Improvements in or Connected with Articles of Rest Used by Mankind, such as Mattresses, Sofas, Railway Carriage Seats, Tram Car and Omnibus Seats, Chairs and other Seats, and other like Articles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Articles of Rest Used by
Mankind, such as Mattresses, Sofas, Railway Carriage Seats,
Tram Car and Omnibus Seats, Chairs and other Seats, and other
like Articles.
I EDWARD ROWCLIFFE Billington, of Cambridge Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Mattress Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates, mainly, to articles of rest used by mankind having, chiefly,
a horizontal supporting material, that is the material which takes the chief stresses
applied to the articles is made of woven wire of the nature used for mattresses,
seats and other like purposes, and when in use is under tension. Examples of articles
to which the invention relates, and is applicable, are mattresses for beds, sofas and the
like railway-carriages, omnibuses, tramcar and other vehicle seats; chairs and other
equivalent seats.
I will first describe as an example, a bedstead mattress with improvements according
to my invention applied thereto :-The woven wire material is mounted and held at
each end of the frame, which may be of any known or suitable kind of wood or
iron, having the axes of its spirals, or other kind of inter-connected wires running
from end to end. At the sides of the mattress the material is so arranged relatively with
the side bars or bearers of the frame, that it projects or overhangs them, and the
edges of the wire are turned down and inwards into the form of a semicircle or
other suitable curvilinear form. The end bars or beams, by which the material is
suspended, are so formed as to hold the edges in the above form and position.
In the case of my invention being applied to railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus
and other seats of a like nature, I prefer to provide bar, coach or other equivalent
spring bearers, arranged transversely to the direction of the length of material in
such a manner that any undue sagging, which the material might otherwise undergo,
would be prevented and at the same time the seat rendered more comfortable to
persons using it, and more suitable for the purposes for which it is intended.
The ends of the end bars or bearers, which suspend the wire material, are curved in
a corresponding form to that given the rounded or curved edges of the material and
the material, when fixed in its frame, lies over or in these curved ends. According to
a further improvement the upper and under end bars employed for holding the wire
material of mattresses, seats and the like, when made of iron or steel, are provided
with one or more corrugations, and the material is clamped between these bars, the
corrugation or corrugations of one bar being adapted to fit inside the recess or recesses
in the other. In the case of railway, tramcar, omnibus and other kinds of seats the wire
material may be covered with other material, or not, accordingly as circumstances
may render the one or the other desirable or necessary.
Some of the advantages attending the use of a bedstead mattress according to my
invention are:-that the space commonly existing in mattresses of other kinds,
between the edge and the side bearers, is covered, or partly covered by the rounded
edges, and it not only presents a better appearance, but affords a substantial protection
to persons falling upon the said edges, in that they form cushions or buffers, and break
the fall, whereas in the case of ordinary mattresses the side bearers are unprotected
by the wire material, and injuries are frequently received by the person falling upon
them. With epileptic and lunatic subjects and others suffering from like diseases, the
advantage afforded by the use of my invention is especially obvious. The above
advantages to some extent exist also in the case of sofa seats, chairs and the like, but
one of the main advantages over the hitherto proposed practical and useful forms

page_text: of railway, omnibus, tramcar and other seats, afforded by my improvements, is
that no hard or unyielding bars are pressed on or felt by the users, nor is any
inconvenience experienced.
Dated this 18th day of September 1888.
EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Articles of Rest Used by
Mankind, such as Mattresses, Sofas, Railway Carriage Seats,
Tram Car and Omnibus Seats, Chairs and other Seats, and other
like Articles.
I, EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON, Mattress Manufacturer, of Cambridge Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of my said
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 mainly to articles of rest used by mankind, having chiefly a
horizontal supporting material, that is, the material which takes the chief stresses
applied to the articles, is made of woven wire or other analogous web, or "mesh
work," of the nature used for mattresses, seats, and similar purposes, and when in use
is under tension. This material is elastic or springy, and is hereafter called for the
sake of simplicity "The elastic Material."
Examples of articles to which the invention relates, and is applicable, are
mattresses for beds or bedsteads, ships' berths, sofas and the like; Railway carriage,
Omnibus, Tramcar and other vehicle seats; chairs and other equivalent seats.
I will first describe as an example, a bedstead mattress with improvements
according to my invention applied thereto :-The Elastic Material is mounted and
held at each end of the frame,-which may be of any known or suitable kind, of
wood or iron having the axes of its spirals, cords, or other kind of inter-connected
wires or the like, that is, the direction of its "length," running from end to end. At
the sides of the inattress the material is so arranged relatively with the side bars of
the frame, that it projects or overhangs them, and the edges of the material are turned
down and inwards, preferably, into the form of a semi-circle or other suitable
curvilinear form. The end bars, by which the material is suspended, are formed so as
to hold the edges in the above form and position.
In the case of my invention being applied to Railway Carriage, Tramcar, Omnibus
and other seats of a like nature, I prefer to provide bar, coach, or other equivalent
spring bearers, arranged transversely to the direction of the length and "stretch"
of the elastic material, in such a manner, that any undue sagging which the
material might otherwise undergo, would be prevented, and at the same time the
seat rendered more comfortable to persons using it, and more suitable for the purposes
for which it is intended.
The ends of the end bars or bearers, which suspend the elastic material, are curved
or otherwise formed in a corresponding form to that given the edges of the
material, and the material when fixed in its frame, lies over or in these ends.
According to a further improvement, the end bars employed for holding the elastic
material of mattresses, seats, and the like, when made of iron or steel, are provided
with one or more corrugations, and the material is clamped between these bars, the
corrugation or corrugations of one bar being adapted to fit inside the recess or
recesses in the other. In the case of Railway, Tramway, Omnibus and other
kinds of seats, the elastic material may be covered with other material or cushions
or not, accordingly as circumstances may render the one or the other desirable or
necessary.
Some of the advantages attending the use of a bedstead or berth mattress
according to my invention are:-that the space commonly existing in mattresses

page_text: of other kinds, between the edge and the side bars of the mattress frame or bedstead
is covered or partly covered by the projecting and rounded or turned down edges, and
it not only presents a better appearance, but affords a substantial protection to persons
falling upon said edges, in that they form cushions or buffers, and break the fall,
whereas in the case of ordinary mattresses, the side bars are unprotected by the wire
material, and injuries are frequently received by the person falling upon them. With
epileptic subjects and others suffering from like diseases the advantage afforded by
the use of my invention aro especially obvious. The above advantages to some extent
exist also in the case of sofa seats, chairs, and the like; and one of the main
advantages over the hitherto proposed practical and useful forms of railway,
omnibus, tramcar, and other seats, afforded by my improvements, is that no hard
or unyielding bars are pressed on or felt by the users, nor is any inconvenience
experienced.
Having thus generally specified the nature, object and purposes of the invention,
its description will now be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying Drawings
(which form a part of this specification) by way of explaining more fully and clearly,
the nature and effects thereof.
The same figures and letters of reference are used to denote the same or like parts
wherever they occur in the Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view showing an example of a bedstead mattress,
according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a general perspective view of a bedstead and mattress according to the
form shown in Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 show in sectional side elevation and outside end view, respectively,
the construction and formation of the end members or bearers of the elastic mattress
material shown in Figure 1, and its mode of attachment.
Figure 5 illustrates a mattress. for a seat, according to this invention, having a
metallic frame, more especially for use in Railway and other carriages, Tramcars,
Omnibuses, Chairs, Sofas, and other like or analogous articles for sitting or resting upon.
Figure 5 shows in detail the end bars or "former" of the seat, mattress, or the
like, shown in Figure-5.
Figure 6 shows the invention as applied more particularly to the seats, and back
rests connected therewith, of Railway Carriages, Tramcars, Oinnibuses, and other like,
or analogous carriages..
Figure 6 shows the invention applied to an ordinary seat, adapted to seat several
people.
Figure 7 shows the form and construction of end attachment of the seat back,
illustrated in connection with the seat back, illustrated in connection with the seat in
Figure 6.
Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, show four forms of interposed spring bearers for seats and
seat backs connected with them.
Figure 12 shows a modified mode of making a seat bottom (and a back rest, if used
in connection with it) applicable to cases where the elastic material is of the chain
and spring kind.
Figure 13 shows a particular construction of means for holding the Elastic
Material.
Figures 14 and 15 show two sections of side bars of a mattress or seat frame, when
made of iron or steel.
With reference generally to the drawings, the Elastic Material is designated A,
the end members of the frame supporting it B, and the side members or bars of
the frame or bedstead-as the case may be-B'; then with reference to Figures 5
to 11, C designates the interposed bar spring bearers of the seat, and back rest
connected with the seat.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the Elastic Material A is made to project beyond the
side members B' of the frame, and is brought down and round in an approximate

page_text: inverted semicircle at a. This construction not only prevents a space being visible
between the lower edge of the Elastic Material and the side members B¹, but also
forms the cushion as above specified, and gives the bedstead generally a better and
more finished appearance. It will be seen that in constructing a bedstead and also
seats as hereinafter described, to suit a given width of mattress the side members B¹,
will have to be brought nearer together, as compared with a frame of the ordinary
kind.
In Figure 2, the frame supporting the mattress-that is the elastic material,-
consists of the two end bars B,-which are secured to the bedstead in any known
suitable way, and the side bars B¹ of the bedstead, forming the longitudinal or side
bars to the mattress, the said elastic material being provided with turned down and
rounded edges, as in Figure 1, and the said side bars B₁ of the bedstead being arranged
with respect to the turned down edges as in Figure 1.
The end member B of a mattress or a seat or the like, and the attachment of
the elastic material to it, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, illustrate how these
members of the frame constitute the "formers" of the shape of the "Elastic
Material throughout; consequently the shape it is desired to give the mattress seat
or the like, is given to these end members. The attachment of the material A to
the end bearers, consists in arranging it upon the upper edge and overhanging
ends b, and lapping it over the ends thereof, and securing it by nails or staples
and a plate P, (of metal or other suitable material), said plate being held to the end
member B by screws, bolts, or other suitable means; or, as hereinafter described, with
reference to Figure 13.
What has been above said with reference to the end members B', is also
applicable to the end members of seat backs, connected with the seats, namely,
that the shape they are desired to have, is given the end members, to which they are
attached and held, and which constitute "formers" to the Elastic material throughout,
in the same way as just above described.
With reference to the seat illustrated in Figure 5, three interposed spring bearers C
are shown provided. These it will be seen correspond in form, substantially with the
Elastic Material, which rests. upon the surface of them; and it will be evident when
weight is put upon the material, they will offer support at so many points between
the two end bearers B, and will at the same time form spring or elastic supports.
They are attached to the inside of the side members B¹ of the frame, as shown in
Figure 6, or in any other suitable way.
I have found that springs of this kind of about 1 inch to 1½ inches broad, by
about of an inch thick, if spaced about 18 inches to 2 feet apart, give a comfortable
effect.
It must be particularly pointed out, that these spring bearers have practically
no tendency either to press the side bars B' apart, or to bring them together, but
that their reaction takes place at right angles to the plane of the frame, and without
incidental side or angular thrusts or stresses on the side bars.
In this seat, the front edge of the Material is brought round and down at a, as in
Figure 1, and not only serves as a protection in the sense previously described with
reference to the bedstead mattress, but also when fixed in position, is more comfortable
to users (i. e. Sitters) than other seats heretofore proposed, made of elastic meshwork
or woven wire material and has a pleasing appearance. The distance between the top
edge of the side bars B' and the under side of the elastic material directly above it,
which when the material is sat upon, will be kept off said side bars, and which I have
found convenient, is about from 3 to 5 inches.
The Railway or other Carriage, Tramcar, Omnibus or the like seat, shown in
Figures 6 and 7, consists of a bottom or seat proper, and a back rest combined, each
having the interspaced spring bearers C and C respectively. The back rest bearer in
this instance is supported on a board or partition or other support, D, to give it the
requisite inclination. The lower end of this spring is fixed, and the upper one loose,
and capable of movement in the guide c².
•
The seat back may be covered with cloth or other suitable material, or not, as may

page_text: be desired, and the seat also may be covered in a similar way, or cushions used upon.
it, or both, or used bare as may.be desired.
The frame in this figure, as in Figure 5, is made of metal, iron or steel, or a
combination of them. Details of these frame (i.e. side bars) are shown in Figures 14
and 15. In the first of these, the frame bar is shown made of a channel bar
and plate rivetted together, which, for about a 6 foot mattress, bed, or seat, may
be about 14 deep, by about 1 wide (over all), the thickness of metal being about
inch.
The same sizes may be used for the bar shown in Figure 15, which is built up of
plates and angle bars rivetted together as shown; or this may consist of two angle
bars arranged in the same way.
Figure 6 illustrates a seat of ordinary type, adapted to accommodate several
sitters, according to the Invention, and of the same construction as set forth with
reference to Figure 6, the end members (which give the elastic material its form)
being secured to the frame of the chair in any known suitable way.
Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 show four different forms. of interspaced spring bearers C
those under Figures 8 and 9 consisting of simple bent bars; and that under
Figure 10 also consists of a bent bar, as shown on the left hand side or hinged as a
coach spring at the bend at c³, on the right hand side of the Figure. Figure 11
shows a compound spring, consisting of a spring bar, of the desired form, and a
coiled or helical spring, being the equivalent in mode of action and effect to the bar
springs with their spring ends c³, shown in Figures 8 to 10. (Instead of a helical
spring, any other suitable kind may be used.) The springs are supported on the side
bars B¹ by and at their ends ct.
Figure 12 shows a modified construction of seat, seat back rest, sofa, or the like,
in which, in lieu of placing the elastic material A, above the interspaced spring
bearers and end bars and formers B, (whether such material be made of woven or
other interconnected wire, or meshwork), it is connected to said end bars B and bar
spring bearers C, the Elastic Material proper, thus consisting of short lengths, lying
between two spring bars C, or a spring bar and end bar B. The kind of Elastic
Material or meshwork shown in the Figure, is the ordinary spring and chain. This
kind of construction, that is, the Elastic Material or meshwork A and springs C, act
in the same way and serve substantially the same ends, as those constructions above
described. When elastic material of the form shown in the Figure is used, the
seats and seat backs would always be provided with cushions or their equivalent, to
make an even surface.
Figure 13 shows the elastic material held between two corrugated plates P and P₁,
bolted together. It will be seen the projecting corrugation of the lower plate P₁
presses the elastic material into the recess of the corrugation of the upper plate P,
thereby forming a firm grip or bite from which the material will not slip.
It will be understood that although no means of adjustment of the elastic material
longitudinally are shown in the drawings, the ordinary or any known kind of means
may be used in any mattresses, seats, or the like, under this Invention.
It will be observed that in all cases the turned down projecting edge (a) of the
material A, is disposed-in the cases of mattresses for bedsteads and the like,- at
the side edges thereof, whilst for seats having back rests-and not reversible, sofas,
and the like, it comes at the front edge, the tension on the material, lying in a
direction parallel therewith.
I am aware that prior to this invention, metallic elastic material, (including various
webs, meshwork, woven spiral wire, and the like), stretched and supported in frames
at their ends, and adapted to serve as elastic supports, such as mattresses of or for
bedsteads, seats, sofas and other obvious applications and uses, have been provided, or it
has been proposed to provide it with springs at certain points along its length, with
the object of preventing it becoming too much sagged, at points between the ends at
which it is supported, when weight is applied. The kind of springs which have
hitherto been proposed, have been various; for instance, spiral springs have been
adapted to exert a direct upward pressure on the metallic material, when through the

page_text: weight applied upon it, it became depressed or sagged. In some of these cases, the
springs have been spiral ones, and a plurality of them have been arranged in a row or
rows transversely to the direction of length and stretch of the material, and with the
axis of the spirals at right angles to the plane of the material:-such springs would
give an equal upward pressure for all points, where weight was equally applied; but some
other forms and arrangements of spiral springs have been proposed, in which the
axes of the spirals lied parallel with the plane of the material they were to support,
and having their ends fastened to the side bars of the frame in which the material
is supported; this arrangement however does not support the material equally
transversely, nor give support and elasticity at the points, and in the manner
required.
Now according to my invention, I arrange spring supports somewhat in the manner
and having somewhat the same effect, of the former arrangement, (but in an improved
form, construction, and manner,) and having the reverse effect of those arranged
according to the latter mode, that is to say, while the latter transverse arrangement
of support springs, provide practically no spring or elasticity at the side edges they
give most in the centre (the points at which support is most desired), and also do not
keep the edge of the material off the side bars (B') of the frame when weight is
applied thereon, my arrangement and construction of springs gives a practically equal
support when in use from side to side, the points in which the spring or elasticity is
obtained, being at the sides, and near where they are supported by the side bearers of
the frame as well as between these points. And over and above this, the spring bars C
according to the invention are so raised above the side bars of the frame, that when
the weight of a person or persons is or are applied on or near the edge of the elastic
material, it is prevented from being so depressed or sagged, as to come in contact with
the said frame side bars, and thereby all inconvenience to users by coming into contact
with this hard material of the frame is obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would state in.
conclusion that in the foregoing specification I have described what I at present
consider the best forms and constructions of mattress, seat, or other analogous
articles or thing, involving my invention, and the ones I prefer to employ; I wish it
to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the precise material used for,
and constructions and forms of, mattresses, seats and other analogous articles or things
specified, since these may be varied and modified in many ways without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention; and I declare that what I claim in respect
of the herein described invention is :-
1. A mattress, seat, or the like, having a metallic elastic supporting material, under
tension, and held at its ends, one or both of the side edges of which is or are turned
down and project beyond the side bars of the article or frame in or on which said
material is mounted.
2. A mattress, seat, or the like, having a metallic elastic supporting material,
under tension, one or both of the side edges of which is or are turned down and
project beyond the side bars of the article or frame in or on which it is mounted
and said turned down portions being disposed above said bars; for the purposes set
forth.
3. In a mattress, seat, or the like, having a metallic elastic supporting material
under tension, the formation of the free side edges thereof substantially as described
with reference to the drawings, that is to say, the edges of said material being
turned down and under the upper surface thereof.
4. In à mattress, seat, or the like, in which the metallic elastic supporting
material has a turned down free edge or edges (such as specified in Claim 1),
the formation of said edge or edges of a semicircular or equivalent curvilinear
shape.
5. A mattress, seat, or the like, having a metallic elastic supporting material
under tension, the end bearers used to hold and support said ends, being adapted

page_text: to project beyond the side bars of said mattress, seat, or the like, and the said
supporting material being passed over said projecting ends, which are adapted to
constitute a "former" for the said material lying between the two end bearers
thereof, whereby the edges of said material are turned down and project beyond the
said side bars.
6. A railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus, or other seat, sofa, or the like, having a
metallic elastic supporting material under tension, and held at its ends, and transverse
bar springs of the type described adapted to support said material at points between
same, the bearing or supporting edge or surface of said springs being disposed above
the level of the upper edge or edges of the side bar of said seat, sofa, or the like; for
the purposes set forth.
7. A railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus, or other seat, sofa, or the like, in which a
metallic elastic supporting material under tension is employed, and supported at
intervals with transverse bar springs C; operating substantially as described.
8. A railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus or other seat, or sofa or the like, having a
metallic elastic supporting material raised above the front side bar B¹ as described,
and having a turned down edge; for the purposes set forth.
9. A railway carriage, omnibus, tramcar, or other seat, or sofa, or the like, having
a metallic elastic supporting material above the front side bar B1, raised as described,
and baving a turned down edge supported by transverse bar springs; for the purposes
described.
10. A railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus or other like seat back rest, having a
metallic elastic supporting material (A) and bar springs (C"); for the purposes set
forth.
11. A railway carriage, tramcar, or omnibus, seat, sofa, or the like, comprising an
elastic metallic supporting material A, and transverse bar spring C, arranged and
constructed substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 5.
12. The construction and connection of metallic end bars B and side bars B¹;
substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 5.
13. The construction and connection of metallic_end bars or bearers, B, and side
bars B', substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 5A.
14. The bar springs C, constructed substantially as set forth with reference to
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively, for the purposes set forth.
15. In end bars or bearers of mattresses, seats, or the like, in which woven wire
elastic supporting material is held between plates or bars, the use of a groove or
grooves in one plate or bar, and a corresponding projecting ridge or ridges in the
other; for the purposes set forth.
16. A railway carriage, omnibus, tramcar, or other seat, sofa, or the like, having
bar springs C, and constructed substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 12.
17. A mattress, seat, or the like, having side bars B¹, constructed substantially as
set forth with reference to Figures 14 and 15 respectively of the Drawings.
18. A bedstead having an elastic metallic supporting material or mattress A,
arranged and constructed: as set forth with reference to Figure 2 of the Drawings.
19. The railway carriage, tramcar, omnibus, or other like seat, and seat back
rest, arranged and constructed substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 6.
19. A mattress, seat, or the like, having an elastic supporting material made of the
form substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings, that is to say, said
material having a turned down side edge or edges (with or without said edges being
further turned under said material), and said edges being arranged or disposed in
relation to the side bars, of the frame or other article on or in which it is mounted ;
substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of June 1880
EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Livepool, Patent Agents.