Improvements relating to Flexible Stays for Air-mattresses, Air- cushions, and like Articles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Flexible Stays for Air-mattresses, Air-
cushions, and like Articles.
I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS YOUNG, of Wakefield, in the County of Middlesex, Common-
wealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention. to be as follows:-
My invention relates especially to that class of air goods which comprises air
mattresses, cushions and the like, wherein it is necessary to connect opposite rubber
cloth walls by flexible stays in order to maintain their relative position; the object
being particularly to supply means for preventing the tearing of the walls at the
slot through which it is necessary to pass the stay and thereby avoid leakage.
The nature and operation of the device will be understood by those conversant
with such matters from the following explanation, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawing forming part of this specification in which
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a rubber or air mattress provided
with iny improvement;
Figure 2 a plan view showing one of the cap pieces broken away to illustrate
means for securing a stay;
Figure 3 a central vertical transverse section of the same;
Figure 4 a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing a modification;
Figure 5 a view like that in Figure 3 showing an alternate method of forming
the stay; and
Figure 6 a side view of the stay detached.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawing.
A, B, represent the walls of an air mattress which are framed in the usual
manner from rubber-faced cloth. These walls, it is essential, are connected by a
flexible non-elastic stay or stays, so that when one portion of the inflated mattress
is depressed or indented by the weight of the user, other portions will not be dis-
torted or expanded.
As such movement imparts great strain on the stays much difficulty is ex-
perienced in preventing them from tearing the fabric of the walls, and causing a
leakage which is difficult and frequently expensive to repair. To make the "pull "
even on both sides of the wall slots, no matter what the distortion of the air bag,
and to protect the ends of the slots through which the stay passes, I find can be
accomplished by peculiarities of construction of the stay and the method of attach-
ing to said bag walls. This must be done in such manner that the strain would
be resisted equally at opposite sides of the stay-slots in the bag-walls, at the same
time having the ends of said slot covered or connected directly from the stay.
The stay C, in my improvement consists of a strip of strong canvas tape is shown
in Figure 6. The ends of this strip are looped laterally at one side, carried across
and looped at the opposite side, the extreme ends, b, being bent downward against

page_text: the body of the stays. This forms laterally projecting wings, y, at each end of
the stay formed from a continuous piece of tape, the stay being substantially
I-shaped in edge elevation as shown best in Figure 6. The loop walls and ends, b,
are heated with rubber and vulcanized together.
The walls, A, B, are rubber-faced on the outer sides in the usual manner. The
stay-ends are passed through slots, d, cut in said walls of a length just sufficient
to admit the breadth of said stay. The horizontal wings, g, are thus disposed
against said rubber outer faces, and, being treated with rubber in the manner of
friction cloth, will adhere thereto when vulcanized.
It will be understood clearly that these wings, g, are integral at the respective
ends of the stay; that is, the whole being of a single strip of tape the companion
wings are connected inseparably across the outer face of the I-head, as best shown
in Figure 6.
This is of radical importance in my device as it renders the pull even and simul-
taneous at both sides of the wall slot and furthermore absolutely prevents
companion wings from being, torn apart or separated during the straining.
These wings are covered by a rubber-faced cap piece and all are vulcanized
together. By this means the "pull" of the stay is equal on both sides of the
slot, the strain of the body, f, being central thereof. This tends to draw the slot
walls inward, and prevent its ends splitting or tearing further. I incorporate
small circular pieces of friction cloth, i, (see Figure 2) between the walls of the
loops forming the wings, g, across the junction, of the ends, b, with the body, f,
and projecting laterally therefrom as shown. These are fast in the heads of the
stay and, being vulcanized also on to the rubber face of the mattress wall across
the ends of the slot, d, serve as a reinforcement and afford added security against
leakage at these points.
Instead of the circular pieces, i, described, I may employ a continuous strip, k, in
the stay heads disposed at, t, across the jointure under the outer wall of the stay
head of the end b, with the body f, as shown in Figure 4. The ends of this strip
overlap the edges of the head and while effecting the purpose described for the
circular pieces, į, also reinforces the jointure t Both these, however, may be
omitted.
The form shown in Figure 5 is a modification in that the ends b, of the stay
are elongated until they meet at 2, thus forming a double stay or body f2.
The salient feature of my invention comprises forming the stay and its attaching
wings for the purposes described, in one continuous integral piece. By this means
not only is greater efficiency attained than by any of the ordinary methods, but a
very material saving of cost in vulcanizing and labour especially is saved. The
number of parts is materially decreased, enabling it to be more quickly prepared
and applied and the stay, in its connections, with the mattress, is decidedly
strengthened.
Dated this 28th day of Navamhom 1000
Improvements relating to Flexible Stays for Air-mattresses, Air-
cushions, and like Articles.
I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS YOUNG, of Wakefield, in the County of Middlesex, Common-
wealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the

page_text: 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 relates especially to that class of air goods which comprises air
mattresses, cushions and the like, wherein it is necessary to connect opposite rubber
cloth walls by flexible stays in order to maintain their relative position; the object
being particularly to supply means for preventing the tearing of the walls at the
slot through which it is necessary to pass the stay and thereby avoid leakage.
The nature and operation of the device will be understood by those conversant
with such matters from the following explanation, reference being had to the
drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a rubber or air mattress provided
with my improvement;
Figure 2 a plan view showing one of the cap pieces broken away to illustrate
means for securing a stay;
Figure 3 a central vertical transverse section of the same;
Figure 4 a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing a modification;
Figure 5 a view like that in Figure 3 showing an alternate method of forming
the stay; and
Figure 6 a side view of the stay detached.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawing.
A, B, represent the walls of an air mattress which are framed in the usual
manner from rubber-faced cloth. These walls, it is essential, are connected by a
flexible non-elastic stay or stays, so that when one portion of the inflated mattress
is depressed or indented by the weight of the user, other portions will not be dis-
turbed or expanded.
As such movement imparts great strain on the stays much difficulty is ex-
perienced in preventing them from tearing the fabric of the walls, and causing a
leakage which is difficult and frequently expensive to repair. To make the "pull"
even on both sides of the wall slots, no matter what the distortion of the air bag.
and to protect the ends of the slots through which the stay passes, I find can be
accomplished by peculiarities of construction of the stay and the method of attach-
ing to said bag walls. This must be done in such manner that the strain would
be resisted equally at opposite sides of the stay-slots in the bag-walls, at the same
time having the ends of said slot covered or connected directly from the stay.
The stay, C, in my improvement consists of a strip of strong canvas tape is shown
in Figure 6. The ends of this strip are looped laterally at one side, carried across
and looped at the opposite side, the extreme ends b, being bent downward against
the body f, of the stays. This forms laterally projecting wings g, at each end of
the stay formed from a continuous piece of tape, the stay being substantially
I-shaped in edge elevation as shown best in Figure 6. The loop walls and ends b,
are heated with rubber and vulcanized together.
The
The walls A, B, are rubber-faced on the outer sides in the usual manner.
stay-ends are passed through slots d, cut in said walls of a length just sufficient
to admit the breadth of said stay. The horizontal wings g, are thus disposed
against said rubber outer faces, and, being treated with rubber in the manner of
friction cloth, will adhere thereto when vulcanized.
It will be understood clearly that these wings g, are integral at the respective
ends of the stay; that is, the whole being of a single strip of tape the companion
wings are connected inseparably across the outer face of the I-head, as best shown
in Figure 6.
This is of radical importance in my device as it renders the pull even and simul-
taneous at both sides of the wall slot and furthermore absolutely prevents
companion wings from being torn apart or separated during the straining.
These wings are covered by a rubber-faced cap piece and all are vulcanized
together. By this means the "pull" of the stay is equal on both sides of the
slot, the strain of the body, f, being central thereof. This tends to draw the slot

page_text: walls inward, and prevent its ends splitting or tearing further. I incorporate
small circular pieces of canvas or cloth i, (see Figure 2) between the walls of the
loops forming the wings, g, across the junction t, of the ends b, with the body f,
and projecting laterally therefrom as shown. These are fast in the heads of the
stay and, being vulcanized also on to the rubber face of the mattress wall across
the ends of the slot, d, serve as a reinforcement and afford added security against
leakage at these points.
Instead of the circular pieces, i, described, I may employ a continuous strip k, in
the stay heads disposed at t, across the jointure under the outer wall of the stay
head of the end with the body f, as shown in Figure 4. The ends of this strip
overlap the edges of the head and while effecting the purpose described for the
circular pieces i, also reinforces the jointure . Both these, however, may be
emitted.
The form shown in Figure 5 is a modification in that the ends b of the stay
are elongated until they meet at 2, thus forming a double stay or body f².
The salient feature of my invention comprises forming the stay and its attaching
wings for the purposes described, in one continuous integral piece. By this means
not only is greater efficiency attained than by any of the ordinary methods, but a
very material saving of cost in vulcanizing and labour especially is saved. The
number of parts is materially decreased, enabling it to be more quickly prepared
and applied and the stay, in its connections with the mattress, is decidedly
strengthened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. A stay for connecting the walls of an air-mattress or similar article, com-
prising a flexible tape folded and secured into an approximate I-shape substantially
as described.
Second. As a new article of manufacture, the flexible stay C for connecting the
walls of an air-mattress or similar article, and comprising the tape f having its
ends looped to form lateral wings g, the walls thus formed being treated and
vulcanized together, substantially as described.
Third. In an air-mattress or similar article, the walls A, B, slotted at d, in
combination with the stay C having the integral wings g overlapping the outer
face of the slotted walls, and the friction cap h, all being secured together by
vulcanizing, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an air-mattress or similar article, the walls A, B, slotted at d, in
combination with the stay C, having the integral wings g overlapping the outer
face of the slotted walls, and laterally projecting reinforcements & secured in the
said wings, substantially as described.
Datod this 27th day of December 1898
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.