Bed-tent.

Application filed. September 12, 1907. Serial No. 392,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Stephen G. Wilson, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Bed-Tent, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a bed tent convertible into a hammock.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide a hammock form of bed with means for rigidly securing it in place.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide means for depressing the longitudi15 nal center or other portion of the hammock upon the opposite sides of the center for the purpose of transforming it from a single to. a double bed or vice versa.

A further purpose .of my invention is to 20 provide means tor quick adjustment of a hammock to secure rigidity thereof.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide for support of the end of the hammock above and below the horizontal plane 25 thereof for stiffening purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide for rigidly supporting the end of a hammock by attachments which are longitudinally movable upon a vertical support. 30 A further purpose of my invention is to provide for clamping of a hammock support upon a pole.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide novel stretching tod retaining 35 mechanisms for a bed tent.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide a novel bed and canopy for a bed tent.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven40 tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, one form thereof since this embodiment will give in practice satisfactory And reliable results, although it is to be understood that the instrumentalities of 45 which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set-forth,

Figure 1 represents in broken perspective, one form of my invention. Fig. 2 represents in perspective, the form of bed which I prefer used as a hammock. Fig. 3 represents in perspective. an , end of my canopy and bed. Fig. 4 represents a broken vertical section through the. end of the canopy and bed. Fig. 5 represents in broken perspective, a detail · of the end of my tent. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section of a stretching rod used by me. θο

Similar numerals or reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures:

Referring to the drawings:—1 designates a pole which is made up of sections which I have shown three in number, namely 2, 65 3 and 4, held in elevated position by any suitable means, but preferably by clips hereinafter referred to. At the top I have shown an eye 5 held by a plug 6 and providing an aperture for a rope 7 supported 70 thereby, which rope is attached at each end to any other suitable supports of which I have shown one as the tree 8. My pole is secured in the ground by the pin 9 and is held against undue side movement thereby 75 tod prevented from sinking by the plate 10.

Intermediate the length of the pole I provide clips 11,12,13, 14, and 15 which grasp the rod when strain longitudinally thereof, is brought to bear upon them. Of the§e, 13 80 is shown retaining two sections in extended position while 11 and 15 enable me to connect the rods or cords 16, 17, 18 and 19 by which the end of my tent bed adjacent thereto is stiffened and supported. I also 85 fasten that end of the bed by means of a hook 20 and strap 21 which .latter is attached at the approximate center of my post as at 22 and tends to overcome any tendency of the post to bend at this point caused by 90 strain by the cord 23 upon clips 12 and 14, said cord 23 being stretched by means of the block and fall 24 attached to any suitable point, not shown.

The strain upon my post at a plurality, in 95 this case five, different points .intermediate its length in different directions thus stiffens the post against movement and enables me to make use of a .very much lighter or thinner post than would otherwise be permis- 100 sible. I also brace the post by means of ₍guiding ropes 25 and pins 26.

At the opposite end of my tent, I brace the bed at foyr points by means of rods or cords 27, 28, 29 and 30 preferably of equal 105 length and most desirable of such length that they form a square of which the enaof the hammock forms a diagonal. The corners of the square at which these rods or cords are attached to the tree may evidently 110 be turned upon the diagonal to bring them nearer together or farther apart along the

868,017 β length of the tree with greatest advantage however when they are farthest apart. They engage hooks 31 secured in a tree or other suitable body.

A strap 34 provides for stretching of the end. rod 35 of my bed in the form shown, the adjustment of the strap at this point being such as to release the middle of the said rod 35 when the bed is intended for a 10 single occupant; as in Fig. 2 in order that it may sag at the middle and to draw it out slightly when it is intended for two occupants in order that it may stretch at the middle and sag between the middle and 15 the outer limiting edges of the bed as best seen in Fig. 1. The strap 21 contributes toward this result.

The bed consists of a body portion 36 stiffened at the sides as by a seam 36' and 20 provided with end supports in the shape of a rod 35 and rod 37. Both of these may be collapsible as shown in connection with rod 37, which is shown as made up of sections 38 and 39. The parts of the rod 37, and 25 also of rod 35? if desired? are preferably provided with apertures 40 in the stretched positions of which some register from each rod, registering when the rods are in collapsed position, in order that the hook 20 30 or a corresponding hook upon the strap 34 may engage within these apertures in either the extended or collapsed position thus making firm engagement with the rod at the same time that it is held in extended or 35 collapsed position.

The· material of the body 36 is formed with a seam at the foot end for the passage of the rod 37- At the head end the material is passed about the rod 35 to form a seam 40 along the line 41, reversed and extended as at 42 to a point 43 where its direction is again changed to carry it about the rod 44 and down to engagement at 46 with the body 36. Here it is again reversed to form 45 part 47 and carried up and about the rod 44 to the portion 48 where' it is attached to the portion 45 in order to provide an opening through which the rod 44 is passed.

The portion 48 is extended at 49 to form 50 a triangular flap 51 which may be hooked over the rope 7, as seen in Fig. 1, by the hook 52 or may be hung downwardly, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5.

The flap 51 is provided with a pocket 53 55 which is arranged to button in reverse directions according to the direction of the flap 51 either toward the end, as seen in Fig. 1 or toward its base, as seen in Fig. 5 with the object that the pocket shall always open 60 upwardly.

Between the rod 35 and the rod 44,1 place removable pins 54 to stretch the pillow portion of my bed with the desired degree of tightness leaving suitable apertures in the 65 cloth and rods therefor. For stiffening purpose I have illustrated this pillow portion as laced at 55 and may evidently make these lacings my only means of attachment of the pillow to the top of the bed by means of the ends 56. 70

When my structure is used as a hammock I preferably slack the foot end and the foot end only about one half its width by collapsing the rod 37, securing the hammock by a single pair of rods or ropes at each end 75 as best seen in Fig. 2. These may be either pair, and I have illustrated the lower pair in use at the foot, and the upper pair at the head.

In the normal use of my bed tent, I place 80 the flap 51 in its upwardly directed position and make use of a cover 63, and end 64. The cover 63 is thrown over the rope 7 and tied thereto at 65 and 66. It is provided with extensions such as 67 find 68 at each end 85 thereof which are tied at 69 in such a manner that they will stay shut and inclose the end flap whether it be 51 or 64. The rope 70 is passed repeatedly and alternately through the flap so as to create sufficient 90 friction therein to retain the flap in any position in which it may be placed longitudinally, of said rope, as seen in Fig. 3, so that either side of said flap may be drawn up upon said rope or cord and held in its 95 desired position thereon.

The cover 63 is preferably extended at 71 so as to lie below the bed upon each side thereof.

The end 64 is attached to the rope 7 at 100 one end thereof and is tied at its lower corners to a screw eye 72 at each end of the rod 36, as best seen in Fig. 6.

It will be evident that I depart from the ordinaiy construction of hammocks in the 105 formation of my bed for my bed tent in that I brace the bed from the bottom as well as suspend it from the top, thus securing the rigidity of structure against tipping pt swinging impossible of attainment by the 110 other method. The suspending means may be either flexible or rigid as the same result can be attained by stretching one corner as by pressing against the other, provided the bed be stretched tight. If it be desired to 115 allow slack in the bed the bars are necessary. I would have it understood, however, that I prefer to use my bed in tightly stretched position.