Improvements in Lounge or Couch Beds.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lounge or Couch Beds.
I, CHARLES DRIVER, of 12 Claremont Park, Boston, County of Suffolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of beds commouly called lounge or couch
beds, and has for its object to construct the same so that it may be extended
transversely, or widened to make a full width bed, or may be closed up and used as a
single width bed, and when so closed up and made up and provided with a suitable
coverlet serves as, and represents an upholstered lounge or couch.
A full width mattress is employed and my invention further has for its object to
provide means for holding the side edges of the mattress when the bed is closed up
as a single width bed, so that the mattress may serve as the upholstery for the
lounge over which the coverlet may be spread.
In accordance with this invention the longitudinal side rails are connected to, or
supported by transverse frames, which support the slats or springs which constitute
the bed bottom, and these two transverse slat supporting frames or sections are
movable toward and from each other to vary the width of the bed, and the slats
carrying the springs are placed on said frames longitudinally, the side slats being
rigidly secured to the side rails or to the supporting frames or sections, while the
intermediate slats are freely movable independently but connected together and to
the side slats so that they may be separated when the bed is widened, or may be
crowded together when the bed is narrowed.
As a means of extending and retracting the slat-supporting section, I preferably
employ rack and pinion, the racks being secured to the transverse frames of the
slat-supporting sections, and the pinions being secured to a centrally located
longitudinal shaft adapted to be turned by a hand wheel or crank or otherwise at
one end of the bed.
The longitudinal shaft has its bearings in the head and foot boards, which are
made of a width corresponding to the width it is desired for the single width bed.
A pocket or recess is formed along the outer side of each side rail to receive the
side edges of the full width mattress when the slat supporting sections are
retracted.
The side rails are connected at each end to end pieces which are made of
suitable length so that when abutting against each other end wise, they will
correspond with the width that is desired for the lounge or couch, or a single
width bed.
The end pieces at each end of the bed are guided by or adapted to slide on steps
formed on the lower ends of the head board and foot board, said head board and
foot board each having a central leg supplied with a caster.
The foot board has also a bead which overlaps the upper edge of the end pieces
to better furnish a guide therefor.
Cleats or braces are secured to said side rails at suitable points between their
ends, which project some little distance above the upper edges of said side rails
said cleats or braces being cut away at their outer sides.
Two transversely extended and parallel arranged slat-supporting frames are
secured to the braces on the side rail, and two like transversely extended and
parallel arranged slat-supporting frames are secured to the braces on the side rail.
These slat-supporting frames are each provided at their ends remote from the side
rails with a leg having a caster.
These frames each have an elongated slot or opening which receives a

page_text: longitudinal shaft, said shaft having its bearings in the head and foot boards, yet if
found sufficient one of said bearings may be omitted.
At points on the shaft within the slots or openings two pinions are secured,
which are made wide enough to engage upper and lower racks secured to the said
slat-supporting frames within the slots or said racks may be otherwise located.
The upper racks are secured to the frames so as to be engaged by the upper side
of the pinions, and the lower racks are secured to the frames, so as to be engaged
by the lower side of the pinions, and by turning the shaft and thereby rotating the
pinions the said upper and lower racks will be moved in opposite directions,
thereby moving the slat-supporting frames toward and from each other, depending
in which direction the pinions are rotated.
One end of the shaft may be squared to receive a wrench or crank or other
device, by means of which said shaft may be turned, or any other suitable means
may be employed for turning said shaft.
By employing racks and pinions as a means for moving the slat-supporting
frares toward and from each other, it will be seen that said movement is positive
and alike at each end of the bed.
The outer slat-supporting frames are secured to the side rail near its ends, which
are made similar to the inner frames and arranged in parallelism therewith, they
projecting above the side rail and being cut away at the ends adjacent to said side
rail like the frames and said frames are also slotted at their opposite ends to
receive the shaft and permit movement of the frames.
Corner posts are provided which serve as legs, they being provided with casters.
Other slat-supporting frames are secured to the side rail being made similar to
the frames and arranged in parallelism therewith, and provided with slots for the
shaft and at the lower end of said frames a step is formed upon which the outer
frames slide.
Corner posts are secured to the frames which extend down and serve as legs,
being provided with casters.
The side rails, and transverse slat-supporting sections connected thereto,
constitute slat-supporting sections.
Slats carrying springs rest upon the transverse frames, said slats being connected
together by means of cords or chains and the side slats are secured rigidly to the
supporting frames, or side rails so that as said slat-supporting sections are moved
from each other, or retracted the side slats will be carried by them, and by means
of the cords or chains the remaining or intermediate slats will be separated by
means of the cords being drawn taut, or when said sections are moved toward each
other the said slats will be crowded together, one pushing against the one next
to it.
At the foot of the bed the ends of the slats project beneath the bead which
assists in holding them in place.
At the side of the bed additional slats are secured to the tops of the springs to
present a defined edge over which the mattress and other bed clothing may be
drawn.
To the upper edge of the inclined side rails bars are secured by suitable supports
which in connection with the cut away or recessed portions of the supporting
frames present suitable pockets or recesses, which receive the side edges of the full
width mattress and other bed clothing when the bed is closed up, and when so made
up a suitable coverlet will be provided for it so that it will have the appearance of
an upholstered lounge or couch.
I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular construction of pocket for
the side edges of the full width mattress.
At the head of the bed, side pieces are secured to the side rails and end pieces,
the upper edges of which are curved and semi-circular pieces are secured to the end
pieces which together with the side pieces constitute a frame upon which strips of
wood or other suitable material may be secured to form a head rest.
This head rest is divided in two parts, so that when the bed' is closed up, the said

page_text: parts will abut against each other, or when separated will present between them
an open space, which may be filled in any suitable way.
Dated this 13th day of September 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lounge or Couch Beds.
I, CHARLES DRIVER, of Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,
Merchant, residing at 12 Claremont Park, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of beds commonly called lounge or couch
beds, and has for its object to construct the same so that it may be extended
transversely, or widened to make a full width bed, or may be closed up and used as
a single width bed, and when so closed up and made up and provided with a
suitable coverlet serves as, and represents an upholstered lounge or couch.
A full width inattress is employed and my invention further has for its object to
provide means for holding the side edges of the mattress when the bed is closed up
as a single width bed, so that the mattress may serve as the upholstery for the
lounge over which the coverlet may be spread.
In accordance with this invention the longitudinal side rails are connected to, or
supported by transverse frames, which support the slats or springs which constitute
the bed bottom, and these two transverse slat supporting frames or sections are
movable toward and from each other to vary the width of the bed, and the slats
carrying the springs are placed on said frames longitudinally, the side slats being
rigidly secured to the side rails or to the supporting frames or sections, while the
intermediate slats are freely movable independently but connected together and to
the side slats so that they may be separated when the bed is widened, or may be
crowded together when the bed is narrowed.
As a means of extending and retracting the slat-supporting sections I preferably
employ a rack and pinion mechanism, the racks being secured to the transverse
frames of the slat-supporting sections, and the pinions being secured to a centrally
located longitudinal shaft adapted to be turned by a hand wheel or crank or
otherwise at one end of the bed.
The longitudinal shaft has its bearings in the head and foot boards, which are
made of a width corresponding to the width it is desired for the single width bed.
A. pocket or recess is formed along the outer side of each side rail to receive the
side edges of the full width mattress when the slat supporting sections are
retracted.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lounge or couch bed embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the bed shown in Figure 1, taken on the
dotted line x-x Figure 1, but drawn to an enlarged scale, the mattress being shown
in elevation.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the bed in its retracted position, the springs
and mattress being omitted for clearness.
Figure 4 is a partial end view of the head of the bed.
Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the foot board.
Figure 6 is a sectional detail of the head of the bed, and
Figure is a plan view of the bed in its retracted position, the mattress being
omitted.
In carrying my invention into practice the side rails a, a¹, are connected at each
end to end pieces a, a, which are made of suitable length so that when abutting

page_text: against each other end wise, they will correspond with the width that is desired tor
the lounge or couch, or a single width bed.
The end pieces a², a², at each end of the bed are guided by or adapted to slide
on steps a, formed on the lower ends of the head board b, and foot board c, said
head board and foot board each having a central leg supplied with a caster.
The foot board c has also a head a¹³, which overlaps the upper edge of the end
pieces a, a, to better furnish a guide therefor, see Figure 5.
Cleats or braces a¹, are secured to said side rails a, a', at suitable points between
their ends, which project some little distance above the upper edges of said side
rails, as shown in Figure 2, said cleats or braces being cut away at their outer
sides as shown.
Two transversely extended and parallel slat-supporting frames d d¹, are secured
to the braces a¹, on the side rail a, and two like transversely extended and parallel
arranged slat-supporting frames d³, d³ are secured to the braces a¹ on the side
rail a'. These slat-supporting frames d, d', d, d³, are each provided at their ends
farthest from the side rails with a leg having a caster.
These frames d, d¹, d², d³, each have an elongated slot or opening d*, which
receives a longitudinal shaft e, said shaft having its bearings in the head and foot
boards, yet if found sufficient one of said bearings may be omitted.
At points on the shaft e within the slots or openings d, two pinions d³ are secured,
which are made wide enough to engage racks such as d', d', secured to the said
slat supporting frames within the slots d', or said racks may be otherwise located.
The racks are secured to the frames d, d³, so as to be engaged by the upper
side of the pinions, and the racks are secured to the frames d, d', so as to be
engaged by the lower side of the pinions, and by turning the shaft e, and thereby
rotating the pinions, the said racks d and d' will be moved in opposite directions,
thus moving the slat-supporting frames toward and from each other, depending in
which direction the pinions are rotated.
One end of the shaft e may be squared to receive a wrench or crank or other
device, by means of which said shaft may be turned, or any other suitable means
may be employed for turning said shaft.
By employing racks and pinions as shown as a means for moving the slat-
supporting frames toward and from each other, it will be seen that said movement
is positive and alike at each end of the bed.
Slat-supporting frames d³, d are secured to the side rail a' near its ends, which
are made similar to the frames d', ³, and arranged in parallelism therewith, they
projecting above the side rail and being cut away at the ends adjacent to said side
rail like the frames d³, d, and said frames do, do, are also slotted at their opposite
ends to receive the shaft e, and permit movement of the frame.
Corner posts d are provided which serve as legs, they being provided with
casters.
Slat-supporting frames d¹, d¹³ are secured to the side rail a, being made similar
to the frames d d', and arranged in parallelism therewith, and provided with slots
for the shaft e, and at the lower end of said frames d¹², d¹³, a step d is formed upon
which the frames do, do slide.
Corner posts d are secured to the frames d¹³, 13, which extend down and serve
as legs, being provided with casters.
The side rails, and transverse slat-supporting sections connected thereto, constitute
slat-supporting sections.
Slats i, carrying springs i, rest upon the transverse frames d, d', d³, d³¸ d³¸ dº¸ d¹², d¹³,
said slats being connected together by means of cords or chains 2, and the side
slats are secured rigidly to the supporting frames, or side rails so that as said
slat-supporting sections are moved from each other, or retracted the side slats will
be carried by them, and by means of the cords or chains the remaining or
intermediate slats will be separated by means of the cords being drawn taut, or
when said sections are moved toward each other the said slats will be crowded
together, each one pushing against the one next to it.

page_text: At the foot of the bed the ends of the slats i, project beneath the bead a¹³, which
assists in holding them in place.
At the side of the bed additional slats are secured to the tops of the springs to
present a defined edge over which the mattress and other bed clothing may be
drawn.
To the upper edge of the inclined side rails a, a¹ bars a³ are secured by suitable
supports which in connection with the cut away or recessed portions of the
supporting frames present suitable pockets or recesses, which receive the side edges
of the full width mattress and other bed clothing when the bed is closed up, and
when so made up a suitable coverlet will be provided for it, so that it will have the
appearance of an upholstered lounge or couch.
I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular construction of pocket
for the side edges of the full width mattress.
At the head of the bed side pieces f, are secured to the side rails and end pieces,
the upper edges of which are curved, as shown, and semi-circular pieces f¹, are
secured to the end pieces a², which together with the side pieces f, constitute a
frame upon which strips of wood or other suitable material may be secured to form
a head rest.
This head rest is represented in Figure 7, as divided in two parts, so that when
the bed is closed up, the said parts will abut against each other, or when separated
will present between them an open space, which may be filled in
any suitable way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a lounge or couch bed, two transversely movable slat supporting sections,
and slats carrying springs thereon, the side slats being rigidly secured to their
supports, and the intermediate slats being free to move on their supports and
connected with the side slats, combined with a single longitudinal operating shaft e,
and intermediate connections between said shaft and said transversely movable
sections whereby the latter are extended and retracted by the operation of the
former, substantially as described.
2. In a lounge or couch bed, two longitudinal side rails, and two transverse slat-
supporting frames connected to each side rail, and movable transversely therewith,
several longitudinal slats carrying springs mounted on said transverse supporting
frames, the side slats being rigidly secured to their supports, and the intermediate
slats being free to move on their supports, and connected with the side slats,
combined with the longitudinal operating shaft e, and intermediate connections
between said transversely movable parts and said shaft, whereby the bed may be
extended and retracted by turning said shafts, substantially as described.
3. In a lounge or couch bed, two longitudinal side rails and two transverse slat-
supporting frames connected to each side rail, and movable transversely therewith,
end pieces a², also connected to said side rails, and several longitudinal slats
carrying springs mounted on said transverse supporting frames, separable
transversely, combined with the longitudinal operating shaft e, and intermediate
connections between said transversely movable parts and said shaft, whereby the
width of the bed may be varied by turning said shaft, and a single width head
board, and foot board, formed to present guides for said end pieces a³, substantially
as described.
4. In a lounge or couch bed, two longitudinal side rails and two transverse slat-
supporting frames, connected to each side rail, and movable therewith, several slats
carrying springs, supported on said frames, combined with the longitudinal
operating shaft e, and cords or chains connecting said shaft with the transversely
movable parts whereby the latter are extended or retracted by said shaft,
substantially as described.
5. In a lounge or couch bed, two longitudinal side rails, and two transverse slat-
supporting frames connected to each side rail having slots or openings slats

page_text: carrying springs placed on said slotted frames, combined with a single longitudinal
operating shaft e placed in said slots or openings d, and intermediate connections
between said shaft and the transversely movable parts, whereby the bed is extended
or retracted by the operation of said shaft, substantially as described.
6. In a lounge or couch bed two transversely movable sections, slats carrying
springs placed thereon, the side slats being rigidly secured to their supports, and
the intermediate slats being free to move on their supports, the slats &³, placed on
top of the springs on said rigidly secured side slats, combined with a full width
mattress placed on said springs, and pockets to receive the side edges of said
mattress when the bed is closed up and used as a lounge, substantially as described.
7. In a lounge or couch bed two transversely movable sections, slats carrying
springs thereon, and side slats being rigidly secured to their supports, and the
intermediate slats being free to move on their supports, and connected with the
rigidly secured side slats combined with a full width mattress placed on said springs
and pockets at the sides of the transversely movable sections to receive the side
edges of said mattress when the bed is retracted and used as a lounge, substantially
as described.
8. In a lounge or couch bed two transversely movable slat supporting sections,
and slats carrying springs thereon, the side slats being rigidly secured to their
supports and the intermediate slats being free to move on their supports and
connected with the rigidly secured side slats, and means for extending and
retracting said sections transversely to widen or narrow the bed combined with a
full width mattress placed on said springs and pockets to receive the side edges of
said mattress when the bed is retracted and used as a lounge, substantially as
described.
9. In a lounge or couch bed, two transversely movable slat supporting sections,
and means for extending and retracting them combined with a series of slat
carrying springs supported on said sections, the outside slats being rigidly secured
to the sections and the intermediate slats being free to move independently on their
supports and connected with each other and with the rigidly secured side slats,
whereby they will be separated as the slat-supporting sections are extended,
substantially as described.
10. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, side rails a a', slat supports
connected therewith, and slats carrying springs mounted on said slat supports,
combined with the head board and foot board, the longitudinal shaft e, having its
bearings in said head board and foot board, pinions d³ ³ thereon, and racks secured
to the transversely movable parts of the bed which are engaged by said pinions,
substantially as described.
11. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, side rails, and transversely
arranged slat-supporting frames connected thereto, and a series of longitudinally
arranged slats carrying springs placed thereon, the side slats of which are rigidly
secured to and movable from their supports while the intermediate ones are
independently movable, and flexible connections between said slats by means of
which the intermediate slats are separated as the side slats are moved from each
other, combined with the longitudinal shaft e pinions d' secured thereto, and
racks engaged by said pinions secured to the slat-supporting frames, substantially
as described.
12. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, side rails and end pieces
connected thereto, slat supporting frames, and slats thereon, and means for moving
said slat-supporting frames to vary the width of the bed, combined with the bars a
secured to the upper edges of said side rails to thereby present pockets or recesses to
receive the side edges of the mattress when the bed is closed up, and used as a
lounge, substantially as described.
13. In a transversely extensible bed side rails, and end pieces connected thereto,
a head board and foot board which serve as guides for said end pieces, slat-
supporting frames, and slats thereon, and means for moving said slat-supporting
frames toward and from each other, combined with a head rest composed of two

page_text: separate parts, of which the side pieces f form a co-operative part, substantially as
described.
14. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, side rails a a¹, and
transverse slat-supporting frames connected thereto, and means for moving them
toward and from each other, a series of longitudinally arranged slats i carrying
springs located on said frames, the side slats being connected to their supports, and
the intermediate slats being free to move on their supports, and connected together
and to the side slats, combined with a head board and foot board, the latter having
a head as beneath which the ends of said free and independently movable slats are
placed, substantially as described.
15. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, inclined side rails and trans-
verse slat-supporting frames projecting above said side rails, and cut away at their ends
adjacent to the said side rails, combined with bars a³, mounted on the upper edges
of said side rails opposite said cut away portions to form in connection therewith
pockets or recesses, slats carrying springs placed on said transverse slat supporting
frames, and a mattress placed on said springs, the side edges of which enter said
pockets or recesses when the bed is closed up, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.