similar Reclining Surfaces and to Seatings.
Year: 1887

page_text: similar Reclining Surfaces and to Seatings.
I, EDWARD JOHNSON BATES, of 10 Cranbourne Street, Liverpool, in the county
of Lancaster, Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My improvements have for their object to provide a mattress, palliasse or other
similar reclining surface, or a seating, but chiefly a mattress, that will not be so
liable to become sunken down in those portions which are being continually reclined
or sat upon, as is the case with the common straw mattress, and that will also be
comparatively cheap, which is not the case with spring or metallic mattresses, and
even these generally lose their shape in course of time.
My improvements in mattresses; applicable also to palliasses or other similar
reclining surfaces, and to seatings, consist in forming a strong wooden framework
which is composed of laths set on their edges, two end and two side laths and a
number of cross ones; on this framework I place a covering of a cheap material-
common bagging for instance, but it may be found preferable, before placing on the
covering, to stretch over the wooden framework with a quantity of strong webbing,
in a similar way to the bottoms of upholstered chair seats. Over this covering straw,
or other suitable yielding material, is packed in a direction at right angles to the
cross laths of the wooden framework. The mattress, palliasse or other similar
reclining surface, or the seating, is now ready for covering and tufting in the
ordinary way.
It is self evident that the mattress, palliasse or other similar reclining surface, or
the seatings, may be formed reversible by placing the coverings and packing material
on both sides of the wooden framework.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1887.
EDWARD JOHNSON BATES.

page_text: Improvements in Mattresses, Applicable also to Palliasses or other
similar Reclining Surfaces and to Seatings.
EDWARD JOHNSON BATES, of 10 Cranbourne Street, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Dyer, does 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 improvements have for their object to provide a mattress, palliasse or other
similar reclining surface, or a seating, but chiefly a mattress, that will not be so
liable to become sunken down in those portions which are being continually reclined
or sat upon, as is the case with the common straw mattress, and that will also be
comparatively cheap, which is not the case with spring or metallic mattresses, and
even these generally lose their shape in course of time.
Reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings-and to the figures
and letters of reference marked thereon, which illustrate the different stages in the
manufacture of a half mattress according to my invention.
My improvements in mattresses, applicable also to palliasses or other similar
reclining surfaces, and to seatings, consist in forming a strong, preferably wooden,
framework, Fig. 1, which is composed of laths set on their edges, two end laths A, A¹,
two side ones B, B₁, and a number of cross ones C, C. The laths may be fastened
together in any suitable way; a good way is by the use of nails and glued corner
pieces (as shown in the drawing), and a cross lath C, will be found advantageous,
though not indispensable, for strengthening purposes.
On this framework I place a covering E, Fig. 3, of a cheap material-common
bagging for instance; but it may be found preferable, before placing on this covering,
to stretch over the framework with a quantity of strong webbing D, Fig. 2, in a
similar way to the bottoms of upholstered chair seats. The covering and webbing
are each tacked down onto the framework (as shown in the drawings) with small
nails.
Over this covering straw F1, Fig. 4, or other suitable yielding material, is packed
in a direction at angles, preferably right angles, to the cross laths of the framework.
The best method, which I know of, for fastening and retaining in position the straw
or other similar yielding material is this. I tie into the cover E, Fig. 3, at a short
distance from its edges, a series of strings a, a, so that the ends of such strings
(as shown in the Fig.) lay loose on the upper side of the cover. When the two end
bundles of straw F, F, are placed on the cover E, the series of strings a, a, are
brought round over them (as shown in Fig. 4,) and tied down onto small nails a³, a²,
on the ends of the framework; the two side bundles F¹, F1, are then placed in
position the strings a¹, a', being brought over them and tied down onto nails a³, as ;
all the remaining bundles of straw Fir, F", are then packed tightly in rows between
the two end ones F', F', but there is no necessity for them to be tied down onto the
covering E, for they will be retained in position by the covering or ticking G, Fig. 5,
as well as by the end bundles of straw F, F¹.
The mattress, palliasse or other similar reclining surface, or the seating, is now
ready for the final covering and for tufting, as shown in Fig. 5, where G, is an
ordinary fancy striped covering or ticking and H, are the tufts, which tufts are
preferably fastened on the covering by being slit on their opposite edges and then

page_text: caught under a string which is run or stitched through the mattress and penetrates it
at those places where the tufts are to be.
It is self evident that the mattress, palliasse or other similar reclining surface, or
the seatings may be formed reversible by placing the coverings and packing material
on both sides of the framework; but I prefer the back to be simply covered over, say
with a piece of bagging tacked to the underside of the framework.
Fig. 6, is a view of a handy and convenient appliance designed for use when
forming the bundles of straw F, F, F". It consists of a trough I, with a number
of slits J, in its opposite sides, and on the inner sides of its sides are a number of
channels or guideways K, into which a shutter L. (for regulating the length of the
bundle of straw) can slide. Supposing, now, the length of the bundle is to
be
1-2 Fig. 6; I first of all place the shutter I, down the channels
or guideways K, and then lay lengths of string, say, two lengths,'across the bottom
of the trough 1, at different places, bringing the ends of the string out through the
slits. The straw is then placed in the trough, lying on the strings, and
packed down until it is level with the top of the trough, when sufficiently packed a
couple of clastic bands M, M, which are fastened to the trough, on one of its sides,
are drawn over the top of the trough and caught by rings m, m, on nails on the other
side of the box. The bundle of straw is by this means held down and it thus becomes
an easy matter for the ends of the strings, hanging loosely out of the slits, to be
brought up over and tied tightly round the bundle of straw. The elastic bands are
then released, by their rings being taken from off the nails, the bundle of straw is
lifted out, and the trough is all ready for use in forming another bundle. ff, Fig. 4,
are.the strings which aro tied round the bundles of straw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I believe it has been customary in making "Box Mattresses" to form their framework
with four side laths placed on edge and fastened together, consequently I do not wish
it to be supposed that I claim such as my invention. Furthermore that although
having shown and described the invention as applied to a half mattress I do not at
all wish to limit its application to mattresses only, as it can just as easily be applied
to palliasses or other similar reclining surfaces, and to seatings such as are used in
traincars et cetera. And also although I prefer straw, as being convenient and cheap,
for packing, other materials may be used in its place, for instance, strips of india
rubber or wool, or wool in combination with straw. Furthermore I do not wish it to
be supposed from my having described and shown the trough in Fig. 6, that I want
such to be protected under these Letters Patent, but have inserted it in the foregoing
specification as I have found it of great use in the manufacture of mattresses
according to my invention. But I declare that what I claim is :
First. A mattress, palliasse or other similar reclining surface, or a seating, whose
framework consists of a number of cross laths, such as C, (or their mechanical
equivalent), set on their edges and suitably fastened to outside lathe, such as A, A¹,
B, B', (or their mechanical equivalent), all substantially as shown and described.
Second. In a mattress, palliasse or other similar reclining surface, or a seating, the
combination with a framework, such as that shown in Fig. 1, of a packing or yielding
material, such as F", which material is so packed that it lays in a direction at angles,
preferably right angles, to the cross laths (U) of the framework.
Third. The general arrangement and construction of a mattress, palliasse or other
similar reclining surface, or a seating, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Kirst day of October 1887
EDWARD JOHNSON BATES.