IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLOWS, MATTRESSES, FEATHER BEDS, SEATS,
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Clapier, of Paris, Department of Seine, in the
Empire of France, Tapestry Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLOWS, MATTRESSES, FEATHER BEDS, SEATS,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Clapier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st October
1867.
I, JEAN CLAPIER, of Paris, Department of Seine, in the Empire of France,
Tapestry Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLOWS, MATTRESSES, FEATHER BEDS,
SEATS, CUSHIONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
Elastic pillows or cushions with spiral springs are usually composed of a
framing of iron or round cane on which the springs are always raised with
cords above and below to properly support them, these springs being themselves
covered both at top and bottom with a strong cloth to which they are also
sewn; the horse hair is then placed on and secured by lacing with pack thread,
and the whole covered with soft linen. I make an elastic pillow, mattress, or

page_text: any other spring cushion in hair, wool, feathers, or eider down in such a manner
that it will not become heated by the head or body or absorb miasmas, and
so that it will allow air to circulate freely in its interior. I dispense with the
use of the framing, the cords by which the springs are stayed, and the thick
air-tight cloth.
Although my improvements apply to all bed furniture, such as mattresses,
feather beds, seats, and cushions, I take for type the pillow. In constructing
my pillow I use a cage composed of strips or plates of steel bare or covered with
webbing or any suitable material, such as wool, cotton, leather, or the like.
This cage or form contains the spiral springs arranged at suitable distances apart,
the cage being open at both ends; or the cage may be made of whalebone,
cane, hooping, or other suitable material. The length and breadth of the plates
composing the cage being settled I unite four of them at their extremities
with wire by riveting or by other fastening. This is the first frame, on which
other plates are fitted crossing each other with given spaces between them,
and on these cross plates are fixed the springs (see Fig. 1 of the annexed
Sheet of Drawing); a similar framing is applied on the top of the springs, so
that there is one both above and below. The end plates are covered with
leather, the corners of the cage are closely and strongly joined together so
that they cannot shift, and thus my open elastic trelliswork cage is formed and
springs enclosed. I complete my hygienic pillow by placing on my cage
separate and very light cushions one above and one below the cage, secured
together by lacing, by clasps, or otherwise, but so as always to leave openings
for circulation of air. The stuffing of the cushions with hair or wool is
effected on very open canvass or horsehair cloth cut larger than the cage,
and the stuffing is laced on the cloth to keep it in position. The top cover
of the cushion is made of any suitable kind of fabric, laced as at Fig. 2.
Cushions to be stuffed with feathers, down, or eider down are made of fine
cotton print or other stuff which will not allow the down to escape, and they
are cut two or three inches larger than the cage. The interior of the feather
cushion is divided into compartments, as at Fig. 3; the centre compartment is
first filled, and then the others through openings left below in the under side
of the cushion, thus the feathers or down from one division cannot pass into
another.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Clapier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
CLAPIER, of Paris, Department of Seine, in the Empire of France, Tapestry
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day. of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jean Clapier, Her special licence that I, the said Jean Clapier, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean
Clapier, 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 MANUFACTURE
OF PILLOWS, MATTRESSES, FEATHER BEDS, SEATS, CUSHIONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Clapier,
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.
per-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Clapier, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
formed, to be particularly.described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed
and forming part of this my Specification.
Elastic pillows or cushions with spiral springs are usually composed of a
framing of iron or thick round cane on which the springs are always raised
or stayed with cords above and below to keep them well in their place; these
springs are themselves covered on both sides with a strong cloth, to which they
are also sewn; horsehair is then placed on and secured by lacing with
pack thread, and the whole is finally covered with soft linen or other fabric.
The object of my Invention is to make an elastic pillow, mattress, or any
other spring cushion in hair, wool, feathers, or eider down in such a manner

page_text: that it will not become heated by the head or body or absorb miasmas, and so
that it will allow air to circulate freely in its interior, becoming thereby truly
bygienic. I dispense with the use of the framing, the cords by which the
springs are stayed, and the thick air-tight cloth.
Although my improvements apply to all bed furniture, to mattresses as well
as to feather beds, cushions, seats, and other analogous articles, I take for
type the pillow. In constructing my pillow I use a cage composed of strips
or plates of steel, bare or covered with webbing or any woollen, cotton,
or silken fabric, or even of leather. This cage or form contains the spiral
springs arranged at suitable distances apart, the cage being open at both
ends; the cage may also be made of whalebone, cane, hooping, or other
suitable material.
I proceed thus:-The length and breadth of the metal plates or pieces
of other material of which the cage is to be made being settled I unite four
of them at their extremities with wire by riveting or by other fastening.
This is the first frame, on which other plates are fitted crossing each other with
given spaces between them, and on these cross plates are fixed the springs
(see Fig. 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawing). A framing like the first is
applied on the top of the springs, thus held in position from above and below
(see Fig. 2), the end or outer plates or bars are covered with leather, and the
framings are closely and strongly joined at their corners so that they cannot
shift, and thus my open elastic trelliswork cage is formed and its springs fitted.
I complete my bygienic pillow by placing on my cage two separate and very
light cushions one above and one below the cage, secured together by a lace
passing through metal or other eyelet holes, by cords or bands, by clasps or
otherwise, but always so as to leave openings for circulation of air. The
stuffing of the cushions with hair or wool is effected on very open canvass or
horsehair cloth cut about four inches larger than the cage, and the stuffing
is laced on the cloth to keep it in its proper position. The top or covering of
the cushion is made of any kind of fabric, laced on as at Fig. 3. Cushions
to be stuffed with feathers, down, or eider down are made of fine cotton print
or other stuff which will not allow the down to escape, and the cover is cut
two or three inches larger than the cage. The interior of the feather cushion
is divided into compartments (see Figs. 4 and 5) by plat bands about two
inches in the middle and tapering gradually to the ends. The close com-
partments are made of any shape, and the plat bands of any height, according
to the thickness to be given to the feather pillow. The centre compartment
is first filled through an opening left on the under side of the cushion, and the
other compartments are provided with an opening for the like purpose.

page_text: The distinctive character of my Invention consists,-
Firstly. In the use of metal plates, bare or covered, of cane, whalebone, or
hooping (substances of which I claim the exclusive use) formed into a sort of
trellis work cage containing springs, and permitting air to circulate freely
within it.
Secondly. In the style of the cushions fastened together, by a lacing through
metal or other eyelet holes, by ribands, cords, buttons, or clasps set far enough
apart to permit air to pass freely into the cushions or coverings applied on the
trelliswork cage above described.
Thirdly. In the style of the feather cushion with even covering, stuffed in
compartiments closed by plat bands sewn or glued, the effect being that the
down cannot pass from one compartment into the other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Clapier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JEAN CLAPIER (L.S.)