Improvements in Woven Wire Mattresses and Bedstead Bottoms.
Year: 1889

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 7th day of January 1892,
allowed, under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1888, an Amendment
of this Specification.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Woven Wire Mattresses and Bedstead Bottoms.
We THOMAS EDMUND WALE, & ALFRED EDMUND WALE both of the firm of
T. E. Wale & Sons of Atlas Works Oozells Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
Our invention has for its object improvements in woven wire mattresses and
bedstead bottoms by which we are enabled by means of bands of woven wire to
considerably strengthen the mesh of such bottoms, and also improve the appearanco
while by means of our improvements in the attachment of such mattresses or bottoms
to the bedstead we gain increased strength and appearance.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice we have appended hereunto three doubled sized sheets of drawings upon
which we have fully illustrated our various improvements together with modifications
thereof which will enable them to be applied to other contingences by any practical
person.
On sheet 1
Figure 1 is a plan of a woven wire mattress A strengthened by the woven wire
bands A¹.
Figure 2 is a cross section through Figure 1 on the line 1-2.
Figure 3 is a similar cross section to Figure 2 but showing a modification.
Figure 4 is a section through the end of the mattress on line 3—4.
Figure 5 is a plan of the underside of one end of a woven wire mattress shewing
our strengthening device to be hereafter described.
Figure is a section through Figure 5 on line 5-6.
On sheet 2
Figure 7 is a view of the foot end of a bedstead shewing our improved means for
attaching the mattress or bottom A to the angle iron D.
Figure 8 is a section through the bottom rail D shewing the connecting hook E in
elevation.
Figure 9 is a similar section to Figure 8 but shewing a modification in the shape
of the connecting rod E.
Figure 10 is a view of the head of a bedstead shewing the attachment of the
mattress or bottom to the tube F.
Figure 11 is a section through the tube F shewing an enlarged view of the clip
attachment H shewn in Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a similar section shewing an elevation of the form of attachment used
for the foot end of the bedstead.
Figure 13 is a similar section shewing a modification in the means of fixing the
attachment clip piece H² to the tube.

page_text: On sheet 3
Figure 14 is a broken off view of one side of the head and foot of a bedstead
shewing means for connecting and elevating the mattress or bottom thereto.
Figures 15 & 16 are modifications of the details of same.
Figures 17 & 18 are broken off views of the head corners of a mattress upon a
bedstead so as to shew our improved form of tightening up plate T.
Referring to sheet 1 of the drawings again we provide the woven wire mattresses or
bottoms A with the strengthening and elastic bands of woven wire or chain links
and springs which may either be placed under as shewn at A¹ Figure 3 or above
or both as shewn by A² Figure 2 and these bands may either be separate from and
fastened to the ends B³ or may be interwoven on or under the net work and-may
run-diagonally-or-any-number-of intermediate bands may be used although we prefer
to-use-them as shewn in Figures 1 and 3 which by means of the centre band tends
to prevent two sleepers from being rolled together and by means of the side bands
from being rolled off the mattress or bottom. We may in place of using the bands
turn over the edges of the woven wire as shewn by A³ Figure 3* as also wrap the
centre into 3 folds as shown by A' in the same figure.
In the case of broad mattresses where metal ends B are used for securing the
woven wire as shewn in Figure 5 we provide under the mattress the strut B' which
may be bent round in one piece and between this and the metal plate B we provide
the centre strut piece B which prevents the deflection of the metal plate B in the
centre which is frequently found to occur in wide mattresses and at the same time
adds but little weight to the mattress.
Referring to sheet 2 of the drawings in Figure 7 we shew our improved mode of
attaching the bedstead bottom A to the cross angle iron D of the bedstead D' which we
effect by means of the bolt E having at one end the hook e¹ which enters the hole a²
provided in the angle iron D and at the other end the screw e which enters the
end B of the bottom A which is secured and tightened by means of the nut e³ but
in place of having the hook end e¹ we may form the mushroom headed stud e
upon the angle iron D as shown by Figure 9 with which stud the eyelet end e³ of
the rod E is made to engage or in case of a cross rod taking the place of the angle
iron D we may form the rod E with an eye to fit the said cross rod.
When the bedsteads are provided with tubular ends as shewn at F Figure 10 we
provide the clip H which is slipped on to the tube F before the ends of the tube are
cast into the end rails, and the tube is left unclosed or slotted for the reception of
the lip h¹ Figures 11, 12, 13. We may however form the attachment with a ring
wholly encircling the tube as shewn by h² Figure 13. The top of this attachment
may either be made with the socket arrangement as shown at h* for receiving the
bolt for tightening up the bottom A or may have the button head h³ for attaching
the reverse end of the button A to.
on.
Referring to Sheet 3 of the drawings we mount our mattress or bedstead bottoms
upon the sides tubes K by means of the cast ends ¹ to which the foot M of the
mattress or bottom is fastened and the cast end which is provided with the
projecting plate having a hole through which the tightening and supporting bolt k
passes having its end screwed into the head N of the mattress or bottom A. These
ends and may be simply cast to fit on the end of the tube K or may be chilled
The tubes K are mounted upon the sides O of the bedstead by means of the
legs P which are provided with the holes p for the adjustment of height by means
of the cross pins p². These legs are made to fold up under the tube K when not in
use as shown by dotted lines p³ the whole forming a light compact and complete
mattress or bottom. In place of the legs P we may support the tube K by means
of cast iron supports R which are provided with the feet r¹ to fit upon the sides O
of the bedstead as shewn by Figure 15 or we may provide them with the dove-tails
for fitting into the sockets of the ends D³ as shewn at S Figure 16.
In the case or ordinary woven wire mattresses we obviate the disadvantage of not
being able to tighten up the mattress without removing it from the bedstead by
reason of the post being in the way by the use of the craned neck angle tightening

page_text: plates similar to those shewn by T in Figures 17 and 18 which brings the bolt heads
from behind the posts D' and allows the mattress A to be tightened while remaining
on the bedstead. We may use any part of these our improvements with or without
the other portion herein set forth."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
make no general claim for making wire mattresses in two complete layers nor to the
use of diagonal strengthening bands but what we claim is :-
First In woven wire mattresses and bedstead bottoms the use of metallic bands
whether woven to or loose from the woven wire fabric for strengthening the same
substantially as & for the purpose herein set forth & shewn by Figures 1, 2 & 3 upon
the drawings.
Second In woven wire mattresses and bedstead bottoms the strengthening strut in
combination with the mattress or bedstead bottom substantially as herein set forth and
shewn by Figure 5 and 6 upon the drawings.
Third The adjustable bolt attachment E for securing the mattresses and bedstead
bottoms to the angle iron D of the bedstead substantially as herein set forth and
shewn by Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Fourth The clip attachment H or H² for securing the mattress and bedstead
bottoms to the tube F of the bedstead substantially as herein set forth & shown by
Figures 10, 11, 12 & 13 upon the drawings.
Fifth In woven wire mattresses and bedstead bottoms the particular modes of
elevating & supporting the mattress or bottom A substantially as herein set forth
& shewn by Figs. 14, 15 & 16 upon the drawings.
Sixth The cast iron supporting brackets and k² substantially as & for the purpose
herein set forth and as shewn upon the drawings.
Seventh In woven wire mattresses the crane necked angle tightening brackets T
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn by Figs. 17 & 18.
Eighth The improvements in woven wire mattresses and bedstead bottoms
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth & shewn upon the 3 sheets of
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of November 1889.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.