IMPROVEMENTS IN MATTRASSES, PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge-
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MATTRASSES, PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Therèse Amine Petiteau, born Versepuy, of 39,
Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 25th October 1867, and dated the 1st May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st May 1867.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MATTRASSES, PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES," a communication
to me from abroad by Therèse Amine Petiteau, born Versepuy, of 39,
Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to give to pillows, mattrasses, and
analogous articles a rigidity which will permit them to sustain without injury
all the pulling about to which they are subject. This object has been partially
attained by means of an iron or steel rod passing along the entire length of
the cane which forms the frame of the bedding, but experience has shewn
that in certain cases the elasticity of the bedding sufferred therefrom,-it not
being uniformly produced in' every direction.
Taking a mattrass for example, I will now proceed to describe the improve-
ments the subject of this Invention, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing

page_text: hereunto annexed, and forming part of this Provisional Specification, where it
will be seen that within the frame of the mattrass is placed a ring of cane A,
notched or grooved in its outer part at its points of contact a, b, with the
steel frame strengthening rod B, so that this rod enters the notch or groove.
To the two parts of the ring which face the two ends of the mattrass is added
a simple cane rod D, tied to the ring and to the frame by tin clamps c, d, or
by any other suitable fastenings.. It will be understood that this arrangement
is applicable not only to a mattrass but to all articles of an analogous
description.
SPECIFICATION_in_pursuance_of_the_conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Gedge, Her special licence, that J, the said William Edward
Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Gedge, 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 MATTRASSES, PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES," a com-
munication to me from abroad. by Therèse Amine Petiteau, born Versepuy, of
39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my exécutors 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 William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed
and forming part of this Specification, and to the figures and letters of
reference placed thereon :-
The object of this Invention is to give to pillows, mattresses, and analogous
articles a rigidity which will enable them to resist all the pulling about to
which they are in use subjected. This object has been partially attained by
means of an iron or steel rod or plate following in its entire length the cane
which forms the skeleton or frame of the bedding, the said iron or steel rod or
plate being inserted in a suitable groove and held by metal ties, but experience
having proved that in certain cases the elasticity which forms the merit of the
bedding suffered, and was not produced uniformly in every direction, the novel
arrangement of fulcrum or skeleton which I will now proceed to describe bas
been invented.
Taking for example a mattress (as at Fig. 1) a hoop or ring of cane A is
placed within its frame, this ring being notched or grooved on the outside at those
parts which form its points of contact a, b, with the steel plate or rod B with
which the frame is strengthened in such wise that the plate or rod penetrates
into the notch or groove. At the two parts of the ring which face the two
ends of the mattress a simple cane rod D is added, this rod being tied to the
ring and to the frame by means of two tin fastenings or clamps c, d. The
ring or hoop above mentioned might be replaced by cross pieces of cane
placed athwart the frame at certain distances apart, as at Fig. 2.
I would here observe that there are two modes of attaching the springs,
namely, by horizontal tying or fastening, using ordinary cords or metal chain,
or by perpendicular ties, also by means of ordinary cord or metal chain;
these different methods of fixing the springs are illustrated Figs. 3 and 4.
It will be understood that this arrangement applies not only to mattresses,
but to all analogous articles, and that claim is made to its exclusive use
whatever method of fastening or clamping may be used.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)