IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND PADDINGS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE SUDDEN OR CONTINUOUS PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE SUSTAINED OR TRANS- MITTED
Year: 1849

page_text: WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Third day of December, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Paradis, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Joseph Paradis, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said Joseph Paradis, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and
in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES, CUSHIONS, AND
PADDINGS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
WHERE SUDDEN OR CONTINUOUS PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE SUSTAINED OR TRANS-
MITTED," being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Joseph
Paradis, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and

page_text: immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Paradis, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of improvements in the manufacture of elastic mattresses,
cushions, and paddings, consists in the employment of a spring of peculiar
construction for forming the internal part of the mattress, cushion, or pad, and
thereby imparting to such mattress or other article a sufficient degree of
elasticity, and at the same time rendering the article lighter than when stuffed
in the ordinary manner. The employment of metallic springs for the internal
construction of mattresses, cushions, or pads, has been long known, but the
springs which have been hitherto generally used for this purpose are of that
description known as the "hour glass" spring, from its peculiar form. These
springs when carefully made and adapted, and if also acted upon perpendicu-
larly, are found to act pretty well; but if great care is not taken in constructing
and mounting them, or if pressure is applied to them otherwise than in a
strictly vertical position, they are soon found to get out. of order. The
improved construction of spring which I intend to employ for the several
purposes herein-before mentioned, possesses the great advantages of simplicity
and cheapness of construction, as well as almost the total impossibility of
derangement from ordinary use. A single spring of the improved construction,
is shewn in front and side elevation at Figs. 1 and 2, and several of them
may be applied to a spring mattress, seat, or cushion, as seen at Figs. 3 and 4,
the former of which represents a longitudinal section, and the latter Figure a
plan view of a mattress, shewing the manner of arranging and securing the
springs. The spring (as will be seen at Figs. 1 and 2) consists of a single
piece of iron wire a, a, a, a, the ends of which are inserted into holes made
in the ends of the cylindrical, wooden, or metal roller b, round which the
central part of the wire is coiled or wound to form a helical or coiled spring.
The ends of the wire a, a, although inserted into holes at each end of the
roller b, are not fixed therein, but are allowed a proper amount of play.
When pressure is applied to either or both ends of the spring the ends will be
found to approach each other, and the coiled part of the spring will be forced
outwards, as indicated by the red lines in the Drawing, and will thereby be

page_text: caused to unwind in both directions, during which operation a great amount
of resistance will be offered by the elasticity of the spring. In applying these
springs to mattresses, couches, cushions, and such like articles, it will bo
found advisable to arrange the springs in pairs, that is, in such a manner that
the two single springs which constitute the pair may, when pressed upon, act
or bend out in opposite directions. These springs may either be placed
opposite to each, or arranged alternately, as shewn in the Drawings. All the
springs a, a, are, as shewu in Figs. 3 and 4, secured at their lower ends to cross
pieces c, c, which are fixed to the wooden side framing d, d, of the mattress,.
cushion, or other article, and at their upper ends the springs are secured to.
the flexible longitudinal straps e, e, which are fastened at each end to the end.
pieces of the framing, as shewn in the Drawing. These longitudinal straps.
are connected transversely by rods or bars f, f, made of cane or other strong
material, for the purpose of binding the several parts together, and causing all
the springs to act together. The improved springs may also be employed for
making the buffers, and also the suspension or carriage springs of railway
carriages. In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shewn a means of combining a number
of the springs and employing them for constructing a buffer for railway
carriages. Fig. 5 represents a partial longitudinal section of a buffer spring,
constructed with the improved springs, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section of
the same, or end view, with the head plate removed to shew more clearly the
mode of arranging the springs. In order to give a considerable amount of
elasticity to the buffer, I have thought it advisable to make use of two sets of
springs, one set being placed behind the other in a separate compartment.
The buffer, as shewn in the Drawing, is constructed of two sets of springs,,
having six springs to each set, and the head of the buffer being circular, the
springs are arranged in the form of a hexagon, as seen best in Fig. 6. In
order to give steadiness and uniformity to the action of the springs a rod g is
adapted to the centre of the head of the buffer, and works through a hole.
made through the buffer. The springs in both compartments are also
protected from dirt and accidental injury by a leather or other flexible cover.
ing k, k. In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shewn two methods of applying this
improved spring to the suspension of railroad carriages. A pair of springs of,
sufficient power may be taken, and either placed between the horns of a...
railroad carriage and immediately above the axle box, as at A, Fig. 7, or
secured in a flexible box or chamber, as at B, Fig. 8, between the frame to,
which the running wheels are connected and the frame which carries the
body of the carriage. In the former case (Fig. 7), the coiled part of the
springs when collapsed is forced outwards in a line with the axles of the

page_text: wheels, whereas, in the instance shown at B (Fig. 8), the springs are arranged
and act more in the manner that the buffer spring shewn in Figs. 5 and 6
would act: The springs in this instance are enclosed in a metal box or case,
over which another box or case works, as shewn in the Drawing, and therefore
prevents any dirt or extraneous substances from getting into the springs and
deranging them, while at the same time the springs have plenty of room
allowed them for expansion and compression. In some cases I propose to
arrange a row of springs along a transverse bar somewhat in the manner in
which the springs are arranged for a mattress, couch, or other similar article,"
as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4. When suspension springs are made in this
manner, the transverse bar extends across from side to side of the carriage,
and the upper ends of the springs are secured to a corresponding transverse
bar fixed to the under side of the carriage. In Fig. 9, I have shewn a plan
of adapting these improved springs to a two-wheeled carriage, such as a gig
or tilbury, in place of the ordinary flat or elliptical springs. The body of the
carriage is suspended in front from short upright standards i, by joints or
shackles, and the back part of the body is connected by means of scroll irons
on each side to two pairs of springs, made of sufficient strength to resist
or support the weight to which they will be subjected. I prefer to employ
two pairs of springs, one pair on each side of the carriage; but if it be
thought more advisable, a row of springs similar to those shewn in Figs. 3 and 4,
but of suitable strength, may be placed under or at the back of the body of the
carriage, in place of the two pairs of springs shewn in the Drawing. It will
be evident that these springs may without difficulty be applied to four-wheeled
as well as two-wheeled carriages. In Fig. 10, I have shewn one of these
improved springs adapted to the treadle of a lathe, for the purpose of assisting
in raising the treadle after it has been depressed by the foot of the workman.
I would here observe, that besides the several purposes herein-before set forth,
the improved spring may be applied to a variety of other purposes which it
will not be necessary to mention here in detail, nor will it be necessary to
describe the various modes in which the springs can or may be applied to such
purposes, as the mode of application must in some measure depend upon
circumstances, and will perhaps admit of or require some variation in almost
every case.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me as
aforesaid, and the best means with which I am at present acquainted for
carrying the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that I do not
mean, or intend to confine myself to the precise plans herein shewn and
described for adapting the improved springs to the several purposes to which

page_text: they may be applicable, although I believe the arrangements herein shewn for
such purposes will be found to effect the desired objects in a satisfactory
manner; nor do I intend to claim the exclusive right to employ coiled metallic
springs for the several purposes herein-before mentioned, as I am aware that
coiled or spiral springs have heretofore been employed for similar purposes;
but that which I consider to be new in the above improvements, and therefore
wish to claim as the Invention secured to me, is the peculiar form or construc-
tion of metallic spring shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, or any mere modification
thereof, and the employment of such spring either singly or in sets, for the
several purposes to which it or they may be applicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Paradis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, One thousand eight hundred