CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN METALLIC SPRING LATHS FOR BEDSTEADS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ALL KINDS OF SPRING SEATING AS APPLIED TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRAM CARS, AND OTHER LIKE DESCRIPTION OF FURNITURE." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Samuel Phillip Wood, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METALLIC SPRING LATHS FOR BEDSTEADS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
ALL KINDS OF SPRING SEATING AS APPLIED TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRAM
CARS, AND OTHER LIKE DESCRIPTION OF FURNITURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Charles Samuel Phillip
Wood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July
1878.
1. CHARLES SAMUEL PHILLIP WOOD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SPRING LATHS FOR BED-
STEADS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ALL KINDS OF SPRING SEATING AS APPLIED TO
RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRAM CARS, AND OTHER LIKE DESCRIPTION OF FURNI-
TURE."
Metallic bedsteads as now made are generally fitted with a certain number of
laths consisting of single pieces of strip or hoop iron rigidly fixed in their respective
positions, and although affording a very trifling amount of elasticity, the bedstead
when in use is necessarily supplemented by a spring mattress, to give the requisite
elasticity before the needful comfort to the sleeper is afforded.
Now the object of my Invention is by my improved spring laths to afford at once
the elasticity which the metallic laths and spring mattress are thus made to give,
and so to reduce in a most material degree the cost of a spring bed.
My improved laths are not each in one continuous length, as customary, but,
according to my Invention, each lath is divided into two, three, or more divisions or
parts; these divisions or parts being joined or attached together by one, two,
or more coiled or cylindrical steel springs respectively, and thus a cheap and
effectual spring mattress is produced, in which all the necessary elasticity is
given.
The Invention as herein described is intended to be applied to bedsteads, but, as
will be evident, it is equally applicable (with some modifications if necessary) to the
other articles of furniture named or referred to in the title.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Samuel Phillip Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th January 1879.
CHARLES SAMUEL PHILLIP WOOD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SPRING LATHS FOR BED-
STEADS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ALL KINDS OF SPRING SEATING AS APPLIED TO
RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRAM CARS, AND OTHER LIKE DESCRIPTION OF FURNI-
TURE."
Metallic bedsteads as now made are generally fitted with a certain number of
laths consisting of single pieces of strip or hoop iron, which are rigid when fixed in
their respective positions, and the bedstead when in use is generally supplemented
by a spring mattress to give the requisite elasticity before the needful comfort to
the sleeper is afforded..
Now the object of my Invention is by my improved spring laths to afford at
once the elasticity which the ordinary laths do not possess, and so to reduce in
a most material degree the cost of a spring bed by rendering a spring mattress
unnecessary.
My improved spring laths may also be applied to iron bedsteads of the.
ordinary construction at present.in use without it being necessary to alter the
bedstead..
My improved laths are not each in one continuous length as customary, but,
according to my Invention, each lath is divided into two, three, or more divisions
or parts, these divisions or parts being joined or attached together by one, two, or
more coiled steel springs respectively, and thus a cheap and effectual spring mattress
is produced in which all the necessary elasticity is given.
The Invention as herein described is intended to be applied to bedsteads, but, as
will be evident it is equally applicable (with some modifications if necessary) to the
other articles of furniture named or referred to in the title.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is a plan of a metallic spring lath constructed according to my Inven-
tion; and Figure 2 is a side view of the same; and Figure 3 is a perspective view
of a bedstead furnished with my improved metallic spring laths.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
a, b, c, are the three parts or divisions of the lath formed of the usual strip or
hoop iron, and d, d, are the coiled springs, such springs & being formed with rings e
at the ends, by which they are joined or connected by means of the couplings f to
the parts a, b, c, of the lath, the whole thus forming a metallic spring lath.
It will be understood that if a number of these spring laths be applied to a
bedstead, as shewn in Figure 3, they will form a complete elastic spring mattress,
combining comfort, cleanliness, durability, simplicity of construction, portability, and
lightness, with economy.
Although I have only shewn my improved metallic spring laths as applied to a
bedstead, it will be evident that they are equally applicable to many other articles
of furniture such as sofas, easy chairs, spring seating for public rooms, also for the
seats of tram cars and railway carriages.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
laid down and shewn in the Drawing, as, for instance, the number of parts or
divisions of the laths and form of spring employed may be varied, as also may
the method of coupling the spring with the parts of the lath, but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The construction and employment of the improved metallic spring laths
formed in two, three, or more divisions or parts, such divisions or parts being joined

page_text: or attached together by one, two, or more coiled steel spring or springs, as and for
the purposes herein-before described.
Secondly. I claim a bedstead, sofa, couch, or other article of furniture, or seat or
seating having metallic spring laths constructed as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Samuel Phillip Wood, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South Street,
Finsbury.
C. S. P. WOOD. (L.S.)