Improvements in Woven Wire Mattresses, and Frames therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Woven Wire Mattresses, and Frames therefor.
1, FRANCIS GILBERT GALE of Waterside in the County of Compton in the
Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada Manufacturer, 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 has for its object to provide a novel and improved woven wire
mattress and frame therefor.
Prior to my invention wire mattresses have been composed of a plurality of
transverse sections of independent V shaped links or transverse zig-zag, flat bent
wires with the links or wires of one series interlocking with the links or wires of
the series at either side, the end or outside transverse series being suitably
connected by springs with the mattress frame.
Mattresses have also been composed of a plurality of longitudinal spirally twisted
wires arranged with the coils of one longitudinal wire interlocked or twisted into
and connected with the coils of the adjacent wires at either side, such mattress
being usually connected at its ends with a suitable board or bar mounted on the
mattress frame.
In the latter construction the resilience of the spirally coiled longitudinal wires
is depended upon to give elasticity to the mattress, and so far as known to me no
end springs, independent of the mattress body are provided.
In the former class of mattresses the links or zig-zag flat bent wires are provided,
principally, to give pliability to the mattress surface, the elasticity or resiliency
being derived from the end supporting springs which are supposed to receive the
weight of the mattress or any body thereupon.
In this present invention I combine the advantageous features of both types of
mattress in one by a novel construction, consisting in a plurality of transverse
interlocking spirally twisted or coiled wires, the outside or end transverse coils
being connected in a suitable manner by springs to the mattress fraine.
My invention also comprehends a selvege or edge consisting of longitudinally
spirally twisted or coiled wire or wires interlocked or connected with the ends of
the transverse coils.
In the preferred embodiment of my invention the spirally twisted wires or coils
instead of having their turns or spirals truly circular in end view, are flattened or
made elliptical so that the surface of the mattress more nearly approximates a flat
woven surface.
The above, together with other features of my invention will be hereinafter
fully set forth in this Specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1, in top or plan view partially broken away, shows one embodiment of
my invention.
Figure 2, on an enlarged scale, shews a section of the mattress, Figure 1.
Figure 3, an edge view of Figure 2.
Figure 4, a detail looking at the end of the mattress frame, the same showing
the means for adjusting the tension upon the mattress.
Figure 5, a detail illustrating a modified construction.
In the particular embodiment of my invention, selected for illustration and shewn

page_text: in the drawings, the mattress frame composed of the side rails a, a, and the end
rails a', a', may be of any usual or desired construction.
The mattress proper consists in-a plurality of transverse, spirally twisted wires b,
arranged parallel and with the spirals or turns of one wire passing through and
interlocking with the spirals or turns of the wires at cach side, the several
transverse wires together forming a mattress surface, as best shewn in Figures 1,
and 2.
The outside or end transverse spirals or wires are shewn as engaged by a series
of U-shaped holders c, c, each of which, in the present instance, engages a plurality,
preferably four, turns of the end spiral or wire, the said U-shaped holders being
connected, in suitable manner with the springs, s. s. in turn suitably connected with
the end rails of the frame.
In the present instance of my invention the U-shaped holders, c, are connected
with the said springs through the medium of interposed V-shaped links, d, each
V-shaped link being attached at its apex to one of the springs s. and having each
of its legs engaging two of the U-shaped holders, as clearly shewn in the
drawings.
Referring to Figure 3, shewing the spirally twisted wires in end view, it will be
seen that in the preferred embodiment of my invention the spirals or coils are not
truly circular but are illiptical or flattened in order to provide an approximately
flat mattress surface.
For example any weight sustained upon a single point in the vicinity of the
middle of the mattress is, owing to the angularity of the spiral turns in the several
wires, distributed through a constantly increasing area towards the opposite ends
of the mattress and is received at the ends of the mattress, upon a plurality,
usually four or more springs.
The wires are also preferably twisted in such manner that in interlocking, each
turn in one wire connects with its interlocking turn of the adjacent wire at two
points 1 and 2, see Figure 3, the advantage of two points of contact providing a
lateral support for each turn.
Viewing Figure 2, for instance, the second spirally twisted wire from the end
has its turns supported at their left sides, and along the upper edge of the spiral
by the coils of the third wire, and having their right sides along the lower edge of
the coil supported by the coils of the first wire so that it is next to impossible to
flatten out the coils of any of the wires.
At the edge of the mattress I have provided suitable selveges, herein shewn as
the longitudinal coils, e, e, preferably consisting of several wires coiled together as
shewn and connected preferably by interlocking with the ends of the transverse
coils of body wires.
In the ordinary woven wire mattress with the interlocking spiral wires extending
longitudinally of the mattress, an excessive weight placed in the middle of the
mattress depresses the latter and tends to straighten out the longitudinal coils, and
nothing but the resiliency of the wires can restore them to their normal positions
the result being that the mattress soon sags when it is required to sustain a weight
for any considerable time.
Should end springs be placed upon a mattress of such construction it would not
remedy matters for the springs acting in the direction of the length of the wires
would tend rather to pull them out straight than to restore them to their original
coiled condition.
In my mattress, however, the springs s, by reason of their transverse action
upon the coils tend to restore the same always to their normal and proper condition,
for if by reason of excessive weight or strain in any particular spot any of the
transverse wires should tend to straighten out, the action of the springs s, when the
weight is removed, is to extend the coils laterally, i.e. to shorten them lengthwise
and restore them to their normal condition.
In use, the yielding or pliability of the mattress results partly in the change of
form of the coils, and partly by the changed condition or position of the wires,

page_text: at the points of contact 1, and 2, where they interlock one with the other, the
opening 3, between said points, see Figure 3, contracting and expanding according
as the weight is placed upon or removed from the mattress.
The coils or spirals being long and comparatively narrow and substantially
straight at the top and bottom, as shewn, the said straight or top and bottom
portions of the coils which, form the mattress surface run nearly lengthwise of the
mattress or in the direction of the strains notwithstanding the wires themselves
extend transversely across the mattress.
The web is also very elastic, for as there are no sharp turns or clenching of the
wire, very hard and springy wire may be used, for while it will spring lengthwise
of the mattress it will not stretch.
The yielding of the coils is not at the surface of the mattress, but at the end of
the coils below the surface where it will not affect the bedding as is the case with
other mattresses.
By elongating the coils, as shewn, considerable economy in wire is had in the
manufacture of mattresses and the mattress is made much more rapidly than with
the usual round coils.
Referring to Figure 4, the end rails a', are shewn as mounted in the U-shaped
supports, 1, and adapted to slide on the tops of the side rails at the ends of the
latter and are slotted to receive the bolt f', which has an oblong or flattened head ƒ'
shewn by dotted lines, Figure 1.
This bolt is partially turned to enable its head to be inserted through the slot in
the U-shaped support, f, and is then turned squarely across the slot to prevent the
said support from being displaced.
A bolt 3, has also a suitable slot in its head to enable it to be secured to the
flat headed bolt, the threaded shank of the said bolt fs, being carried through
one of the uprights of the support f, and threaded outside thereof with a nut f.
Rotation of the nut f', causes adjustment of the end rail of the mattress.
While I prefer a construction of holders and links, such as shewn in Figure 1.
connecting the springs with the mattress body, because each spring is thus caused
to receive the strain from a large number of wires, yet 1 may use other suitable
constructions, such as shewn in Figure 5, wherein the U-shaped holders, c, x, are
provided with a ring cl, to which the springs are connected.
So far as the flattened coiled wires are concerned they may be used either longi-
tudinally or transversely, of the mattress to advantage, but a decided advantage is
obtained by using either the flattened or even the truly circular coils, transversely
instead of longitudinally as heretofore.
My invention is not limited to the particular shape and construction of parts
herein shewn for it is evident the same may be varied without departing from the
spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner in which the same is to be performed; I declare
that what I claim is-
1st. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor composed of
a series of transverse interlocking spirally twisted wires and springs connecting the
outside or end spiral wires with said frame, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor composed
of a series of interlocking spirally twisted wires, the turns of the said spirals being
illiptical in shape to thereby present a flattened mattress surface substantially as
described.
3rd. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor, composed of
a series of spirally twisted wires, adjacent wires having their spiral turns inter-
locked, each pair of interlocking turns of two wires normally contracting at two
points to furnish thereat a lateral support for the said wires, substantially as
described.
4th. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor composed of a

page_text: series of transverse interlocking spirally twisted wires, springs connecting the
outside or end spiral wires with said frame, and selvege spirals running at right
angles to said transverse spirals and connected with the latter substantially as
.described.
5th. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor, composed of
series of transverse interlocking spirally twisted wires, springs connected with the
said frame at one of its ends and at its opposite end connected each with a plurality
of turns of the endmost wires substantially as described.
6th. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor composed of a
series of transverse interlocking spirally twisted wires U-shaped holders engaging
the out-side or endmost spiral wires, and springs connecting said holders with said
frame, substantially as described.
7th. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor, composed of
a series of transverse interlocking spirally twisted wires U-shaped holders engaging
the outside or endmost spiral wires, springs on said frame and A-shaped holders
joining the said U-shaped holders to said springs substantially as described.
8th. The combination with a suitable frame, of a mattress therefor composed of
a series of spirally twisted and interlocking wires of springs connected with said
frame and supporting the said interlocking wires and acting transversely upon the
latter substantially as described.
9th. The combination with the mattress and the end rails to which the same
is connected, of the side rails, the supports, /, and bolts f, and f³, and the nut f
operating substantially as described.
Dated 27th day of February 1896
FRANCIS GILBERT GALE.
Edwd. J. Payne & Son,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Patent Agents for the Applicant.