IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND MATTRESSES."
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Clarke, of Apsley Cross, in the
County of Somerset, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND MATTRESSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Clarke
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st October 1867.
I, THOMAS EDWARD CLARKE, of Apsley Cross, in the County of Somerset,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND MATTRESSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction of bedstead
which will avoid the necessity for the use of a stuffed or spring mattress, and
yet afford all the elasticity required therefrom. The bedstead proper consists
of two side frames composed each of a longitudinal or side bar fitted at its
ends to a bead and foot post; these side frames are connected together at
suitable distances apart (according to the width of bedstead required) by
means of transverse screw rods which have their bearings in the head and
foot posts respectively. The longitudinal or side bars are chamfered off at
their top faces towards the inner sides, and they are intended to receive a
sacking composed of an endless web of cocoa-nut matting or other strong
fabric of a width corresponding to the length of the mattress required, and to

page_text: bold the same at tension. The screw rods are fitted with a shoulder which
bears against the inner side of one post, and with a squared nut which fits
into a square socket formed in the inner side of the opposite post. By fitting
a key to the squared end of the rod and turning it the sacking may be
slackened or brought to tension at pleasure. A head and foot board slipped
endwise into vertical slots cut in the posts completes the bedstead. By
forming the side bars with square ends to receive the transverse rods I form
with the endless web of cocoa-nut matting or other strong fabric a frame
mattress applicable to bedsteads of any of the ordinary-constructions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filert
by the said Thomas Edward Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDWARD CLARKE, of Apsley Cross, in the County of Somerset, Gentleman,
send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Edward Clarke, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Edward
Clarke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Edward Clarke, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND MATTRESSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Thomas Edward Clarke, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Edward Clarke, do bereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: Tollowing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction of bedstead,
which will avoid the necessity for the use of a stuffed or spring mattress, and
yet afford all the elasticity required therefrom.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn the improved bedstead
constructed chiefly of wood, but other materials may be employed for the
posts and head and foot boards.
:
Fig. 1 shews the bedstead in side elevation, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section.
The bedstead proper consists of two side frames composed each of a
longitudinal or side bar A fitted at its opposite ends to a head post B and a foot
post C. These side frames are connected together at suitable distances apart
(according to the width of bedstead required) by means of transverse screw
rods D, D, which bave their bearings in the head and foot posts respectively.
The longitudinal or side bars are chamfered off at their top faces towards the
inner sides, as shewn in the section Fig. 3, for the purpose to be presently
explained, and they are intended to receive a sacking composed of one or
more endless webs of cocoa-nut matting or other strong fabric E, E, and hold
the same at tension. The total width of the webs will depend upon the length
of the bedstead to which they are fitted. The rods D are made by preference
of round rolled iron, and they are fitted near one end with a shoulder a, which
bears against the inner side of one post. The other end of the rods is screwed
for any required length to receive a squared nut b, which fits into a square
socket formed in the inner side of the opposite post, and is provided with a
shoulder corresponding to the shoulder a. The screwed end of the rod ter-
minates in a squared head. By applying a key to the squared heads of the
rods and thus turning them in their bearings the shoulders of the rods and of
the nuts will be caused to bear against the inner faces of the head and foot
posts, and by thus forcing the side frames further apart the sacking may be
brought to any desired degree of tension. The reverse effect will be produced
by turning the rods in the reverse direction. By reason of the side bars A
being chamfered, as shewn at Fig. 3, the elasticity of the webbing will be
preserved for the full width of the bedstead, the webbing admitting of con-
siderable depression without resting upon the face of the side bars. The head
and foot boards F and G are slipped endwise into vertical slots cut in the
posts, and thus complete the construction of the bedstead.
The Invention relates, secondly, to the construction of mattresses for
reclining on or against irrespective of the means that may be employed for

page_text: In
their support. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate this part of the Invention, where
Figure 4 is a side view of the mattress, and Figure 5 an end view of the same.
It will be seen by comparing these Figures with Figures 1 and 8 that the side
bars A, A, of the bedstead are used to make the sides of the mattress.
this case however the side bars are made with square ends to receive the
transverse screw rods which form the ends of a rectangular frame. The
endless webs of cocoa-nut matting or other strong fabric E, E, are laid over
the chamfered side bars, and tension is applied to the fabric by turning the
screw rods. In this way mattresses applicable to bedsteads of any of the
ordinary constructions, and also elastic seating and backs for lounging benches
and for railway carriages, may be provided at a very small cost compared to
horsehair or spring stuffing. Moreover after long use the elasticity of the
seating or backing may be restored by simply tightening up the screw
rods D.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Bedsteads and Mattresses," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. Constructing bedsteads so that they shall be capable of extension
horizontally, in the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
And, secondly. Constructing mattresses or elastic surfaces in the manner
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Clarke, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousaud eight hundred and sixty-eight.
THO CLARKE
THO E CLARKE
(1.0.)