Improvements in Wire Fabrics and Wire Sackings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 13th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Fabrics and Wire Sackings.
We, WILLIAM WATERHOUSE and THOMAS WALLEY BLANTERN, trading as
the Birmingham Mattress Company, of Acocks Green, near the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has relation to wire fabrics for bed bottoms, sackings, door and
table mats, belting, seats, blinds, waist and dress belts, braces, and for various other
articles and uses; and also to the formation or construction of wire sackings for
bedsteads and mattresses.
In carrying out the manufacture of a wire fabric according to one form of our
invention, two obliquely-directed series of compound spirals, each made up of a
number of interwormed wires, are taken, and the spirals of one series are placed
side-by-side and parallel to each other, but separated by a space about equal to the
diameter of a spiral. The second series are then taken in a like manner and are
made to cross the first series at an angle of about 75 degrees from a straight line,
and infibulate and lock therewith at the intersecting or crossing points.
The lock at the crossing points of the spirals of each series is made by the
intercoiling of the one series with the other, and the oblique crossing of the spirals
forms enclosed spaces alike unto a six-sided diamond figure.
The interwormed and compound spiral wires may be composed of any desired
number of wires, provided that the said spirals are made sufficiently open to admit
of their intercoiling with each other at crossing points.
A fabric thus made has an elegant appearance, resembling in pattern, an open-
work plaited fabric. It is also distensible and strong.
In carrying out a further form of cur invention, in connection with open-work
diamond-patterned mesh, we take two series of obliquely crossing and compound
interwormed spirals, as before, but with each spiral separated by a considerable
space, say about equal to five or six diameters, and with the said spirals
interlocking or infibulating with each other at the crossing or intersecting points.
As a further form of this last-described diamond-pattern mesh, two series of
crossing and parallel spirals are taken, but with the spirals of each series separated
from each other by varying spaces; that is to say, a set of two or three parallel
spirals, separated from each other by spaces about equal to a diameter or two
diameters, are taken, and a like second set of spirals are taken and disposed
parallel to the first set, but at a considerable distance therefrom. A second series
of like sets are then directed obliquely across the first series, and the respective sets
are interlocked or infibulated with each other by intercoiling, hence a large
diamond-pattern fabric, with each diamond having a single or double border, alike
in pattern to the first described fabric.
By carrying the distances between the sets and the spaces between the spirals,
different diamond patterns inay be woven.
In carrying out a still further form of our invention, we take a woven wire body
fabric, made up of a series of intercoiled single or compound spirals, forming a
mesh in which the topside is distinguished from the underside, by the one being
formed in manner alike unto a series of parallel and obliquely-directed grating-like

page_text: mounds, at exactly equal distances apart, and separated by furrows, and with
the longer direction of the mounds being at right angles to the bars forming the
grating like structure, whilst the other side has grooves, corresponding to the
mounds, and with ridges separated by the said grooves or channels corresponding
to the positions of the furrows.
Now these obliquely directed ridges are thrown up by the contiguous spirals
lying scale-like upon each other.
We will call the side of the fabric in which the mounds are, the topside, and
that having the ruts or valleys corresponding in directions to the directions of
the mounds, the underside.
Within the grooves or channels of this body mesh, loose spirals (either single or
compound) are laid, and are then interlocked by locking spirals, which trave!
through the ridges dividing off the grooves or valleys, and at the same time pick
up and become intercoiled with the laid-in spirals hence a closely woven patterned
mesb.
Instead of picking up and interlocking the laid-in spirals by running intermediate
picking-up spirals between them and through parts of the body mesh, cross-directed
spirals may be employed, or cross-directed and straight spirals may be employed in
addition to the said picking-up and locking spirals.
By changing the pitch of the component spirals, varying patterned metallic
meshes may be produced.
The body mesh may be single wove, or of any weaving which will produce
grooves or valleys for receiving the laid-in spirals.
Instead of employing wire to form the spirals, we may employ thin strip metal or
flat wire, coiled helically.
In carrying out my invention in connection with metallic sackings or mattresses
composed of wire, we take two series of parallel and obliquely directed crossing
spiral cords, formed of interwormed wires, and with the said crossing cords
interlaced with each other, and with the terminal ends affixed to the ends
and sides of the bed bottom or mattress. Thus the bed bottom is made up of two
series of resilient and crossing spiral cords, forming a diamond mesh.
The mesh of the diamond pattern is determined by the spaces separating the
crossing cords.
Instead of making up the sacking from two series of lengths of spiral cords, the
same may be made up from two continuous cords, by starting one end of one cord
from a corner or side, and then continuing it in a diagonal way across from one side
of the framing, over a stud, hook or equivalent upon the said other side, then
passing the cord along the side to another stud, and then directing the cord parallel
to the first one to the other side of the frame, and so on,in a continuous manner, until
the frame has been filled up, as it were, by diagonal and parallel bars, made from one
continuous length of cord. The other length of cord is then taken, and started at
one corner or one side, and made to cross, or diagonally cross, the first named cord
in a continuous manner. Thus the sacking, which is distensible, is made from two
lengths of cord, with the ends and sides tied to the framing by passing the cords over
studs, hooks or equivalents.
Instead of making the sacking from two lengths of cord, the same may be made
from a single continuous length.
As a still further form of our invention, we make the body of the mesh from
plain straight wire, and from two series of separate lengths, or from two
continuous lengths, or from a single continuous length.
In the separate lengths, which are diagonally directed, and cross each other,
forming a diamond pattern, the ends are formed into loops, to which springs are
connected and to the ends, and if necessary, to both the ends and the sides, of a bed
framing.
In making a sacking from a continuous length or lengths, the return enas, of the
wine, at the two ends of the framing, are connected to springs attached to the said
fraining ends, whilst the sides of the framing have hooks or studs, over which the

page_text: returned parts of the wires take, and by means of which the sacking is tied to the
said sides.
Instead of having springs at both ends of the diamond-patterned interlaced
sacking, we may employ springs at only one end, or instead of the springs being
connected to every consecutive bend or return end of the wire, they are connected
only to alternate wires. Or alternate return parts of the wire may be connected
to springs, and the return ends of the adjacent crossing wires may pass through
the springs and be connected to the bed ends.
In the wire fabrics for mattresses described in the first, second and third forms,
which have valleys or half sheds running upon both sides, then the laid-in coils,
strands or cables may be upon both sides instead of, as before, upon one side only,
and instead of employing a series of such laid-in spirals or cords, only a number
arranged diagonally and crossing each other may be employed.
In this last named form the said coils when locked in the valleys, grooves or half
sheds, form diagonal ties, stiffens the fabric, and prevent the same from over-
stretching.
Dated this 11th day of July 1894.
WILLIAM
WATERHOUSE,
THOMAS WALLEY BLANTERN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
We, WILLIAM WATERHOUSE and THOMAS WALLEY BLANTERN, trading as
the Birmingham Mattress Company, of Acocks Green, near the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturers, 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:-
This invention has relation to wire fabrics for bed bottoms, sackings, door and
table mats, belting, seats, blinds, waist and dress belts, braces, and for various other
articles and uses; and also to the formation or construction of wire sackings for
bedsteads and mattresses.
In carrying out the manufacture of a wire fabric according to one form of our
invention, two obliquely-directed series of compound spirals, each made up of a
number of interwormed wires, are taken, and the spirals of one series are placed
side-by side-and parallel to each other, but separated by intervening spaces of any
suitable extent. The second series are then taken in a like manner and are made
to cross the first series at an angle of about 75 degrees from a straight line, and
infibulate and lock therewith at the intersecting or crossing points.
The lock at the crossing points of the spirals of each series is made by the
intercoiling of the one series with the other, and the oblique crossing of the
spirals forms enclosed spaces alike unto a diamond figure.
The interwormed and compound spiral wires may be composed of any desired
number of wires, provided that the said spirals are made sufficiently open to admit
of their intercoiling or infibulating with each other at crossing points.
A fabric thus made bas an elegant appearance, resembling in pattern, an open-
work plaited fabric. It is also distensible and strong.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents such a piece of the coiled
wire fabric as described, in which two series of obliquely directed compound or

page_text: interwormed spirals are infibulated or interlocked one with another at intersecting
points, hence a locked diamond patterned fabric.
Figure 2 represents upon a small scale, a portion of a mattress fitted with. the
said fabric and showing the border or how the spiral cords return back from the
edging to the body.
Figure 3 shows the border part upon a larger scale and Figure 4 is a full' size
section upon the dotted lines a Figure 3. It will be seen in Figure 3 that the
hollow of the outer core has been filled by a cord spiral, although this is not
absolutely essential.
In Figures 1 to.4, a, a¹ are two series of obliquely directed and crossing
compound or interwormed and hollow cord spirals, locking together or infibulating
with one another at the intersecting points a³. It will be seen that the spirals,
after striking the edging at a', then return back again into the body, and become
infibulated at a', with the spirals next crossing them.
As a further form of this last-described diamond-pattern mesh, two series of
sets of crossing and parallel spirals are taken, but with the spirals of each series
separated from each other by spaces greater than the spaces between the sets, that
is to say a number of sets of two or three parallel spirals, separated from each other
by spaces about equal to a diameter or two diameters, are taken. A second series
of like sets are then directed obliquely across the first series, and the respective
sets are interlocked or infibulated with each other by intercoiling, hence a large
diamond-pattern fabric, with each diamond having a single or double border, alike
in pattern to the first described fabric.
By varying the distances between the sets and the spaces between the spirals,
different diamond patterns may be coiled or woven.
Figure 5 represents a piece of such bordered diamond pattern fabric, in which
at are one series of sets of two spirals, a, a, and as are the second sets, of spirals a', a',
which sets cross one another obliquely and are locked or infibulated together at their
intersecting points a³.
B
In carrying out a still further form of our invention, we take a woven wire body
fabric, made up of a series of intercoiled single or compound spirals, forming
mesh in which the topside is distinguished from the underside by the one being
formed in manner alike unto a series of parallel and obliquely-directed grating-like
mounds at exactly equal distances apart, and separated by furrows, and with
the longer direction of the mounds being at right angles to the bars forming the
grating-like structure and between such mounds come a series of valleys, whilst
the other side has grooves or valleys corresponding to the mounds, but crossing the
valleys on the topside in an oblique direction and with ridges separated by the said
grooves or channels corresponding to the positions of the furrows,
Now these obliquely directed ridges are thrown up by the contiguous spirals
lying scale-like upon each other.
We will call the side of the fabric in which the mounds are, the topside, and that
having the ruts or valleys corresponding in directions to the directions of the
inounds, the underside.
Within the grooves or channels on the underside of this body mesh, loose spirals
(either single or compound) are laid, and are then interlocked by like pitched
locking spirals, which travel up the valleys on the topside of the fabric and at the
same time pick up and become intercoiled or infibulated with the laid-in spirals
hence a close coiled patterned mesh.
Figure 6 represents a piece of close patterned fabric constructed or made up
according to this last described form of our invention, which consists of a body
mesh b, having an oblique series of valleys 6', upon the underside and an oblique
and crossing series of valleys 2, on the topside, both of which sets of valleys are
separated by ridges, and have compound interwormed cord spirals a, a',
passed up them and interlocked with one another at their intersecting points or
junctions a³.

page_text: The body mesh may be single wove, or of any weaving which will produce
grooves or valleys for receiving the passed in spirals.
Instead of employing wire to form the spirals we may employ thin strip metal or
flat wire coiled helically.
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 :-
First. A coiled wire fabric, consisting of two series of obliquely directed' and
crossing compound or interwormed and hollow cord spirals, locked together or
infibulating with one another at the intersecting points, substantially as described
and set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Secondly. A wire fabric, consisting of a coiled wire body mesh having two
series of obliquely directed and crossing compound or interwormed and hollow cord
spirals directed up the crossing valleys upon the two opposite sides of the said body
fabric, and with the said spirals interlocking one with another at the intersecting
Joints, substantially as described and set forth in Figure 6.
Thirdly. The improvements in coiled wire fabrics, substantially as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 9th day of April 1895
WILLIAM WATERHOUSE,
THOMAS WALLEY BLANTERN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.