AN IMPROVED PILLOW
Year: 1863

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 "AN IMPROVED PILLOW."
-A communication from abroad by Ernest Loriot, of the Rue du
Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 22nd April 1864, and dated the 26th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th October 1863.
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 "AN IMPROVED
PILLOW," (a communication to me from abroad by Ernest Loriot, of the Rue
du Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, France,) to be as follows:-
The pillows hitherto used, of whatever materials they are composed, present
several inconveniences; firstly, they are really reservoirs of heat, and con-
sequently bad in a sanatory point of view; again, the ends often turn over
on to the face of the sleeper, which in conjunction with the inconvenience first
mentioned, keeps the head in a centre of still greater heat;. lastly, they are
very expensive if made of horsehair or other good material.
The improved pillow, the subject of this Invention, is composed of an

page_text: edging of cane or analogous material, from different points of the circuit of
which extend bands or straps attached elsewhere to spiral springs, usually five
in number, one being in the centre and the four others towards the four
corners of the pillow, the bands being sewn to each other wherever they
meet; lastly, two bands cross on the same plane as that of the cane edging
uniting the centres of its opposite sides. The frame or cage of the pillow
being thus formed, a linen, cotton, or other strong fabric is stretched over it,
and on this fabric is placed a layer (more or less thick) of horsehair or other
suitable material; and, finally, the whole is covered with ticking. Two
openings are left at the extreme ends of the pillow to permit a free cir-
culation of air within the frame.
It will be evident from the foregoing that this improved pillow is composed
of a hollow frame covered with a slight padding or cushion of horsehair or
other suitable material, and that it may always maintain a certain amount of
coolness and freshness.
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 23rd April 1864.
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 Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh 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 I, 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 "AN IMPROVED PILLOW," (a communication to me from abroad by Ernest
Loriot, of the Rue du Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, France,) upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 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 my Specification, and to the several
Diagrams drawn thereon, Figure 1 shewing a plan view of the improved
pillow, the subject of this Invention; Figure 2, section of same at x, y,
Figure 1 and Figure 3, same in perspective.
The pillows hitherto used, of whatever material composed, are open to
several somewhat serious objections; firstly, they are really reservoirs of heat,
and consequently bad in a sanatory point of view; again, the ends often turn
over on to the face of the sleeper, which, in conjunction with the incon-
venience first mentioned, keeps the head in a centre of still greater heat;
lastly, they are very expensive if made of horsehair or other good material.
All the inconveniences above set forth are obviated by the use of the
improved pillow, the subject of this Invention, which is composed of an edge
or frame of cane or other analagous material, at different points of the circuit
of which are attached bands or straps fastened elsewhere to spiral springs
usually five in number, one in the centre and one towards each of the four
corners of the pillow (see Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawing). Wherever the
bands come in contact they are sewn to each other; finally, two bands crossing
on the same plane as that of the cane edge or frame unite the centres of its
opposite sides. The cage or skeleton of the pillow being thus formed, a strong
fabric (linen, cotton, or other) is stretched over it, and on this is placed a
layer more or less thick of horsehair or other suitable material; and, finally,
the whole is covered with ticking, two openings being left at the extreme ends
of the pillow to permit a free circulation of air within the skeleton.
It will be evident, from the preceding description and accompanying illus-
trations, that this improved pillow consists of a hollow cage or skeleton covered
with a slight padding or cushion of horsehair or other suitable material, and
that a certain amount of coolness and freshness may always be maintained
therein. The spiral springs may be very thin, and their reaction will con-
sequently be so exceedingly gentle as in nowise to inconvenience or annoy
the head; further, all the parts being perfectly stretched, no rising and

page_text: turning over of the corners on to the face need be feared, and, finally, to
all the other advantages of this improved pillow may be added that of
cheapness.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of 5
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
cheapness.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of 5
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.