IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEDS, MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND SEATS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Clark, of Newton Heath, Manchester, India-
rubber Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BEDS, MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND SEATS."
Sealed the 20th January 1857, and dated the 22nd July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd July
1856.
I, JAMES CLARK, of Newton Ileath, Manchester, India-rubber Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEDS, MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND SEATS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists, in the first place, in producing air-proof beds,
mattresses, cushions, and air-proof goods generally, by the following means:-
I take calico, or other suitable fabric, woven or manufactured double, in
longitudinal, transverse, or other divisions or compartments, and coat it on
both sides with water-proof composition, and I cover both sides of this double
fabric so coated with other fabric or fabrics which have been previously
coated with water-proof or air-proof composition, the coated sides of the double
fabric uniting with the coated sides of the other fabric. The required sizes
or shapes of beds, or cushions, or other articles are cut out and finished

page_text: in the usual mode of finishing air-proof goods, and with air-tight valves, and
when inflated present elegant forms, varying according to the forms of the
double cloth or fabric. The present mode of making air-proof goods consists
in using three piles or layers of fabric; first, the lining; second, the gauze;
third, the air-proof fabric. The second fabric is coated on both sides. Now, by
the above mode this second fabric or gauze will be dispensed with. I also ac-
complish this economy by the following plan:-I take strips of coated calico
or lining and form them into flat divisions or compartments of the required
form, and then cover these divisions or compartments with the air-proof
fabric on each side, the divisions or compartments being laid close together, or
nearly so, between the air-proof fabric.
The second part of my Invention consists in coating both sides of this
double fabric containing divisions or compartments in various forms with
water-proof composition, and stuffing these compartments with hair or other
suitable material for stuffing, and after stuffing cementing the edges or seams
with water-proof composition, so as to render beds, mattresses, cushions,
pillars, or other articles thoroughly impervious to water, and to some extent
air-proò.. Another part of my Invention consists in stuffing double-woven
fabrics, such as above described, with hair or wool or cotton, so as to produce
beds, mattresses, cushions, and pillows. A double fabric, containing the
longitudinal, transverse, or other divisions or compartments, before mentioned.
for air and water-proof purposes, may be formed by placing two pieces of cloth,
or any suitable fabric together, and stitching or sewing them together in
the various directions required. In place of stitching or sewing two fabrics
together, india-rubber solution or other cementing materials may be inserted
between the two fabrics in the directions or lines required, so as to produce
the forms of divisions or compartments required. Any other suitable and
convenient mode of producing double cloths or fabrics containing the required
forms of divisions or compartments may be, adopted, and both sides of this
double fabric containing the divisions or compartments may be woven or pro-
duced of different materials, so as to produce elegance and variety of
appearance, particularly for the third part of:
my
Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CLARK, of Newton Heath, Manchester, India-rubber Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Clark, Her special licence that I, the said James Clark, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BEDS, MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND SEATS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, in the first place, in producing air-proof beds,
mattresses, cushions, and seats, by the following means:-I take calico or
other suitable fabric, woven or manufactured double, in longitudinal, transverse,
or other divisions or compartments, to which mode of weaving or making no
claim is made by me. I then coat this double fabric on both sides with water-
proof composition, and cut the beds, mattresses, cushions, or seats of the
required shape, and finish them in the usual mode of finishing such like air-proof
articles, that is, I bind the edges with tape coated with water-proof cement;
and in order to insure the passage of air into and from the several compart-
ments, I notch or cut a passage into each compartment near the edges, so that

page_text: the binding covers but does not close such openings; I then coat or cover
both sides of the double fabric by another piece of fabric on each side, the
exterior fabric having been previously coated with water-proof or air-proof com-
position. The coated sides of the double fabric unite with the coated sides of
the other or external fabrics. Air-tight valves are applied in ordinary manner,
and when inflated the goods present elegant forms, varying according to the
form of the compartments in the double fabric or cloth.
The mode of making such like air-proof goods as heretofore practised con-
sists in using three plies or layers of fabric; first, the lining; second, the
gauze; third, the air-proof fabric: the second fabric being coated on both
sides. My Invention saves this second fabric or gauze altogether, and the
divisions or compartments being formed in the double woven fabric, saves the
labour of the workman in forming these divisions. I can also effect the
economy of saving the gauze by the following method:-I take strips of
coated calico as lining, and form or fold each of them into flat divisions
or compartments of the required form by cementing the edges of each, so
as to form a tube, or woven tubular fabrics may be employed, and I
form a bed, mattress, cushion, or seat by using several of such hollow
woven or cemented tubes side by side, coated externally with waterproofing
cement or composition, and I then cover these tubes, divisions, or compart-
ments with the air-proof fabric on each side, the divisions or compartments
being laid side by side close together between the outer air-proof fabric.
The articles are otherwise made up and finished as above explained.
The second part of my Invention consists in producing water-proof beds
mattresses, cushions, and seats, which I make in the following manner:-1
take calico or other suitable fabric woven or manufactured double, as already
described, and coat it on both sides with water-proof composition, I then cut
the bed or other article the requisite size and stuff the divisions or compart-
ments with hair or other suitable material for stuffing, and after stuffing I
cement the edges or seams with water-proof composition and water-proof tape,
so that the article is rendered externally thoroughly water-proof over its whole
surface.
The third part of my Invention consists in producing beds, mattresses,
cushions, and pillows non-water-proof, but of a very elegant appearance and
of a portable character.
I take calico or other suitable fabric woven double, as already described,
and after cutting the article the requisite shape I stuff the divisions or
compartments with hair or other suitable material for stuffing, and sew or
bind round the edges.

page_text: A double fabric, containing the longitudinal, transverse, or other divisions
or compartments, before mentioned, for the first, second, and third parts of
my Invention, may be formed by placing two pieces of cloth or any suitable
fabric together, one above the other, and stitching or sewing them together,
so as to form the divisions required; or in place of stitching or sewing,
india-rubber solution, or other cementing materials may be inserted between
the two fabrics in the directions or lines required, so as to produce the forms
of divisions or compartments required. Any other convenient and suitable
mode of producing double cloths or fabrics containing the required forms of
divisions or compartments may be adopted, and each side of this double
fabric containing the divisions or compartments may be woven or produced of
different materials, and, for the third part of my Invention, will produce
elegance and variety of appearance.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
JAMES CLARK. (L.S.)