A Combination Arm-chair, Lounge, and Bedstead.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
A Combination Arm-chair, Lounge, and Bedstead.
I, CHARLES SEARS, of 45, Ash Grove, Mare Street, Hackney, London, N.E.,
Carver, 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 relates to improvements in domestic furniture, and is such that
one article may, according to the will of the user, be employed as an armchair,
lounge, or bedstead, with the least possible amount of trouble.
To enable my said invention to be more clearly understood I have hereunto
appended two sheets of drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 illustrates a side view of my invention as arranged for use as
an ordinary arm chair, while in dotted outline in the same figure is suggested one
of various positions that it may assume when used as a lounge.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 with a portion of the upholstering removed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation upon the line A B of Fig. 2 with the entire
upholstering removed.
Fig. 4 is a back elevation of same.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are details hereinafter explained.
Fig. 8 Sheet 2 illustrates a side view of my invention when in position for use
as a bedstead.
Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8 with the upholstering removed.
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation upon the line CD) of Fig. 9 while
Fig. 11 is a further detail hereinafter explained.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of any suitable material or
combination of materials, but preferably of wood, two side frames such as A A¹,
arranged to provide legs B B', and joined together in the usual manner by rails C
and cross pieces D D³, this constituting the body or supporting portion of the
apparatus. Between the said side frames A A', and at a convenient distance from
the centre thereof, a rectangular frame E is pivotally connected thereto at a
point a, by means of extension pieces or sectors E¹, at either side, having holes
therein with with may engage pins c passing through a hole d in each of the
frames A A¹, the said frame E having hinged thereto a second frame F, which,
in turn has hinged thereto a third frame (, having at its further or lower end
and in pivotal connection therewith a fourth frame H, the said frame F having at
either side upon its under surface a recessed rack (not shewn) with which is
adapted to engage a pair of legs F1 Fig. 1 connected by a cross piece hinged to the
upper surface of the side frames A A¹ where the same have been cut away for this
purpose, the said frame F also having at either side upon its under surface a
curved attachment J Fig. 1. The said frame G has formed upon its under face
serrated surfaces such as K, with which may engage a pair of legs L, pivotally
connected to the said cross piece D', and normally resting against one of the
rails C, by means of which the said frame G may be brought to any desired angle,
as suggested by dotted outline in Fig. 1.
Below the extension pieces or sectors of the frame E, and above the cross
piece D', is situated an approximately horizontal sliding frame M, arranged to

page_text: slide between free guide rollers N, mounted upon the inner surface of the side
frames A A¹, the said frame M, according to one method of construction, being
connected to the sectors E by means of strips of leather, felt, or other resilient
material O (Fig. 3) through which a forward motion is imparted to the said
frame Mas hereinafter explained, the backward motion being attained either by
means of a spring or springs P, connected to the cross piece D, or any one of the
cross rails of the frame M, or by a second strip of material ()¹ arranged in reverse
order to that of 0 as shewn in Fig. 3 and more clearly in Fig. 5.
Upon each side of the said frame M is arranged in a convenient position a
bracket R (Figs. 3 and 4) carrying a roller R' adapted to impinge against the said
curved attachment J upon each side of the frame F, and upon each side of the
front of the frame M is connected a roller R2 (Fig. 3) which normally impinge
upon the under surfaces of the sides of the frame G.
At either side of the frames E and F are jointed arm rests S S¹, the former
hinged to E and the latter to F, and so arranged as to adapt themselves freely to
any position commensurate with the position of the frame E.
The operation of the invention is as follows:-
In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sheet 1 the apparatus is shewn in use as an ordinary
arm chair, with the frames E F G and H forming the back, seat, leg, and foot
rest of the same respectively, the sliding frame M being now out of use. If now it
is desired to alter the chair to a position more resembling a lounge, as suggested
by dotted outline in Fig. 1, the frame E would have a backwood motion imparted
thereto, which would consequently impart a forward motion to the sectors E¹,
which, by reason of their being attached to the sliding frame M by means of
the strip of material O, would, in turn, impart a forward motion to the said
sliding frame M, thereby causing the rollers R₁ of the brackets R¹ to press against
the curved attachments J of the frame F', and so raise the latter into an elevated
position to an extent equal to the deflection of the frame E, as suggested by dotted
outline in Fig. 1, while at the same time the rollers R³ upon the forward or
front ends of the frame M, would impinge against the under surface of the frame G
and cause this to take an inclined position relative to the original one, and
also suggested by dotted outline in Fig. 1, the arms S S₁ freely following the
change of position of the frame E (as shewn in dotted outline) by reason of their
hinged joints, when, by inserting the pins c through the holes d in the side
frames A A¹ into one of those in the sectors E¹, this altered position of the
moving parts may be secured, which position may be rendered more solid if the
legs and L be caused to engage with the proper teeth of their respective racks
in F and G, or if desired the parts and G may be used together or separateley,
independent of the sliding frame M, to enable a greater variety of changes of
positions to be taken without disturbing the position of the frame E and
sectors E¹.
When the apparatus is desired to be of use as a bedstead the said backward
motion of the frame E may be continued until the same is in a horizontal
position, and in alignment with the frame F', when the extreme forward motion so
given to the sectors E¹, and thereby to the sliding frame M, will have caused
the brackets R with their rollers R₁ to have completely passed under the curved
attachments J and be in front and perfectly free thereof, while simultaneously
with this happening, the rollers R2 upon the front ends of the sliding frame M
will have forced the frame G into a perfectly horizontal position as shewn in
Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the dimensions of the sectors E¹ and the length of the
frame M being arranged to permit of this extent of movement but no more, the
frames EF and G and arms S S¹ being now all in one horizontal plane as
shewn, the said frame E being supported by the upper one of the pair of rails C,
and by a pivotted pair of legs T the latter adapted to fold up between the sides of
the frame E when not required for this purpose. The frame F would now rest
upon, and be supported by, the upper surfaces of the side frames A A', while the
frame G is resting upon, and supported by, the ends of the sliding frame M,

page_text: the whole being held securely in position by means of the pins c engaging with
one or the other of the holes 6 d in the sectors and side frames A A' respectively,
and further, by means of hooks g on A, engaging with eyes F as shewn in Fig. 8.
The tension of the spring P (when used) would operate to bring the apparatus
again back into its position as an arm chair, when the agents employed for
retaining it in the position shewn in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 have been released. A head
piece for the bedstead being provided by an additional frame T¹ Fig. 8.
As an alternative arrangement, when the spring P is not used I may dispense
with the strips O and O₁, and in lieu thereof I may provide upon the sectors E¹
of the frame E teeth such as e, and upon the sides of the sliding frame M a corre
sponding toothed rack f as shewn in Fig. 6, from which it will be understood, that
the same motions may be given to the frame M upon movement of the frame E and
sectors E¹. Or as a further modification of this method of construction I may form
upon the sides of the frame E curved extension pieces E³, against which the back
ends of the sliding frame M will rest, substantially as at Fig. 7, and as shewn in
dotted outline in the same figure. The forward movement is given to the said
frame M by a backward one of the frame E, and consequently a forward movement
of the sector E, the return movement of M being arranged for by a resumption of
the use of the spring P, while a set position of the apparatus is ensured by means of
the hole 6 in each of the extension pieces E', coinciding with a series of holes d
in the side frames A A¹, thus enabling the pins c to be inserted as before.
As an alternative locking arangement I may dispense with the pins c and
holes bd in the sectors E and side frames A A', and in lieu thereof provide
upon the inner surface of either or both of the frames AA a circular disc such
as U (shewn in detail in Fig. 11 and in position in Fig. 8) carrying in pivotal
connection therewith a vertically disposed bolt or pin V, adapted to engage with
holes W situated in either or both sides of the sliding frame M, the said discs U
being operated by means of a lever or levers X, arranged upon the outer surface of
the frames A A, the movements of the said levers operating to place the bolt or
pin V in or out of one or the other of the holes W according to the position in
which the apparatus is to be locked.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I may as a modification of the methods therein
shewn, construct the sectors E¹ and curved extension pieces E entirely of or with
their active surfaces constructed of sheet metal or metal plates, the said active
surfaces being formed by turning up a suitable portion of the lower edge of the
said metal plates at right angles to the remainder, the said turned up or active
portion receiving the resilient attachments () and O¹ of the sector E Fig. 5, or
arranged to form the teeth e in the case of the toothed sector E¹, (Fig. 6) or the
active surface of the curved extension E³ Fig. 7 as may be desired.
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:-
(1) The improved combination chair, lounge, and bedstead, and the several
alternative methods of arranging the details of same, connected and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
(2) The improved combination chair, lounge, and bedstead, consisting of the
combination of a frame A A¹ C, adapted to form legs B B', the said frame being
covered by a frame or seat F, pivotally connected to a frame or back E, and having
hinged thereto a depending frame G, and foot rest H, the said frame or back Ě
being pivotally mounted at a point a, and has depending portions or sectors
adapted for adjustment by the means of pins c and holes b and d, the said frames E
and AA supporting collapsible jointed arm rests S S₁, while the frame A A¹
provide a movable leg F adapted to engage with a ratcheted surface for adjusting
the position of the frame F, and a leg or legs L for engaging with a ratcheted
surface K for adjusting the position of the frame G substantially as herein
described and shewn by the appended drawings.

page_text: (3) In an improved combination chair, lounge, and bedstead, as set forth and
characterized by the preceding claim, the combination with the back frame E of a
projection such as or E³, adapted to operate the movements of a horizontal
frame mounted in the frame A A¹, and adapted to slide upon and by rollers such
as N, the said sector being adapted to actuate the frame M by the means of two-
way resilient ties such as O and O¹, and a spring P as at Fig. 5, or by the means
of toothed surfaces such as c and f as at Fig. 6, or by abutment and the spring P
as at Fig. 7, substantially as herein described and shewn by the accompanying
drawings, more particularly by Figs. 5, 6 and 7.
Datod this 30th dox of tuo 1800
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.