IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES
Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES PARKER SKINNER of 96 Hodgson Street Sheffield in the County of
York Spring Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is in the construction of a spring mattress made
easily portable by means of a hinge fixed in each end thereof, thereby allowing
one half of the mattress to close upon its other half.
The hinge is an ordinary butt hinge working loosly between two boxes which
are made of cast iron or other suitable metal, and which are fitted to the frame of
the mattress.
When the wires are fixed to the frame the hinge may be so placed that the
mattress cannot be folded, but by merely turning it half round on pivots fitted in
the boxes, the mattress may be folded at desire. In the side of one of the hinge
plates is a slot in which works a pin which allows the hinge to make a half turn
only. Near the centre of the mattress, one at each side the hinge are two pieces
of wood or other suitable material running from end to end thereof for the purpose
of strengthing it when closed as without these pieces it would be liable to get
strained.
At the head and foot of the mattress frame are fixed metal shoulders as shown
in Fig. 7 and 8, which serve both to strengthen and cheapen the production
of these mattresses; these shoulders may be applied to any ordinary frame.
The general details of construction and the materials used therein are similar to
those employed in the manufacture of ordinary spring mattresses.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Fig. 1. is a plan shewing the hinge turned so that the mattress can fold.
Fig. 2. is a front view with the hinge open shewing the pin A working in slot B
also pivots and rivots C on which the hinge moves.
Fig. 3. is a plan showing the binge with boxes screwed to the frame of the
mattress and with the hinge placed so that the mattress cannot fold.
Fig. 4. is an end view showing the box and the head of the pivot or rivet on
The inside.

page_text: Fig. 5. is a plan of a spring mattress shewing position of hinge D with the two
extra supports running the length to give strength when the mattress is closed.
Fig. 6. is an end view in elevation shewing position of hinge and mattress when
closed.
Fig. 7. is a side view in elevation shewing cast iron shoulder E and mattress
when closed.
Fig. 8. is an elevation of cast iron shoulder E fixed onto the head and foot piece
of each length as shewn in Fig. 7.
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:-
Firstly. Improvements in spring mattresses made portable by means of hinges
fixed at the head and foot thereof as shewn in figure 5.
Secondly in the construction of a moveable binge fixed on pivots to metal boxes
as shewn in Figures. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Thirdly in the construction of the metal shoulders (Figure 8) fixed to the
mattress frame as shewn in Fig. 7.
Fourthly in Improvements in spring mattresses as firstly, secondly, and thirdly
claimed described and illustrated by accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of November 1886.