IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING-MATTRESSES OR BED-BOTTOMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co., Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING-MATTRESSES OR BED-BOTTOMS" Communicated
to him from abroad by George Gale of Waterville, Quebec, Canada
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING-MATTRESSES OR BED-
BOTTOMS [A communication to him from abroad by George Gale of Waterville,
Quebec, Canada]
"
This invention relates to that class of spring mattresses in which the springs are
arranged longitudinally. In spring mattresses as heretofore constructed, the frame-
work is secured by means of cast iron corners and the springs are so arranged that
any weight upon the mattress is carried by a comparatively small number of the
said springs; the objection to this arrangement is that the corners are liable to
break, and the springs, by having more weight upon them than they are calculated
to bear, are either broken or strained, thus destroying the elasticity of the mattress.
According to this invention the frame is composed of two side rails hollowed out
from near their extremities to the centre on the upper sides, and two cross-pieces
arranged to bear against projections on the said side rails, The said cross-pieces
are secured to the said side rails by means of bolts or the like. One of the said
cross-pieces is arranged to slide upon the said side rails to adjust the elasticity of the
mattress, by means of set screws or the like arranged in the said projections and
bearing against the adjustable cross-piece; the holes for the bolts which attach the
adjustable cross-piece to the side rails are elongated in the latter to allow for the
movement of the said adjustable cross-piece.
The mattress is composed of two rows of spiral springs, one row attached to each
cross-piece, and a number of V-shaped links having their extremities formed into

page_text: hooks; the adjacent hooks of two links are attached to the apex of another link
and the hooks of this link to other links in a similar manner; the said links are
also attached to the said spiral springs; a diagonal connection is thus formed
between the springs and the links, whereby the pressure applied to the mattress is
thrown upon a greater number of springs than would be the case if the links were
arranged longitudinally. In the centre of the length of the mattress I place two
or more rows of V-shaped links which are much shorter than the aforesaid links,
whereby the true diagonal arrangement of links throughout the whole length of
the mattress is avoided, thereby more equally dividing the pressure upon the said
springs than would le the case if the true diagonal arrangement of links were
maintained. The central part of the mattress is thus as stiff, and yet as elastic, as
the parts nearer the ends. The outside links of the mattress are attached to the side
rails in two or more places thus preventing too great a weight being placed upon
the outside springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th February 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES OR BED-
BOTTOMS A communication to me from abroad by George Gale, of Waterville,
Quebec, Canada
This invention relates to that class of spring mattresses or bed-bottoms in which
the springs are arranged horizontally.
In spring mattresses or bed-bottoms of this class as heretofore constructed, the
side bars of the framework are secured to the cross-pieces by means of cast iron
angle-pieces, and the springs are so arranged that any weight upon the mattress is
borne by a comparatively small number of the said springs; these angle-pieces are
liable to break, and the springs, by reason of the weight being sustained by only a
few of them, are frequently either broken or strained, thus destroying the elasticity
of the mattress.
According to the present invention, I obviate these defects as follows, that is to
say, I dispense with the cast iron angle-pieces and arrange the cross-pieces (which
sustain all the weight placed upon the mattress) in such a manner that they will
bear against projections upon the side bars of the frame. I also employ V-shaped
links to form diagonal connections between the springs at each end of the frame,
so that any weight or pressure applied to one of the said links will be borne by a
larger number of springs the nearer the said link is to the centre of the mattress ;
the central portion of the mattress will therefore be as stiff, and at the same time
as elastic, as the other portions. I provide for adjusting the tension of the springs
and links by adjustably securing one of the said cross-pieces to the side bars as
hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated how the said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a spring mattress or bed-bottom constructed
according to the said invention
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale, showing a device for
adjusting the tension of the springs and links
Figure 4 is a plan showing a portion of a mattress of modified construction.
Figure 5 is a plan illustrating another device for adjusting the tension of the
springs and links
Figure 6 is a section on the line x x Figure 5, and
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing the mode of attaching the springs to an
angle iron of a bedstead
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
The frame is constructed with two side bars A, which are made concave or
curved at their upper edges as shown in Figure 2 for the purpose hereinafter
specified. Two cross-pieces B, B¹ are arranged in combination with the side bars A.
The cross-piece B is secured to the said side bars by bolts C and bears against
projections a thereon. The cross-piece B' is secured to the side bars A by the
bolts C fitting into slots B2 in the said side bars and is arranged to slide upon the
said side bars to permit the tension of the links and springs to be adjusted as
hereinafter set forth, by means of the set screws b, which are screwed into the
projections a¹, their heads bearing against the cross-piece B', as shown in Figure 3,

page_text: so that when the said set-screws are turned in one direction the said cross-piece.
will be moved outward and the tension of the links and springs increased, and
when they are turned in the opposite direction it will be drawn. inward again by
the elastic force of the springs, and the said tension will be diminished.
cc represent spiral springs, each of which is attached at one end to a hook d
fixed in the cross-piece B or B¹. A V-shaped link e is connected to the other end
of the said spring as shown in Figure 1 and the row of links thus formed is
connected to another row of similar links. The links e have their extremities
formed into hooks and are arranged as shewn in Figure 1, the apex of each link of
the first row being attached to the hook of a spiral spring on the cross-piece B', and
the apex of each link of the second row being attached to the adjacent hooks of
two links of the first row, and so on, until the hooks of the links of the last row
are attached to the hooks of the spiral springs on the cross piece B. In the
mattress shown in Figure 1 the links in two of the rows extending across the centre
of the said mattress are made only about half the length of those in the other rows.
The object of this arrangement is to break the diagonal line and give the central
portion of the mattress greater stiffness than it would have if the links were all of
the same length, any weight placed upon the mattress being borne by a greater
number of springs in the former case. The links may, however, be all of the same
length, if desired
In the mattress shown in Figure 1, assuming a weight to be placed on the point
marked 1 where three of the short links are connected, the strain will be
transmitted through the links in the directions indicated by the arrows, so that the
weight will be borne by at least ten of the springs at one end, and a similar
number of springs at the other end. It is obvious that, as the number of rows of
links is increased or decreased, any weight or pressure thereon will be borne by a
proportionately larger or sinaller number of springs, and the centre of the mattress
will be as stiff, and yet as elastic, as the parts nearer the ends. The outside links
at each side of the mattress are formed with one side parallel with the side bars of
the frame, and they are made twice the length of the ordinary links, and are
attached to the side bars (which are bevelled upon the inside) by means of staples
or the like in two or more places, thus preventing excessive strain upon the
outside springs and giving a curved form to the mattress by reason of the
concavity of the said side bars.
According to a modification of the said invention I dispense with the above
described frame and attach the springs and links directly to the frame of an
ordinary metal or wood bedstead, except at one end thereof, where I place a loose
bar or cross-piece made adjustable by means of set-screws as above described,
or, in the case of iron bedsteads, I make the said cross-piece adjustable by means
of the device illustrated in Figure 5, in which B³ represents the cross-piece which
is made of angle iron and has a slot ƒ formed in it at each end to fit over the
side bars or angle irons A¹ as shown in Figure 6. A bolt g is passed through
the cross bar at one end of the bedstead and through the cross-piece B³, and
the tension of the springs and links can be adjusted by turning the nut g¹ in
one direction or the other.
In applying this modification to a metallic bedstead I make the head and foot
angle-irons or bars curved upward at the centre in order to give the bed-bottom
the desired shape.
The modified form of mattress shown in Figure 4 is especially adapted for wet
patients in hospitals. In this mattress I connect a number of V-shaped links with
the springs, and in the centre of the mattress I connect a number of straight wires
or links to the V-shaped links. I form all these links of brass or other metal
that will not rust. This form of mattress is very advantageous as it can be easily
cleaned and makes a very comfortable bed when covered with only two or three
blankets.
In Figure 7, represents a device for securing the springs or links to the angle-
irons of a bedstead. This device consists of a spirally formed wire which is inserted

page_text: in a hole in the said angle-iron, as shown, and which is closed when no strain is
placed upon it so that it cannot become disengaged. The hook of a spring can be
easily inserted in the said device by a slight pressure, as will be readily
understood.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I Claim :-
First. A spring mattress or bed-bottom having V-shaped links forming diagonal
connections between the springs at each end of the said mattress (with or without
the straight links), substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. In a spring mattress or bed-bottom, the frame composed of the two side-
bars having the projections near their ends, and the two cross-pieces one of which
is arranged in combination with set-screws or other devices for adjusting the said
cross-piece, all substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. In the said spring mattress or bed-bottom, the links attached to the side
bars at one or more places to prevent excessive strain upon the outside springs and
cause the mattress to assume a curved form, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The modification of the said invention wherein the same is adapted to a
bedstead without using the above described frame, substantially as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Sixteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
HIM PORT
ז 1
2

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