US358101A

US358101A - Folding bedstead

Info

Publication number: US358101A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1904-02-22

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

H. L. ALBEE.

FOLDING BBDSTEAD.

No. 358,101. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. LALBEE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 858,101. Patented Feb.22, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet `3.

H. L. ALBEE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 358,101. Patented Fe'b. 22, 1887.

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UNITED SATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. ALBEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,101, dated February 22, 1887.

Serial No. 203,591. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, HENRY L. ALBEE, of Boston, in the county of Sul'iolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a folding bedstead constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar section with the movable portion inclined to the upright portion; Fig. 3, a similar section with the bedstead in a position ready for use, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the upright head-board portion of the'same. Fig. 5 is an interior detail perspective view of one of the movable pivots on which the bedbottom swings. Fig. 6 represents in detail one of the graduated weights employed in balancing the bed-bottom when swung up or down. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are details to be referred to. Fig. l0 is a section on the line vx of Fig. 5.

My present invention relates to that class of folding bedsteads having a head which is stationary in an upright position and a bed-bottom which is so connected therewith by apair of rolls moving on tracks and constituting adjustable fulerums as to be capable of being swung down therefrom in a horizontal position when required for use and swung up into a vertical position, so as to close with the upright stationary head when not in use; and my invention consists in dividing the stationary upright head into two sections, which may be taken apart to permit of the ready disch-- gagement of the movable portion therefrom for convenience in transportation-as, for instance, in carrying the bedstead up or down stairs and through passage-ways and doors, where it would be impossible to move it when in itsset-up or connected position.

My invention consists, also, in a track having a projecting portion which enters an opening in the upper part of the upright head for locking it to the lower portion of the same.

My invention also consists in a series of weights of peculiar form hung on a transverse bar, and by which the counterpoise of the bedstead-body is regulated in a convenient manner from the inside or front, and without moving thebedstead from the wall of the room, as was necessary heretofore where weights were located in a box extending transversely with the bedstead.

In the said drawings, A represents the upright stationary head divided into two parts on the line w w, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) and B the movable body of the bedstead, adapted to be swung down into a horizontal position when required for use (see Fig. 3) and into a closed position against the uprighthead, Fig. 1,when not in use, this movement being made possible by means of movable fulerums constructed and arranged as follows:

To the inner surface of each side rail, ,0, of the movable portion is secured a plate, O, having a boss, d, projecting through an opening in said side rail, the boss having inserted therein a small steel axis or gudgeon, e, on which turns freely a groovcd wheel, f, which runs upon a metal track, D, screwed to the top ofthe lower part, b, of the upright head A, the under side of the upper part, a, of the head being recessed out or cutaway at gfrom inside to outside, (transversely,) so that when the upper part is in position an opening is formed for the unobstructed movement of the fulcrum-wheel f on the track D, the outside of said opening being closed by a strip, h, so as to give a finished appearance to the head, Fig. 10.

Each end of each track is bent up at right angles thereto, as at la 7c', Fig. 7, and may be surrounded with a rubber block, z, Fig. 5, or not, the upright portion of the track in either case serving as a stop to limit the movement of the roll thereon. The upper frontend, lr, of each track D is also bent at right angles to its vertical portion, as at k, and enters a hole, Fig. 5, formed inthe contiguous edge or surface of the upper part, a, of the head A, and locks it in its uprightposition to thelower part, b, of the head, this construction being particularly useful, inasmuch as when the track is unscrewed the separation of the two parts of the head is permitted, thus enabling the movable body portion B to be detached from the head when the bedstead is to be transported or carried over narro'w stairs or through narrow doors, halls, orpassage-ways, which otherwise could not be done.

ICO

To the inner surface ofl each upright side of the head A is attached a long track-plate, G, of the form and location seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9, its shape being that of two curves, forming an angle with each other at Z, and the rear of this curved track-plate G is provided with a flange, H, at right angles thereto, consisting of two portions, m a. the front edge of the lower part of the curved track-plate being also provided with a fiange, I, parallel to the lower portion, n, of the flange H.

At the rear of each side bar ofthe movable body portion B is pivoted a roll, p, (preferably covered with rubber to make it noiseless,) which is intended to run against the flanges H I in the different positions assumed by the body portion B when being swung up or down, these flanges serving as guides for controlling and limiting the motion of the said body portion B, the rolls p being in Contact with the upper part, m, of the rear iiange, H, while the body B moves on its changing fulcrum as the body is being swung up or down between a horizontal position and a position at about thirty degrees with the horizontal, at which inclination, Fig. 2, the rolls p bear on the flan ge H at the junction Z of its upper and lower curved portions, m a. Then swung up from this position, the rolls p leave the point Z and commence to bear on the insides of the lower portions, a, of the flanges H, and as the body B approaches the vertical the rolls bear on the insides of the front iianges, I, by which arrangement the finished under side of' the body, which becomes the front of the bedstead when closed, is drawn toward the right or stationary head and prevented from chafing against the lower transverse portion, q, which forms the bottom iinish of the upright head A.

Vhen the movable body B is closed up against the upright head A, the rolls p are located at the bottom of the track-plate G, between the flanges I and the lower portions, n, of the flanges H, bearing chieiiy on the flanges I, Fig. l, and in this closed position of the body B its movable fulcrum -wheels f bear against the rear upper ends of the rail D, or against the rear blocks, e', if they are provided, Fig. 1.

When the body B commences to be swung down, the rolls p move up between the flanges I and the lower portions, a, of the flanges H, and before reaching the point Z transfer their pressure from the anges I to the rear flanged portions, n, the movable fulcrum-wheels f simultaneously traversing their tracks D from their rear toward their front ends, and by the time the body of the bedstead has reached an inclination of about thirty degrees with the vertical (see Fig. 2) these fulcrum-wheels j' have reached about the middle of their tracks D and the rolls p have arrived at the junctions Z of the flanged portions m n.

As the body B is being swung down from its inclination of thirty degrees toward the horizontal, the rolls p leave the points Z and run upon the portions m of the flanges H, the movable fulcrum-wheels f simultaneously running on their tracks D till they strike against their front ends or rubber blockst' thereon, at which time the body B will have reached a horizontal position,with its front supportinglegs, s, on the floor or carpet, and the rolls p will have reached the top,or nearly to the top, of the portions m of the flanges H. (See Fig. 3.)

rlhe swinging of the body portion B on its traveling fulcrums is accomplished by a slight effort of the hand in the direction required by means ofthe following arrangement ofweights, which balance,or nearly balance,thesaidbody at any point of its constantly-changing inclination.

L are a series of metal blocks or weights of the form seen in Fig. 6,eaeh being hook shape at its top lto enable it to hang upon a transverse bar, M, extending horizontally between the opposiie sides of the body B at its head. Each weight L fits loosely upon the bar M, and is also provided with a channel or groove, t, for convenience in applying the fingers thereto when it is to be lifted in place upon or removed from said bar. This division of the weights is of considerable advantage, as by it the proper counterpoise of bedsteads of different weight and construction may be nicely adjusted. For instance, one having a lookingglass attached to the bed-body would require a greater weight to balance it during the different positions which it assumes while being swung up or down than the same style of bedstead without the glass, and these weights may be graduated so as to weigh from one pound upward, to adapt them to different sizes and weights of bedsteads. Furthermore, one or more weights may be added or removed from their supporting-bar from the inside or front of the bedstead,instead of from` its baclnwhich might be against the side of' the room, and would consequently require to be moved away therefrom to obtain access to the box or receptacle heretofore employed for the reception of large weights inconvenient to handle.

I nd it very desirable to use a steel gudgeon or axis, e, for each fulcrum-wheelj', as thereby I can use a wheel of smaller diameter and a shorter track, D, and consequently a narrower' upright head, A, than were the gudgeon of cast-iron, which would necessarily be of larger diameter than the steel gudgeon, a fulcrumwheel of larger diameter being also required with said larger cast-iron gudgeon, which larger wheel would also require a longer track, D, in order that the different movements of the body B might be properly made. By making the upright A in two portions I am enabled to make its upper portion, a, higher and give it a better nish, which., if made in one piece, could not be carried through narrow passages, Ste.

I am aware that weights have been located in a box extending between the sides of the movable body portion of a bedstead. I therefore disclaim such construction.

I claim as an improvement in folding bedsteads 5 l. The upright or stationary head A, having each of its sides divided into two portions, a b, a track, D, secured to its lower portion, b, and an opening, g, formedin the under side of the upper portion, a, in combination with the Io movable body portion B, having each of its sides provided with a rolling fulcruni-wheel, f, substantially as specified.

2. The track D, having its upper front end provided With a projection, k, and the lower 15 part, b, of the contiguous side of the upright head A, to which it is secured, in combination with the corresponding upper part, a, of the head, provided with an opening for the reception of said projection to lock the two parts a b of the head together, substantially as de- 2o scribed.

3. The combination, with the transverse bar M, of the movable body B, and a series of weights, L, each formed of three portions, to wit: an upper hook-shaped portion to enable it to be 2 5 hung upon said bar, a lower rectangular portion having a groove in its under side, and an interposed rectangular connecting portion, substantially as'specified.

Vitness my hand this 18th day of May, 1886.

HENRY L. ALBEE. ln presence of- N. NV. STEARNS, H. W. STEARNs.