IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM GADD, of 64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES" to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to the construction of spring mattresses, and have for
their objects, the simplifying of the same, and the avoidance of the springs coming
in contact with the bedding laid thereon.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I form a wooden or metal
frame, somewhat in the ordinary manner; but at one or both ends thereof, or sides
or both, I fit the same with pulleys capable of turning on axes (or it may be with
levers) over which pulleys pass suitable connections, such as cords, straps, chains,
iron steel or other metal bands, canes or other substances of sufficient flexibility;
or in case of levers, by preference bell-crank or elbow formed, flexibility is not
required.
These connections are attached to spiral or other springs passing downwards or
underneath or both by which means the surface of the mattress may be freed
entirely from the springs, and such surface may be composed of rods of wood or
metal, canes, flats strips of metal, wire rope, cords, webbing, or any other suitable
substance.
In cases where the substances forming the surface of the mattress are sufficiently
flexible in themselves, such as cords, straps, wire ropes, canes &c, they may be
continued over the pulleys direct to the springs, to which they may be attached
with or without any other connection.
When levers are used, the attachments may be made by ordinary pin joints or
other suitable means.
Any kind of spring, whether flat, spiral, helical, or other form in wire or metal,
or india-rubber springs may be employed in the manner set forth.
In lieu of a separate pulley or lever to each rod, cord, or other stretcher, one
long pulley or roller or quadrant may be employed either in combination with
separate small springs or one or more larger or stronger springs.
Variations in detail may be made without departing from the peculiar character
of the invention, which mainly consists of the employment of pulleys, levers, or
analagous mechanisms, whereby the springs may be caused to be fixed at the end
or ends, side or sides or both, by passing downwards or underneath or both down-
wards and underneath so as to leave the whole of the surface of spring mattresses
free from springs.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Spring Mattresses.
I, WILLIAM GADD of 64 Barton Arcade Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES," and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The improvements relate to the construction of spring mattresses for beds, and
have for their objects the simplifying of the same, and the avoidance of the springs
of such mattresses or beds coining in contact with the bedding laid thereon.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I form a wooden or metal
frame somewhat in the ordinary manner, either separate from, or forming part of,
the bed-stock or framing; but at one or both ends thereof, or sides or both, I fit
the same with pulleys capable of turning on axes, or it may be with levers, over
or connected with which are suitable connections, such as cords, straps, chains, iron
steel or other wire, or metal strips or bands, canes or other substances of sufficient
flexibility; or in case of levers, whether straight or bell-cranked, flexibility is not
required to the same extent. These connections or levers are attached to spiral or
other springs passing downwards or underneath or both, by which means the surface
of the mattress may be freed entirely from the springs, and such surface may be
composed of rods of wood or metal, canes, flat strips of metal, wire rope, cords,
webbing, or any other suitable substance.
In cases where the substances forming the surface of the mattress are sufficiently
flexible in themselves, such as cords, straps, wire ropes, canes &c, they may be
continued over the pulleys, when such are employed, direct to the springs, to which
they may be attached without intervening connections.
When levers are used, the attachments may be made either by ordinary pin
joints, or other suitable means, and any kind of spring, whether flat, curved, spiral,
helical, or other form in wire or plate metal, or india rubber springs may be employed
in the manner set forth.
In lieu of a separate pulley or lever to each rod, cord, or other stretcher, one long
pulley or roller, or shaft carrying rollers, or a quadrant may be employed as a
modification either in combination with separate small springs, or one or more larger
and stronger springs.
But that the invention may be better understood, I will by the aid of the
accompanying drawings proceed more fully to describe means employed by me.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 shew different views, in side elevation of apparatus arranged
according to my invention; and figs. 4, 5 and 6 shew the same, upon an iron or
other metal frame. The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they
occur.
a, a, is the wood rail or framing forming the and or side of the mattress, and is
cut in section near to one of the fixings or sets of apparatus, in each view. a¹, a¹,
is the same in a metal frame or rail. These rails or frames may be either separate

page_text: from the ordinary bed frame, so as to form an independent or portable mattress,
or they may be the end or side rails of the bed framing proper, in which case the
mattress becomes part and parcel of the bed frame. b, b, is a straight lever,
attached at one end to the strips of metal, 61 61, or other substance forming the
surface of the mattress, and at the other end to the spring c, c. The spring may
be attached to a peg or screw, or in any other way to the rail a, a, and, in the case
of the metal angle bars, to the fixing d, d, or they may be connected to the other
end or side by means of long rods underneath. e, e, is a pulley, and the spring is
passed downwards in this case instead of underneath. f. f, is a bell-crank lever,
arranged in a similar manner.
Although the six figures shew different mechanical forms of carrying out the
invention, many variations may be made in the details without departing from the
peculiar character of the invention, and although ordinary spiral springs formed of
wire are shewn, other kinds of springs may be employed, provided they are fitted
underneath or at the outside as indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The construction of spring mattresses, whether separate or in connection with
the ordinary. bed frame, in such manner that the springs for the same, are
caused to pass downwards or underneath the framing substantially as shewn and
described.