IMPROVEMENTS IN BED BOTTOMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of < IMPROVEMENTS IN BED BOTTOMS."-A communication
from abroad.by James Darius Frary, of New Britain, County of
Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 31st January 1873, and dated the 2nd August 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas
Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd August 1872.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BED BOTTOMS," a
communication to me from abroad by James Darius Frary, of New
Britain, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of
America, to be as follows:
-
This Invention relates to an improvement in spring bed bottoms, the
object being the construction of a bed in which that part in the

page_text: immediate vicinity of the person will vield and conform to the body
of the person; and it consists in a network formed of longitudinal and
transverse links attached at the head and foot to springs, which said
springs, whose action is longitudinal, are secured to the frame.
of the person; and it consists in a network formed of longitudinal and
transverse links attached at the head and foot to springs, which said
springs, whose action is longitudinal, are secured to the frame.
In the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings,-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bed complete;
"
2 is a side view ;
3 is a diagram of one end, full size.
"
And in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8, are shown modifications of construction.
A represents the transverse bar at the head, and B the corresponding
bar at the foot. To these bars are attached springs C, by preference
spiral springs, the action of which is longitudinal with the bed bottom.
From these springs at one end and longitudinally from the springs at
the other end extend a succession of links D. These links are by
preference connected together by a ring E, but may be united by other
suitable connection. Transversely to these other links F are arranged,
connecting these longitudinal links at different points, as (denoted in
Fig. 1. The links F are a little longer than the distance between their
connections, which allows one of the longitudinal line of links to be
depressed somewhat before the said transverse links will come to a bearing
in their next adjoining connections, therefore when one of the longi-
tudinal lines of links is depressed the next are not affected until the
depression has been sufficient to bring the links to a bearing, and it
can scarcely occur that the depression should be so great at one point
as to bring all the transverse links to a bearing. These links F, while
preferably made of sufficient length to extend from one ring to another,
as seen in Fig. 3, may be made in the form of chains or numerous links.
At the sides no connection is made with the frame, the whole length
being left free from end to end. The result of this construction is that
a person lying upon one part of the bed the bottom will yield to
conform to the body without being affected or scarcely moved at any
other part, thus a person lying upon one side of the bed, and another
person moving upon the opposite side does not necessarily move the bed
beneath or disturb the other person. As an auxiliary spring to the
spring before mentioned, there can be arranged intermediate springs S
with a triangular link T, T, extending from the said springs S to the
connection between the second links or at any other point. These
springs, while acting as auxiliary to the other springs, also aid in

page_text: facilitating the object of this Invention, for suppose (see Fig. 3) the
weight to be directly over the point E³, and that point depressed, this
will take upon the spring in that longitudinal line, and through the
arm of the link which connects that point to the intermediate springs S
will draw upon these intermediate springs, and as these links are drawn
tight the spring will yield, allowing the links to approach each other
as denoted in broken lines, the connection with the other arm forming
as it were a pivot upon which they swing. While it is preferable to
attach a single spring to each longitudinal line of springs it will be
evident that one stronger spring may be connected to two lines.
To construct the frame so that the bed may be packed into small
compas and at the same time be sufficiently strong, at each end of the
two sides L, L, I form a seat or socket a to receive the bars A, B, the said
seat constructed with a flange or upward projection d upon the inside
of the said bars B and against which they bear to resist the strain of the
springs, this flange extending nearly to the top of the bar as seen in
Fig. 2, and when in position on the bedstead the strain of the springs
will hold them in place. As a matter of convenience for removal the
flanges may be secured to the bars A, B, by a screw, or otherwise,
therefore to pack the bedstead for transportation or storage the bars A.
may be easily taken from the bars L, and folded together or rolled with
the bed bottom, and which with the bars L may thus be arranged in
a very compact form.
Instead of combining the links as herein described, one set or four
of the links and their rings may be made in one and the same piece as
seen in Figs. 4, 5, & 6. The four sides A form a single section, and
these sides may be in any desired relative position to each other, by
preference that of a diamond form, as seen in Fig. 4. Upon opposite
ends a hook B is formed, and upon one side a similar hook C. In this
form the section is moulded and cast of a malleable material, or made
malleable after casting, so that the hooks may be turned one-fourth
over, that is, turned down as denoted in Fig. 6. These sections are then
attached together, the hook at one end intersecting a corresponding
hook upon the end of the next section, and the hook on the side taking
the hook of the next section, as seen in Fig. 6. For the edges I prefer
uniting with the other
to make a triangular link, as seen in Fig. 5,
sections in the manner described, and as seen in Fig. 6. It is not
essential that a hook be formed upon each end, as the hook of one end

page_text: may take into the end of the next section in like manner as described
for the side, also if preferred, a hook may be formed upon each side
instead of one side, as described. Or the four links may be formed,
from a single piece of wire bent, as seen in Figs. 7 & 8, the two ends
meeting and bent into a hook form to take hold of the next link, and so
on transversely, a ring or link may clasp two sections, as in the first-
described construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lanc, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BED BOTTOMS," a communication to me from abroad by
James Darius Frary, of New Britain, County of Hartford, State of
Connecticut, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 Sheet of Drawings
(that is to say);-
This Invention relates to improvements in spring bed bottoms, the
object being the construction of a bed in which that part in the imme-
diate vicinity of the person will yield and conform to the body of the
person, and it consists in a network formed of longitudinal and transverse
links attached at the head and foot to springs, which said springs, whose
action is longitudinal, are secured to the frame.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bed complete ;
دو
"
2, a side view;
3, a diagram of one end full size.
And in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 are shewn modifications of construction.
A represents the transverse bar at the head, and B, the corresponding
bar at the foot. To these bars are attached springs C, by preference
spiral springs, the action of which is longitudinal with the bed bottom.
From these springs at one end and longitudinally from the springs at
the other end extend a succession of links D. These links are, by
preference, connected together by a ring E, but may be united by other
suitable connection. Transversely to these other links F are arranged,
connecting these longitudinal links at different points, as denoted in
Fig. 1. The links F are a little longer than the distance between their
connections, which allows one of the longitudinal line of links to be
depressed somewhat before the said transverse links will come to a
bearing in their next adjoining connections, therefore when one of the
longitudinal lines of links is depressed the next are not affected until
the depression has been sufficient to bring the links to a bearing, and it
can scarcely occur that the depression should be so great at one point
as to bring all the transverse links to a bearing. These links F, while
preferably made of sufficient length to extend from one ring to another,
as seen in Fig. 3, may be made in the form of chains or numerous links.
At the sides no connection is made with the frame, the whole length
being left free from end to end.
The result of this construction is, that a person lying upon one part
of the bed the bottom will yield to conform to the body without being
affected or scarcely moved at any other part, thus a person lying upon

page_text: one side of the bed, and another person moving upon the opposite side
does not necessarily move the bed beneath or disturb the other person.
As an auxiliary spring to the spring before mentioned there is arranged
intermediate springs S. with a triangular link T, T, extending from the
said springs S to the connection between the second links, or at any
other point. These springs while acting as auxiliary to the other springs
also aid in facilitating the object of this Invention; for suppose (see
Fig. 3) the weight to be directly over the point E', and that point
depressed, this will take upon the spring in that longitudinal line and
through the arm of the link which connects that point to the inter-
mediate springs S will draw upon these intermediate springs, and as
these links are drawn tight the spring will yield, allowing the links to
approach each other, as denoted in broken lines, the connection with the
other arm forming as it were a pivot upon which they swing. While it
is preferable to attach a single spring to each longitudinal line of springs
it will be evident that one stronger spring may be connected to two
lines.
To construct the frame so that the bed may be packed into small
compass, and at the same time be sufficiently strong, at each end of
the two sides L, L, is formed a seat or socket a to receive the bars A, B,
the said seat constructed with a flange or upward projection d upon the
inside of the said bars B, and against which they bear to resist the strain
of the springs, this flange extending nearly to the top of the bar, as seen
in Fig. 2, and when in position on the bedstead the strain of the springs
will hold them in place. As a matter of convenience for removal the
flanges may be secured to the bars A, B, by'a screw or otherwise,
therefore to pack the bedstead for transportation or storage the bars A
may be easily taken from the base L and folded together, or rolled with
the bed bottom, and which with the bars L may thus be arranged in
a very compact form. Instead of combining the links as herein-before
described, one set or four of the links and their rings may be made in
one and the same piece, as seen in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The four sides A
form a single section, and these sides may be in any desired relative
position to each other, by preference that of a diamond form, as seen in
Fig. 4. Upon opposite ends a hook B is formed, and upon one side a
similar hook C. In this form the section is moulded and cast of a
malleable material, or made malleable after casting, so that the hooks.
may be turned one-fourth over, that is, turned down as denoted in
Fig. 6.
These sections are then attached together, the hook at one

page_text: end intersecting a corresponding hook upon the end of the next section.
and the hook on the side taking the hook of the next section, as seen in
Fig. 6. For the edges I prefer to make a triangular link, as seen in
Fig. 5, uniting with the other sections in the manner described, and as
seen in Fig. 6. It is not essential that a hook be formed upon each end,
as the hook of one end may take into the end of the next section in like
manner as described for the side; also if preferred a hook may be formed
upon each side instead of one side, as described. Or the four links may
be formed from a single piece of wire, bent as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, the
two ends meeting 'and bent into a hook form to take hold of the next
link, and so on transversely a ring or link may clasp two sections as in
the first described construction.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Inven-
tion, I claim,
First. The springs C, C, attached to transverse bars A, and combined
with a succession of longitudinal links D, D, and transverse links E, E,
substantially as described.
Second. In combination with the subject matter of the first clause of
claim, I claim the auxiliary springs S and their triangular links T, T,
substantially as specified.
Third. In a frame for a bed bottom, consisting of the transverse
bars A, B, and longitudinal bars L, L, I claim the seat or socket a, d,
by which the said transverse bars are attached to the longitudinal bars,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The sections or links for a bed bottom, as described, formed
from cast metal, and each provided with means for 'attachment to the
adjoining sections in the manner specified.
Fifth. The sections or links for a bed bottom formed from a single
piece of wire substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.