Improvements in Spring Bed-bottoms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1592-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Bed-bottoms.
I, DANIEL EDGAR, of No. 181 West Maumee Street, in the City of Adrian,
County of Lenawee, and State of Michigan, U.S.A., 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 :-
My invention especially relates to spring bed-bottoms of the class in which coiled
or helical springs are secured to a supporting frame, and connected by horizontal
bracing and supporting springs at their upper ends.
The object of my present invention is to provide an improved head piece, which
is supported by springs of an improved construction, and flexibly connected to the
body springs without the use of a hinge. In this connection, my invention also
consists in improved means for supporting and adjusting the main body springs of
the bed, to compensate for the adjustment of the head-piece. My invention also
consists in the use of border springs connected to the supporting springs and
arranged in an improved way.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spring bed-bottom embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and
Figs. 3 and 4 show details of construction.
The frame is shown as consisting of slats A, A', A, connected at their ends by
longitudinal slats B. The supporting springs C, which may be of any approved
form and construction, are arranged on the slats A, at equal distances apart. Any.
desired number of supporting springs may be employed.
At opposite ends of the bed bottom, are the licad and foot pieces D, E. When
these are on the same plane as the top of the supporting springs, they are in
position over the slats A and A*.
Coiled or helical springs F, extend on opposite sides of the bed bottom from the
head to the foot piece, to which they are connected. These springs are connect.d
by means of twisted wires, to the tops of the outside rows of the supporting
springs C. These connecting wires connect with the under sides of the border
springs F, so that there is no danger of their engaging with the bedding. The tops
of the supporting springs are connected by means of short coiled or helical
springs G, arranged in groups of four between a group of four supporting springs,
and connected at their inner ends to rings G. The head and foot rows of supporting
springs are connected to the head and foot cross pieces by the coiled springs G,
and rings G', and these rings are connected with each other and to the border
springs by means of springs G².
Springs H, may also be employed to connect adjacent supporting springs, as
indicated.
It will be observed that the head and foot pieces are flexibly connected with the
body springs and when free, assume a position above the level of the springs
without the use of a hinge, as shown in the drawings.
The head piece and the foot piece are similar in construction and operation..
Each of them is secured to flat curved springs I, having at their lower ends, feet i,
arranged over the end slats A. Flat, curved springs K, are secured to the cross-
pieces A and A, and extend to the end cross-pieces beneath the feet of the
springs I, to which they are secured. The springs K, co-operate with the springs I,
and tend to raise the head and foot pieces above the level of the bed-bottom, which
may be held in any desired position by means of adjusting devices, or chains L,.

page_text: secured to the cross-pieces A¹ and A², and engaging with hooks M, on the
pieces D and E.
When the head piece D, is elevated, there is no strain on the springs, and the
foot piece may be released from the chains so that all the springs will maintain
their normal position. But when the head-piece is lowered, and held by the chains
against the force of the springs, there is a tendency to pull the supporting springs
out of their normal position, and there is more strain on some of the springs than
the others. To compensate this, the foot-piece is adjustable correspondingly with
the head-piece, and in this way the tension on all the springs is maintained
uniformly.
In operation, the lower ends or feet of the springs I, slide on the cross-pieces,
and thus relieve themselves from undue strain, keep the tension uniform, and also
allow the head and foot cross-pieces to assume a horizontal position in line with the
upper surface of the supporting springs.
In order to sustain the supporting springs C, I employ on opposite sides of the
bed, below the border springs, wires N, secured to the slats B, and extending
through the outside row of supporting springs, about midway between their upper
and lower ends.
A bed bottom thus constructed, is not only simple, but it is durable, comfortable,
and easily adjusted. Although a number of small springs are employed to connect
the upper ends of the supporting springs, I find that such an arrangement is
necessary in order to produce the greatest comfort and maintain uniform clasticity
throughout the bed-bottom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; 1. declare that what I
claim is―
1. A bed-bottom consisting of a slatted frame, upright supporting springs, a head
piece, a foot piece, springs connecting them to the supporting springs, and the
border springs secured to the head and foot cross-pieces and to the supporting
springs.
2. The combination of a slatted frame, upright supporting springs thereon,
horizontal springs connecting the supporting springs at their upper ends, head and
foot cross-pieces, springs for normally holding them above the upper plane or
surface of the springs in the bed-bottom, and means for adjusting them without a
hinge.
3. The combination of a frame, supporting springs mounted thereon, means for
flexibly connecting the upper ends of the supporting springs, the head piece, the
flat springs secured thereto, and the curved springs secured to the lower ends of
the flat springs and at their outer ends to the frame, but free to slide at their inner
ends, and means for adjusting the head piece.
4. The combination of a frame, supporting springs mounted thereon, springs
connecting the supporting springs at their upper ends, the head and foot cross
pieces, springs connecting them to the supporting springs, the continuous border
springs connected to the head and foot pieces, and to the supporting springs, the
springs 1, secured to the head and foot cross pieces, the springs K, secured to the
frame, and to the lower ends of the springs I, and the adjusting chains.
5. The combination of a frame, upright supporting springs mounted thereon,
head and foot pieces, and continuous border springs secured to the head and foot
pieces and to the supporting springs.
Dated this 2nd day of Janua 1905
DANIEL EDGAR.