MENTS IN-SPRING MATTRESSES AND THEIR FRAMES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN WESTGARTH of Elmside, Warrington in the County of Lancaster Wire
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN-SPRING MATTRESSES AND THEIR FRAMES to be as follows :--
Each of
My Invention has for its object the construction of a simple and inexpensive
form of spring mattress, which is composed of a network of metal wire, formed and
stretched in a frame as hereinafter described. A spring mattress according to my
Invention consists of a network of diamond shaped links of metal wire.
these diamond shaped links is formed of a single piece of wire and the links are
formed independently of each other and are provided at each of their four corners
with an eye. The corner where the ends of the wire forming the link meet, bas
its eye formed of double thickness by the two ends of the wire of which it is
formed coming together. These links are connected together at their corners
by shaped hooks, or shaped couplings, and the so connected links
form a network, or the links are coupled together by interlacing their respective
eyes to form the network. The network being so formed of the required size is
suspended in a rectangular wood, or metal frame of the size required to form the
mattress. The ends of the network are connected to the end bars of the frame by
means of spiral or like wire springs. The sides of the network are connected to
the side bars of the frame by means of staples, or equivalent devices, which allow
the network to have longitudinal play thereon. One, or both of the end bars of
the frame are made adjustable and are provided with screws and nuts, or equivalent
devices by which they can be extended and by this means the wire network is
stretched longitudinally. The formation of the network is such that the longitudinal
stretching also causes a lateral stretching and thus the network can be uniformally
stretched, or tightened over its whole surface. In the case of large mattresses, the
side, or end bars of the frame may be made in two pieces hinged together, so that
the mattress will fold either longitudinally, or laterally; this feature forms a great
convenience for stowage and carriage of the mattress.
Spring mattresses and their frames constructed according to my Invention are
suitable for beds, couches, ships berths and other like purposes and the diamond
link network is suitable as a bottom for beds, couches, ships berths, chairs, seats
and for other like purposes. The diamond link network with spiral, or like
springs as above described forms an inexpensive, simple and elastic mattress,
or seat.
Dated this fourth day of January 1884

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan of a spring mattress according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view of links of a piece of network coupled together
according to my Invention.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing an alternative means of coupling the links
together.
Figure 5 shows a coupling loop.
Figure 6 shows another form of coupling link.
Figure 7 shows a hinged mattress according to my Invention.
Figure 8 is a detail of a stretching device.
b
The mattress consists of a network of diamond shaped links a of metal wire.
Each of these diamond shaped links a is formed independently and of a single
piece of wire and are constructed at each of their four corners, so as to form an
eye b. The corner where the ends of the wire forming the link meet has its eye
of double thickness by the two ends of the wire of which it is formed coming
together. The links a are connected together at their corners b by coupling
hooks c as shown at Figure 3 which may be either the hook shown at Figure 5, or
Figure 6. Instead of coupling the links a by hooks c the links a may be coupled
together by interlacing their respective eyes together in the manner shown at
Figure 4. In either case the links when coupled together form a network as shown
at Figure 1. The network being so formed of the required size is suspended in a
rectangular wood, or metal frame A of the size required to form the mattress.
The ends of the network are connected to the bars of the frame A by means of the
spiral springs d. The sides of the network are connected to the side bars of the
frame A by means of staples e which allow the network to have a slight longitudinal
play thereon. One, or both of the end bars of the frame A are made adjustable as
shown at Figure 2 in which are screw bolts f working in the plates f¹ which are
attached to the side bars of the frame. The screw f takes through the screwed
nut which works in a slot in the plate f¹ and is attached to the end bars of the
frame. Thus by turning the bolts in one direction, or the other, the network can
be tightened, or loosened. The formation of the network is such that the
longitudinal stretching also causes a lateral stretching and thus the network can be

page_text: uniformlly stretched, or tightened over its whole surface. In the case of large
mattresses the side, or end bars of the frame may be made in two pieces, shown at
Figure 7 and hinged together as shown at Ď so that the mattress will fold
longitudinally, or laterally. This feature forms a great convenience for stowage
and carriage of the mattress.
Spring mattresses and their frames constructed according to my Invention are
suitable for beds, couches, ships berths and other like purposes and the diamond
link network is suitable as a bottom for beds, couches, ships berths, chairs, seats,
and for other like purposes.
The diamond link network with spiral, or like springs
as above described forms an inexpensive, simple and elastic mattress, or seat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First A network of elastic or spring links, such links being constructed of
independent and single pieces of wire as set forth.
Second A mattress formed of a network of elastic, or spring links, such links
being constructed of independent and single pieces of wire and coupled together as
set forth.
Third A network of links being constructed of independent and single pieces of
wire coupled together as set forth and shown at Figure 3 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Fourth A network of links being constructed of independent and single pieces
of wire coupled together as set forth and shown at Figure 4 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Fifth The combination in a mattress of the type herein described of a mattress
frame and hinges as set forth for the purpose specified.