Improvements in Mattresses and Padded Furniture.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mattresses and Padded Furniture.
We, FRITZ HODES, Manufacturer, of 20, Mühlenbach, and EDUARD BROEL,
Upholsterer, 56, Erftstrasse, both of Cologne-on-the-Rhine, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention consists of improvements in mattresses, padded furniture,
bedding and the like. The methods of padding hitherto employed have principally
consisted in the employment of horse-hair, beach grass, feathers, wool, and other
like material, but according to this invention we employ compressed air or any
other gas, and thus obtain many noteworthy advantages both as regards health,
economy, and manufacture. By the employment of air in place of the padding
materials usually employed the accumulation of large quantities of dust as well
as of disease-producing substances of all kinds is rendered impossible; and also
in its structural capabilities of application, our invention presents great advan-
tages which have never been possible heretofore.
In Figures 1 to 6 the various modes of applying our invention are represented,
Figures 1 to 4 illustrating its application a part of a mattress, and in Figures 5
and 6 its application to a piece of furniture.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is a cushion made of taffeta, or linen stuff prepared with
indiarubber or of other suitable air tight material d is placed an inlet valve
placed in any suitable position and preferably out of sight. The two inner
surfaces of the cushion are connected by elastic stays or connecting pieces c so
arranged as not to interfere with the shape of the cushion and to form approxi-
mately straight surfaces a¹, a¹, and on the other hand to increase the strength
or power of the cushion and to hold it together. These stays c are permanently
attached to the inner sides of the surfaces a¹ by sewing their ends at top and
bottom or by being vulcanized or cemented on to the surfaces of the cushion.
The interior of the cushion may be divided in such places as may be desirable,
by cross walls 6 thereby forming several spaces or chambers separated from one
another.
In order to counter-act the cold sensation which is common to indiarubber
surfaces the cushions may be enclosed in an outside cushion B of suitable dimen-
sions and provided over the whole extent of its inner surface with a thin layer
of sheep's wool or other heat-retaining padding, the same being fastened by
buttons at a suitable place in the usual manner.
In order to further increase the sanitary properties of such a mattress, we may
employ elastic tubes e of suitable diameter as shown in Figures 3 and 4 instead
of the webbing stays c uniting the two surfaces a¹ a¹. These tubes are attached
to the inside of the two surfaces by vulcanizing, and opposite the points of
connection the outer surfaces of the air cushion have also an opening so as to
form an air conducting connection between the upper and lower surfaces. In
order to prevent the compressed air in the interior of the cushion from collapsing
D
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page_text: the walls of the tubes e, which would prevent the desired object being obtained,
a spiral wire-spring f is introduced into the interior of the tube which wire
can be pressed together in the direction of its length, but not radially. Any
article of furniture or mattress so made will permit a constant supply of fresh
air to be led to the body of the person sitting or lying thereon and thereby
renders an increased action of the skin possible.
It is obvious that our invention is also applicable to the upholstery of chairs,
sofas or settees, but care should in all cases be taken that the air valve is suitably
placed below the seat and connected with a piece of tube provided with a screwed
end so that a longer rubber tube may be attached in order that air may be
pumped through it more conveniently.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the application of our invention to a sofa in which
the lower outer edges a³ of the air cushion A are, together with the outer
covering, pressed against and attached to the wood frame C by means of a
lath g which is screwed thereto, whilst the lower surface à of the air cushion
lies flat on a cross webbing. The layer of sheeps-wool padding between the
outer cloth and the air cushion is omitted for the sake of clearness as well as
the connecting stays c or tubes e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. In mattresses and padded furniture the employment of air or gas forced
by suitable means into a cushion A connecting the inner surfaces a¹ by means
of elastic stays c and dividing the interior of the cushion by cross walls into
several separate chambers or compartments, substantially as described.
Second. In mattresses and padded furniture of the kind referred to in the first
claiming clause hereof uniting the inner sides of the two surfaces a¹ of the
cushion by tubes e of elastic material which communicate with the outer air on
the exterior of both the surfaces of the cushion, and are provided internally with
spring-wire spirals, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Third. In mattresses and padded furniture of the kind referred to in the
preceding claiming clauses hereof the employment of a supplementary cushion
of more or less heat-retaining properties, substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
Fourth. In mattresses and padded furniture of the kind referred to in the
preceding claiming clauses hereof attaching the air cushion and its outer covering
to the frame-work of the furniture by means of a lath or strip g substantially
as described.
Dated this Oth day of December 1898.
F. HODES,
E. BROEL.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.