IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO MATTRESSES, COUCHES, AND OTHER UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Parry, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS, AND
THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO MATTRESSES, COUCHES, AND OTHER
UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd May 1869, and dated the 25th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Parry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th November 1868.
I, JOHN PARRY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS,
AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO MATTRESSES, COUCHES, AND OTHER
UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention applies to coiled or spiral springs used for mattresses,
couches, sofas, chairs, carriage and other seats, and for other similar
upholstery purposes, and consists chiefly in protecting the top of the
spring by means of a top or cap of wood, metal, or other suitable sub-
[Price 8d.]

page_text: The
stance, which top or cap I make preferably of a mushroom form, but
it may be made oval, octagonal, or of other convenient shape.
object of this arrangement is to prevent the top of the spring from
wearing through the covering material (where a cover is used), and at
the same time to leave each spring perfectly free and independent of the
rest, so that each spring acts separately and bears its own separate
amount of pressure.
In applying these springs to bedsteads, for example, I propose simply
to fix the springs with the mushroom or other shaped caps on to the
ordinary wooden laths, or on to a frame of laths made for the purpose,
and to place an ordinary hair or other mattress or palliass loosely on the
top of the springs. By these means all the comfort and luxury of a
spring mattress is attained at a much less cost, at the same time that
perfect ventilation of the mattress or palliass is secured, and there is no
harbour whatever for dust or vermin, as the springs and laths can be
taken out, cleaned, and replaced at any time, and the mattress or palliass
can be turned and aired as often as may be required. For convenience
of carriage, by passing an ordinary screw through the mushroom or
other shaped cap, the springs may be screwed down flat on to the laths,
and will then pack in a much smaller space.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Parry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PARRY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Parry, Her special
license that I, the said John Parry, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Parry, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
IN SPRINGS,
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO MATTRESSES, COUCHES, AND OTHER
UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Parry, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John l'arry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention applies to coiled, spiral, or other similar springs used
in mattresses, couches, sofas, chairs, carriage and other seats, and for
other similar upholstery purposes, and consists chiefly in protecting the
top of the spring by means of a top or cap of wood, metal, or other
suitable substance, which top or cap I make preferably of a mushroom
form, but it may be made oval, octagonal, or of other convenient shape.
The object of this arrangement is to prevent the top of the spring from
wearing through the covering material (where a covering is used), and
at the same time to leave each spring perfectly free and independent of
the rest, so that each spring acts separately and bears its own separate
amount of pressure.
In applying these springs to bedsteads, for example, I propose. simply
to fix the springs with the mushroom or other shaped caps on to the
ordinary wooden laths, or on to a frame of laths made for the purpose,
and to place an ordinary hair or other mattress or palliass loosely on the
top of the springs. By these means all the comfort and luxury of a
spring mattress is attained at a much less cost, at the same time that
perfect ventilation of the mattress or palliass is secured, and there is no
harbour whatever for dust or vermin, as the springs and laths can be
taken out, cleaned, and replaced at any time, and the mattress or palliass
can be turned and aired as often as may be required. For convenience
of carriage, by passing an ordinary screw through the mushroom or
other shaped cap, the springs may be screwed down flat on to the laths,
and will then pack in a much smaller space. In applying these springs

page_text: to couches, chairs, or other seats, webbing may be substituted for
the laths.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Springs, and in the Application of the same to Mattresses,
Couches, and other Upholstery Purposes," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried
into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly under-
stood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof,
and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corre-
sponding with those in the following explanation thereof (that is to
say) :-
Fig. 1 on the annexed Drawing represents one of my improved springs,
a, a, being the spring, made of steel or other wire, either galvanized,
coated with copper, or otherwise, and b, b, is the top or cap, which is
represented as of a mushroom form; but, as before stated, it may be of
any other convenient shape if preferred, and fixed on the top of the
spring by means of staples or other similar contrivance. When required
for use I fasten the lower part of the spring by staples or otherwise to
lags or laths of wood c, c. In some cases I prefer to limit the action of
the springs by an elastic or other cord or band d, d, passing through
the spring, and connecting the top or cap to the lath.
Fig. 2 shows the spring partly compressed; Fig. 3 is a plan view, and
Fig. 4 a side view of the spring mattress constructed according to my
Invention. I construct an outside frame e, e, (less than half the depth
of the springs,) and attach thereto a suitable number of laths c, c, to
each of which is fixed a series of my improved springs. This frame is
so made that it can be readily taken to pieces and all packed flat in a
small compass for carriage or stowage, and easily put together again by
any one without the aid of skilled workmen. The mattress may either
be provided with a plain cover made to button or fasten down over the
edges of the frame, so as to conceal the springs, as shown at f, f, (Fig. 5),
and used with the ordinary hair or other mattress on the top, or the
cover may be padded with hair or other material, and the usual loose
mattress dispensed with.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that I claim as my Invention,―

page_text: Firstly. The construction of springs for such purposes with tops or
caps, as herein-before described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
And, secondly. I claim the application thereof to mattresses, couches,
sofas, chairs, and carriage and other seats, and other similar upholstery
purposes, substantially in the manner described, or in any other similar
or analogous manner.
TL
T
sot
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to George Davies, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
JOHN PARRY. (L.S.)