Improvements in Springs for Seats, Cushions, and other like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1889.
Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Seats, Cushions, and other like
Purposes.
A communication from WILLIAM FRANCIS RIPPON, of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States, Manufacturer.
We HENRY LOUKES, Petre Street Sheffield in the County of York, Sawmaker, and
BYRON ARTHUR RIPPON, Woollen Street Sheffield aforesaid, Warehouseman, 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 :-
The object of our invention is to provide a simple effective and reliable spring
which can be applied and removed for repair or for replacement without disturbing
the upholstery of the seat, cushion or like object to which it is applied.
Hitherto springs have been usually made of wire and generally in a spiral form, and
various devices such as twine, strapping, wire, or metal links have been required and
used to prevent a lateral movement of the springs.
In carrying out our invention, we use in some cases a single flat spring, and in
others a combination of such flat springs, and in connection with each spring we use a
disc mounted loosely upon each spring in such a manner that it may rock freely to
yield to pressure.
In the annexed drawings which illustrate our invention,
Fig. 1, is a plan view of one arrangement as applied to the bottom of a chair seat or
cushion.
Fig. 2, is a sectional elevation on line aa of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an elevation partly in section showing a single spring with its adjusting
screw and disc.
Fig. 4, is an elevation showing a modification of our invention applicable to the slats
of a couch or bed.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures.
We prefer to construct the springs of steel or other suitable material and of the
form shown and marked A, or A as being very convenient to use and cheaply
made.

page_text: We secure the spring by one end to the frame of the seat, and we tap a hole in the
free end, and insert an adjustable screwed pivot D.
↓
Upon this adjustable pivot we mount a disc B which has a free rocking movement
on the said pivot, whereby it adapts itself to pressure applied at an angle to its
axis.
For purposes of adjustment the post or pivot head is preferably squared and is fitted
loosely into a bub d, provided with a corresponding recess.
By turning the pivot D in either direction, the disc B, is raised or lowered, as the
case may be, thereby increasing or lessening the tension upon the chair-seat
upholstery.
In many instances, as in a couch or similar piece of furniture, it is desirable to have
more than a single spring, in such cases we use a collection of springs and discs
radiating from the said disc B, as a centre.
These secondary discs B', are smaller than the central disc B, and each is loosely
mounted upon the upwardly-turned end of the auxiliary springs A² and like the central
disc, has a free rocking motion upon its support.
The auxiliary springs A² are preferably made of the double or ✓ shaped form shown,
(but we may if desirable use single or straight springs) and we secure them upon the
underside of the central disc B, by a retaining plate b, suitably recessed to receive and
confine them as shown.
The secondary discs B₁, are intended to lie a trifle below the plan of the central
disc B, to permit the chair or couch seat to round up, in a spherical or convex
form.
Any pressure applied to the seat will depress the discs and their springs, and
ultimately the central disc and main spring.
The purpose of the auxiliary springs and discs is to preserve an even tension and
uniform surface in the seat.
Modifications of the parts shown may be made without departing from the principle
of our invention. For example the main spring may be scroll-shaped and be secured
at its centre, thereby leaving both ends of the spring free, and to each may be attached
either a single disc, or a cluster of discs, as shown in Fig. 4. Such device would be
well adapted to a couch, or mattress spring.
It is obvious that the auxiliary springs may be varied or modified in form, or that
a collection of single springs may be used, each spring being secured to the central
disc or pivot independently of the others in the cluster.
The turned up end of the spring, or the pivot, cannot puncture the upholstery, and
moreover the disc prevents the rust from the metal spring or the pivot from reaching
and injuring the webbing or upholstery.
By the use of this invention we are enabled to spring a seat and upholster it, with
the use of less stuffing or filling than is required with other forms of springs. The
webbing is applied as in other cases, the discs pressing directly against the webbing
from the underside.
It is obvious that we can use either flat or round springs, but we prefer the flat or
strap form, on account of its greater resiliency.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1-The combination of the spring A, the adjustable screwthreaded pivot D, & the
disc B, the said disc being loosely pivotted on the said adjustable pivot, all constructed
and arranged to be fitted to the frame of a seat, for the purpose specified, and as
herein before described and shown.
2-The combination of the clamping plate b, the auxiliary springs A² and discs B',
with a central disc B, hub d, and main spring such as A, forming a cluster
spring for the purpose specified, the said auxiliary springs radiating from said
central disc, and said auxiliary discs B¹, having each independent free rocking
movement pivotally upon upwardly-turned ends of the springs A³.

page_text: 3-A spring for seats, cushions and the like consisting of a main spring and
central disc, (as shown) combined with one or more springs radiating from the
central disc in planes parallel with that of the main spring, and a disc loosely
pivotted upon each of said radiating springs, and having free rocking movement
thereon yieldingly to pressure applied at any angle to its pivotal axis, all arranged
for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shown.
4 In a seat or analogous article, the spring A, adapted to be secured to the
frame of the article, a screwed pivot D, tapped into the said spring, and a disc B,
in combination together, all arranged and adapted to support and to raise and lower
said disc, to increase or to lessen the tension of the upholstery of the seat or like
article.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicants.