US1419574A - Extensible bed - Google Patents

Description

w. E. LAWSON.

EXTENSIBLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, I920.

Patented June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 57 519 Imam vian Pawnted June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o o o o W. E. LAWSON EXTENSIBLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED DUNE I8. 1920 O O 0 O O 0 0 O mlwm WILLIAM E. LAWSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ENGLANDER SPRING- BED COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXTENSIBLE BED.

Application filed June 18, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, \JILLIAM E. Lawson, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Extensible Bed, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to extensible beds comprising two bed sections which may be either telescoped together to be used as a single bed or couch, or may be extended to form a double bed.

One object of my invention is to provide a bed of this type in which the forward portion of the movable section shall be sup ported upon the floor at points some distance back of the front face of the section. This is preferably accomplished by extending the front legs downward and rearward from their point of connection with the front section near its forward edge, thus providing the desired construction without int-erfering with the nesting of the two sections. One advantage of this construction is the reduction of wear upon the floor in front of the main section. In other words, the worn space in front of the bed when collapsed is reduced in extent due to the reduced travel of the front feet over this space. Consequently when the bed is in use a single bed, the floor just in front of it is less marred and unsightly than where the legs are straight. Another advantage of this construction resides in the ability of the forward edge of the movable section to extend over the edge of a rug without the feet engaging it. In some instances this may save rearranging the rugs when changing from single to double positions or the reverse. Another advantage is found in the appearance of the bed when its sections are nested. lVhen the parts are thus nested the front feet of the front section are practically hidden from view and the bed presents the appearance of a four-footed bed. The new leg construction also allows a straight stem caster to be used to good advantage and thereby provides an economical structure which prevents irregular movements of the front section as it is moved into and out of its nested position.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved guide engaging legs or feet at Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 389,861.

the rear of the movable section which shall have a free and easy to and fro movement. This is preferably accomplished by providing legs of special construction and furnishing them with wear plates or domes which slide freely over the tracks or guide-ways provided on the main section.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding the sections so that whether fully extended or fully collapsed they shall occupy definite relative positions.

By providing guides for this purpose which come into play only when the sections approach their extreme positions, there is great freedom of movement and yet an accurate placing of the sections relative to each other in their final open and closed positions. These guides prevent the sections from improperly engaging each other and thereby knocking off or marriug the finish.

Other objects are to provide a bed of strong and durable construction throughout, one having simple and effectively arranged parts and one which can be economically manufactured. I

For a full understanding of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and for the scope of the invention attention is directed to the accompanying claims.

In said drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extensible bed constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with the sections drawn out, portions of the structure being broken away for clearness and to bring the whole within the limits of the drawing; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the same structure showing the sections in nested position; Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating one of the rear feet of the movable section; Fig. 5 is a plan view. showing the ends of the main section in section and having the parts broken away so as to reduce the size of the figure; Fig. 6 is a view of one of the forward feet of the front section in association with the front panel and other port-ions of the section; Fig. 7 is a view of the same front foot structure showing the front panel in section, the parts being viewed in a direction op osite to that in which they are viewed in *igs. 2 and 8;

and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same foot structure showing parts in section taken on a plane indicated by the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Throughout these views like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 and 11 designate the ends of the main or rear section of the bed. Each of these ends comprises vertical posts 12 and 13 which are connected together by an intervening panel 14 of suitable construction; a top bar 15 also unites the tops of the posts 12 and 14: and between this top bar 15 and the panel 14 is an additional panel 16 having an ornamental center 17 of caning. Obviously the construction of these ends may be varied according to the judgment and desire of the designer. The posts 12 and 13 terminate in feet 18 and 19 which are provided with casters or silent domes, as may be desired. Each of these ends has associated with it an end frame of angle iron. This end frame, designated generally as 20, is provided with a horizontal member 21 and vertical posts 22. In practice the member 21 and posts 22 are made of a single angle iron which is notched at the points where the corners are to come and bent so as to bring the adjacent faces of the notches together, as clearly illustrated. The member 21 and the posts 22 are strapped together by short straps 23 which are riveted t0 the vertical webs of the member 21 and the posts 22, in each instance. These end frames 20 are secured to the adjacent ends 10 and 11 in any suitable way as by means of lag screws 24- which pass through one of the webs of each post 22 into engagement with the ends, which are in the case illus trated composed of wood. Obviously with ends of a different construction different means might be employed for attaching the end frames to the ends. Likewise with ends of a different material different means would have to be employed for this purpose. The end frames 20 are connected by bars 25. These bars are connected to the posts 22 through the agency of angle blocks 26. Both the blocks 26 and the bars 25 are preferably composed of angle iron and the parts riveted together, the block 26 in each instance being riveted to one of the webs of the post 22 and the bar 25 being riveted to the other web of the block 26. Thus the end frames 20, and necessarily the ends 10 and 11, are spaced apart and rigidly held by the bars 25 which are connected in the way pointed out. The spring structure of the main section is provided by a fabric located b tween the horizontal members 21 and of the end frames 20. The horizontal webs of the members 21 are perforated at suitable intervals for the reception of the hooked ends of the short coiled springs 27 which are connected at their opposite ends to steel stri 3s 28. This spring fabric may be variously constructed according to the judgment of the designer. Besides these parts the main section includes two transverse guide-ways 29 which are also preferably composed of angle iron. The horizontal web of each of these tracks or guide-ways 29 is in the preferred construction riveted to the horizontal webs of the bars 25, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and These guide-ways co-operate with the rear feet upon the front section of the bed as will be hereafter more fully pointed out.

The front or movable section of the bed consists in like manner of two end frames 30 which comprise in each instance a horizontal men'iber 31 and vertical posts 32. These end frames like the end frames 20 are composed of a strip of angle iron which is made by notching at the points where the corners come and then bending so to bring the faces of the notches together in the manner illustrated. As before, the adjacent webs of the member 31 and the posts 32 are strapped together by straps which are riveted to the adjacent flanges in the manner explained heretofore in connection with the des 'ription of the end frames 20. In this s ction the end frames are connected together by bars 341 and 35 the bar 3 1 being at the front and the bar 35 at the rear. The bar 34: forms a support for the front panel 36, which in the present embodiment is a wooden panel shaped so as to agree with the design of the ends 10 and 11. When collapsed so as to be used as a single bed the panel 36 fits accurately between the posts 12 of the ends 10 and 11, a slight clearance being providedbetween the ends of the panel and the adjacent faces of the posts. WVhen the parts are in the collapsed or nested position, the end panels a; and the front panel 36 constitute a curtaining means for hiding the front feet of the front section. Obviously other curtaining means might be employed if desired. Likewise the panels may be composed of other materials. The rear bar is riveted directly to the rear posts 32. The rivets which hold the bar 35' and the posts 32 together also serve to secure the rear feet in place. 'These feet are constructed in each instance of a tube which is flattened at its top to provide a flat faced extension 38 which will fit up against the vertical web of the side bar 35. It is through this extension 38 and the vertical. webs of the side bar 8:3 and the parallel web of the post 32 that the retaining rivet passes. The lower tubular portion of the foot 3? has a wooden plug 39 driven into it so as to form a tight fit. This plug is suitably dressed at the bottom and is there provided with a wear plate or dome .40 which has its prongs driven into the end of the plug.

The forward feet 11 of the movable or front section are in each instance composed of a tube which is flattened at its upper end to provide a web or extension 12 which is riveted directly to the end web of the adj a cent post 32. At a point just below the flattened portion of the tube it is perforated for the passage of a rivet through the same web of the post 32 and through an angle brace 43 which has one arm positioned so as to engage one side of the foot 41 and its other arm positioned so as to engage the horizontal web of the bar 34 of the front section. The tubular portion of the foot 31 is curved downward and rearward so that its rearmost end extends in a horizontal direction. At a point near its rear end this portion of the foot is provided with a vertical opening through its tubular walls. A caster 4:4 is located directly between this portion of the foot and its stem extends upward through the vertical opening in the foot. By this construction the front section of the bed is supported at a point some distance in the rear of the front panel 36. This construction is also a very economical one and, as before indicated, reduces the wear upon the floor in front of the main section to a minimum because of its reduced range of travel. In this way when the parts are collapsed to be used as a single bed the floor in front of the bed is not marred to the same extent as would be the case if the feet 41 were directly beneath the posts 32. The end frames 30 of the movable section are provided with a spring structure like that of the main or rear section. The horizontal members 31 are perforated for the reception of the hooked ends of the short coiled springs 15 which are connected at their opposite ends to the flat steel strips 16 of the bed fabric. As before indicated this bed fabric may be varied in design as circumstances may require or according to the judgment of the designer.

It will be seen that with the construction herein described the feet 41 will pass beneath the side bar 25 of the main section when the parts are nested as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that all the rearward extension of the feet 41 takes place below the level of the side bar 25. It therefore follows that when the parts are nested the posts 32 directly engage the side bars and in this way the front section is squared up with reference to the rear section. This brings the panel 36 into proper alignment with the posts 12 of the ends 10 and 11.

In order to prevent the ends of the panel 36 from engaging the posts 12 and knocking off or marring the finish upon them the end frames 30 are provided with spring tongues 17 and 1-8 located respectively at the front and rear ends of the horizontal members 31. These tongues are riveted at one end to the member 31 and are free at their opposite ends to exert a yielding pressure upon the posts 22 when they are brought into engagement with them. Because of the arrangement of these spring tongues and the posts 22, the movable section is guided into a definite position with reference to the main section whenever it is moved into its fully nested position or its fully extended position. By this construction the forward spring tongues 47 so guide the forward section as it is moved into its fully nested position that the ends of the "panel 36 pass by the posts 12 without engaging them and thus prevent marring the finish upon the posts. When the movable section is in its fully extended position the guiding tongues 18 engage the posts 22 and in like manner center the movable section with reference to the main section. When the sections are thus fully extended the bar 35 of the movable section engages the blocks 26 upon the posts 22 and thus limits the forward movement. This engagement results in squaring the front section with reference to the rear section. The spring tongues 47 and 48 also serve to yieldingly hold the parts in their fully extended or fully nested posi tions. Their yielding engagement with the posts 22 increases the friction between the parts and thus prevents displacement of the bed sections except when a reasonable force is applied to the front section either to draw it out or force it in. In order to complete the design of the bed illustrated the rear section should preferably be provided at the rear with a panel similar to the panel 36.

It will be understood that in carrying out my invention certain changes may be made in the particular embodiment herein presented without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore wish to cover by the terms of the appended claims all such changes as properly come within the scope of the invention. lVh-at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extensible bed having front and 7 rear bed sections, the front section com arising angle iron end frames and side ars, each frame including vertical posts and an intervening horizontal member, angle braces secured to the ends of the front side bar of the front section and having in each instance a vertical arm lying near and spaced from a web of the adjacent vertical post, front feet for the front section, each foot having an upper fiat vertical portion bearing directly against and secured to one of the webs of the adjacent post and each foot having a downwardly and rearwardly curved tubular portion positioned at one point between one of the webs of said post and the vertical arm of the adjacent angle brace, and securing means passing through said tubular portion, arm and We 2. An extensible bed comprising telescoping front and rear bed sections, each section comprising angle iron end frames and side bars, each frame including vertical posts and an intervening horizontal member, spring tongues secured to the opposite ends of each horizontal member of the end frames of the front section and operative to engage the vertical. posts of the end frames of the rear section to guide the sections into proper nested and extended positions and to yieldingly hold them in said positions while leaving them free for easy movement in intermediate positions, four feet for the rear section adapted to rest on the floor, metal guideways on the rear section extending in the direction of travel of the front section, front feet for the front section adapted to travel on the floor, rear feet for the front section adapted to travel on said guideways, and wear plates or domes on the latter feet to allow easy travel of said feet upon said guideways in all directions to reduce resistance to the irregular movements of the front section when not under the guiding action of said spring tongues.

3. An extensible bed comprising telescoping front and rear bed sections, each section comprising end frames and side bars, each frame including vertical members and an intervening horizontal mem'ber, spring tongues secured to the opposite ends of e ch horizontal member of the end frames of the front section and operative to engage the vertical members of the end frames of the rear section to guide the sections into proper nested and extended position and to yieldingly hold them in said positions while leaving them free for easy movement in intermediate positions the posts of the end frame of the rear section engaging the rear side bar of the front section to sq are the latter with reference to the rear section when the sections are fully extended.

4:. An extensible bed. comprising telescoping front and rear bed sections freely movable toward each other into a fully nested (2* position and apart into a fully extended position, the rear section having vertical members near its forward edge, horizontally yielding spring tongues secured near the forward edge of the front section and positioned so as to engage said vertical members only as the sections closely approach and rest in their fully nested position, other horizontally yielding spring tongues secured near the rear edge of the front section and positioned so as to engage said vertical mem hers only as the sections closely approach and rest in their fully extended position, said; spring tongues serving to accurately center and frictionally hold the sections in said positions, and means on the front section cooperating with said vertical members to square the sections relative to each other when fully extended.

5. An extensible bed comprising telescoping front and rear bed sections freely movable toward each other into a fully nested position and apart into a fully extended position, the rear section having a side bar and vertical members near its forward edge, horizontally yielding spring tongues securednear the forward edge of the front section and positioned so as to engage said vertical members only as the sections closely approach and rest in their fully nested position, other horizontally yielding spring tongues secured near the rear edge of the front section and positioned so as to engage said vertical members as the sections closely approach and rest in their fully extended posit-ion said spring tongues serving to accurately center and frictionally hold the sections in said positions, and means on the front section cooperatingwith said side bar to square the sections relative to each other in their fully nested position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of June, A. D.

WILLIAM E. LAl/VSON.

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