Improvements in Mattresses and Bedstead Bottoms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
Improvements in Mattresses and Bedstead Bottoms.
I, GEORGE ALFred BillingtON of 95 Great Homer, Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Wire Mattress Manufacturer, 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 has reference to mattress or bedstead bottoms in which the
supporting fabric or material is of the elastic kind, such as the ordinary inter-
coiled spiral wire type, having the strands running longitudinally of the mattress
or bottom, and held therein under tension; and the chief object of the invention is
to provide improvements in connection with mattresses and bedstead bottoms of
this kind (or analogous kinds) by which additional support is given to the fabric
at the points desired, in the form of parts or supports which are separate from
or independent of the main fabric, but are combined up with it and act directly in
connection with it.
My invention will be described with reference to drawings hereto aonexed, in
which examples of a mattress, and structure of supporting parts are given.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan shewing the underside of an ordinary mattress provided with
my improvements; and
Figures 2, 3 and 4, are details showing modifications of parts of the mattress or
bedstead bottom under the invention.
With regard to the mattress shewn in Figure 1, the main supporting fabric or
material is designated a; and it may be assumed that this fabric is of the ordinary
intercoiled spiral type, wherein the strands run longitudinally in the mattress, and
is under tension in the usual way, being suitably fastened at its ends to the end
members of the frame b. On the underside of this fabric the separate or
independent and additional supporting means or parts are provided; and these
supporting means or parts consist of bands c of elastic fabric of, the same kind
(preferably) as the main fabric a, riz., bands of intercoiled wire spirals, extending
diagonally from the corners or sides of the eud members at each side of the frame,
towards each other at the centre, and springs d, connecting these bands together at
the centre part as shewn. The bands c will be made of such a length that they are
quite loose, when they are disconnected from one another, but when connected
up they will be stretched and under a suitable tension, giving the desired
amount of support and strength generally to the mattress or bottom.
These additional supporting means or parts thus possess a two fold elasticity;
viz., the bands e provide elasticity or stretch in the direction of their length and
laterally, while the springs d provide further elasticity, laterally. Thus, while
this construction lends support to the fabric a, it is also elastic and resilient; and
t distributes the support or strength it provides, and provides it in an advantageous
manner, at the parts required; and in the case of a double bedded mattress, which
t may be assumed the mattress shewn in Figure 1 is, the support is given at the
wo sides equally, and is so distributed over the points or parts required as to
render the general support given to the body of the sleeper comfortable and
estful. A further object and effect of this improved mattress or bedstead bottom
8, that when the springs are unhooked or disconnected at one end from one of the
ands there is no tension on them when the mattress is spread out, and therefore

page_text: in fixing up tho fabric a in its frame, the fabric a can be easily stretched out, and
the adjustable bar 1 pulled out, so as to enable the ordinary stretching bolts, e, to
be introduced into the adjustable end bar b' (or suitable fittings thereon), with the
ordinary facility; that is to say, without having to use any special means, or to
exert extra power in placing and fixing up the fabric in the mattress frame or
bedstead bottom. After the fabric a has boen drawn up into position, the bands c
are pulled together, and the loose ends of the springs d are connected with the edge
of one of the bands; the other end of the springs being normally permanently
attached to the other band.
Along the edges of the bands c, where the springs d are attached to them, they
are reinforced by a relatively strong wiro or rod, or somi-rigid bar, extending on
either side of the spring attachment, as shewu. By this, the strain on the band
edges, exerted by the tension of the springs, is distributed, and the required degree
of teusion is enabled to be put on the edge cords of the bands o without pulling
them out of shape. The edges of the band c, ahewn in the drawing, are made of
greater strength than the body part which lies between them by interweaving a
plurality of coils at these edges, forming cords, or by using wire of greater strength
at the edge.
The springs d, shewn in the drawings are ordinary tempered spiral springs,
hooked at their ends directly onto bent out parts of the reinforcing wires or rods f,
or onto links on those wires or rods. Although the construction and combination
shewn provides an advantageous ono, nevertheless the invention is not restricted to
it, as other arrangements of spring fastenings, holding the bands o in position,
which afford to the supports equivalent clasticity aud action may be adopted: also,
other modes of connecting, as hooks or links, or direct intercoiling, for coupling up
the bands c, which give the relative arrangement of the bands on the fabric a, as
described, are, under this invention, in some cases, employed; in which case, of
course, there are no springs.
With respect to the modifications shewn in the drawings, three arrangements of
aprings dare illustrated. In Figure 1, three springs are employed, while in
Figure 2, two springs are used; and in Figure 3 a single spring only
is employed.
In the mattress shewn in Figure 1, the bands e, and springs d, constitute the
only extra or additional support to the mattress or bedstead bottom; but, if
desired, these supporting means may be used in cases where a longitudinal band or
bands is or are employed at the centre of the mattress or bedstead bottom, in
which case the springs d, or other hooks or fastenings, may connect this band up
with the bands c.
As a modification, I use, instead of a pair of bands c, two pairs of such bands,
(see Figure 5) one pair being on the one side of the mattress, and the other pair on
the other side, the inner hand of each pair crossing each other between the centre
of the mattress and the eud members of the frame in which they are fastened and
held. In this case, under oue arrangement, the cèntro parts of cach pair of bands,
where they are connected together, are connected by a spring d' or other suitable
connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improved mattress or bedstead bottom, namely, a
mattress or bedstead bottom comprising a general supporting metallic fabric (such
as referred to) under tension when fixed in place in the mattress frame or bedstead,
and separate clastic bands disposed and arranged, and acting under tension, as set
forth, on the under side of the fabric at each side thereof, and connected together
at a point or points between their ends for the purposes described.
2. In a mattress or bedstead bottom, a general supporting metallic fabric, a,
(such as referred to) under tension in the mattress or bedstead; separate elastic

page_text: bands, c, disposed and arranged on the under side of the fabric at each sido thereof,
and under tension; and a spring or springs, d, connecting the side bands together:
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A mattress or bedstead bottom having a metallic supporting web or fabric
(such as referred to) under tension in the mattress or bedstead, and separate elastic
bands on the underside thereof at each side, and connected together as described,
the edges of the said bands which are connected together having reinforcing rods
or wires at the points of connection, by which the lateral tension is transmitted to
the two bands, and the strain on the edges thereof distributed; and acting as and
for the purposes specified.
4. The mattress having parts arranged, combined, and adapted to act,
particularly as shewn in and set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this lot dow of Aumil 1907
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.