IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FRAMES FOR ALL KINDS OF STRUCTURES, TOGETHER WITH THE MEANS OF FASTENING THE SAME WHEN NECESSARY, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF SCREWS AND BOLTS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dray, of Swan Lane, in the City of London,
Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF FRAMES FOR ALL KINDS OF STRUCTURES, TOGETHER WITH
THE MEANS OF FASTENING THE SAME WHEN NECESSARY, PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF SCREWS AND BOLTS."
Sealed the 26th October 1855, and dated the 12th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
May 1855.
I, WILLIAM DRAY, of Swan Lane, in the City of London, Agricultural
Implement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FRAMES FOR ALL KINDS OF STRUCTURES,
TOGETHER WITH THE MEANS OF FASTENING THE SAME WHEN NECESSARY, PART OF
WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF SCREWS AND BOLTS," to be as
follows:-
My improvements in the manufacture of frames consist in making them of
hollow metal, preferring iron, and in so constructing the various parts that they
shall fit together without the necessity of screws. In former Letters Patent,
granted to me the 10th day of February 1854, I there described the making
of framings to be fastened together by one part screwing into another. Now,

page_text: as for some purposes such screwing may be objectionable, I simply connect
the parts by causing the end of one tube to fit into the end of another tube or
socket, as the case may be.
It will be evidently unnecessary, in order to explain my Invention, to cite all
the purposes to which it will apply; I therefore propose only to give one
example, premising that the principle of construction will be similar throughout;
and in such example I will also explain the manner in which I secure the parts
of the framing after being put together; and I therefore proceed to describe
how I form a bedstead:-I take four uprights of tubular iron, and slip over
each of them a two-way joint; the arms of these joints are hollow, and form
the sockets for the reception of the side and end framings. These side and end
framings are tubular, and are formed with the ends slightly smaller than the
inner diameter of the socket joints. The uprights are provided with a projection
or stop to prevent the socket joint pieces falling below a given height. The
uprights are held up and the side and end tubes inserted in the sockets, when
the frame for the bedstead will be formed. Now, in order to secure the whole
parts from the possibility of becoming detached, I fasten them together by
means of bands of metal provided with hooks and screws, which extend from
end to end and from side to side of the frames, in a manner somewhat similar
to what are known as lazy tongs. This means of fastening in the case of
bedsteads forms the necessary support for the bedding. Bedsteads so con-
structed will be of very great value for camp and hospital purposes, on account
of their lightness as compared with other iron bedsteads, the small space they
occupy when packed, their cleanliness, and the very ready manner in which
they can be put together and taken to pieces.
My improvement in the manufacture of screws and bolts consists in forming
them of hollow metal, in threading them to the extent required, and in beating
up, casting, or otherwise forming a head thereto or thereon; or where no head
is required, then where necessary I thread them at both ends.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Dray, Her special licence that I, the said William Dray,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Dray, 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF FRAMES FOR ALL KINDS OF STRUCTURES, TOGETHER WITH THE
MEANS OF FASTENING THE SAME WHEN NECESSARY, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO
THE MANUFACTURE OF SCREWS AND BOLTS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Dray, 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 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 William Dray, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My improvements in the manufacture of frames consist in making them of
hollow metal, preferring iron, and in so constructing the various parts that they
shall fit together without the necessity of screws. In former Letters Patent,
granted to me the Tenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four, I there described the making of framings to be fastened together by
one part screwing into another. Now, as for some purposes such screwing
may be objectionable, I simply connect the parts by causing the end of one
tube to fit into the end of another tube or socket, as the case may be.
It will be unnecessary, in order to explain my Invention, to cite all the
purposes to which it will apply; I therefore purpose only to give one example,
premising that the principle of construction will be similar throughout; and
in such example I will also explain the manner in which I secure the parts
of the framings after being put together; and I therefore proceed to describe
how I form a bedstead.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bedstead constructed according

page_text: A, A', are four uprights of tubular iron, over each of which I slip a four-way
joint B, B. These joints when in their places upon the tubes are rivetted or
otherwise fixed there, so that when the bedstead is taken to pieces these joints
remain upon the tubes and are packed with them, whereby all liability of their
being lost is obviated.
Figure 2 represents a detached view, in plan, of the joint for the tubes
forming the head of the bedstead; and Figure 3, a similar view of the joint for
the foot of the bedstead.
The arms a, a, of these joints are hollow, and form the sockets for the
reception of the side and end framings C, C'. These side and end framings
are tubular, and are formed with the ends slightly smaller than the inner
diameter of the socket joints. The uprights are held up and the side and end
tubes inserted in the sockets, when the frame for the bedstead will be formed.
In order to secure the whole of the parts from the possibility of becoming
detached, I fasten them together with bed sacking laced up with cord, in the
following manner:-Previously to inserting the end and side framings into
their respective sockets, I slide over one side and end the piece of sacking D,
and over the other side and end the two narrow pieces E, E. The edges of
these pieces D and E are pierced with the usual holes, through which the
cords b, b, are laced; c, c, are hooks, of the shape shewn in Figure 4, which
are passed over the upright tubular pieces, as represented in Figure 1, through
which cords are passed for connecting them to the corners of the sacking, and
thus serve to keep the whole well together; or I fasten the parts together by
means of bands of metal provided with hooks and screws, which extend from
end to end and from side to side of the frames, in a manner somewhat similar
to what are known as lazy tongs. These means of fastening in the case of
bedsteads form the necessary support for the bedding. F is a head or rack,
which forms the head part of the bedstead, and is composed of two metal rods
d, d, formed with rings and plugs e, e', at each end, which slip over and fit into
the upright A, A. f. f, are thin strips of metal, which are hinged at top and
bottom to the rods d, d, so that when this head or rack is detached from the
bedstead it folds together for convenience in packing; G is a framework, a
separate view of which is given in Figure 5. This framework is composed of
two flat metal bars g, g, having rings h, h, at one end, which slip over the
uprights A, A, the metal bars resting upon the top of the side frames C, C.
II is a frame, the ends of which are hinged ut i, t, to the bars g, g. This frame
is covered with sacking, so as to support the bedding, &c. k, k, are racks cut
upon the face of the bars g, g; and 7, 1, palls hinged to the under side of the
frame H. These palls are for the purpose of giving any desired elevation to

page_text: the frame I, and when not required fold down flat between the frame H and
the bars g. g. This framework G may, if desired, be removed when not required
for use, being provided with handles m, m. Bedsteads so constructed will be
of very great value for camp and hospital purposes, on account of their lightness
as compared with other iron bedsteads, the small space they occupy when
packed, their cleanliness, and the very ready manner in which they can be put
together and taken to pieces; and also, from their being fitted with the adjustable
framework G, they will be found specially adapted for hospital purposes or for
reclining couches.
My improvements in the manufacture of screws and bolts consist in forming
them of hollow metal, in threading them to the extent required, and in beating
up, casting, or otherwise forming a head thereto or thereon.
Figures 6 and 7 represent respectively an external view and section of a nut
or bolt constructed in this manner. Where no head is required, then whero
necessary I thread them at both ends, as represented in Figure 8.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First, the manufacturing of frames for bedsteads, reclining supports, and all
kinds of structures of hollow metal, and the constructing of the parts in such
manner that they shall fit together without the necessity of screws, as herein-
before described.
Second, I clain the constructing of bedsteads and other similar structures of
hollow metal, the various parts thereof being held together or fastened in the
manner herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
And, third, I claim the forming of screws and bolts, and other similar
articles, of hollow metal, as herein-before described, and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
ond fifty-five
WILLIAM DRAY. (L.B.)