IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lokie of Glasgow in the County of Lanark North
Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lokie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd September 1882.
JOHN LOKIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North-Britain,
MENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES,"
"
" IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of spring mattresses
for beds or couches.
The improved mattress is constructed with wire springs of the well known
double volute or spiral form, which are connected together by short wire links, and
combined with a novel construction of supporting and binding framing of wood or
other material. This framing in one modification, consists of two light elastic
frames with round bent corners of open rectangular form, which are parallel to
each other, and held apart to the extent of the depth of the springs by means of
transverse spring stays or tie bars. These spring stays are each formed of two
laths or strips of pliant tough wood or other light material, one of which is bolted
or otherwise secured at its ends to the inner side of one frame, while the other is
secured to the inner side of the other frame, and the two laths are bent or formed
to a bow shape to meet in the centre where they are fixed together by bolts.
I prefer to use three of these improved spring stays connecting the two frames, to
give rigidity to the mattress framing while being sufficiently elastic to yield to
vertical pressure when in use, but one, two, or more of such stays may be used.
When the laths forming these stays cannot be conveniently bent to suit a mattress
of extra depth, blocks of wood or other material may be interposed between the
laths at the centre, or between the ends of the laths and the open framing to which
they are attached.
The opposite ends of the springs of the mattress adjacent to the open frames,

page_text: The transverse
stays are passed across between rows of the springs, so as in no way to interfere
with their action, and the stays being bent to meet in the centre of the depth of
the mattress, the mattress is reversible, that is to say, either side may serve as
the top.
are secured to the respective frames by staples or other means.
In a modified construction of the improved mattress, which has not however the
advantage of being reversible, the spring stays which support and connect the
frames to which the springs are secured, are made of single laths or strips of
inverted arch or bow shape. These bent laths are connected at their ends to the
upper frame and at their centre, to a straight lath or board passed lengthwise or
across the lower frame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Lokie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th March
1883.
JOHN LOKIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North-Britain, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of spring
mattresses for beds or couches.
}
My Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
is a transverse vertical section, and Figure 2 is a plan of one modification of the
improved spring mattress. Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views of another
modification of the mattress. Only a few of the bed springs A are shown in each
plan.
The improved mattress is constructed with wire springs A of the well known
double volute or spiral form, which are connected together by short wire links α,
and combined with a novel construction of supporting and binding framing. B, of
wood or other material. This framing in the modification shown in figures 1
and 2, consists of two light elastic frames B and B', of open rectangular form, with
round bent corners, which are parallel to each other, and are held apart to the
extent of the depth of the springs A, by means of transverse spring stays or tie
bars C, C¹. These spring stays are each formed of two laths or strips C and C¹ of
pliant tough wood or other light material, one of which C is bolted at c or otherwise
secured at its ends to the inner side of one frame B, while the other C¹ is secured
to the inner side of the other frame B¹, and the two laths C, C¹, are bent or formed
to a bow shape to meet in the centre where they are fixed together by one or more
bolts c¹. I prefer to use three of these improved transverse spring stays C, C₁,
connecting the two frames B, B¹, to give rigidity to the mattress framing, while
being sufficiently elastic to yield to vertical pressure when in use, but one, two, or
more of such stays may be used. In mattresses of extra width, or if for any reason
it be desirable to change them, one or more spring stays or braces, similar to the
transverse stays C, C', may be fitted longitudinally. When the laths forming these
stays cannot be conveniently bent to suit a mattress of extra depth, blocks of
wood or other material may be interposed between the laths C, C₁, at the centre,
or between the ends of the laths and the open framing to which they are attached.
Wooden or other blocks may be fitted over or alongside the bolts, securing the
laths C, C', to the frame B, B', to prevent the nuts striking when the sides of the
frames are pressed together.
The opposite ends A¹, and A² of those springs A of the mattress, which are
adjacent to the open frames B, B¹, are secured to the respective frames by staples a¹
or other means.
The transverse stays C, C¹, are passed across between rows of the
springs A, so as in no way to interfere with their action, and the stays being bent to
meet in the centre of the depth of the mattress, the mattress is reversible, that is
to say, either side may serve as the top.
In the modified construction of the improved mattress shown in figures 3 and 4,
which has not however the advantage of being reversible, the spring stays which
support and connect the frames to which the springs are secured, are made of
single laths or strips C² of inverted arch or bow shape. These bent laths are con-
nected at their ends to the upper frame B, and at their centre, to a straight lath or
board D passed lengthwise or across the lower frame, which may consist simply of

page_text: a number of longitudinal laths D bound together by two or more transverse
laths D',
What I claim as my Invention is:―
First. The construction and combination of parts of spring mattresses, sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated.
Second. A reversible spring mattress, consisting of two open frames B, B',
connected by transverse or longitudinal spring stays C, C', and fitted with spiral
springs A linked together and secured to the frames, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
Third. A spring mattress consisting of a single open frame B, fitted with spiral
springs A linked together and secured thereto, and connected to a backing or
bottom D, D¹, by spring stays C³, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Fourth. In a spring mattress, the combination of the open frames B, B', and
spring laths C, C₁, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Fifth. In a spring mattress, the combination of an open frame and a backing or
bottom connected together by spring stays C³, substantially às herein described and
illustrated.
Sixth. In a spring mattress, the bent spring stays C and C¹, or C³, connected to
the mattress framing, substantially as herein set forth.
In Witness Whereof, I the said John Lokie, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.
Of the firm of
W. R. M. Thomson & C
Patent Agents
Glasgow.
JOHN LOKIE · (L.S.)