CERTAIN, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS, PART OF WHICH! IMPROVEMENTS. ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES FOR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC USE
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Milner, of 13, Hollen Street, Wourdour Street,
Saint Ann's, Westminster, Middlesex, for the Invention of " CERTAIN,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS, PART OF WHICH!
IMPROVEMENTS. ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES FOR COMMERCIAL
AND DOMESTIC USE."
Sealed the 25th April 1856, and dated the 1st November 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Milner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1855.
I, GEORGE MILNER, of 13, Hollen Street, Wourdour Street, Sant Ann's,
Westminster, Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS, PART OP
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES FOR COMMERCIAL
AND DOMESTIC USE," to be as follows:-
I take flexible or elastic bandings and lace them in the continuous manner
of trellis or lattice work through metallic eyes or other suitable fittings attached
to bedsteads or other frames, terminating and fastening the said bandings in
double-mouthed buckles. I also lace the flexible banding in a similar manner,
and for the same purposes in combination with india-rubber links, terminating

page_text: Drawing Fig. I is a section of wooden bedstead frame w, and Drawings
Figs. 2 & 3 are sections of metallic bedstead frames M, M; to each of these
sections at F, F, F, is shown attached metallic eyes or other suitable fittings,
over and through which in the direction of dotted lines B, B, B, bandings
can pass.
Drawing Fig. 4 is a metal eye or loop L, through which in opposite direc-
tions two stout bandings can pass by following dotted lines B, B. (N.B. This
metal eye or loop is only required in very large bedstead frames to halve the
lacing & make it more easy to tighten up.)
Drawing Fig. 5 is a transverse view of a bedstead frame 6 foot 6 inches'
long, and 4 foot 6 inches wide, drawn to a scale of one inch to a foot; on this
frame at points F, F, F, are attached, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. (see
Drawings), metallic eyes or other suitable fittings, 28: in number, 8 on each
side, and 6 at each end, placed at equal distances apart. from each other, and
from the inner corners, of the bedstead frames one-half the distance they are.
from each other, and can be varied to suit bedsteads of different sizes. Up.
the centre of this bedstead frame are placed 8 of the metal eyes or loops
shown in Fig. 4.
Now, I take flexible or elastic banding, and lace it through the metallic
eyes or other. suitable fittings attached to the 'frame of bedstead Fig. 5,. on
the one side, and through the metal eyes or loops placed up the centre,
and lace it through in the continuous manner of trellis or lattic work, by
commencing at point F, A, and following the order of the Figures 1, 2, & 3,
up to 22, and at Z, terminating and fastening the ends of the said banding
in a double-mouthed buckle provided for that purpose, and which buckle
resembles two common brace buckles joined together (see Drawing Fig. 6);
through each end of this buckle, the banding can be tightened up, and when
required to unlace the bottom can be removed.
Drawing Fig. 7 represents an india-rubber link with a metal eye or loop
attached to each end. His the india-rubber link; L, L, are metal eyes
or loops, while dotted lines B, B, shew the banding passing through the said
eyes or loops.

page_text: Drawing Fig. 8 is a transverse view of a bedstead frame the same as
Fig. 5, drawn to shew the manner of lacing the said flexible banding in
combination with india-rubber links. (see Drawing Fig. 7); on this frame, at
points F, F, are attached, as shown in Drawing Figs. 1 & 2, metallic eyes. or
other suitable fittings, 28 in number, namely 9 on each side, and 5 at each end,
placed at equal distances from each other, and from the inner corners of the
bedstead frame, one-half the distance they are from each other; now, through
the metallic eyes or other suitable fittings attached to the bedstead frame, and
through the metallic eyes or loops. attached to the ends of the india-rubber
links Fig. 7, the said banding is laced in a continuous manner, commencing
at F, A, and following the Figures. 1, 2, 3, up to 109 Z, there terminating and
fastening the ends; of the said banding in the double-mouthed buckle already.
described..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Milner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MILNER, of 13, Hollen Street, Wourdour Street, Saint Ann's, Westminster,
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did; for herself,, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the
said George Milner, Her special licence, that I, the said George Milner; my
executors, administrators; and, assigns, or such others as I,. the said George'
Milner, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BEDSTEAD BOTTOMS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO VARIOUS. OTHER. PURPOSES: FOR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC USE," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said George Milner, 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

page_text: 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 George Milner, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
I claim the application of flexible or elastic bands interlaced in the con-
tinuous manner of trellis or lattice work, separately or connected with links
of india-rubber, to bedsteads and other frames and fixtures for the purposes of
repose and rest, in the manner herein-after to be described.
This Invention originates in the discovery that a flexible band can be laced
in a continuous length to square or oblong frames, by passing the ends of the
band through a number of eyes systematically arranged on the said frames,
and the two ends of the band made fast in a double-mouthed buckle, and a
band so laced and fastened, possesses some valuable qualities for the purposes
to which I apply it; among these valuable qualities I may enumerate the
following:- Cleanliness of attachment, shifting the wearing parts, easily
repaired or renewed, permanently perfect in its action and elastic effect.
I will now describe the best manner of carrying this Invention into practice,
and which I have found to answer its intended purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Drawing Figure 1 is a transverse view of an iron bedstead frame, four feet
six inches wide by six fect six inches long (outside measure, scale one inch to
the foot); on each side of this frame are attached eight fittings placed at equal
distances from each other, and one-half the distance they are apart from each
other from the corners or inner angles of the bedstead frame, and whether
these fittings are placed close together or wide apart, they must always be one-
half the distance they are apart from the inner corners of the bedstead, frame,
to ensure the band lacing in parallel lines. These fittings are made of wire,
size No. 8, tinned iron wire by preference, for the prevention of rust. The
wire is bent to follow the angle of the bedstead frame, and is attached by
pressing the ends into the holes made, in the frame to receive them; these
fittings must be a little wider than the band used, and must project a little
distance from the inner edge of the bedstead frame to form a kind of eye, over
and through which the band can pass freely. Figure 2 is a section of the iron
bedstead frame, and F is the fitting shown attached to it; or any.other mode
of attaching this fitting may be adopted (as in Drawings, Figure 11).
I next lace the band through the projections of the fittings attached to the

page_text: frame of the bedstead, Drawing Figure 1, by commencing at A, No. 1 Drawing,
Figure 1, and following the direction of the arrow in the order of the Figures
2, 3, 4, and so on, till I arrive at B, where I introduce the double-mouth buckle
shown in Drawing Figure 4, through which I pass the ends of the band, and
draw it up tight; care must be taken in lacing this band to pass it under and
over alternately. in the manner of basket-work or what is called interlacing it;
should the band at any time become slackened, it may be tightened by
straining the band from fitting to fitting, and passing the superfluous length
through the buckle. (I claim this method of lacing and interlacing, as being
novel for this purpose.)
The parallel lines P, P, Drawing Fig. 1, are drawn to shew that the only
difference required in narrow bedsteads is less fittings at each end. In very
large size bedsteads, where it may be very desirable to gain great additional
power of tightening up, I show a plan Figure 2 (which is a section of Figure 1
detached for illustration), of gaining great additional power of tightening up.
At the intersections A, C, E, of the band Fig. 2, I place metallic eyes, shaped
as shown in the Drawing K, Figure 2, through which the band passes, and
returns at about an angle of ninety degrees; and at the intersections B, D, F,.
of the band, I place two equilateral triangular metallic eyes, with a bar paral-
leled to, one side of each eye, see Drawing M, over which the band passes and
returns at an angle of about 90 degrees. Now, I think it will be easily.seen
that if three of these triangular eyes are moved in one direction, and three in
the opposite direction, with sufficient force, they will produce a strain on each-
band that passes through them, and communicate this strain to other parts, of
the band; to effect this movement, a line or rope R, R, Figure 2, entwines
and connects these triangular eyes to a projecting metallic eye E, E, Figure 2,
attached to the frame of the bedstead.
To work this contrivance, the rope R is first pulled in the direction of the
arrow, secondly at S, and thirdly at T, and then knotted to the projecting
eye E; the position of this contrivance in Fig. 1, A, B, C, D, E, F, is one line
of intersections removed from the centre line of the band intersections; this is
necessary to preserve the continuous lacing; the manner of lacing the band
when this contrivance is used will be better understood by tracing the band.
on the Drawing than by written description, seeing that the band is one
entire length.
Drawing Fig. 5 represents a frame two feet:wide by six feet three inches
long, with fittings attached and arranged as in Fig. 1, with a band-laced to it
in one continuous length; this will be readily understood by following, the
order of the Figures 1, 2, 3,.up to 22, and at B, making the ends, fast in

page_text: the double-mouth buckle. This frame is about the size allowed in emigrant
vessels for a single passenger's sleeping berth.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of this frame shown resting on blocks Y, Y,
attached to the wood-work W, W, of the ship, so that it can be removed at
any time for cleansing and ventilation; or the band in Figure 6 can be laced
to fittings attached to the wood-work of the ship, and be easily removable for
cleansing and ventilation.
I have now to explain another portion of my Invention, namely, the lacing
a flexible band in combination or connection with links of india-rubber, but
before doing so I will show the construction of the india-rubber links. I take
india-rubber tube of five-eighths of an inch diameter, having a bore of rather
less than a quarter of an inch diameter, and in length about two inches and a
half, and in the bore of this tube I insert two pieces of small quarter zinc
tubing, and cut them off flush with the india-rubber tubing. Now, as a means
of connecting: the india-rubber tubing so prepared with the flexible band, I
take two pieces, of No. 8, tinned iron wire, or other wire, and bend to the forms
A, B, Drawing Fig. 8, so that they will fit in one another, as shown at C,.
Fig. 8., I next, press the ends of the wires X, X, so shaped into one of the zinc,
tubes, inclosed in the, india-rubber tubing Fig. 7. This done, I press the two,
wires together in the manner shewn at, D, Figure 8,, and then, where they touch
at C, C, solder them, together; and I repeat this process with two more pieces;
of wire, and press, the ends X, X, into the second zinc, tube enclosed in the
india-rubber tube already described, and press, the wires, together,, & where
they touch solder, them together at C, C.,
Drawing Fig. 9 shows, the india-rubber link, complete. L is, the india-rubber,,
and dotted lines 0, 0, shew the manner of connecting the band with it..
(I claim this mode of connecting the india-rubber tube or link with the
flexible band as being novel for this purpose.).
Drawing H, Fig. 8,, is, a plan of metallic casting for connecting the, flexible,
band with the india-rubber link or tube L., A pin, K. passes, through a hole,
in each end of this casting, and through one of the zinc tubes enclosed, in the,
india-rubber link or tube L,, and is then, cutt, off flush, at each end and rivetted..
A piece, of the, band is shown connected, with, this casting at dotted lines O,,O..
Drawing Figures, 3,, 4, 7, 8, and 9 are drawn to the scale of two inches.toj the
foot for better illustration.
It shall, now proceed, to, describe Drawing: Fig. 10;, which is a transverse; view
of a, wooden bedstead frame,, four feet six inches wide and six, feet, six inches)
long (scale one inch, to the foot).. On each side of this frame is attached nine
fittings,, and at each, end, five fittings, placed at equal distances apart from each,

page_text: other, and one half that distance from the inner corners or angles of the
frame. The manner of fixing the fittings is shewn in Drawing Fig. 8, which
is a section of a wooden frame, by pressing the ends of the fitting F into
holes bored for that. purpose. To the projecting part of this fitting à pin P
is attached, similar to the tongue of a harness buckle, and dotted lines O, O,
shew a piece of band
of band passing under the fitting and over the pin attached
thereto. If the end of the band J be pulled in the direction of the arrow, the
band will be jammed between the fitting and the pin, but if on the contrary
the end of the band E be pulled, it will move comparatively easy. This
simple contrivance will be found very useful for holding, the band friction-tight
when tightening up.
I now proceed to show the most approved method of arranging the india-
rubber links drawn in Fig. 9, so as with the flexible band to produce an elastic
effect so very desirable for the purposes of repose and rest.
In Drawing Fig. 10, from the fittings A, B, C, D, on one side of the bed-
stead frame to the corresponding fittings on the opposite side of the frame, I
strain a cord or line; and from E, F, G, H, between each fitting at one end of
the frame to corresponding points at the other end of the frame, I also strain
a cord or line. At each intersection of these lines I temporarily fasten one of
the india-rubber links drawn in Fig. 9, and on the middle lines Y, Y, I place
two metallic eyes, the same as described at K, Fig. 2. I now commence to
lace and interlace the band to the fittings and to the india-rubber links by
beginning at the fitting D marked No. 1, and following the order of the Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, and so on throughout, until I come to the fitting No. 64, between
which and fitting No. 1 I introduce the double-mouth buckle, shown in
Drawing Fig. 4, through which I pass out the superfluous length of the
band. Should the band become slack any time, it can be tightened up, and the
superfluous length of the band passed out and through the buckle, as already
described.
Though one buckle is all that is necessary to make the end of this continuous
band fast, I should recommend the band to be cut at Z, Drawing Fig. 10, and
a second buckle introduced to simplify the tightening up. This mode of lacing
and interlacing a band, as described in Drawing Fig. 10, in connection with
links of india-rubber, more or less, I distinctly claim as being a novel con-
trivance for the purposes of repose and rest.
In reference to the band mentioned in the description of this Invention,
I may say that a band made of any material sufficiently strong and flexible
may be used; but a band used extensively by upholsterers, and known as

page_text: chair webb, is suitable for this purpose, and cheap. The size and quality
No. 12 is preferable.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Milner, have hereunto set my
hand' and' seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six:
Witness,
GEORGE WHITAKER,
41, Hasting Street, Judd St.,
this 30th April 1856.
GEORGE MILNER. (L.S.)