Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads and other like articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads and other like articles.
We, EDWARD LAWSON of Charlotte Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Bedstead Manufacturer and RICHARD GEORGE HODGETTS of the same
place, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has reference to metallic bedsteads and other like articles, such for
example as cots, which have elastic or flexible mattresses or sackings made either
of wire or of non metallic fabric and it relates to improved means of straining these
mattresses or sackings.
For the purpose of our invention we secure each end of the wire-wove or other
mattress to a metallic roller in any suitable manner. We provide one of the
rollers with a square part at each end thereof which enters a square hole in a
metallic arm formed upon one end of the metallic side bar of the bedstead whereby
the said roller is prevented from revolving.
The other roller has circular necks or journals capable of being revolved in arms
formed upon the other ends of the said side bars. Upon one end of the revolving
roller we secure a worm wheel engaging with a worm secured to or formed upon a
spindle turning in bosses formed upon one of the aforesaid arms of the side bars.
Upon one end of the spindle of the worm we place a hand wheel, or a cross
handle, or a handle similar to those commonly used for vices, whereby the spindle
can be turned in either direction.
The apparatus conveniently occupies a small space at one side of the head or
foot of the bedstead.
When it is required to strain the mattress, the handle of the worm is turned in
the proper direction until the desired strain has been obtained. The worm then
securely holds the worm wheel in position. At any time the strain may be increased
or diminished with great facility.
Our invention is applicable to any construction of bedstead or mattress frame in
which a wire-wove or other mattress or sacking is secured to a roller as before
described.
Dated this 29th day of June 1891.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Bedsteads and other like articles.
We, EDWARD LAWSON of Charlotte Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Bedstead Manufacturer, and RICHARD GEORGE HODGETTS of the same
place Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has reference to metallic bedsteads and other like articles, such
for example as cots and berth frames, which have elastic or flexible mattresses
or sackings made either of wire or of non-metallic fabric and it relates to improved
means of straining these mattresses or sackings.
For the purpose of our invention we secure each end of the wire wove or other
mattress to a metallic roller in any suitable manner. We provide one of the rollers
with a square part at each end thereof which enters a square hole in a metallic

page_text: arm formed upon one end of the metallic side bar of the bedstead whereby the said
roller is prevented from revolving.
The other roller has circular necks or journals capable of being revolved in
arms formed upon the other ends of the said side bars. Upon one end of the
revolving roller we secure a worm wheel engaging with a worm which according
to one form of our invention is secured to or formed upon a spindle turning in bosses
formed upon one of the aforesaid arms of the side bars.
r
Upon one end of the spindle of the worm we place a hand wheel, or a cross
handle, or a handle similar to those commonly used for vices, whereby the spindle
can be turned in either direction.
The apparatus conveniently occupies a small space at one side of the head or
foot of the bedstead.
When it is required to strain the mattress, the handle of the worm is turned in
the proper direction until the desired strain has been obtained. The worm then
securely holds the worm wheel in position. At any time the strain may be increased
or diminished with great facility.
Our invention is applicable to any construction of bedstead or mattress frame in
which a wire wove or other mattress or sacking is secured to a roller as before
described.
The accompanying drawings represent two ways in which our invention can be
carried into effect.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a part plan of a metallic bedstead or cot constructed
according to our invention when carried out in the first way.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gear for winding or straining the wire mattress,
or the sacking.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the same taken at right angles to Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 6 is a part plan of a metallic bedstead or cot constructed according to our
invention when carried out in the second way.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 8 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of the gear for winding or straining the
wire mattress, or the sacking as made according to the modification shown in
Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 9 is an elevation of the same taken at right angles to Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a plan of the same.
Figure 11 is a view, the upper part in elevation similar to Figure 8, but taken
from the inner side, and the lower part in section.
Figure 12 is an elevation of the end of one of the side rails of the bedstead as it
appears before the parts are put together.
Figure 13 is a view of the worm wheel.
Figure 14 is another view of the same taken at right angles to Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a view of the worm as made for this modification of our invention.
Figure 16 is another view of the same taken at right angles to Figure 15.
Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 are drawn to a smaller scale than the others.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts or similar parts having the
same function in every figure in which they occur.
Referring first to the modification shown in Figures 1 to 5, a is the wire wove
mattress or sacking which we secure at one end to a metallic roller band at the
other end as seen at a', Figure 3, to another roller c. These rollers extend across
the bedstead (cot or berth frame) the one at the head and the other at the foot.
d is one of the side bars of the bedstead. e is a projecting arm on one end of the
side bar d. It has a square hole in it, into which fits the square part at the end
of the roller b. The roller has a square part at each end to fit into the square
hole in the armi e on each side bar, whereby the roller b is prevented from
revolving.
The roller has a circular neck or journal e' at each end capable of being

page_text: revolved in circular holes f1 formed in the arms f at the ends of the side bars
remote from e.
On one end of the roller c is secured the worm wheel into which gears the
worm h, so that when the worm his revolved it causes a corresponding but slower
revolution in the worm wheel g, and in the roller c. On one of the arms fis formed
a projection or boss f which has a cavity f³ in which the worm h revolves.
Passing through the worm is a spindle j to which the worm is firmly secured and
which revolves in round holes in the projection or boss 2. The spindle j
has a head at the lower end which is provided with a handle k similar to a vice
handle, by which it can be rotated in either direction. We sometimes place the
head on the upper end of the spindle and provide it with a hand wheel or a cross
handfe.
In the modification of our invention shown in Figures 6 to 16, instead of the
worm being mounted on a spindle as in the modification shown in Figures 1 to 5
it revolves loosely upon and near the end of the side bar d which is made circular
in cross section. The worm has a projection ' cast upon it in which is a hole /2
through which passes the handle k formed preferably like a vice handle.
In whichever manner the worm is mounted, whether upon a spindle, as in the
modification shown in Figures 1 to 5, or upon the side bar d itself as in the modifi-
cation shown in Figures 6 to 16, it will be seen that by causing the worm to revolve
by means of the handle & the worm wheel g will also be revolved but more slowly.
The roller being firmly secured to the worm wheel revolves with it and the wire
mattress or sacking being fastened at one end to the revolving roller c and at the
other end to fixed roller is strained or slackened according to the direction of
rotation of the roller c. The use of the worm h and the worm wheel g enables the
roller c to be firmly held in whatever position it is left without the necessity for
any catches or pawls.
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 :-
In metallic bedsteads or other like articles which have elastic or flexible
mattresses or sackings, the combination with a roller to which one end of the
mattress or sacking is secured (its other end being held in the fixed position) of a
worm wheel on the said roller and of a worm which gears with the worm wheel and
is itself carried by one of the bars of the bedstead or the like, and is fitted with a
handle for turning it, whereby any desired strain in the mattress or sacking can be
obtained, and the roller is firmly held in the position in which it is left substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of March 1892
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.