the Sectional Forms of Rails or Rods for such Ornamentation.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
the Sectional Forms of Rails or Rods for such Ornamentation.
We, WILLIAM HENRY SPROSTON, SAMUEL SPROSTON, and CHARLES SPROSTON,
all of Wellington Road, Dudley, in the county of Worcester, Manufacturers do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of the rails and rods used in the construction
of metallic bedsteads, cots and similar structures, and applicable to such rails or rods
whether horizontal, angular, curved, circular, or upright, and consists in the sectional
form of such rails or rods, and in the covering of part, or the whole of such
sectional forms of rails or rods with plain or ornamental strips or panels.
Hitherto, many methods have been resorted to, having for their object the orna-
mentation of the tubular rails or rods of metallic bedsteads, & either by dealing
with single tubes; or by grouping two or more tubes together; but in this our
invention we form a solid section, or what would be practically a solid section if
made from a tube, into a desired form to receive a plain or ornamental strip or panel.
This solid sectional form would be rolled or drawn, into a strip or rod form, and may
either consist of an approximate oblong sectional shape having a groove, recess, or
channel formed upon the one or both sides of such strip. The depth and width of such
groove, recess, or channel would be regulated by the thickness and width of the plain
or ornamental strip used.
In some instances the section of the strip may be modified, so as to present one or
two surfaces to be covered by the plain or ornamental strip, and having a small
beaded rib, against which the edges of the plain or ornamental strip may rest, or, this
plain or ornamental strip may be upon one side only and the rear or off side of the
sectional strip, ribbed, fluted, or otherwise surfaced.
These ribs, when used would afford protection to the edges of the plain or ornamental
strips, and also give effect in appearance.
The plain or ornamental strips may consist of thin sheet metal, glass, or other
suitable material, and be embossed, engraved, enamelled, painted, or otherwise orna-
mented, generally however we should prefer to form such strips, by passing the strips
of sheet metal, through rolls upon which the pattern or design of ornamentation is
made, or, through plain rolls together with a steel engraved plate upon which the said
pattern or design is produced.

page_text: These plain or ornamental strips would be secured in their position by screws, rivets,
or other convenient method, but generally we should prefer the following: At certain
intervals (in a long unbroken rail or rod) we should place screws, or screw holes, for
nuts or pins, and also, for instance at the junction where one rod or rail joins or
crosses another rail or rod, we should secure the said sectional strips, by means of a
cast chill" similar as at present and have in its centre a screw-pin.
The plain or
ornamental strips would then be placed in their grooves with their ends extending
within the circle or shape of the chill, when a chill mount would be secured to the
said chill, covering and securing the ends of the plain or ornamental strips in their
respective places; or, the one end of such strips may pass under a recess at the one
end, and he secured similarly as before described, at the other end.
Dated this 15th day of June 1887.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
4, Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in the Ornamentation of Metallic Bedsteads and in
the Sectional Forms of Rails or Rods for such Ornamentation.
We WILLIAM HENRY SPROSTON, SAMUEL SPROSTON, and CHARLES SPROSTON, all
of Wellington Road, Dudley, in the county of Worcester, Manufacturers, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of the rails and rods used in the construc-
tion of metallic bedsteads, cots and similar structures, and is applicable to such rails or
rods whether horizontal, angular, curved, circular, or upright, and consists in the
sectional form of such iron rails or rods, and also in the covering of part, or the
whole of the fronts of such sectional forms of rails or rods, with plain or ornamental
strips or panels.
Hitherto, many methods have been resorted to, having for their object the orna-
mentation of the tubular rails or rods of metallic bedsteads, and either by dealing with
single tubes; or by grouping two or more tubes together; but in this our invention
we form a solid section, into a desired form to receive a plain or ornamental strip or
panel.
This solid sectional form would be rolled or drawn, into a strip or rod form, and
may either consist of an approximate oblong, flat, sectional shape having a groove,
recess or channel formed upon the one or both sides of such strip.
The depth and width of such groove, recess, or channel would be regulated by the
thickness and width of the plain or ornamental strip used.
In some instances the section of the strip may be modified, so as to present one or
two surfaces to be covered by the plain or ornamental strip, and having a small
beaded rib, against which the edges of the plain or ornamental strip may rest, or, this
plain or ornamental strip may be upon one side only and the rear or off side of the
sectional strip, ribbed, fluted, or otherwise surfaced.
These ribs, or beads would afford protection to the edges of the plain or ornamental
strips, and also give effect in appearance.
The plain or ornamental strips may consist of thin sheet metal, glass, or other
suitable material, and be embossed, engraved, enamelled, painted, or otherwise orna-
mented, generally however we should prefer to form such strips, by passing the strips
of sheet metal, through rolls upon which the pattern or design of ornamentation is
made: or, through plain rolls together with a steel engraved plate upon which the
said pattern or design is produced.
These plain or ornamental strips would be secured in their position by screws, rivets,
or other convenient method, but generally we should prefer the following
-
At certain intervals, (in a long unbroken rail or rod) we should place screws, or
screw holes, for nuts or pins, and also for instance at the junction where one rod or
rail joins or crosses another rail or rod, we should secure the said sectional strips, by

page_text: means of a cast chill similar as at present, and have in its centre a screw pin. The
plain or ornamental strips would then be placed in their grooves, with their ends
extending within the circle or other shape of the chill, when a chill mount would be
secured to the said chill, covering and securing the ends of the plain or ornamental
strips in their respective places, or the one end of such strips may pass under a recess 5
at the one end, and be secured similarly as before described, at the other end.
Having now described the nature of this our said invention we will proceed to more
fully explain how it may be performed having reference to the accompanying illustra-
tive sheets of drawings upon which are figures and letters of reference similar letters
referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part and upon which
Fig. 1 represents in end section and side elevation a solid channel strip according
to our invention.
Fig. 2 shows the strip Fig. 1 with an ornamental strip or panel attached thereto.
Fig. 3 shews a back and front channeled section of solid strip.
Fig. 4 shews a double one side strip section.
Fig. 5 illustrates a modified section having a bead or rib to receive the outer edge
of the modified form of ornamental strip or strips e, or e¹ shewn in same Figure.
Fig. 6 represents another modified section of strip.
Fig. 7 shews one method of fastening an ornamental strip.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of chill, securing the ends of the solid strips, with part of the
covering brass mount removed.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 8 upon line A-B.
Fig. 10 is a modified form of chill fastening without mount.
Fig. 11 is a section of Fig. 10 upon line C-D.
Fig. 12 illustrates how this our invention may be applied to a bedstead &c.
Fig. 1 shews a simple solid sectional form of strip a, according to our invention
which may be rolled or drawn, having a channel surface b, upon its one side, and
beads c upon each side of such channel, which solid sectional form may however be
varied as for instance in Fig. 3 we may provide two such channels 6 & 6¹ while again
in Fig. 4 such two or more channels may be upon the one side.
These iron rails or rods, are held or secured in their relative positions to form the
structure, by means of "cast chills" similar as seen at d in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12.
The strips a, would be laid in a chill mould, and the molten metal run into such
mould, thereby securing them in any arranged position. Figs. 8 & 10 shew three
such strips connected to the chill d, which of course may be increased or decreased in
number, also the form and design of the chill itself may be varied to harmonize with
the general design of the bedstead &c.
This channel or channels is now ornamented more or less by a strip e, consisting of
thin sheet metal, glass, transfer, compressed paper or other suitable material, which
may be embossed, engraved, enamelled painted or otherwise ornamented.
Generally we should use thin ornamented strips of brass more or less figured, em-
bossed, or engraved, or such strips may be of inferior metal such as iron or tin, figured
or otherwise ornamented.
These strips would be secured in their channels in a manner suited to their material,
as for instance when consisting of metal they may be secured at intervals in their
length by screws similar as shewn in Fig. 7, or instead of or in addition to such
screws, we may cover the chill d, with a mount fas seen in Figs. 8 & 9. In this case
the ends of the ornamental strips e, extend underneath the said mount f, which said
mount is secured by the screw nut g.
Instead however of having the mount we may make the chill ornamental in its
design or in addition thereto further ornament its surface by painting, transfers, &c.
and so dispense with the mount f, as seen in Figs. 10 & 11. The ends of the strips e
would in this case be made to butt against, or pass into a slight recess in the chill.
One or more strips of ornamentation may be provided according to taste or design
upon the channels described in Figs. 3 & 4 &c., according to the section of rod
By these means we are enabled to produce improved artistic and effective designs
used.

page_text: in the manufacture of bedsteads, cots or other similar structures, in a simple and
inexpensive manner, and with a minimum amount of material; the flat section forms
presenting a larger amount of ornamentation to view than is ordinarily the case, while
it further permits of a large variety in such ornamentation.
In Fig. 12 we illustrate how it may be applied to a bedstead end, such rods and
rails however may be rearranged to suit other designs, being vertically, horizontally,
angular curved, or circular, according to such designs.
We are aware that plain and ornamented metal strips or panels have been used in
combination with surfaces prepared upon one or more tubes, and therefore we do not
claim the plain or ornamental strips or panels broadly, but :—
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1st. Making the upright, horizontal, angular, or curved rods and rails of a solid
rolled flat section, having a channel or channels formed thercon, to receive ornamenta-
tion, and in some cases further provided with beads or projections for protecting the
edges of the metallic ornamental strips, the said rails or rods being secured by means
of cast chills, after the manner hereindescribed and illustrated.
2nd. In the rails or rods of bedsteads, cots &c., the combination either of the
rolled solid flat sections, or similar sections of iron, with ornamental strips or panels
or other similar ornamentation, substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of March 1888.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Applicants' Agent.