IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes.
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Joseph Franklin Peck, of Springfield,
County of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th July 1871.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS,"
a communication to me from abroad by Joseph Franklin Peck, of
Springfield, County of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of spring beds
composed of metallic slats and coil springs, the first part of the Inven-

page_text: tion being designed to render the bed noiseless, and it consists in the
arrangement of cushions upon which the springs impinged and at
the crossings where the metallic slats come in contact, and also in
constructing the bed with rounded corners to fit bedsteads having that
characteristic.
The second part of my Invention relates to the manner of securing
the springs by a peculiar form given to the ends of the wire, which
causes the end to embrace the metallic slats and secures the springs in
position.
f
To make the cushion I take paper, cloth, or other suitable material 1
and cut the same in pieces of proper size, which I wrap around the
under strap of iron under each spring and at each crossing, as shown in
the accompanying Drawing marked A by the tinted spots, and secure
the same in place with glue, paste, or other glutinous material, so that
when the bed is in use the springs are impinged upon the cushions, 1
which deadens the sound, and thus avoid the noise consequent upon the
iron being brought in contact.
Another method is to cut the material for cushions of proper size and
stitch the edges together, slipping them on the iron straps under the
springs and at the crossings.
To construct the round corners I take sheet iron of proper thickness,
and cut out the corners in quarter circles by punching or otherwise. I
then punch a slot on each end of the corner a upon the same radius as
the center, as shown in the accompanying Drawing marked B, by means
of which, in putting the bed together, I am enabled to fasten the first 2
& second straps, both length & crosswise, to cach corner, with a
single rivet at each end, and adjust the width and length of the bed so
that the other straps are readily riveted in their places, and greater
symmetry is given to the bed.
In the second part of my Invention A represents the frames for the 3
top and bottom of the bed, which are precisely alike, and consist of
longitudinal straps marked a, a, of iron or other metal of suitable width
and thickness, and cross straps of the same marked b, b, which are
riveted together at right angles along the sides and ends, as shown in
the Drawings, the outside straps being connected at the corners by 3
quarter circles of corresponding material and size, and the intermediate
straps being in number and distance from cach other adapted to any
required case. In this way the frames for the top and bottom of the

page_text: bed are constructed in the most firm and durable manner, and being
precisely alike the bed may at any time be turned over or changed end
for end at pleasure. I then take spring wire of iron, steel, or brass,
from which I prepare spiral springs for both the outside rows longi-
tudinally, which are constructed with a hook at either end, which are
both on one side, as shown in the Drawings marked D, and which I
denominate "side springs." I then prepare springs of the same
material for the central portion of the bed with the hooks, but the
same are on opposite sides of the spring, as shown at letter E, and these
I denominate "centre springs." These springs I then place in position
between the frames at each crossing or intersection of the metal straps,
passing the end under those running in one direction and over those
running opposite, and then hooking it over the edge of the strap, as
shown in the Drawing marked A, all the springs being hooked to the
edges of the straps so as to be alternated in the rows, as shown in the
Drawings, by which they are made to act against each other, and thus
keep the bed perpendicular. The springs too being passed under the
lower strap and over the upper one the crossings are held firmly together
and the symmetry of the bed is secured, while the springs being only
hooked can at any time be removed and interchanged or others sub-
stituted for any which may prove weak or defective with no tools but
the fingers, and without in any way disturbing the remainder of the
bed, thus making the expense of repairs should any be required merely
nominal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, 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, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS," a communication to me from
abroad by Joseph Franklin Peck, of Springfield, County of Hampden,
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of spring beds
composed of metallic slats and coiled springs, the first part of the
Invention being designed to render the bed noiseless, and it consists in
the arrangement of cushions upon which the springs are impinged and
at the crossings where the metallic slats come in contact, and also in
constructing the bed with rounded corners to fit bedsteads having that
characteristic.
The second part of the Invention relates to the manner of securing
the springs by a peculiar form given to the ends of the wire which
causes the end to embrace the metallic slats and secures the springs in
position.
To make the cushion I take paper, cloth, or other suitable material,
and cut the same in pieces of proper size, which I wrap around the
under strap of iron under each spring and at each crossing, as shewn in
the accompanying Drawing marked A by the tinted spots, and secure
the same in place with glue, paste, or other glutinous material, so that
when the bed is in use the springs are impinged upon the cushion, which

page_text: deadens the sound and thus avoids the noise consequent upon the iron
being brought in contact.
Another method is to cut the material for cushions of proper size and
stitch the edges together, slipping them on the iron straps under the
springs and at the crossings.
To construct the round corners I take sheet iron of proper thickness
and cut out the corners in quarter circles by punching or otherwise. I
then punch a slot on each end of the corner upon the same radius as the
centre, as shewn in the accompanying Drawing marked B, by means of
which in putting the bed together I am enabled to fasten the first and
second straps both length and crosswise to each corner with a single
rivet at each end, and adjust the width and length of the bed so that
the other straps are readily riveted in their places and greater symmetry
is given to the bed.
In the second part of this Invention A represents the frames for the
top and bottom of the bed, which are precisely alike, and consist of
longitudinal straps marked a, a, of iron or other metal of suitable width
and thickness and cross straps of the same marked b, b, which are
rivetted together at right angles along the sides and ends, as shewn in
the Drawings, the outside straps being connected at the corners by
quarter circles of corresponding material and size, and the intermediate
straps being in number and distance from each other adapted to any
required case. In this way the frames for the top and bottom of the
bed are constructed in the most firm and durable manner, and being
precisely alike the bed may at any time be turned over or changed end
for end at pleasure. I then take spring wire of iron, steel, or brass
from which I prepare spiral springs for both the outside rows longi-
tudinally, which are constructed with a hook at either end, which are
both on one side, as shewn in the Drawings marked D, and which I
denominate side springs." I then prepare springs of the same material
for the central portion of the bed with the hooks, but the same are on
opposite sides of the spring, as shewn at letter E, and these I denominate
"centre springs." These springs I then place in position between the
frames at each crossing or intersection of the metal straps passing
the end under those running in one direction and over those running
opposite, and then hooking it over the edge of the strap, as shewn in
the Drawing marked A, all the springs being hooked to the edges of
the straps so
as to be alternated in the rows, as shewn in the
65

page_text: Drawings, by which they are made to act against each other, and thus
keep the bed perpendicular. The springs too being passed under the
lower strap and over the upper one the crossings are held firmly
together and the symmetry of the bed is secured, while the springs
being only hooked can at any time be removed and interchanged or
others substituted for any which may prove weak or defective with no
tools but the fingers, and without in any way disturbing the remainder
of the bed, thus making the expense of repairs, should any be required,
merely nominal.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Inven-
tion, I desire it to be understood that I claim-
First. The application of the cushions to the metal strips at each
intersection of the same, and the construction of the circular corner
picces with slots in the manner set forth and for the purposes described:
Second. The construction of a spring bed of the character herein
described provided with the round corner Figure B in the manner sub-
stantially as described.
Third. The manner of constructing the frames for spring bed bottoms
with the longitudinal straps a, a, and cross straps b, b, in combination
with the springs applied at each crossing or intersection of the metal
straps.
Fourth. Constructing the springs with the hooks D and E attached
to and combined with the frame, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.