IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND OTHER MATTRESSES WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLOWS, CUSHIONS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND OTHER MATTRESSES WHICH INVENTION
IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLOWS, CUSHIONS OR SIMILAR
ARTICLES" Communicated to him from abroad by Laban Heath, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Merchant
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND OTHER
"
MATTRESSES, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
PILLOWS, CUSHIONS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES [A communication to him from
abroad by Laban Heath, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Merchant]
This invention relates to mattresses and cushions and more especially to life
preserving mattresses, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the
parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, by which a more effective device of this
character is produced than is now in ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvements will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following description, that is to say, I
provide an air-chamber or body of the mattress which consists of a cushion,
rectangular in form, and preferably composed of india rubber, india rubber cloth,
or similar elastic material, being both waterproof and airtight. The top and
bottom of the body, are connected by a series of short vertically-arranged india
rubber tubes opening outwardly through the same, the tubes being hermetically
sealed or joined thereto. The upholstery, consists of ordinary hair, or similar
material, covered with ticking, the mattress being tufted, or its upper and lower
surfaces connected by means of cords or twines, which pass from side to side
through the same, and are secured at their outer ends by buttons, in the usual
A series of short, stout straps, are attached firmly to the sides and ends
manner.

page_text: of the body, at regular intervals, and provided at their outer or free ends with
rings. These straps project horizontally through the upholstery, and are provided
with a stout cord or life line, preferably extending entirely around the edges of the
mattress There are also one or more cross-lines, which encircle the mattress, these
lines being also secured in the said rings.
The primary object of the tubes, is to enable the mattress to be properly
upholstered, as without them, it would be impossible to tuft the same by means
of the cords and buttons, without perforating the body, and thus rendering it
useless. They also perform another important function in preventing the mattress
from bulging or becoming unduly distended at the top and bottom when fully
inflated, as would be the case, were they not used, these tubes acting as stays to
hold the top and bottom surfaces of the body in parallelism with each other, and thus
keep the mattress in much better shape and condition than would otherwise
be possible. They also serve to ventilate the mattress, permitting the air to
pass more or less freely through the upholstery, with which the air-chamber is
Burrounded.
I deem the tubes preferable to any other means with which I am acquainted, for
connecting the upper and lower surfaces of the air-chamber, and providing means
for ventilation and the passage of the cord or twine, through the same; but for
thin mattresses, I sometimes omit the tubes, and punch a corresponding series of
holes, in the top and bottom of the body; through which the twines are passed in
upholstering the mattress, the upper and lower surfaces of the body being
hermetically sealed or-united-at-the-holes in such a manner as to make water and
.air tight connections at these points.
A tube and screw cap are provided for inflating the air-chamber, in the usual
manner this tube extending outwardly through the upholstery.
I also use an air-chamber of the construction described, either with. or without
the life lines, in making pillows, settee, chair, and carriage cushions, sofas, lounges,
chairs and the like
I do not confine myself to attaching the life lines, to the body, by means of the
straps, and rings, or in any other manner, as these may be secured directly to the
ticking or upholstery, if preferred. Neither do I confine myself to the use of the
body or air-chamber, in life saving mattresses alone, as it will be obvious that it is
well adapted for ordinary mattresses, in which a large saving of hair may be
effected by its employment
It will be obvious that the body may be provided with horizontally-arranged
tubes connecting its sides and ends, thus enabling the sides and ends of the
mattress to be tufted, if desired
In constructing the mattress for use in steamers or on shipboard, I sometimes
fill, or partially fill, the body, with small pieces of cork, cork shavings, or other
light material, before the chamber is inflated with air, so that in case the chamber
is accidentally perforated, and the air escapes, the mattress will prove effective as a
life saver.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th August 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND OTHER
MATTRESSES, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, OR SIMILAR ARTICLES A communication to me from
abroad by Laban Heath, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Merchant,
"
This invention relates to mattresses and cushions and more especially to life
preserving mattresses, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the
parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, by which arrangement a more effective
device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mattress constructed according to this
invention a portion of the upholstery being removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a tube.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section showing a modification of the
air-chamber or body; and
Figure 5 a top view or plan
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A indicates the air-chamber or body of the mattress, and B the upholstery
The said body consists of a cushion, rectangular in form, and preferably composed
of india-rubber, india rubber Cloth or similar elastic material, being both water-
proof and air-tight. The top C and bottom D of the body are connected by a
series of short vertically-arranged india-rubber tubes m m opening outwardly
through the same, the tubes being hermetically sealed or joined thereto.
The upholstery B consists of ordinary hair or similar material E covered with
ticking G the mattress being tufted, or its upper and lower surfaces connected by
means of the cords or twines, X which pass from side to side through the same, and
are secured at their outer ends by buttons d in the usual manner. A series of
short stout straps a a are attached firmly to the sides and ends of the body_A.at
regular intervals, and provided at their outer or free ends with rings i i. These
straps project horizontally through the upholstery B and are provided with a stout
cord or life-line H, preferably extending entirely around the edges of the mattress.
There are also one or more cross-lines J which encircle the mattress, as shown in
Figures 1 and 5 these lines being also secured in the rings i.
The primary object of the tubes m is to enable the mattress to be properly
upholstered, as without them it would be impossible to tuft the same by means of
the cords and buttons dd, without perforating the body A. and thus rendering it
useless. They also perform another important function in preventing the mattress
from bulging or becoming unduly distended at the top and bottom when fully
inflated, as would be the case were they not used, the tubes acting as stays to hold
the top and bottom surfaces of the body parallel with each other, and thus keep
the mattress in much better shape and condition than would otherwise be possible.
They also serve to ventilate the mattress, permitting the air to pass more or less
freely through the upholstery with which the air-chamber is surrounded.
I deem the tubes m preferable to any other means with which I am acquainted,
for connecting the upper and lower surfaces of the air-chamber, and providing
means for ventilation and the passage of the cord or twine X through the same, but
for thin mattresses I sometimes, omit the tubes and punch a corresponding series of
holes V in the top and bottom of the body A through which the twines are passed

page_text: in upholstering the mattress, the upper and lower surfaces of the body being
hermetically sealed or united at the holes in such a manner as to make water and
air tight connections at these points.
A tube having a screw tap K is provided for inflating the air-chamber in the
usual manner, this tube extending outwardly through the upholstery B
I use an air-chamber of the construction described, either with or without the
life-lines, in making settee, chair, and carriage cushions, pillows, sofas, lounges,
chairs, and the like.
'. 'I do not confine myself to attaching the life lines H to the body A, by means of
the straps a, and rings i or in any other manner, as these may be secured directly
to the ticking or upholstery if preferred. Neither do I confine myself to the use
of the body or air-chamber A in life-saving mattresses alone, as it is obvious that
it is well adapted for ordinary mattresses, in which a large saving of hair may be
effected by its employment.
It is also obvious that the body A may be provided with horizontally arranged
tubes connecting its sides and ends, thus enabling the sides and ends of the mattress
to be tufted if desired.
In constructing the mattress for use in steamers or on ship board, I sometimes
fill, or partially fill, the body A with small pieces of cork, cork shavings, or other
light material before the chamber is inflated with air, so that, in case the chamber
is accidentally perforated and the air escapes, the mattress will prove effective for
saving life.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I am aware that life-saving mattresses, or mattresses provided with means-for-
rendering the same buoyant in the water, are not new, and, therefore I do not
claim the same broadly; but, I claim
First. The air-chamber or body A provided with holes or openings through the
same for receiving cords or twine whereby the said body is adapted to be
upholstered without injury, and the upholstery kept in proper position, substantially
as set forth.
Second-The air-chamber or body. A provided with the tubes m, substantially as,
and for the purpose, specified.
·
Third The improved mattress hereinbefore described consisting of the air-
chamber or body A, provided with openings for the tufting cords or twines X, and
upholstered, substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The air-chamber or body A provided with the holes or openings V; the
top C and bottom D being hermetically sealed or united around the said holes,
substantially as specified.
Fifth The body A provided with the straps a, the rings i-and the line H,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth-In a mattress, substantially such as described, the body A, the upholstery B,
and a life-line, substantially as specified.
Seventh-The cross line J, substantially as set forth.
Eighth The employment of the body A constructed substantially as described,
in a mattress or in a cushion, sofa, lounge, chair, settee, or other article of furniture,
as set forth.
•
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.