Improvements in Folding or Collapsible Bedsteads
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding or Collapsible Bedsteads
I, AIMÉ FRANÇOIS ROUTIER, of 4, Boulevard Denain, in the Republic of France,
Gentleman, 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 a folding or collapsible bedsteads particularly intended
for explorers, the members of colonial or military expeditions, but which may
be also used for rest in the garden, or as a piece of camp or ambulance furniture,
and the like.
The said folding or collapsible bedstead is characterized by the manner in
which it bears or rests on the ground by means of supporting cross-pieces
connecting together the standards or posts at the ends and which are distributed
over the whole length of the bedstead; the said cross-pieces afford a com-
paratively large surface of support and allow of fitting up the bedstead on any
ground, however soft or irregular it may be without any risk of the bedstead
sinking down or of its being rocky; this particular arrangement of the cross-
pieces offers therefore a very great advantage over similar folding or collapsible
bedsteads now in use for camp or other purposes, and which always rest on legs
offering each but a very small bearing surface and which sink down when the
ground is soft or are partly off the ground when the latter is irregular.
the above essential characteristic, my system of folding or collapsible bedstead
Besides
is very remarkable for its lightness, solidity, small compass when folded, and
the facility with which it can be set up and folded; it can also be used as a
stretcher by fitting handles to the standards; in certain cases, it can be trans-
formed into a bench by turning the bedstead upside down.
In the different forms of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings,
the construction only comprises simple and compact parts or members, which
are easily put together in a few minutes even in the dark.
Figure 1 of the said drawings is a side elevation of the first form of my folding
or collapsible bedstead.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, the cloth being removed.
Figures 3 and 4 are end views taken, respectively, at the head and post of the
bedstead.
Figure 5 shows the detail of the connection or joint of one of the cross-pieces.
Figure 6 represents in elevation, section, and plan, respectively, a detail of
one of the cross pieces.
Figure is an elevation and a cross section on the line A-A of one side of
he bedstead shown as being folded.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the second form of my folding or collapsible
edstead.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively, end views taken at the foot and the head of
ne bedstead.
Figure 11 shows in elevation and plan, respectively, a detail of the pivoted
onnection of one of the cross pieces.

page_text: Figure 12 represents two sections of a cross piece on the line B-B and C-
respectively of Figure 8.
Figure 13 represents front and side views, respectively of a device for hooking
the cross-pieces.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the third form of folding bedstead.
Figure 15 is an end view of the same.
Figure 16 represents in elevation the bench obtained by transforming the
folding or collapsible bedstead.
Figure 17 is a side view of the same.
Figure 18 is an underneath plan view of the bench.
Figure 19 shows the bedstead as being folded.
Figure 20 is a front view of a modification form of bench obtained by trans-
forming the folding or collapsible bedstead; and
Figure 21 is a sector on the line D-D of Figure 20.
The folding or collapsible bedstead shown in Figures 1-7 comprises two longi-
tudinal cross-pieces each in three parts abe connected together at the ends by
pivots de; each end of the middle part b is provided with a stud f so arranged
as to abut against the adjacent part a or c when the bedstead is unfolded.. The
standards or posts and h, pivoted to the ends of the cross-pieces abc, are
connected by stays i and j, k with the part b of the said cross-pieces; the said
standards are also held in position by cross-bars m, connecting together the head-
posts, and by small stays n connecting the foot posts g to the roller o which is
supported by the said posts g; the cloth p forming the bed is fixed at one end
to the roller and at the other end to a roller supported by the posts h.
The stays i are in one piece; they are pivoted or jointed to the part 6 of each
cross-piece at a point adjacent to the pivot d; their free ends are provided with
a hook which engages one of the holes r in the plate s integral with each of the
posts g.
The stays and k are formed in two parts fitting one in the other, the part j
being pivoted or jointed to the post h near the upper end of the latter, and the
part being pivoted or jointed to the part b, of the cross-pieces near the pivot e.
A stud is fixed in the tube j and enters freely into the tube k; the ends of each
tube are reinforced by fixed ferrules u.
The cross-bars m are both pivoted at to the posts h, and their hooked ends
engage a ring fixed to the opposite post.
The small stays n are pivoted to studs y fixed on the rollers o and their hooked
ends engage rings fixed to the posts g.
In order to support the rollers o and q, the posts g and h are provided with
bearings 1, one of which is provided with a spring pawl 2 engaging a ratchet-
wheel 3 fixed to the roller q. The cloth is run off by turning the roller
by hand, and the tension of the same is maintained by the spring pawl 2, which
is engaged in the ratchet-wheel 3.
The parts abc of each cross-piece are formed by an iron plate bent into
channel or U shape, the hollow part being filled up with wood.
For the purpose of giving the crosspieces abc a certain upward flexion when
the bed is empty as shown in Figure 1, wedges of suitable thickness 5 may he
fixed under the studs f (see Figure 6) so as to cause the said cross-pieces to
straighten out when the bed is occupied.
For the purpose also of securing the proper relative position of the parts abc,
one to the other, when unfolded, the studs f may be provided with a stop-piece (},
which engages with a corresponding groove in the parts a and c.
To vary the length of the bedstead, the stays i may be hooked into different
holes in the plate s, or movable ferrules of proper length may be interposed
between the ferrules u of the stays jk.
9
Removable handles 7 may be fixed to the posts and by any suitable means;
the said handles may, if necessary, be reinforced by wire stays 8, hooked to the

page_text: Tower ends of the posts and h.. By means of the said handles the bedstead may
be carried by hand, in the same way as a stretcher.
To fold the bedstead the cloth p is unstretched, the rollers o and q are removed
from their bearings, the several cross-bars and stays are unhooked, and the two
5 halves of the bedstead, which are alike, are folded separately, by bringing the
posts and onto the parts a and c, and then the latter alongside the part b;
each half of the bedstead when folded (Figure 7) only occupies a very small
compass.
The bedstead shown in Figures 8 to 13, comprises cross-pieces divided into
three parts 9, 10, 11, their ends being pivoted together by pivots 12 and 13.
Studs 14 are fixed to the ends of the part 10, the said studs abutting against the
parts 9 and 11.
The standards or posts 15 and 15, pivoted to the ends of each
cross-piece, are connected with the part 10 by stays 16, and one to the other by
cross-bars 17. The said posts are provided with bearings 18 for the rollers 19
and 20, to which the cloth 21 is fixed.
The posts and the parts 9 and 11 of the cross-pieces are formed by iron plates,
bent into channel or U shape, the hollow part being filled up with wood; the
part 10 is formed by an inner wooden part and an outer sheet-metal part, the
vertical wall 22 of which projects upwards and is provided with holes 23
Figure 13, to receive the hooked ends of the stays 16.
The said stays 16 are formed in two parts connected together by a pivot 24,
engaged in lugs 25 which are integral with the said parts; the axis of the pivot
being placed to one side in order to permit of the two halves of each stay coming
together, the one against the other, the ends of the two parts are cut away half
through their thickness and cover each other to a certain distance; the said
parts may be maintained in a fixed position the one opposite the other by means
of a movable brace or ring 26, which slides freely on the upper part of the
stay 16.
To lock each of the stays 16 to the plate 22, a flat spring 27 Figure 13 fixed
to the part 10, is curved in such a manner as to come, when free, opposite the
corresponding hole 23, and engage a notch provided on the bent end 28, of the
stay 16, when the latter is put in place.
This form of the folding or collapsible bedstead may, like the one herein before
described, be used as a stretcher; and can be folded into a very small compass.
Figures 14 to 19 show a folding bedstead, which offers the same characteristic
arrangement as those above described, but of which the longitudinal cross-pieces
are sufficiently wide to afford, when the bedstead is turned upside down and the
sides of the same are brought towards each other, a seat in the form of a bench.
Each of the two symmetrical parts of the bedstead comprises a longitudinal
wooden cross-piece in two parts 30 and 31, having a square connection together.
Two standards or posts 32 and 33 are pivoted to the part 31 by means of the
suitable hinges 34. Stays 35 are pivoted to the ends of the posts 32 and 33,
and the hooked ends of the said stays 35 engage in holes 36 of the part 31,
where they may be maintained by spring catches or any other suitable fastening
levice. Transversely, the said posts are connected together by cross-bars 37,
pivoted to each of the posts, their free ends being hooked and engaging rings or
taples 38, fixed, respectively, to the opposite cross-pieces or parts.
Rollers 39 and 40, to which is fixed a cloth 41, are supported by the posts 32
nd 33 by means of semi-circular or other suitable bearings; one of the said
ollers being provided with a ratchet-wheel 42, against which acts a spring
awl 43, fixed to the post 33.
Ferrules 44 having sockets are fixed to the posts 32 and 33, to receive hand-
ieces, which will permit of carrying the bedstead in the same manner as a
retcher.
When it is required to transform the bedstead into a bench, the cross-bars 37
e unhooked, the two symmetrical parts of the bedstead are brought towards
ach other, and the cross bars 37 are then hooked into the staples 45, fixed near

page_text: the ends of the said posts. The bedstead may then be turned upside down,
when it will have the appearance of a bench; to make the said bench more solid,
hooking devices may be arranged under the cross-pieces or parts 30; the devices
shown in the drawings consist of hasps 46 pivoted to one of the parts 30 and
which engage staples 47 fixed in the other part 30.
This form of folding-bedstead will be readily taken to pieces and folded into a
very small compass, as shown in Figure 19.
Figures 20 and 21 show a modification of the form of bedstead just described,
and in which the cross-pieces are pivoted at their middle by means of hinges 51,
whereby the bedstead is reduced in length by one-half when folded. When
this form of bedstead is turned upside down and thus transformed into a bench,
the required rigidity can readily be given to it, despite the moving joint or
connection, by means of hangers, sliding cross-pieces, or any other equivalent
device. As shown in the drawings, the device consists of hangers 48, pivoted
at the under side of the cross-pieces 49, in the middle of the latter, the said
hangers being connected to the ends of the said cross-pieces by means of wires 50.
The stays 52, maintaining the posts 53 and 54 in position, are in two parts
pivoted or connected together in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means
of the hinge shown in Figure 11.
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. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two support-
ing longitudinal cross-pieces, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each
cross-piece, stays connecting the ends of the said standards or posts with the
corresponding cross-pieces, cross-bars consolidating the said standards or posts
transversely a cloth mounted on two rollers, and means for supporting the said
rollers and stretching the cloth between the standards or posts, the said bedstead
being collapsible, the whole of the parts folding together in a very small compass,
substantially as described.
2. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two
supporting cross-pieces divided each into three parts having abutting studs
giving an upward flexion to each cross-piece when the bed is empty, standards
or posts pivoted to the ends of each cross-piece stays connecting the ends of the
standards or posts with the corresponding cross-pieces, cross-bars consolidating
the said standards or posts transversly, a cloth mounted on two rollers, and
means for supporting the said rollers and stretching the cloth between the
standards or posts, the said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of the parts
folding into a very small compass, substantially as described.
3. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two support-
ing longitudinal cross-pieces, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each cross-
piece, tubular stays in two parts connected together by a fixed stud on the one
part and which enters the socket of the other part, cross-bars consolidating the
said standards or posts transversely, a cloth mounted on two rollers, and means
for supporting the said rollers and stretching the cloth between the posts, the
said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of the parts folding into a very small
compass, substantially as described.
4. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two support-
ing longitudinal cross-pieces, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each
cross-piece, stays conecting the ends of the standards or posts with the corre-
sponding cross-pieces, cross-bars consolidating the said standards or posts
transversely, a cloth mounted on two rollers, a ratchet-wheel fixed to one of the
rollers and engaging a spring-pawl fixed to one of the standards or posts, the
said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of the parts folding into a very small
compass, substantially as described.
5. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two support-

page_text: ing longitudinal cross-pieces, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each
cross-piece, stays connecting the ends of the standards with the corresponding
cross-pieces, cross bars consolidating the said standards or posts transversely, a
cloth mounted on two rollers, and means for supporting the said rollers and
stretching the said cloth between the standards, and removable handles with or
without wire stays or hangers, the said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of
the parts folding into a very small compass, substantially as described.
6. A bedstead comprising, in combination, two supporting longitudinal cross-
pieces, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each cross-piece, stays connect-
ing the ends of the standards or posts with the corresponding cross-pieces, spring
catches which permit of locking the said stays to the said cross-pieces, cross-bars
consolidating the said standards or posts transversely, a cloth mounted on two
rollers, and means for supporting the rollers and stretching the cloth between
the posts, the said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of the parts folding into
a very small compass, substantially as described.
7. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two support-
ing cross-pieces sufficiently wide to serve as seats when the width of the bedstead
is reduced and the bedstead is turned upside down thus transforming it into a
bench, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each cross-piece, stays connecting
the ends of the standards or posts with the corresponding cross-pieces, cross-
bars consolidating the said standards transversely, a cloth mounted on two rollers,
and means for supporting the rollers and stretching the cloth between the
standards or posts the said bedstead being collapsible, the whole of the parts
folding into a very small compass, substantially as described, and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE, & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.