Improvements in Woven Wire Pillows, Bolsters, Bed Rests, Lounges, and Articles for Sitting and Reclining Upon.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Woven Wire Pillows, Bolsters, Bed Rests,
Lounges, and Articles for Sitting and Reclining Upon.
I, ALFRED EDMUND WALE of the firm of T. E. Wale & Sons of Atlas Works,
Oozell Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in woven wire pillows, bolsters,
bedrests lounges and articles for sitting and reclining upon and is for the purpose
of imparting a maximum amount of elasticity and flexibility without undue stiffness
to such articles.
I weave the wire mesh together and in making either a bolster or pillow I bend
the mesh round and turn the two ends inwardly and fasten the same together so as
to form two sharp curves internally these not only supply the required elasticity
but create a strong yet flexible rib. In making pillows or bolsters with only one
junction this might form the thickside of the bolster or pillow and the parts
longitudinally may be further strengthened by lines of coiled wire of stronger
section and make.
The same treatment of the wire will produce a pillow or bolster one with the
mattress or this treatment may be continued further down the mattress even to the
bottom. The edges of the wire thus turned inwardly may be fastened together by
transverse spiral coils or sewn or partly joined together by both treatments or
metallic strips of thin metal may be bent over to clip the edges thus leaving them
smooth or strips of metal, cane, or wood may be used to bind the edges together
into one neat strong head. Stronger coils of wire either parallel or transverse may
be used in any parts internally to give a certain amount of flexible rigidity to the
mesh.
I muy form a flat frame of iron or wood and curve the woven wire mesh over in
a raised form from one side of the frame to the other the frame being open in the
centre and either stiffened by stiffening pieces or not as may be desired. The
mesh would be attached to the frame in any suitable manner but preferably by
being rivetted between the frame and a strip. Instead of curving the mesh over in
a regular circle I may curve one or both sides under and out again to attach to the
frame and thus gain more spring. In cases where the flat frames are used two
coverings of mesh may be used one being curved over from side to side of the
frame and the other curved over from end to end the corners being left open or
drawn together as may be desired and any intermediate layer of soft material may
be placed between the two to prevent noise.
One part of my invention consists in curving over the mesh into the form or
shape of an ordinary pillow the ends of the mesh being turned into the pillow at
one side and fastened inside by a coil of wire being wound in and out of the ends
and also by a wire having a series of loops along its length which loops are pressed
through the two ends of the mesh until projecting sufficiently for a straight wire
to be passed through the loops by which the two ends are practically sewn together.
The ends of the pillow or bolster may then be closed up by drawing the two edges
of the mesh together and securing them in any suitable manner.
In place of turning in the ends I may bend the mesh round until the ends
overlap and perfectly oval in section and secure the two ends of the mesh together
between two strips of metal or by the method as before described. A coil of wire
may be run inside any form of article where a bend occurs thus preventing the
mesh from being pressed heavily down at this point until past recovery of its

page_text: natural position and the mesh may be distended by straight longitudinal wires
passing along the length of the article. A stronger mesh may be curved over from
the frame inside the outer mesh and of a smaller circumference to give additional
strength and prevent the outer mesh from being pressed down beyond recovery.
By joining the ends of the mesh without the medium of a stiff frame or strip
and curving the mesh over as before described it will be seen that a woven wire
pillow, bolster, or other such article is obtained which is elastic in every direction
while the coils running crossways prevent any disturbance of the unused end of a
bolster when being pressed at the other end.
Instead of rivetting the ends of the woven wire between two strips I may provide
strips of special U-shaped section so that the mesh may be inserted in between the
two sides which would then be rivetted together thus leaving one side closed
instead of open as in the case of two strips.-
In some cases such for instance as camp bedsteads and such like articles or in
ordinary mattresses the wire mesh instead of being finished off at the end of the
mattress may be continued on and after being secured may be curved over to form
a bolster in which case the ends of the mesh would be connected to the mattress
mesh in any of ways already described or in any other suitable manner and the ond
of the bolster may be left open or drawn together and fastened.
In the case of back and seats the woven wire mesh may be bent out into various
forms so as to form an elastic cushion and may be attached to the framework in
various ways. One form of seat would be to cover the seat frame with mesh
afterwards turning it up and over and fastening it at the back of the seat in
which case the curve of the woven wire is at the front while the pitch of the under
part of the mesh may be longer than that on the top as little or no spring is
required, but this under mesh need not be present.
The woven wire mesh for a seat back may be fastened near the bottom of the back
and then bent over and upwards and the ends mounted between two strips one
above the other and forming one longitudinal bearer which may be screwed on the
back near the top.
An elastic seat of a chair may be formed by holding the outside of a piece of
mesh in a frame while the mesh is bulged out in the centre which bulge is thus
effected without altering the shape of the piece of the mesh.
A great range of elasticity may be properly allowed and controlled by the
introduction of coiled sofa or other springs under or between the surfaces of the
mesh either one two or more rows are distributed in various ways according to
the size and shape of the pillow or bolster or the coiled or other springs may
rest upon a wood or other solid base or upon a base formed by diagonal strips,
laths or wires. Such wire mesh work whether made into the form of pillows,
bolsters, or otherwise may be flattened at the junctions and secured by running
through them a strand or strands or coils of wire in a transverse direction to
those forming the mesh and the junctions may be in any position. To prevent or
deaden noise insert between or in various parts of the junctions, india-rubber,
felt, leather, or other soft substances. In cases where a certain amount of stiffness
is required may run a lacing of wire or rods horizontally or diagonally from
side to side or between various parts of the mesh internally a suitable part for
such junctions being parts where the stiffening wire coils come. This plan is
specially applicable-where two sides of the mesh are purposely indented to produce
vertical stiffness as the cross wires or lacings or stiffening-ties may cross over
from one indent to the other.
Dated this 16th day of October 1901
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Woven Wire Pillows, Bolsters, Bed Rests,
Lounges, and Articles for Sitting and Reclining Upon.
I, ALFRED EDMUND WALE of the firm of T. E. Wale & Sons, of Atlas
Works, Oozell Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object improvements in woven wire pillows bolsters,
bed-rests, lounges and articles for sitting and reclining upon, and is for the purpose
of imparting a maximum amount of elasticity and flexibility without undue stiffness
to such articles.
I weave the wire mesh together and in making either a bolster I bend the mesh
round and turn the two ends inwardly and fasten the same together so as to
form two sharp curves internally these not only supply the required elasticity
but create a strong yet flexible rib. In making pillows or bolsters with only
one junction this might form the thick side of the bolster or pillow and the parts
may be longitudinally further strengthened by lines of coiled wire of stronger
section and make.
The same treatment of the wire will produce a pillow or bolster one with the
mattress or this treatment may be continued further down the mattress even to the
bottom. The edges of the wire thus turned inwardly may be fastened together
by transverse spiral coils or sewn or partly joined together by both treatments or
metallic strips of thin metal may be bent over to clip the edges thus leaving them
smooth or strips of metal, cane, or wood, may be used to bind the edges together
into one neat strong head. Stronger coils of wire either parallel or transverse may
be used in any parts internally to give a certain amount of flexible rigidity to the
mesh.
I may form a flat frame of iron or wood and curve the woven wire mesh over in
a raised form from one side of the frame to the other the frame being open in the
centre and either stiffened by stiffening pieces or not as may be desired. The
mesh would be attached to the frame in any suitable manner but preferably by
being riveted between the frame and a strip. Instead of curving the mesh over
in a regular circle I may curve one or both sides under and out again to attach to
the frame and thus gain more spring. In cases where the flat frames are used two
coverings of mesh may be used one being curved over from side to side of the
frame and the other curved over from end to end the corners being left open or
drawn together as may be desired and any intermediate layer of soft material may
be placed between the two to prevent noise.
One part of my invention consists in curving over the mesh into the form or
shape of an ordinary pillow the ends of the mesh being turned into the pillow at
one side and fastened inside by a coil of wire being wound in and out of the ends
and also by a wire having a series of loops along its length which loops are pressed
through the two ends of the mesh until projecting sufficiently for a straight wire
to be passed through the loops by which the two ends are practically sewn together.
The ends of the pillow or bolster may then be closed up by drawing the two edges
of the mesh together and securing them in any suitable manner.
In place of turning in the ends I may bend the mesh round until the ends overlap
and secure the two ends of the mesh together between two strips of metal or. by the
method as before described. A coil of wire may be run inside any form of article
where a bend occurs thus preventing the mesh from being pressed heavily down
at this point until past recovery of its natural position and the mesh may be
distended by straight longitudinal wires passing along the length of the article.
A stronger mesh may be curved over from the frame inside the outer mesh and of

page_text: a smaller circumference to give additional strength and prevent tlie outer mesh
from being pressed down beyond recovery.
By joining the ends of the mesh without the medium of a stiff frame or strip and
curving the mesh over as before described it will be seen that a woven wire
pillow, bolster, or other such article is obtained which is elastic in every direction
while the coils running crossways prevent any disturbance of the unused end of a
Lolster when being pressed at the other end.
Instead of rivetting the ends of the woven wire between two strips I may
provide strips of special U-shaped section so that the mesh may be inserted in
between the two sides which would then be rivetted together thus leaving one side
closed instead of open as in the case of two strips.
In some cases such for instance as camp bedsteads and such like articles or in
ordinary mattresses the wire mesh instead of being finished off at the end of the
mattress may be continued on, and after being secured may be curved over to form
a bolster in which case the ends of the mesh would be connected to the mattress
mesh in any of the ways already described or in any other suitable manner and the
end of the bolster may be left open or drawn together and fastened.
In the case of backs and seats the woven wire mesh may be bent into various
forms so as to form an elastic cushion and may be attached to the frame work in
various ways. One form of seat would be to cover the seat frame with mesh
afterwards turning it up and over and fastening it at the back of the seat in which
case the curve of the woven wire is at the front while the pitch of the under part
of the mesh may be longer than that on the top as little or no spring is required
but this under mesh need not be present.
The woven wire mesh for a seat back may be fastened near the bottom of the
back and then bent over and upwards and the ends mounted between two strips one
above the other and forming one longitudinal bearer which may be screwed on the
backs near the top.
An elastic seat of a chair may be formed by holding the outside of a piece of
mesh in a frame while the mesh is bulged out in the centre which bulge is thus
effected without altering the shape of the piece of the mesh.
A great range of elasticity may be properly allowed and controlled by the
introduction of coiled sofa or other springs under or between the surfaces of
the mesh; either one two or more rows are distributed in various ways according
to the size and shape of the pillow or bolster or the coiled or other spring may rest
upon a wood or other solid base or upon a base formed by diagonal strips laths or
wires. Such wire mesh work whether made into the form of pillows bolsters or
otherwise may be flattened at the junctions and secured by running through them a
strand or strands or coils of wire in a transverse direction to those forming the
mesh and the junctions may be in any position. To prevent or deaden noise I
insert between or in various parts of the junctions india rubber, felt, leather, or
other soft substances. In cases where a certain amount of stiffness is required I
may run a lacing of wire or rods horizontally or diagonally from side to sides or
between various parts of the mesh internally a suitable part for such junctions
being parts where the stiffening wire coils come. This plan is specially applicable
where two sides of the mesh are purposely indented to produce vertical stiffness
as the cross wires or lacings or stiffening ties may cross over from one indent
to the other.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto three double sized sheet of drawings upon
which I have fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my pillows or bolsters as most generally
carried into effect.
Figure 2 is a cross section of Figure 1 on the line 1-2.
Figure 3 is a similar cross section to Figure 2 but shewing a modification.
Figure 4 is also a similar cross section to Figure 3 but shewing a modification in
the shape.

page_text: in the shape.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pillow or bolster formed upon a frame.
Figure 7 is a section of a pillow formed upon a frame.
Figure 8 is a plan of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a similar section to Figure 7 but shewing a modification in the shape
of the mesh.
Figure 10 is a view shewing one mode of joining the ends of the mesh together.
Figure 11 is another view shewing another mode of joining the ends of the mesh
together.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a pillow containing coiled springs.
Figure 13 is a section through a similar pillow or bolster built upon a frame.
Figure 14 is a section through a pillow shewing an arrangement for decreasing
the depression of the mesh.
Figure 15 is a similar section shewing a modification for a similar purpose.
Figure 16 is a section through the clip adjoining the ends of the mesh.
Figure 17 shews the application of my improvement to seat backs and other such
articles.
Figure 18 shews one form of seat made by my improvement.
Figure 19 shews my improved mode of forming a bolster in one with the spring
mattress.
In forming pillows and bolsters in accordance with my invention I curve over
the sheet of mesh into the form of an ordinary pillow as shewn at A Figure 1 and
for the purpose of preventing the depression of the edges past recovery by their
natural spring run within the pillow an extra coil of wire a¹ along each side of
the pillow and extra coils of wire a² may be run longitudinally along the pillow to
strengthen the mesh & increase the spring. These coils prevent the mesh from
being pressed heavily down at the edge past recovery while the mesh is distended
by the straight longitudinal coils passing along the length I may bend the mesh A
round as shewn at Figure 3 and form a stronger mesh B inside the outer mesh and
of a smaller circumference so as to prevent the outer mesh being depressed past
recovery.
The mesh A may be in two parts A and A* and bent over and turned in as
shewn by Figure 4 or in one such as shewn by Figure 5 the ends as being
turned inwardly and fastened in the manner to be afterwards described and
coils a¹ may be placed in each of the curves thus formed. Stronger coils of wire
such as a¹ and a³ may be used longitudially or transversely to strengthen the mesh
as required.
I may form a flat frame D Figures 7, 8, and 9 of iron or wood and curve the
woven wire mesh A over in a raised form from one side of the frame to the other
the frame being open in the centre d' and either stiffened by the stiffening pieces d²
or not as may be required and instead of curving the mesh over in a regular
manner I may curve it as shewn at a' Figure 9 by which I gain more spring. In
cases where the flat frames D are used two coverings of mesh A and A' may be
used the one A. being curved over from side to side and the one A' from end to
end the corners a being drawn together or left open as may be desired. The
joint of the wire mesh of my pillows may either be formed by a coil of wire being
wound in and out of the two ends of the mesh which meet as illustrated by E in
Figures 45 & 11 the ends of the mesh being projecting flattened or not as may
be desired or by a piece of wire F Fig. 10 with loops which are pressed through
the ends of the mesh until sufficiently for the straight wire H to be passed
through the loops f¹ by which the two ends are practically sewn together. The
ends a of the pillow which are perfectly flexible may be left open or drawn
together as may be desired. I may secure the two ends together between two
strips of metal.
Considerable elasticity with due stiffness may be obtained by the introduction
of coiled springs K Figure 12 under or between the surface of the mesh A either

page_text: one two or more more rows being distributed according to the size and shape of
the pillow or bolster or the coiled or other spring K may rest upon the frame D
which may have diagonal strips or wires. In cases where stiffness is required
may run
Figures 14 and 15.
In the case of seat backs the mesh N may be attached such as shown by
Figure 17 while in the case of seats the woven wire mesh P Figure 18 may be
stretched across the bearer pl & p² and turned up at p³ to form the seat and being
fastened at p while the pitch of the underpart p may be longer than that of the
top P as little or no spring is required to the under-part. Instead of riveting
the ends of the mesh between two strips they may be rivetted between a special
strip as shown by Figure 16.
a lacing of wire or rods M from side to side such as shewn by
I may continue on the woven wire of an ordinary mattress as shown by Figure 19
at S to form a bolster in one with the mattress.
The mesh may be of a shorter pitch on the sharper curved edges of the articles
than elsewhere so as to give more elasticity at that point this being readily effected
by weaving the mesh all closely and stretching all parts out except that part in
which the shorter pitch is required.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
`claim is :--
1st. The improvements in woven wire pillows, bolsters, bed rests, lounges and
articles for sitting & reclining upon substantially as & for the purpose herin set
forth & illustrated upon the accompanying three sheets of drawings.
2nd. In improvements in woven wire pillows, bolsters, bed-rests, lounges, and all
articles for sitting and reclining upon the coils of wire a¹ & a² substantially such
as & for the purpose herein set forth and shown.
3rd. In improvements in woven wire pillows, bolsters, bed-rests, lounges and all
articles for sitting & reclining upon, the mode of and means for securing the two
ends of the inesh together substantially as & for the purpose described and illustrated
by Figures 10 and 11.
4th. In improvements in woven wire pillows, bolsters, bed-rests, lounges and all
articles for sitting and reclining upon the springs K substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and shown.
Dated this 16th day of July 1899
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colemore Row, Birmingham, Agent.