US20092A - Bedstead-bail - Google Patents

Description

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT Nermee.

CHAS. ROBINSON, OF OAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

BEDSTEAD-RAIL.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 20,092-, dated April 27, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES ROBINSON, of Cambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Elastic-Support Bedstead- Rail; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, Figure l being a plan of a bed-frame in which my improvement is applied; Fig. 2, a vertical section thereof in the plane indicated by the line a; as, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the improved rail, showing also the ends of the slats for supporting the bed; Fig. 4, a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line y y, Fig. l.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My improved elasticsupport rail may compose the rail of the bedstead proper; or it may be separate, so as to be placed upon, or attached to, the ordinary rails of the bedstead, and removable, at pleasure; or it may compose part of a bed frame, to be placed on the bedstead, for the reception of the bed, as represented in the drawings. In either case, or however applied, its construction and operation are the same.

The rail is composed of three constituent parts, which, being combined, completely accomplish the objects desired. rI`he part A., (which may be called the rail proper,) is made of a beam or strip of wood, of suitable dimensions, in the upper edges of which are formed notches a, a., at proper distances apart to receive the ends of the slats for supporting the bed, with intermediate projections b, 79, as shown in Figs. 3, and 4. The tops of the projections are rounded, as represented, and are all of the same, or nearly the same, height. Over these projections is drawn straight, and sufficiently taut for the purpose required, an elastic band B, which forms another constituent part of the complete rail. This band may most conveniently and properly be made of shirred, india-rubber cloth. Immediately over or on this band is placed a thin strip C, of wood, iron, inelastic cloth, or any equivalent substance possessing sufficient rmness and strength to serve the purposes of its use, as presently to be described. This strip forms the third constituent of the complete rail. Screws, nails, or their equivalents, d, d, are then driven down through the strip C, and band B, into the projections b, in the manner shown, and thus complete the rail. Its application and use are as follows z-One of these rails is to be applied both at the head and at the foot, of the bedstead, or at each side, if it is preferred to have the slats eX- tend crosswise, rather than lengthwise, of the bedstead. As stated above, they may be applied, either as the rails of the bedstead proper, or by being placed upon said rails, or by being connected in a bed-frame, as shown in the drawings. The ends of the slats D, D, are then inserted between the band B, and strip O, respectively over the notches a, a., in the manner shown in the drawings, the band B, stretching so as to admit the `ends of the slats, but drawing them closely up to the strip O, which holds them in place. In order that the slats may not work out of place endwise, notches c, c, may be cut in the ends, on the under side, so as to form tenons, as represented. The band' B, thus furnishes an excellent elastic support to each slat D, separately, while, being in a single piece, the expense and labor of separate fastenings for many elastic supports are avoided. It yields, when pressure is applied on the slats, as indicated under the slats marked D, D', in Figs. 3, and t. The screws or nails, CZ, 0l, hold the band at each supporting projection b, respectively, so that each portion of the band over its notch a, is independent of, and uniniiuenced by, the rest of the band, and of the pressure applied to it.

The rail part A, is quickly and cheaply made as described; and it offers the advantages, over any other arrangement, of furnishing guides to the slats D, D, by the projections Z), b, at the sides, so that they can not be swayed out of their proper positions;

and the bottoms of the notches a, a, serve as limits to the extent to which the slats may be depressed, and prevent the breaking of the band B, should unusual weight be placed on the bed, and serve also as supports to the slats under such circumstances. Otherwise, the slats might be depressed much too far; or, if the band should break, the whole would fall to the floor.

The strip C, serves to hold the band B, firmly in place, to prevent the fastenings CZ, el, tearing out, to keep the slats D, D, 1n place, and, if made of iron, wood, or other rigid material, especially, to strengthen and brace the rail part A.

I do not claim the employment of a stretched elastic band supported, at intervals, by projecting pins, or their equivalents, on Which to place the bed or slats; such being liable to objections which my improved arrangement obviates. But I limit my inof the notched rail piece A, stretched elastic band B, and conining or cap-strip C, arranged, combined, and operating in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

In Witness that the above is a true speciication of my elastic-support bedstead rail,V

I hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of March 1858. f

CHARLES ROBINSON. Witnesses:

HENRY THAYER, E. W. Conny.

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