Improvements in Palliasses or Under-mattresses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Palliasses or Under-mattresses.
I, ALFRED GEORGE RUMLEY of No. 2, Bond Street, St. James' Barton, Bristol,
Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer, 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 relates to improved palliasses, the advantages of which are lightness,
durability, cleanliness, cheapness of manufacture, and the avoidance of strain on the
bedstead upon which it is used.
The palliasses at present in general use are stuffed with straw, hay, shavings,
or other unsanitary material, which is liable to get heated and damp from the
warmth of the body, and to retain any unhealthy exudations with which they may
have come in contact, they are cumbersome to move, and bear heavily on the
lacing laths or sacking of the bedsteads, thereby causing them to collapse and draw
towards the centre.
The object of my invention is to provide palliasses that shall be light and well
ventilated, that bear only on the sides of the bedstead, and be more comfortable
and economical than the stuffed palliasses now used.
To carry my invention into effect, I make a frame that will fit on the sides and
ends of the bedstead; this frame is conveniently formed of strips of wood, about
3 inches deep, 1 inch thick, and of a length to make the frame of the required
length and width, diagonal battens being inserted at each corner to keep the frame
square and rigid: the frame may be either made in one length, or may be hinged
in the centre for convenience of folding; when hinged, two pieces are inserted
transversely near the centre, to keep the frame in position, these transverse pieces
are narrower than the outer sides of the frame, and are kept sufficiently below
the top of the frame to allow for any depression of the covering which may be caused
by a bed or mattress being used on it; across the frame 1 nail webbing or other
suitable material at convenient distances, preferably about 6 inches apart, I also nail
similar pieces of webbing lengthways, passing them over and under the cross webs
like the iron laths of a bedstead are laced, thus forming a framework of webbing
ready to receive a covering of canvas or other porous material, which is tightly
strained over and nailed to the top of the frame, forming a smooth surface on
which the bed or wool mattress is to be placed. The outer edges or sides of the
frame are covered with plain, striped, or fancy tick, and the palliasse is complete and
ready for use.
My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan of the palliasses, with the webbing fastened to the frame.
Fig. 2 is a view of the same partly folded, and
Fig. 3 is a general view of the palliasses ready to be laid on the bedstead and
fastened thereto by the clips shown at the side: in each case the canvas or other
covering is omitted from the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
The construction of palliasses on frames either in one piece or hinged, which
are covered with webbing and canvas or other porous material, securing lightness and

page_text: ventilation, substantially as herein before set forth and described, and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated 21th Sontombor 1900.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.