US1568409A - Camper's folding bed - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

SIGFRID A. MILLER, 0F OA'KLAND, CALIFORNIApASSIGNOR TO MILLER AUTO BED AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CAMIPERlS VFOLDIN'G- BED.

Application filed J'anuaryy24, 1924. Serial No. y688,121.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGFRID A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State Vof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Campers Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a campers folding bed, and especially to an vattachment whereby the mattress fabric orv support may be placed under proper tension when the bed is unfolded.

N umerous folding beds and cots have been devised for campers use and otherwise, but the majority are not as comfortable to lie on as they might be, due to the fact that it is almost impossible to properly tension the mattress supporting canvas or fabric.

The camperls folding bed constructed by me, and employing a chain fabric proved impracticable and uncomfortable in actual use as the fabric sagged excessively. I accordingly devised an anxiliary stretching or tensioning device, Whereby an additional pull or stretch could be imparted to the fabric after the bed was unfolded, and thereby obtained the proper tension. This auxiliary tensioning device forms the subject matter of the present application and is described in detail in the accompanying specification and drawings, in whichy i Fig. l is a perspective view of a folding bed showing'the application ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the auxiliary tensioning device.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the sliding joint formed between the side rails and the foot rail of the bed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. l and 2, A indicates, in general, a steel-bed frame consisting of side bars B, a head rail 3, and a footrail 4. Supporting the bed frame are a plurality of folding legs as indicated at 5, and sup-V ported-by the bed frame proper is a bed spring fabric 6, Which is attached to-the head and foot rails by means of intermediate helical springs 7 and 8.

The fabric employed in the present invoccupy as small a space as possible.

stance is constructed of longitudinally extending chains 9 and cross chains 10, the chains 9 and 10 being interlocked, the detail of construction of the chains and the method ofinterlocking the same being described in my copending application previously referred to. i

The bed here illustrated is of the folding type and is particularly intended for campers, use. The side rails consist of two sections such as indicated at ll and 12. These sections are centrally and pivotally connected as at 13 to permit them to be folded to The supporting legs 5 are similarly pivotally connected as at 14 to the head and foot rails respectively and they may, therefore, be folded with relation thereto. The supporting legs are otherwise provided with angularly disposed corner braces as indicated at 15a and these are also` pivotallysecured to permit them to be folded with relation to the bed frame. i

The side rails are removable 'with relation to the foot and head rails lrespectively, so that they may be detached therefrom when the bed is folded and a sliding connection is formed between the side rails and the foot and head rails respectively, to permit additional tension to be imp'arted to the fabric (iafter the bed has been unfolded.

The sliding connection between the side rails and the foot and head rails, respectively, is substantially identical and is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted` that the foot rail et is provided witha rightangular end extension AP, which is provided for the reception of the end of the side rail ll. The foot rail, and similarly the side rail, is constructed of angle iron. The upper surface of the extension eta is slotted as at l and the side of the side rail is similarly slotted as at 16. The upper section of the side rail is provided with a pin 17, which is adapted to be received by the slot 15, and the inner side of the angle iron forming the extension au is provided with. a pin 18, Which is adapted to be received by the slot 16. Therefore, when assembling the bed it is only necessary to insert the side rails and the extensions ata so that the pins 17 and 18 are received by the slots 15 and 16, and as the pins are headed as shown it will be seen that an interlock is formed and also, that the connection is longitudinally adjustable.

The bed When unfolded is assembled in the manner just described; that is, the side rails are inserted in the extensions 4? of the foot and head rails, respectively, and the side rails are then straightened out by swinging then downwardly about the pivotal connections 13. This straightening out of the side rails imparts a preliminary tension to the bed fabric, but this, as previously stated, is not sufficient.- to properly support a person when lying thereon. To nnpart additional tension, endwise movenent is imparted to the foot rail l. This movement is inparted by a toggle link arrangement, generally indicated at C in Figs. 1 and 2, and the side braces indicated at 15') form a part of the toggle link structure. (See Fig. 2.)

An outwardly projecting pin 19 is secured in the outer face of each end extension eP, and this is adapted to be engaged by a toggle link 20, which is pivotally secured to the side brace lb as indicated at 21. The outer end of the toggle link is slotted as at 22 to straddle the pin 19 and when the side brace lb is pulled in the direction of arrow `a., the toggle link is straightencd and the foot rail 41 is forced outwardly on the side rails 11. The pins 17 and 18, together with the slots 15 and 16, permit such movement and danger of pulling the pins coinpletely out of the slots is avoided by properly proportioning the length of the toggle link 20 and the operating lever or side brace 151,; that is, the toggle movement imparted is such that the pins 17 and 18 will not move out of engagement with the slots, but will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 when the extending movement has been conipleted. The side braces 15b are here locked as the lower ends are slotted as indicated at 23. The slotted ends are hooked over pro'- jecting pins 24 secured on the legs 5, and the side braces are thus locked when the spring fabric has been extended.

Actual experience shows that the additional movement inparted to the foot rail is just sufficient to impart the proper tension required, and the bed is thus comfortable to lie on, Whether it be enployed foi' camping or otherwise.

ln the present instance I have only shown the auxiliary tensioning device as applied to the foot rail, but it is obvious that it may be attached to the head rail also if desired as the interlocking sliding connection between the head rail and the side rails is identical to the connection formed between the foot rail and the side rails. The auxiliary tensioning device is exceedingly cheap to manufacture, and simple and easy to operate, and as such does not inpose an excess cost to the bed.

VVhile the tensioning device has here been shown as applied to a folding bed, it is obvious that it may also be used in connection With a rigid frame bed if desired. I sinilarly wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a bed of the character described, a bed frame comprising side and end rails, a sliding interlocking connection formed between one end rail and the side rails, a mattress supporting fabric secured between the head rails, folding legs secured to the bed frame and adapted to support the same. a lever pivotally nounted on each side of the bed frame adjacent the sliding interlocking end rail, whereby said end rail is moved longitudinally on the side rails to stretch the mattress support-ing fabric, and. means whereby said lever may be secured to the folding legs to serve as braces therefor and to secure the end rails against movement When the mattress supporting fabric is stretched.

2. In a bed of the character described, a bed frame comprising side and end rails, a sliding interlocking connection formed between one end rail and the side rails, a inattress supporting fabric secured between the end rails, a pair of toggle links connecting the side rails and the slidable intel-kicking end rail, folding legs supporting the bed frame, a pair of levers for imparting move ment to the toggle links to move the end rail longitudinally of the side rails, and means whereby said levers may be secured to the folding legs to serve as braces therefor and to secure the toggle links and end railsl against movement.

3. In a bed of the character described, a bed frame comprising side and end rails, a. sliding interlocking connection formed betWeen one end rail and the side rails. a inattress supporting fabric secured between the end rails, a pair of folding legs mounted on the bed frame and adapted to support the same, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the side rails adjacent the sliding interlocking end rails, a pair of toggle links pivotally connected, one to each lever, said toggle links having fork-shaped members formed on their opposite ends, a pair of pins, one at each end of the sliding interlocking rail, said pins adapted to be engaged by the 5 fork-shaped ends of the toggle links, and

said levers adapted to impart movement to the toggle links and the sliding end rail to move the same longitudinally on the side rails so as to stretch the spring fabric, and means Whereby said levers may be secured to the folding legs to serve as braces therefor and to lock the toggle links and the sliding end rail when the nattress fabric is st'etched.

SIGFRID A.V MILLER.

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