Improvements in or relating to Mattresses, Oushioned Chairs, and other Cushioned Articles of Furniture, Vehicles, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1804
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Mattresses, Oushioned Chairs, and
other Cushioned Articles of Furniture, Vehicles, and the like.
I, JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY of No. 19 Hertford Street Coventry in the
County of Warwick, Journalist do hereby declare, the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to mattresses, cushions, chairs and other cushioned articles
of furniture, vehicles and the like and consists in the hereinafter described method
of constructing the cushioned parts thereof so that their elasticity arises from the
use of compressed air or the like.
"
I will describe my invention as applied to the seat of an ordinary “dining room
chair; and from this description its application to other cushioned articles will be
obvious.
Upon the framework of the seat I mount a second frame or border of wood,
metal or other suitable material and around this second frame I form a groove or
channel facing outward and upward. Into this said groove I fit an inflatable
tube or cushion, which I construct of a bladder of india-rubber or some other
airtight or flexible material, enclosed in a covering of canvas or some other
suitable flexible material, enclosed in a covering of canvas or some other suitable
flexible and wholly or partly inextensible material. The cushion is provided with
a suitable valve or tap for the introduction and retention of air or some other
suitable elastic gas therein.
I lay a piece of canvas or other suitable fabric over the frame so that it extends
over the cushion and secure the edges to the frame. When the cushion is inflated
the fabric is stretched tight and is suspended on the cushion. When a weighty
object is applied to any part or parts of the suspended fabric the inflated cushion
allows it to give and adjust itself to the shape of the weighty object and to the
movements thereof, if any. Instead of grooving the second frame and mounting
it on the first, I may make the groove around the first frame itself. The inflatable
cushion may conveniently be made in several compartments two or more of which
may be connected by suitable passages, or one or more may be independent of
the rest and have a seperate valve or valves, so that the air or gas may be
prevented from flowing freely from one part of the cushion to another and so that
it may be inflated to different densities in different parts. Where the cushion is in
one piece the bladder may be in a length with closed ends or may be endless.
The covering of the cushion is adapted to take the strain of the compressed air
or the like and to coutrol the shape of the cushion. I prefer to make it with one
or more openings so that the bladder may be readily exposed when desired and
the said opening may be provided with buttons and button holes, laces and eyelets
and hooks, hooks and eyes, sliding sleeves or any other suitable means for readily
and effectively opening and closing the same, so that any part of the bladder may
be exposed and repaired, if necessary, when required. In some cases the said
covering may be made in one piece with the fabric before mentioned.
Instead of making the cushion with the bladder seperate from the cover,
it may
be made of air-proofed canvas, rubber insertion or the like, or the parts may be
nade seperately and vulcanised or solutioned together.
.
The cushion may be of one diameter throughout its length; or it may be larger
in some parts than in others so that the fabric when stretched over it may have a

page_text: surface departing from a plane; or the grooves to which the cushion is fitted may
be curved or be arranged with different parts at different heights, with a similar
effect; or the cushion may be made with gaps or intervals of any convenient
size and form. In all cases I prefer that where part of the frame is provided
with a cushion, the corresponding part of the fabric shall be stretched or suspended
from the cushion and not from the frame. The cushion may be secured to the
frame by any convenient means in addition to or instead of the said grooves in
the frame. The said suspended fabric may consist of one or more layers of
material, and if more than one be used the threads of some may be set at an angle
to the threads of some-or all of the others. The said fabric may itself form the
"cover" of the seat or a stuffed or plain “cover” may be secured over it in any
convenient manner.
The fabric may be secured to the frame of the chair by headed nails passing
into the said frame through the edges of the fabric, but I prefer to make it more
readily detachable. For example I may form the edges of the fabric with button
holes or eyelets and button or lace it on to suitable studs on the frame. In
addition to the button holes I may bead or thicken the edge of the fabric and
lay a suitably perforated band over the fabric and the studs and secure it in
position by nuts on the studs so that the thickened edge takes the strain instead of
the button boles.
Or I may pass a band round the fabric and the frame and tighten the band in
any suitable manner and groove the frame or otherwise arrange the parts so that
the band cannot slip up, and the fabric cannot slip up by reason of its thickened
edge engaging with the band. Or I may pass the thickened edge into a groove
or the like and retain it therein by any suitable means. Or I may hook the edges
of the fabric on to sharp hooks and in this case I prefer to arrange a wire or the
like in the edge of the material to take the strain. Or I may insert a wire or the
like in the edge of the fabric and tighten it into a groove or the like by any
suitable means.
Or I may make the wire endless and the groove or the like of
sufficient depth to allow the fabric to be put in place and removed without
disconnecting the wire; and in this case the upper surface of the groove may be
inclined and itself grooved so that the wired edge will automatically lodge in a
position which it will not readily leave until the cushion has been deflated.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1893.
W. B. MAXFIELD,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Mattresses, Cushioned Chairs, and
other Cushioned Articles of Furniture, Vehicles, and the like.
1, JOHN JAMES HENRY STURMEY, of No. 19 Hertford Street, Coventry, in
the County of Warwick Journalist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles
of furniture, vehicles and the like and consists in the hereinafter described method
of constructing the cushioned parts thereof so that their elasticity arises from the
use of compressed air or the like.
I will describe my invention as applied to the seat of an ordinary "dining
room" chair and to a mattress; and in order that the same may be well
understood append two sheets of explanatory drawings but modifications may be
made without departing from the nature of my invention; and from these
descriptions and drawings the application of the invention to other cushioned
articles will be obvious.

page_text: Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
Figure I Sheet 1 is a general view, partly broken, of a chair seat constructed
according to my invention.
Figure II is a transverse section of the same.
Figure III is a similar view showing a modification of the framework.
Figure IV is a plan of a seat showing one cushion separate from the others,
which others are connected by suitable passages.
Figure V is a general view, partly broken, showing my invention as applied to
the "roll" of the chair only.
Figures VI, VII, VIII and IX show various methods of securing the openings
in the cover of the inflatable cushion, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure Sheet 2 is a general view showing the fabric which forms or which
carries the cover of a chair seat attached to the frame thereof partly by one
method and partly by another.
Figures XI, XIII, XV, XVII, XIX, XXI, and XXIII are general broken
views showing different methods of attaching the "fabric " to the frame.
Figures XII, XIV, XVI, XVIII, XX, XXII, and XXIV, are transverse
sectional views showing the same methods as those shown in Figures XI, XIII,
XV, XVII, XIX, XXI, and XXIII respectively, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figures XXV, and XXVI are broken transverse sectional views showing
another method of attaching the fabric to, and detaching it from, the frame, also
drawn to a large scale.
Referring to Figures I and II Sheet 1.-Upon the framework 2 of the seat I
mount a second frame or border 3 of wood, metal or other suitable material,
constructing it in any suitable manner and attaching it to the first by screws 4
passing up to their heads through it (3) into the first (2), or by any other suitable
means around this second frame I form a groove or channel 5 facing outward and
upward as shown in Figure II. Into the said groove I fit an inflatable tube or
cushion 6, which I construct of a bladder 7 of india-rubber or some other suitable
air tight and flexible material, enclosed in a covering 8 of canvas or some other
suitable flexible and wholly or partly inextensible material. The cushion is
provided with a suitable valve or tap 9 for the introduction and retention of air or
some other suitable elastic gas therein. I lay a piece of canvas or other suitably
strong and inextensible fabric 10 over the frame 3, so that it extends over the
cushion 6, and I secure the edges thereof to the frame by nails 11 or any other
suitable means. When the cushion 6 is inflated the fabric 10 is stretched tight
and is suspended on the cushion. When a weighty object is applied to any part or
parts of the suspended fabric 10 the inflated cushion 6 allows it (10) to give and
adjust itself to the shape of the weighty object and to the movements thereof,
if any.
Instead of grooving the second frame and mounting it on the first I may make
the groove 5 around the first frame 2 itself, as shown in Figure III Sheet I.
As shown in Figure IV Sheet 1, the inflatable cushion 6 may conveniently be
made in several compartments 12, 13, 14, 15, two or more (such as 12, 13 and 14),
of which may be connected by suitable passages 16, 16, or one (such as 15) or
more may be independent of the rest and have a seperate valve or valves 9, so that
the air or other gas may be prevented from flowing freely from one part of the
cushion to another and so that it may be inflated to different densities in different
parts.
The passages 16, 16 may consist of small metal or india rubber tubes with
conveniently small apertures therethrough and secured to the compartments in
any suitable manner. In some cases I construct only the "roll" (that is to say;
the cushion or stuffing along the front edge of the seat) according to my invention
fitting the one or more inflatable cushions and construct the remainder of the seat
in any convenient and well known manner, as shown in Figure V Sheet 1.
Where the cushion 6 is in one piece, the bladder 7 may be in a length with closed.
ends, or it may be endless, if the ends might otherwise abut against each other.

page_text: The covering 8 of the cushion is adapted to take the strain of the compressed
air or the like and to control the shape of the cushion. I prefer to make it with
one or more openings 17 so that the bladder 7 may be readily exposed when
desired, and the said opening may be provided with buttons 18 and button holes 19
(see Figure 6 Sheet 1), eyelets or hooks 18 and laces 19 (see Figure 7 Sheet 1),
hooks and eyes 19 (see Figure VIII Sheet 1), one or more sliding sleeves such
as 20 (see Figure 1X Sheet 1), or any other suitable means for readily and
effectively opening and closing the same so that any part of the bladder 7 may be
exposed, and repaired, if necessary, when required. One or more suitable
flaps 33 may be employed on the covering 8 to prevent the bladder 7 protuding
between the edges of the covering and to protect the bladder from the fastenings.
In some cases the covering 8 may be made in one piece with the fabric 10 by
taking a piece of material large enough to form both and returning its edges upon
itself and securing them by sticking or otherwise in tubular form when the centre
will form the fabric 10 and the tubular edges the covering 8., and the edges may
be folded back again and secured or left free so that they may be secured to the
frame. Instead of making the cushion with the bladder separate from the
covering, it may be made of air-proofed canvas, rubber insertion or the like;
or the parts may be made separately and be vulcanised or solutioned together.
The cushion may be of one diameter throughout its length; or it may be larger
in some parts than in others so that the fabric when stretched over it may have a
surface departing from a plane as shown in Figure XXI Sheet 2, or the groove
to which the cushion is fitted may be curved or be arranged with different parts
at different heights, with a similar effect, as shown in Figure XXIII Sheet 2;
or the cushion may be made with gaps or intervals of any convenient size and
form. In all cases I prefer that where part of the frame is provided with a
cushion 6 the corresponding part of the fabric 10 shall be stretched or suspended
from the cushion and not from the frame. The cushion may be secured to the
frame by cementing or any other convenient means in addition to or instead of the
said groove in the frame. The suspended fabric 10 may consist of one or more
layers of material, and if more than one be used the threads of some may be set
at angle to the threads of some or all of the others. The said fabric 10 may itself
form the "
cover of the seat or a stuffed or plain "cover" may be secured over
it in any convenient manner. The fabric 10 may be secured to the frame of the
chair by headed nails passing into the said frame through the edges of the fabric
as hereinbefore described. But I prefer to make it more readily detachable.
For example, I may form the edges of the fabric with button holes or eyelets 21
and button or lace it on to suitable studs 22 on the frame as shown in Figure X
Sheet 2.
"
In addition to the button holes I may bead or thicken (23) the edge of the
fabric and lay a suitably perforated band 24 over the fabric 10 and the studs 22
and secure it in position by nuts 25 on the studs so that the thickened edge 23
takes the strain instead of the button-holes 21 as shown in Figures XI and XII
Sheet 2.
Or, as shown in Figures XIII and XIV Sheet 2.-1 may pass a band 24 round
the fabric 10 and the frame 2 and tighten the band by a screw 26 and nut 30 on
one end, and an eye 27 on the other, or by any other suitable means and groove
the frame as at 28 or otherwise arrange the parts so that the band 24 cannot slip
up (the fabric 10 cannot slip up by reason of its thickened edge 23 engaging
with the band). Or as shown in Figures XV and XVI Sheet 2.-1 may pass
the thickened edge 23 into a groove 28 or the like and retain it therein by a
tightenable band 24, or any other suitable means for example, 1 may form the
thickened edge 23 and the groove 28 in hook-like form as shown in Figures XVII
and XVIII Sheet 2 so that the pressure of the air maintains them in close
engagement without the aid of a band; the relative positions of the edge 23
and groove 28 may be arranged as shown in Figures XIX and XX Sheet 2,
when the hook-like formation of the parts 23 and 28 need not be so pronounced.

page_text: In both cases it is convenient to make the parts 28 of metal or other suitably
strong and rigid material, they being secured to the frame by any suitable means;
and the part 23, also may consist of, or be strengthened by metal or the like,
especially in the former case. Or as shown in Figures XXI and XXII Sheet 2,
I may hook the edges of the fabric 10 on to sharp hooks 22 fitted in the frame
and in this case I prefer to arrange a wire 29 or the like in the edge of the
material to take the strain. Or as shown in Figures XXIII and XXIV Sheet 2;
may insert a wire 29 or the like in the edge of the fabric and tighten it into a
groove 28 or the like in the frame by providing the ends of the wire with right
and left screw threads and uniting them in a correspondingly tapped nut 30,
the said nut being provided with tommy holes 31 or other suitable means for
rotating the same; or other suitable means may be provided for tightening the wire.
(1) To prevent the fabric rising where not otherwise held down, opposite the
nut 30, the wire may be taken two or more times round the edge 23, one coil
remaining in the edge where the other or others lie outside of it, or other suitable
means may be employed. Or, as shown in Figures XXV and XXVI Sheet 2.
I may make the wire 29 endless, and the groove 28 or the like of sufficient depth
to allow the fabric 10 to be put in place and removed without disconnecting the
wire; and in this case the upper surface of the groove 28 may be inclined and
itself grooved as at 32 so that the wired edge will automatically lodge in the
position shown in Figure XXV Sheet 2, which it will not readily leave until the
cushion has been deflated, when it may be pushed down into the bottom of
the groove 28 on one side of the chair leaving it free enough to be removed from
the other as shown in Figure XXVI Sheet 2, after which it may be detached
from the first side and so from the chair entirely. In some cases it may be better
to work from one corner to the other diagonally opposite than from one side to
the other, in attaching and detaching the fabric according to this method.
In applying my invention to mattresses and other cushioned articles of
furniture, vehicles and the like I proceed in a similar manner to that herein before
described with reference to a chair, but making any modifications and variations
that may be required to meet particular circumstances. For example, in the
construction of a mattress or similar article according to my invention I
may make
a suitable frame-work 2 and provide the periphery thereof with a suitable groove 5
adapted to receive a suitable inflatable cushion 6 as shown in Figure XXVII
Sheet 2. In these form a suitable piece of fabric into two sleeves, 10, 10 of
suitable dimensions and slip one sleeve over the framework and cushions in one
direction and the other at right angles to it. The sleeves 10, 10 are preferably
somewhat narrower and shorter respectively than the length and width of the
frame-work so that the corners thereof are left bare and may he provided with
suitable supports 34. On inflating the cushion, the sleeves are stretched tight and
the matress is ready for use. Either sleeve may be dispensed with, if desired,
the remaining one being stretched over preferably two separate ended cushions
instead of a single continuous one. More than one sleeve may be employed
in each direction if desired. The construction of the inflatable cushions
will be readily understood by any person practised in the manufacture of pneumatic
tires and the like, and the construction of the several cushioned articles to
which they are to be applied, by persons practised in the manufacture thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Constructing the cushioned parts of mattresses, cushioned chairs and other
cushioned articles of furniture, vehicles and the like so that their elasticity arises
from the use of compressed air or the like substantially as herein described.
2. In matresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like,-stretching the cover directly or indirectly by the inflation
of one or more cushions substantially as herein described.
•

page_text: 3. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like,-suspending the cover directly or indirectly from an inflated
cushion or cushions substantially as described.
4. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture.
vehicles and the like, the employment of one or more inflatable cushions
constructed of an air-tight and flexible material enclosed in a covering of flexible
and wholly or partly inextensible material and made either separately, or vulcanised
or solutioned together, and provided with a valve or tap, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like the employment of one or more inflatable cushions
constructed of air-proofed canvas, rubber insertion or the like, and provided with
a valve or tap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like and the inflatable cushion or cushions herein described,
making the covering of the bladder or bladders in one piece with the fabric
forming the cover or carrying the cover, substantially as herein described.
66
7. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the
cover is separate or separable from the bladder, the employment of one or more
openings in the said cover, provided with suitable means for opening and closing
the same, for the purpose set forth.
8. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the
cover is separate or seperable from the bladder and provided with one or more
openings therein;-the employment of buttons and button holes substantially as
herein described with reference to Figure VI Sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose set forth.
9. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the
cover is separate or separable from the bladder, and provided with one or more
openings therein, the employment of eyelets or hooks and laces substantially as
herein described with reference to Figure VII Sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes set forth.
10. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the
cover is separate or separable from the bladder, and provided with one or more
openings therein, the employment of hooks and eyes substantially as herein
described with reference to Figure VIII Sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings
and for the purpose set forth.
11. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the
cover is separate or separable from the bladder, and provided. with one or more
openings therein, the employment of one or more sliding sleeves substantially as
herein described with reference to Figure IX Sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawing and for the purpose set forth.
12. In an inflatable cushion of the kind referred to in Claim 4 and where the cover
is separate or separable from the bladder, and provided with one or more openings
therein, the employment of one or more flaps substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
13. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like the employment of an inflatable cushion or cushions of the
kind and for the purpose herein described, constructed in several compartments
and connecting the same by suitable passages substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
14. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like the employment of an inflatable cushion or cushions of the
kind and for the purpose herein described, one or more being independent of the
rest and provided with a separate valve or valves substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
15. In cushioned chairs and the like the employment of an inflatable cushion or
cushions to form the "roll" thereof substantially as herein described.

page_text: 16. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture.
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, making the said cushion or cushions larger in some parts than in others
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
17. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like, constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, curving the groove or grooves to which the cushion or cushions is or
are fitted, or arranging the said groove or grooves with different parts at different
heights, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, making the "fabric" of two or more layers of material and setting
the threads of some at an angle to the threads of some or all of the others,
substantially as herein described.
19. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the "fabric" with button holes or eyelets and the frame
with studs, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure X Sheet 2 of
the accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
20. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioued articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the fabric with button holes or eyelets, and the frame with
studs, thickening the edge of the fabric and employing a band and nuts substantially
as herein described with reference to Figures XI and XII Sheet 2 of the
accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
21. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the fabric with a thickened edge, and the frame with a
groove and employing a tightenable band substantially as herein described with
reference to Figures XIII and XIV Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and
for the purpose set forth.
22. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as
herein described,--providing the fabric with a thickened edge and the frame with
a groove or the like and employing a tightenable band substantially as herein
described with reference to Figures XV and XVI Sheet 2 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose set forth.
23. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like, constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushious as herein
described, providing the fabric with a thickened edge and the frame with
a groove substantially as herein described with reference to Figures XVII
and XVIII Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawing and for the purpose set forth.
24. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like, constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the fabric with a thickened edge and the frame with a
groove substantially as herein described with reference to Figures XIX and XX
Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
25. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the frame with sharp hooks and the fabric preferably with
a wire in the edge thereof substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures XXI and XXII Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose set forth.
26. In inattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like, constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the fabric with a tightenable wire in the edge thereof and
the frame with a groove or the like substantially as herein described with reference

page_text: to Figures XXIII and XXIV Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and for
the purpose set forth.
27. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like, constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions as herein
described, providing the fabric with an endless wire in the edge thereof and the
frame with a groove or the like substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures XXV and XXVI Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose set forth.
28. In the groove referred to in Claim 25,-inclining the upper surface thereof
and grooving the same substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures XXV and XXVI Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose set forth.
29. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like,-mounting and attaching to the framework thereof a second
framework provided with a groove or channel, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
30. In mattresses, cushioned chairs and other cushioned articles of furniture,
vehicles and the like,-providing the framework thereof with a groove or channel
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
31. In mattresses and the like constructed with an inflatable cushion or cushions
as herein described, making the "fabric "in the form of one, two or more sleeves,
substantially as herein described.
32. The improvements in or relating to mattresses, cushioned chairs and other
cushioned articles and the like substantially as herein described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of Santomkou 1001
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXField,
Registered Patent Agent,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicant's Agent.