Improvements in and connected with Metallic Web or Meshwork Mattresses, applicable to Bedsteads, Bottoms of Sofas, Cushions, Seats, and other analogous Furniture.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Metallic Web or Meshwork
Mattresses, applicable to Bedsteads, Bottoms of Sofas, Cushions,
Seats, and other analogous Furniture.
We, EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON, Mattress Manufacturer, and JOHN
HOLDING, Mechanic, both of .2, Cambridge Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
In and for the purposes of this Specification, the word "mattress" is used to.
mean mattresses of, or for, bedsteads, bottoms of sofas, seats, berths, cushions, and
other like parts of furniture.
19
This invention has reference to that class of mattresses which are generally
termed woven wire mattresses, "chain or "spring mattresses," and the like; that
is to say, mattresses in which the web or meshwork consists of woven wire, woven
wire and springs, chain and springs, or other suitable metallic meshwork; such
mattresses being either constructed in the form of separate things for use in or
applicable to, or as integral parts of, bedsteads, berths, sofas, cushions, seats, and so
forth.
It is to be understood herein, that where we use the word mattress, it is intended
to include the whole article, that is, the web, meshwork, or supporting material, the
end members to which such end members is attached or connected, and the side
members of course in the case of a simple mattress these side members would rest,
when in use, upon the bedstead, berth, seat, cushion, or other frame, in connection
with which they would be employed; but in a case, in which the mattress forms an
integral part of a bedstead, berth, seat, cushion, or the like, then the side members
are, or may be, adapted to form part of the structure.
According to one arrangement having tubular side members the end members are
fastened to corner caps or brackets having projecting nipples, over which the ends
of the tubes ship and fit, the tube end being provided with extra strength, by an
outside ferrule of suitable metal fitted thereon, or equivalent means. A recess or
slit is formed in the end of each tube and equivalent projections are provided in the
bracket nipple, which two provisions fit into each other and lock the tube in position
relatively to the side members.
These brackets or caps are also provided with recesses adapted to receive and
hold angle or like form of bars, which constitute the end bars of the mattress. The
ends of these bars fit into the said recesses, and may be secured therein, if desired,
by bolts and nuts, or like means. The converse arrangement of the above connec-
tion of the side members and these brackets or caps, consists in providing hollow
projections on the bracket, and adapting the end to fit therein, recesses or slots in
the tube, and corresponding projections in the hollow caps, being provided, to lock
the two in position. The above described is the fixed end of the mattress.
The adjustable ends are constructed with caps through which adjusting screws.
will pass; and also sliding brackets or sleeves are provided and adapted to move to
and fro on the side members, such movement being effected by the above adjusting
screws, which pass through nuts formed upon, or forming part of, said brackets, and
disposed within the tube. These nuts are preferably cast and form part of the
bracket, and are connected thereto by a strip of metal, which strip moves in a slot
in the end part of the tube.
A mattress particularly applicable to ships' berths, or equivalent purposes, and
according to the invention, consists in forming the side members of tubes, and

page_text: providing at the adjustable ends of the mattress, the caps, such caps fitting onto
the ends of the bars; and screws, such as above specified, pass through the
caps, and through nuts disposed and working in the tubes, such nuts being
directly connected to a cross end bar of angle form (or its equivalent), by means
of a strip or neck of metal passing through slots in the tubes. The upper
flange or plate of the end bars stand just above the side tubes, and if an angle
bar be used the vertical flange or plate is cut away to allow said end bar being
brought down close to the side tubes. The fixed end bar is fitted to the end
of the side tubes by projecting nipples attached to the end bar, and over which
the tube ends fit, the locking of the tubes being effected by providing projec-
tions or strips of metal on the bar or the nipple & corresponding recesses in
the tube ends. The metallic web or meshwork is of course connected to the
end bars and spreads from side to side above the side bars.
The herein described caps and brackets may with advantage be combined with
side tubes of elliptical or oval shape. If such a combination be used the bars and
caps or brackets become self-locking, and no special means of fixing them in
position, and preventing their turning, need be employed.
It will be thus seen that in a mattress constructed as above described, rivets,
bolts, or pins may be entirely dispensed with; but if it is desired to fix the parts
more securely together the only ones which need be used are those which connect
the aforesaid brackets or caps to the end bars; hence, not only is a very cheap and
simple construction of mattress provided, but a mattress of such a type can be put
together and taken to pieces in the smallest possible space of time.
In applying the invention to mattresses in which the side members are of angular,
or other like section, the caps and sliding brackets above specified will be adapted
to fit on and over the web of metal in a similar manner to that above specified, but
recesses in the bar and corresponding projections or parts in the brackets or caps
need not of necessity be used.
In cases in which the web or meshwork is of the woven wire, or other equivalent
type, we may employ a material of double thickness, that is to say, two webs, one
above the other. The edge or selvage of the web may be of single thickness, as an
ordinary web, and the double web above specified may be connected to it, or together
at parts where desired: between these webs, we may also use felting, padding,
sheeting, or other material for any desired purpose.
As a modification of the above described fittings, the caps aforesaid, may be
fitted onto, or fixed to, the ends of the side members, and the adjusting screws
arranged above the side members, and disposed within said projecting portions of
the cap or bracket, they being held therein in suitable bearings. For this purpose
the cap or bracket above the side members may be made of hollow construction, the
adjusting nut, through which the adjusting screw passes, being disposed within it.
The nut is guided in the cap or bracket by a neck or strip of metal, arranged or
working in a slot or opening therein; and to or on the neck is fixed or formed a
plate, or other surface, or portion of metal, to which the end bars of the mattress
are, or may be, attached. With this arrangement and construction of fittings, wood
or metal frame bars or members, of any desired shape, may be used.
In the above description certain particular constructions of parts and mattresses
are described, but it is to be understood that the invention may be varied in detail
and construction and arrangement accordingly as circumstances and conditions of
its application may render it necessary or desirable.
Dated this 24th day of February 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Metallic Web or Meshwork
Mattresses, applicable to Bedsteads, Bottoms of Sofas, Cushions,
Seats, and other analogous Furniture.
We, EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON, Mattress Manufacturer, and JOHN
HOLDING, Mechanic, both of 2, Cambridge Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
" is used to
In and for the purpose of this Specification, the word "mattress
mean mattresses of, or for, bedsteads, bottoms of sofas, seats, berths, cushions, and
other like parts of furniture.
"
This invention has reference to that class of mattresses which are generally
termed woven wire mattresses, "chain or "spring mattresses," and the like, that
is to say, mattresses in which the web or meshwork consists of woven wire, woven
wire and springs, chain and springs, or other suitable metallic meshwork; such
mattresses being either constructed in the form of separate things for use in or
applicable to, or as integral parts of, bedsteads, berths, sofas, cushions, seats, and so
forth.
It is to be understood herein, that where we use the word mattress, it is intended
to include the whole article, that is, the web, meshwork, or supporting material, the
end members to which such end members are attached or connected, and the side
members; of course in the case of a simple mattress these side members would rest,
when in use, upon the bedstead, berth, seat, cushion, or other frame, in connection
with which they would be employed, but in a case, in which the mattress forms an
internal part of a bedstead, berth, seat, cushion, or the like, then the side members
are, or may be adapted to form part of the structure.
A recess
According to one arrangement having tubular side members, the end members
are fastened to corner caps or brackets having projecting nipples, over which the
ends of the tubes ship and fit, the tube end being provided with extra strength, by
an outside ferrule of suitable metal fitted thereon or equivalent means.
or slide is formed in the end of each tube and equivalent projections are provided in
the bracket nipple, which two provisions fit into each other and lock the tube in
position relatively to the side members.
These brackets or caps are also provided with recesses adapted to receive and
hold angle or like form of bars, which constitute the end bars of the mattress.
The ends of these bars fit into the said recesses, and may be secured therein, if
desired, by bolts and nuts or like means. The converse arrangement of the above
connection of the side members and these brackets or caps, consists in providing
hollow projections on the bracket, and adapting the end to fit therein, recesses
or slots in the tube, and corresponding projections in the hollow caps, being
provided, to lock the two in position. The above described is the fixed end of the
mattress.
The adjustable ends are constructed with caps through which adjusting screws
will pass; and also sliding brackets or sleeves are provided and adapted to move to
and fro on the side members, such movement being effected by the above adjusting
screws, which pass through nuts formed upon, or forming part of, said brackets,
and disposed within the tube. These nuts are preferably cast and form part of the
bracket, and are connected thereto by a strip of metal, which strip moves in a slot
in the end part of the tube.
A mattress particularly applicable to ships' berths, or equivalent purposes, and
according to the invention, consists in forming the side members of tubes, and
providing at the adjustable ends of the mattress, the caps, such caps fitting onto
the ends of the bars; and screws such as above specified pass through the caps, and

page_text: through nuts disposed and working in the tubes, such nuts being directly connected
to a cross end bar of angle form (or its equivalent) by means of a strip or neck of
metal passing through slots in the tubes. The upper flange or plate of the end
bars stand just above or level with the side tubes, and if an angle bar be used the
vertical flange or plate is cut away to allow said end bar being brought down close
to the side tubes. The fixed end bar is fitted to the end of the side tubes by
projecting nipples attached to such end bar, and over which the tube ends fit, the
locking of the tubes being effected by providing projections or strips of metal on
the bar or the nipple and corresponding recesses in the tube ends. The metallic
web or meshwork is of course connected to the end bars and spreads from side to
side above the side bars.
The herein described caps and brackets may with advantage be combined with
side tubes of elliptical or oval shape. If such a combination be used the bars and
caps or brackets become self-locking, and no special means of fixing them in position,
and preventing their turning, need be employed.
It will be thus seen that in a mattress constructed as above described, rivets,
bolts, or pins may be entirely dispensed with; but if it is desired to fix the
parts more securely together, the only ones which need be used are those which
connect the aforesaid brackets or caps to the end bars, hence, not only is a
very cheap and simple construction of mattress provided, but a mattress of such
a type can be put together, and taken to pieces in the smallest possible space of
time.
In applying the invention to mattresses in which the side members are of angular,
or other like section, the caps and sliding brackets above specified will be adapted
to fit on and over the web of metal in a similar manner to that above specified, but
recesses in the bar and corresponding projections or parts in the brackets or caps
need not of necessity be used.
Examples of apparatus constructed in accordance with the improvements above
generally described are given in the annexed sheets of drawings, and serve to
illustrate the invention.
In Figure 1 of the drawings a general side view of a mattress frame adapted to
be used on ordinary bedsteads, is shewn, and
Figures 2 and 3, and Figures 4 and 5, shew in detail the fixed and adjustable end
brackets, respectively, of the mattress.
Figures 6 and 7 shew in sectional elevation and cross section, a modification.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate in sectional elevation and cross section another
modification.
Figure 10 is a plan-partly in section, Figure 11 is a side elevation, and Figure 12
an end vertical elevation of the fixed and adjustable ends of a mattress especially
useful for ships' berths and analogous uses.
And
Figures 13 and 14 are side elevation and end view, respectively, of a mattress
having angle bar side members according to the invention.
In all the figures, the same letters and figures of reference are used to denote
the same, like, or equivalent parts wherever they occur.
Referring generally to the drawings, a are the side bars of the mattress, e are
the end members, i are the fitments or devices at one end of the frame-namely the
fixed one by which the side bars and one end bar are connected together, whilst i
are those by which the side bars are connected to the other end bar-namely the
adjustable one. o denotes the web of the mattress and u are the adjusting bolts or
screws.
The mattress and parts illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is one in which the side bars
are tubes, and of elliptical form, whilst the end fitments are in the form of brackets
extended downwards in the form of feet adapted to rest on the side bars of a
bedstead it, and upwards to carry the end bars e. In this mattress, bare the
nipples on the fixed brackets i over which the ends of the tubes a fit, and by which
such tubes are at this end supported, whilst the brackets ¹ at the other end are

page_text: provided with analogous hollow bosses or sleeves through which the tubes pass.
On these sleeves is provided-cast-the upwardly projecting nuts c, through and
in which the adjusting bolts u pass and work. The neck of metal which supports
this nut from the lower side of the sleeve, passes through a slot c' in the under side
of the tubes a.
d is a cap, fitting onto the end of the tubes a, and which takes the
longitudinal thrust of the head of the bolts u due to the tension of or put upon the
web o.
The upper extended parts of the brackets i and are those to which the end
bars e are fixed, the means of fixing being the bolts or rivets designated f¹.
In this example, it will be seen, the tubes a being of elliptical shape, they
naturally lock with the nipples and sleeves b, and the brackets cannot therefore
move in relation to the side bars when once put together. But in cases when the
tubes a are round as in the modification shewn in Figures 6 and 7, a projection is
provided on the nipples of the brackets i, and adapted to fit into a corresponding
recess formed in the end of the tubes a.
In Figure 2 we shew the tube a provided at its end with an external ferrule a'.
This ferrule is provided for and serves to strengthen the end of the tubes a and
prevents them from splitting, and is especially of service where mattresses are
subjected to great weights in use. These ferrules may be applied to all tubular side
bars, and may be placed directly on or over the end as shewn, or inside the tube, or
both on the outside and inside.
The modification illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 shews the application of the
arrangements, substantially as in Figures 1 to 5, to a bedstead bottom, that is,
the mattress in this case serves as the bedstead bottom and constitutes an integral
portion of the bedstead frame. In this application the brackets or fitments by
which the end members e are supported from the side bars a, are both of the kind
designated by the reference letter and figure i¹, above, and slide on the outside of
such bars, and are provided internally-that is, the sleeves are provided
internally with nuts c. The upper portion f¹ shewn in these figures consists of
hollow form, the recess being in the form of an inverted L, and is adapted to receive
and hold the angle bar end members e. The side members a in this case fit into
apertures of corresponding shape in the "chills" of the bedstead posts or legs,
and the whole bedstead frame is kept together by the bolts u, which pass through
the chills the portion d thereof serving in lieu of the cap d above specified, the
nuts c of the devices i¹, and the web material or meshwork o. Other forms of side
members than tubes, such as angle bars, may be used in this construction.
In this example the provisions are wedge shaped, and as the tube ends are
drawn up into their sockets in ¹ they are expanded and make a tight and rigid
connection therewith.
In the berth mattress shewn in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the details of construction
are substantially the same as those set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 5, but
the web o is adapted to lie substantially flush with the upper edge of the side
tubes a.
The end bars e are of angular form and the adjustable one is supported
from side bars by brackets ', the outer end of which serves as the nuts c through
which the adjusting bolts u pass, the slot e' in this case being on the inner side of
the tubes. The brackets i, i, are fastened-riveted or bolted to the vertical web
of the angle end bars e, such web being stopped near the tubes a, whilst the upper
web is carried over the upper part of the tubes as shewn.
The fixed end bars e is connected to the side tubes by the brackets i, which are
fixed on the end bar as shewn and are provided with a nipple b. These brackets in
this example are extended at 13 and are provided with a claw or jaw ³ which fits
onto the surface of the tubes. By these provisions the berth frame is rendered rigid
and prevented from getting out of shape.
With reference to Figures 13 and 14, the modification therein shewn consists of
a mattress or bedstead bottom wherein the side bars are angle bars. The fitment
or bracket slides on the bar a through.a. corresponding angle-shaped sleeve b, the

page_text: inner part of which is provided with a nut or screwed portion c adapted to receive
the adjusting bolt u. A cap d is fitted over the end of the bars a to support the
head of the bolts u. The brackets or fitments supporting the fixed end bar or
member are made similarly to the ones just described, but the sleeves or recesses
which receive the end of the angle side bars a are closed at the outer end, such
closing portion taking the thrust of the bars due to the tension of the elastic
supporting web or material. These forms of side bars and brackets or fitments may
be adapted to be used according to the arrangement of parts set forth with reference
to Figures 10, 11 and 12.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is to be understood the
various novel constructions and details may be applied to other forms or con-
structions of mattress or bedstead bottoms than those herein particularly set forth
with reference to the drawings, and that they may be used in different combinations;
and what is claimed in respect of the herein described invention is :-
1. In mattresses of the kind herein referred to, the combination substantially as
set forth of tubular side members, and brackets or fitments i, ¹, by which such
members are connected to the end members of the mattresses.
2. In mattresses of the kind herein referred to the combination substantially as
described of tubular side members a, adjustable fitments adapted to slide thereon,
nuts c, and adjusting bolts n, operating as set forth.
3. In mattresses of the kind herein referred to, brackets or fitments i having
nipples b and provisions 61, in combination with tubular side bars a having a recess
in the end thereof adapted to receive the provision b', as and for the purposes
set forth.
4. In mattresses of the kind herein referred to side bars a consisting of tubes and
having at one end-or both ends-a ferrule a provided thereon, in combination with
nipples or sleeves to which said ends of the tubes are fitted, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
or
5. In a bedstead mattress or bottom of the kind herein referred to, the combina-
tion substantially as described of side members, and bedstead frame "chills"
equivalent provisions adapted to receive the ends of the side members, said parts
being held in position, and the web or meshwork held under tension, by bolts u
passing through said "chills" or equivalent provisions, and through fitments or
brackets adapted to slide on said side bars, and which support the end members of the
mattress which connect the ends of and support the meshwork.
6. In a bedstead mattress or bottom having the main characteristics specified in
the next preceding claim, the combination, substantially as set forth with reference
to Figures and 9, of side members a consisting of tubes, top and bottom end
bedstead frame chills x¹ having a recess therein adapted to receive the ends of said
tubes, fitments or brackets i arranged on the ends of said tubes and sliding thereon,
and having nuts c arranged within the tubes, and holding or adjusting bolts u
passing through said chills a¹ and said nuts c.
7. Å mattress of the kind herein referred to as being especially applicable for
use as ships' berth bottoms, and analogous uses, consisting of tubes as side members,
end bars one of which is adjustable and is provided with brackets or fitments on
its ends having nuts which come within and move in said tubes, and adjusting bolts
passing through the ends of the tubes and said nuts said end bars and fitments
thereon being so arranged in relation to the side tubes that the web or meshwork
which they support lies close to the tubes; substantially as set forth.
8. A mattress of the kind herein referred to especially applicable for use as ships'
berth bottoms, and analogous uses, consisting of the combination of the side
members, end members, and fitments by which side and end members are connected
together, substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings.
9. The several modifications of or connected with mattresses or bed bottoms

page_text: constructed as herein set forth with reference to the various sets of figures of the
drawings.
Dated this 24th day of November 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.