Improvements in and relating to Elastic Mattresses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Elastic Mattresses.
A communication from abroad by AMAN VIGIE, fils, of 16 Rue de Bausset,
Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Builder.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M. E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, & 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, & 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to spring or elastic mattresses. A mattress constructed
according to this invention is composed of an elastic framing of steel capable of
being used alone or fitted to an equally elastic skeleton and forming a framework.
The elastic frame consists of an arrangement of steel strips, yielding in consequence
of their shape a partial and divided elasticity, and presenting as a whole a surface
of a regular and unalterable suppleness.
Some of the strips which are placed transversely have the shape of the are of a
circle serrated or undulated, that is to say, with alternate projections and depressions
of a convenient height and length according to the degree of clasticity the mattress
is required to have. These strips offer to a load an elastic resistance which is
caused by two things-
1. The straightening of the curve of the arc of the circle which is shown by a
lengthening of the extremities, if the strips are free, or by a strain at the point of
attachment, if they are fixed.
2. By the depressing of the projecting parts which produces a hinging or
squeezing of the strip in the hollows of the undulations or serrations, the angles of
which open and close, compensating one another mutually.
Other and longer strips placed longitudinally are serrated or undulated in a
similar shape or otherwise, but in such a way that the projecting parts are of a
suitable length to fit in between the transverse strips, in the same way as the
space between the longitudinal strips is traversed by the projecting parts of the
transverse strips.
The longitudinal strips are connected to the transverse strips by rivets fixed in
the hollows which the two strips form. The longitudinal strips can, without incon-
venience, be made of several pieces connected at the rivetting point.
This arrangement of flexible strips can rest on an iron or wooden frame to
form a mattress, or can be placed direct in the bottom of beds, couches, sofas and
furniture.
Placed longitudinally on flexible supports, this system of mattress offers an
improved general clasticity.
Elastic frame. This is formed by strong springs placed at each end which hold
taut longitudinal steel rods. The springs are maintained at the distance of the
length of the mattress apart by means of several curved bars which form the height
of the mattress. These hars can be fixed to the springs or connected by suitable
pieces so as to form a framework. They can thus be folded inside so that the
mattress takes up very little room in transport. A bolt or equivalent serves to keep
them fixed.
The springs are slightly arched outwards in their normal position. The steel
rods, fixed at one end by means of a head or hook and drawn tight at the other by
means of a nut, exert on these springs a pressure which causes their straightening
and the tension of the rods.
Any convenient shape and arrangement of the springs may be employed, and

page_text: they can be placed either vertically or obliquely, without altering the principle of
the elastic frame of this mattress, which consists, broadly, in the tension of longi-
tudinal rods by springs placed at the ends. This tension can also be obtained by
spiral springs acting either by tension or compression.
The elasticity can be regulated by screwing up more or less the screw nuts
placed at the ends of the strips. This mattress can be raised extra high, if desired,
by means of the elevation that can be given to the bars. These bars can also be
attached at their ends to head pieces and form thus an economical bed.
This invention is specially characterised by the novel and optional application of
a general or partial elasticity caused by the shape and arrangement of steel strips
composing this mattress.
Dated this 20th day of June 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Elastic Mattresses.
A communication from abroad by AMAN VIGIE, fils, of 16, Rue de Bausset,
Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Builder.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to spring or elastic mattresses. A mattress constructed
according to this invention is composed of an elastic framing of steel capable of
being used alone or fitted to an equally elastic skeleton and forming a framework.
The elastic frame consists of an arrangement of steel strips, yielding, in consequence
of their shape, a partial and divided elasticity, and presenting, as a whole, a surface
of a regular and unalterable suppleness.
In the drawings annexed, the various parts of the invention are shown as
follows:-
Figure 1 is an end view of a transverse strip,
Figure 2 a side view of a longitudinal strip,
Figure 3 a plan view of the mattress,
Figure 4 an elevation of the same,
Fi
igure 5 a section through the line J K of Figure 3,
Figure 6 an elevation of the spring mattress and bedstead erected,
Figure 7 part of the same folded up, and
Figure 8 a plan view of the same when folded up.
Some of the strips which are placed transversely have the shape of the are of a
circle with alternate projections and depressions of a convenient height and length
varying according to the degree of elasticity the mattress is required to have.
These strips offer to a load an elastic resistance in consequence of the straightening
of the curve of the arc of the circle, which causes a lengthening of the extremities
if the strips are free, and a strain at the point of attachment if they are fixed;
also by the depressing of the projecting parts, which produces a pressure of the
strip in the hollows, the angles of which open and close, compensating one another
mutually.
Other and longer strips are placed longitudinally, of a similar shape but formed
in such a way that the projecting parts are of a suitable length to fit in between
the transverse strips in the same way as the space between the longitudinal strips
is traversed by the projecting parts of the transverse strips.

page_text: The longitudinal strips are connected to the transverse strips, as shown in
Figure 3, by rivets fixed in the hollows which the two strips form. The longi-
tudinal strips can, if desired, be made of several pieces connected at the rivetting
point.
This arrangement of flexible strips can rest on an iron or wooden frame to
form a mattress, or can be placed direct in the bottom of beds, couches, sofas,
and the like.
Placed longitudinally on flexible supports, this system of mattress offers an
improved general elasticity.
The elastic frame for the mattress is formed of strong springs A placed at each
end and connected by longitudinal steel rods. The springs A A are held apart at
the distance of the length of the mattress by means of one or more curved bars BB,
which form the height of the mattress. These bars B B can be fixed to the springs
or connected by suitable pieces C C so as to form a framework. They can thus be
folded inwards, so that the mattress takes up very little room.
equivalent serves to keep them fixed.
A bolt or its
The springs A A. are slightly arched outwards in their normal position. The
steel rods D D, fixed at one end by means of a head or hook and drawn tight at
the other by means of a nut E, exert, on these springs, a pressure which causes their
straightening and the tension of the rods.
The mattress can rest loosely on these rods or be fixed to them, or the end strips
of the mattress can be substituted for the rods, in which case they are attached
direct by their ends to the springs A.
Any convenient shape and arrangement of the springs may be employed, and they
can be placed either vertically or obliquely, without altering the principle of the
elastic frame of this mattress, which consists, broadly, in the tension of longitudinal
rods by springs placed at the ends. This tension can also be obtained by spiral
springs acting either by tension or compression.
The tension can be regulated by the nuts E placed at the ends of the strips.
This mattress can be raised higher, if desired, by increasing the height of the
bars B B. These bars B B can also be attached at their ends to head pieces F,
Figure 6, and thus form a cheap bedstead.
A very practical method of fixing the head pieces to the frame of the mattress is
to make the bars B' rigid, which form sides or edges, and to make them lower.
They could even be made parallel to the rods.
At the four angles of the bedstead, a curved link G is attached, both to the side
bar B and to the head piece F. A lower link I serves as a guide for fitting up
and taking down the bedstead. These pivotted arms, secured by rivets or bolts,
are of a suitable length to allow the head pieces to be folded up, and to lie parallel
with the mattress frame (Figures 7 and 8).
To fit up the bedstead, the head pieces are raised, and, during this movement, the
lower links H act as levers sustaining the frame until the recesses formed at the
ends of the latter arrive at the necessary points to fasten the cross bars of the head
pieces. The head pieces are thus placed perpendicularly to the frame. They are
then secured by pressing down the arm I. This arrangement of links allows the
bedstead to be easily taken down without screws or bolts, and to be as easily fitted
up again without any possibility of failure, as the movement is, so to speak, auto-
matic. This is of great advantage, as, by means of this improved mattress, a spring
bedstead is made which is very convenient for transit.
This invention is specially characterised by the novel and optional application of
a general or partial clasticity caused by the shape and arrangement of steel strips
composing this mattress.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The improved spring mattress, composed of flexible steel strips constructed and

page_text: arranged substantially as herein described, whereby great and permanent elasticity
and strength are obtained and facilities for cleaning afforded.
Dated this 20th day of March 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.