bedstead cot or sofa my
invention is adaptable only to what are known as "extended footends." I proceed
with regard to the bottom rod in a similar manner to that indicated for the upper part
of the end of a bedstead, the castor-peg, in some instances, being longer than
usual & used either as one of the securing pegs or as one of the fixing screws.
In the latter event it is screwed for a short distance from where it joins the cast-
iron. Instead of the end of the bottom rod, the bent end of the vertical side-rod may
require to be fixed. As a rule no alteration is required to the brass mount-except
that (as is usual in the top-mount) a hole is made in the side, for the rod, but a
large fixing nut is necessary, against which the castor bears, and a washer (preferably
a specially shaped one), or a loose cast-iron piece, may or may not be used between
the nut and the surface of the bottom rod. Or the castor may bear directly against
the washer or loose piece, in which case the fixing nut would be very small so as to

page_text: bo able to pass inside the hole in the castor, or in a recess in the loose cast-iron piece,
so that it would not be influenced by the rotation of the said castor. It will be seen
that the object of the above methods is to connect the upper & lower rods of the rail
to the pillars as effectually as possible, so that the parts may form one rigid whole. It
is obvious that the mounts of the bedsteads, to which my invention can be applied,
need not necessarily be of brass, and that it is also applicable to those bedsteads which
have no brass mount, but merely-a-brass cap on each of the pillars. I use the words
"top-rod" & "bottom rod" to designate the upper-most & the lower-most of the rods
of the rail (or end) which connect, or assist in connecting, together the upper parts or
the lower parts of the pillars. In some instances I may prefer to omit the nuts &
screws above referred to and to make the groove deep & wedge the end of the rod
into it.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In Figure 1 is represented a pillar-of which a is the tube portion-made with a
groove in the top cast-iron part c, according to my method; / is the top-rod, d, the
nut, e, the vase-screw.
In Figure 2 is depicted the top-rod / fixed in position in accordance with my
invention; f, is the terminal vase, g' the upper part of the mount, g² the lower part
of the same.
Although use preferably the vase-screw only as the means of securing the top-
rod, still it is obvious that another screw or screws might be cast in the cast-iron top
part by the side of the vase-screw & the said rod secured by means of a nut (or nuts)
or the nut may be cast in & the top-rod fixed by means of a screw. It will also be
seen that the cast-iron part may be wholly inside the pillar & the grooves made in the
upper edge of the tube a. It is also obvious that the groove may be dispensed with,
provided that there be substituted two screws & nuts (of which the vase-screw may
or may not be one) or, a peg & a screw (with nut) with corresponding holes in the
top-rod.
If the mount is constructed with a flat top as shown in Figure 3, when the neck k
of the terminal vase f must be large enough to contain the nut d.
In Figure 4 the central portion of the top of the mount is formed with a recess in
which the nut d rests.
In Figure 5 is illustrated the most convenient method of applying my invention
to the lower part of a bedstead. c is the cast-iron part of the pillar, e the castor-peg
screwed for a short distance so that when the specially shaped washer, or loose cast-
iron piece is in position, the nut d can be tightened against it, m is the castor which
also bears against this said piece. It will be observed that the under face of this
washer or loose cast-iron piece, as well as the upper face is specially shaped. This
is necessary in order to allow of the nut d resting, when in position, in a cavity, so that
when the castor m revolves round the castor-peg e the nut d may not be unscrewed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
Increasing the rigidity of the head-ends & foot-ends of certain metallic bedsteads
by securing the ends of the top- or bottom-rods of the rails to the pillars by means of
grooves, either in the top or bottom cast-iron pieces, or in the edges of the pillar-
tubes, or in the top- or bottom-rods of the rails, with or without the help of screws &
nuts or pins, or, by means of one (or more) screw & nut only in conjunction with
one (or more) pin or screw & nut, substantially as described & partly illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of February 1888.