IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, OR OTHER APPLIANCES FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hunt, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC
BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, OR OTHER APPLIANCES FOR LYING OR
RECLINING UPON.'
"
Sealed the 18th April 1878, and dated the 7th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1877.
RICHARD HUNT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Cabinet Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, OR
OTHER APPLIANCES FOR LYING OR RECLINING UPON."
My Invention has for its object to produce at a low cost a spring or elastic bottom
for beds, couches, and the like, which shall give freely to every motion of the body
when lying or reclining thereon. For this purpose I employ bearing springs of
novel construction, in combination with laths which rest on or are supported by
such springs.
Under one modification I attach the said springs to the framework of the bedstead
or other appliance, and affix thereto laths, each end of which rests on one of the said
springs.
Under a second modification I attach the said springs and laths to bearing bars
resting on or supported by the framework of the bedstead or other appliance through
the intervention of springs.
Under a third modification the laths above mentioned rest in part on the said
springs, supported by the framework of the bedstead or other appliance, and in part
on bearing bars arranged as above described.
Springs to be employed in combination with laths or carriers in the manner and
for the purposes above described are constructed in one of the two following
ways:
F
(a.) When it is desired that the spring should have a nearly uniform amount
of resilience or elasticity at all points of compression, I make such springs of

page_text: a parallel, or nearly parallel riband or strip of steel bent into a zig-zag form; that is
to say, the riband of steel bends backwards and forwards on itself several times.
(b.) When it is desired that the spring should have an increasing amount of resilience
or elasticity during compression I form such springs of a taper riband or strip of
steel. It will be obvious that the springs when shaped are duly tempered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th May
1878.
RICHARD HUNT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Cabinet Maker..."IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, OR
OTHER APPLIANCES FOR LYING OR RECLINING. UPON."
My Invention has for its object to produce at a low cost a spring or elastic bottom
for beds, couches, and the like, which shall give freely to every motion of the body
when lying or reclining thereon. For this purpose I employ bearing springs of
novel construction, in combination with laths, which rest on or are supported by
such springs.
Under one modification I attach the said springs to the framework of the bed-
stead or other appliance, and affix thereto laths, each end of which rests on one of
the said springs.
Under a second modification I attach the said springs and laths to bearing bars
resting on or supported by the framework of the bedstead or other appliance through
the intervention of springs.
Under a third modification the laths above mentioned rest partly on the said
springs supported by the framework of the bedstead or other appliance, and partly
on bearing bars arranged as above described.
Springs to be employed in combination with laths or carriers in the manner and
for the purposes above described are constructed in one of the two following
ways:―
(a.) When it is desired that the spring, should have a nearly uniform amount
of resilience or elasticity at all points of compression, I make such springs of a
parallel, or nearly parallel riband or, strip of steel bent into a zig-zag form; that
is to say, the riband of steel bends backwards, and forwards, on itself several times.
(b.). When it is desired that the spring should have an increasing amount of resilience
or elasticity during compression I forin such springs of a taper riband; or strip of
steel. It will be obvious that the springs when shaped are duly tempered.

page_text: In Figs. 1 and 2 the laths are arranged longitudinally, in Fig. 3 they are
arranged transversely.
Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a spring bed bottom
illustrative of the second part of my Invention. a, framework or bedstead; b,
springs resting on such framework; d are bearing bars preferably of metal, which
rest on the springs b. The bearing bars & carry springs e, on which rest the laths
c, preferably of wood; here the laths are placed longitudinally and the bearing bars
transversely; if desired, however, the laths might be placed transversely and the
bearing bars longitudinally.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a spring bed bottom, constructed under the third
part of my Invention. a, framework; b, springs resting on such framework; d,
bearing bars carrying springs e; c, laths which rest partly on the springs b, carried
by the framework a, and partly on the springs e, carried by the bearing bars d.
The bearing bars d are supported by springs f, which rest on the framework a,
although such springs might be dispensed with..
In all these views the laths have been shown as of wood, but other material might
be used if desired; the springs, however, being always of the construction described
below.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a spring constructed under my Invention to be
employed in combination with laths and bearing bars substantially as set forth. The
spring is formed of a parallel riband of steel bent into the form shown and
tempered.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification of spring under my Invention; this spring
is formed from a riband of steel, taper in one direction.
Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side views of a modification of spring in which the
riband of steel is tapered off in its breadth towards each end. In Fig. 10 the
spring is shown slightly compressed. The springs might be tapered in their
thickness instead of in their breadth, or they might be tapered in both ways.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention in such manner that others
will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
First. The improvements in spring bottoms for beds, berths, couches, or other
appliances for lying or reclining upon, constructed and arranged substantially as set
forth.
Second. The improved springs, constructed and employed substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
RICHARD HUNT. (L.S.)