IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, AND OTHER APPLIANCES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Percy Frost, of Oxton, in the County of Chester,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC
BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, AND OTHER APPLIANCES FOR SITTING OR
RECLINING UPON."
Sealed the 6th January 1880, and dated the 8th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Percy Frost at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1879.
" IM-
THOMAS PERCY FROST, of Oxton, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, AND
OTHER APPLIANCES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON."
The object of the said Invention is to provide a spring or elastic bottom which
shall be easily applicable to existing furniture, more especially to iron and brass
bedsteads, shall possess the desired risiliance in all its parts, shall be silent in action,
and shall allow of cheap production, and inexpensive maintenance.
The said Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
First. Volute or like carved steel springs secured to the framework of the bed-
stead or other furniture are used in combination with curved spring laths, which
are connected to the said volute or like springs, and which said spring laths extend
across the bedstead or frame from end to end and side to side. The said volute or
like springs are constructed with an opening or openings at or about the centre of
their length, and are secured to the framework of the bedstead or other furniture
by means of buttons, hooks, screws, or similar means; the spring laths which
extend across the bedstead or furniture are connected to the volute or like springs
by means of buttons or equivalent appliances. The openings if desired may be
made in the framework, in which case the springs will be constructed with buttons,
hooks, or the like, or such springs may be formed with clips to connect them to
the framework. The said volute or like springs are so constructed and connected
to the cross spring laths as to continually exert a longitudinal strain thereon.
.
Second. Volute or like springs, as set forth under the above first head, are placed
or secured on the framework of a bedstead or other furniture above the ordinary
sacking: or bottom, and the said springs are connected at the top to a similar

page_text: Backing or bottom, or spiral or other springs are placed between the two sackings
or bottoms.
Third. The springs forming the bottom of the bed or other furniture are pre-
vented from drawing the framework out of shape by means of one or more stretchers
placed between-the sides_of_such framework. Such stretchers are further utilized
by placing thereon one or more springs to assist-in.supporting the longitudinal and
transverse spring laths mentioned-in-part one.
Fourth. Springs for supporting the longitudinal and transverse spring laths are
fitted with a sheath or sheaths, through which the longitudinal and transverse
spring laths are made to pass.
Fifth. Springs serving as transverse laths are constructed in two pieces, and are
_ connected together at the centre by means of a spring or springs so as to allow of
each portion having independent action.
Sixth. The transverse spring laths are provided with buttons or pins for
retaining the longitudinal laths in position.
Seventh. Clips are formed with a lip or piece so as to hook or be secured on the
frame work of the bedstead or other furniture, and with a projecting piece or flange,
to which a stretcher is secured so as to counteract the tension of the springs which
support the cross laths or sacking, and which tend to draw the sides of the frame
work together.
Eighth. A cover for placing over the bottoms of beds or other furniture con-
structed under my Invention is made of woven fabric, combined with metal sup-
porting pieces, which latter rest on the transverse spring laths.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Percy Frost in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
January 1880.
THOMAS-PERCY FROST, of Oxton, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR ELASTIC BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, BERTHS, COUCHES, AND
OTHER APPLIANCES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON."
The object of the said Invention is to provide a spring or elastic bottom which
shall be easily applicable to existing furniture, more especially to iron and brass
bedsteads, shall possess the desired risilience in all its parts, shall be silent in action,
and shall allow of cheap production and inexpensive maintenance.
The said Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
First. Volute or like curved steel springs secured to the framework of the bed-
stead or other furniture are used in combination with curved spring laths, which
are connected to the said volute or like springs, and which said spring lathis extend
across the bedstead or frame from end to end and side to side. The said volute or
like springs are constructed with an opening or openings at or about the centre of
their length, and are secured to the framework of the bedstead or other furniture

page_text: by means of buttons, hooks, screws, or similar means; the spring laths which
extend across the bedstead or furniture are connected to the volute or like springs
by means of buttons or equivalent appliances. The openings if desired may be
made in the framework, in which case the springs will be constructed with buttons,
hooks, or the like, or such springs may be formed with clips to connect then to the
framework. The said volute or like springs are so constructed and connected to
the cross spring laths as to continually exert a longitudinal strain thereon.
Second. Volute or like springs, as set forth under the above first head, are placed
or secured on the framework of a bedstead or other furniture above the ordinary
sacking or bottom, and the said springs are connected at the top to a similar
sacking or bottom. Between the two sackings or bottoms spiral or other springs
are placed.
Third. The springs forming the bottom of the bed or other furniture are pre-
vented from drawing the framework out of shape by means of one or more stretchers
placed between the sides of such framework. Such stretchers are further utilized
by placing thereon one or more springs to assist in supporting the longitudinal and
transverse spring latbs mentioned in part one.
Fourth. Springs for supporting the longitudinal and transverse spring laths are
fitted with a sheath or sheaths, through which the longitudinal and transverse
spring laths are made to pass.
Fifth. Springs serving as transverse laths are constructed in two pieces, and are
connected together at the centre by means of a spring or springs so as to allow of
each portion having independent action.
Sixth. The transverse spring laths are provided with buttons or pins for
retaining the longitudinal laths in position.
Seventh. Clips are formed with a lip or piece so as to hook or be secured on the
framework of the bedstead or other furniture, and with a projecting piece or flange,
to which a stretcher is secured so as to counteract the tension of the springs which
support the cross laths or sacking, and which tend to draw the sides of the frame-
work together.
Eighth. A cover for placing over the bottoms of the beds or other furniture con-
structed under my Invention is made of woven fabric, combined with metal sup-
porting pieces, which latter rest on the transverse spring laths.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a plan
view, all of a spring or elastic bottom for a bed illustrative of the first, fourth, fifth,
sixth, and seventh heads of my Invention. In the above views and those herein-
after mentioned like letters denote the same parts.
First Head. a is the framework of the bedstead; b, volute steel springs secured
to the said framework by the buttons c; 'd, curved spring laths attached to the
volute springs b by the buttons e, and extending from end to end and from side to
side of the bedstead. Instead of the openings being made in the volute springs
such springs may be constructed with buttons attached thereto, and the openings
may be made in the transverse laths and framework. In place of buttons and
openings connecting clips of any suitable kind may be used, or the volute springs
may be otherwise attached to the framework.
Seventh Head. Clips f are formed with a lip or piece g, which hooks and is
secured on the framework of the bedstead; here the said clips are also shown
attached to volute springs, but they may be separate therefrom; hare stretchers,
which are secured by pins i to the projecting pieces or flanges ; on the clips f.
Fourth Head. Springs & for supporting the longitudinal and transverse laths d
rest on the stretchers h, and are fitted with a sheath 1, through which the said
longitudinal and transverse laths are made to pass, or only longitudinal or transverse
laths may pass therethrough.

page_text: Sixth Head. The transverse spring laths are provided with pins m,
through the longitudinal spring laths, and retain them in position.
which pass
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a spring bottom illustrative of the second head of
my Invention. Here n is the ordinary sacking; b, volute springs carrying a second
sacking opsprings-placed between the two sackings.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a spring bottom-illustrative of the third and fifth
heads of my Invention. Here the transverse spring laths are made in two portions
connected together by the spring r; h, stretcher placed between the sides of the
framework a so as to-prevent-the sides of the said framework from being drawn
-together_by_the tension of the volute springs.
Eighth Head. Fig. 6 is a plan-view of a cover for placing over transverse spring
laths, arranged as above set forth; 8, woven fabric, having metal-supporting pieces t
combined therewith.
It will be obvious that the spring bottoms above described may be applied to any
desired size of framework, whether for beds, chairs, or other furniture.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and particularized the
same in such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into
effect, I claim,―
First Head. The construction and combination of the springs, laths, and frame-
work, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second Head. The combination of the parts, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third Head. The improvements substantially as set forth.
Fourth Head. Supporting springs fitted with sheaths, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Fifth Head. Constructing transverse spring laths, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Sixth Head. The improvements substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh Head. The construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, for
the purposes set forth.
Eighth Head. The improved covering, constructed and combined substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Percy Frost, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty. .