Efficient use of space in the home has been a concern for Americans for generations. The design for Sarah E. Goode’s 1885 patent for a folding cabinet bed was an early example of the flexible and modular furniture used in many homes today. A precursor to the Murphy bed, Goode’s design collapsed into a roll-top desk when not in use, a perfect design for the home office.
Goode and her husband, a carpenter named Archibald, owned a furniture store in Chicago. Many of their customers lived in small apartments and benefitted from Goode’s economical design. Despite being one of the first African American women to hold a patent in the United States, not much is known about Goode’s life. Aside from U.S. Census records, the primary official written record of Goode’s movements and career is her patent application. #BlackHistoryMonth #InventingModernAmerica
U.S. Patent no. 322177
Title: Cabinet-Bed
Patented July 14, 1885.