Improvements in Mattresses and Seats.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mattresses and Seats.
HENRY CUMMING, Manufacturing Upholsterer, 50, Arabin Road, Brockley,
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Such articles of my invention shall be of waterproof and unproof material as
required simple and much cheaper than used at present useful to all and superior in
make to those in general use.
The said invention shall consist of flanges made in any direction solutioned to the
waterproof material and stitched to the unproof material at intervals of any direction
or height forming a flat or reeded surface when stuffed and made reversable water-
proof or unproof. Its object in make is that all may clean and remake their own
bedding or seats by simple process opening one side or part as wanted picking,
beating, carding &c. the substance within and replacing the same, dispensing with
the old style of tufting, and can be made any thickness bordered and not bordered
and countersunk for water squabs and padded rooms of asylums.
Dated this 27th day of August 1890.
HENRY CUMMING.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mattresses and Seats.
I, HENRY CUMMING, of 4, Saint Mark's Place, Cheapside, Wimbledon, in
the County of Surrey, late of 50, Arabin Road, Brockley, in the County of
Kent, Upholsterer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and means for making mattresses,
seats and the like, of both waterproof and unwaterproof material, and consists mainly
of partitions, or divisions, placed vertically or otherwise as may be required, between
the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the objects of which are,
Firstly. To construct a mattress or the like in such a manner that, the material
forming the stuffing thereof, is divided into sections, or subsections, so that any part,
or section may be removed, and cleansed, or renewed, and replaced, without
disturbing, or interfering with any other portion thereof.
Secondly. In the case of waterproof mattresses or the like, to entirely dispense
with the old method of connecting the upper and lower surfaces, by the means
technically known as "tufting," thereby avoiding the necessary punctures, or
needles holes in the waterproof material so fatal to the maintenance of a perfect
waterproof surface, in such methods as hitherto adopted.
In order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be fully
understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are cross sections of parts of a mattress or the like, shewing
alternative methods employed by me of forming the said partitions, or divisions, and
the appearance of the mattress or the like previous to being stuffed.
Fig. 3 is also a cross sectional view of part of a stuffed mattress, or the like,
shewing how the flanges of the partitions, or divisions conform to the undulations of
the upper and lower surfaces, technically known as "reeding."
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the diversity of ways in which the divisions or
partitions may be arranged.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of a mattress, provided with a recess formed
within the upper surface for the reception of a water, or other squab for invalids
and other purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect I am guided by the previous determination
as to whether the mattress, or the like to be made is to be wholly waterproof, partly
waterproof, or not waterproof when finished (technically known and hereinafter
referred to as "proof" and "unproof"). In the case of proof mattresses or the
like, I provide strips of proof material, two of which placed face to face, and
fastened together by means of suitable solution are used to form one of the divisions,
or partitions, between the upper and lower proof surfaces of the mattress or the like.
In the accompanying drawings A is the upper proof surface referred to and B the
lower. In Fig. 1, C and D are the strips alluded to, and referred to in the
Provisional Specification as flanges. In fastening C and D together as described
they are left unattached to each other for a certain distance from each edge, so that
these edges may be turned over to form a flange, as at a a¹ and b b¹ Fig. 1. A
narrow strip of similar material e corresponding to the width of a and a¹ combined,
is fastened thereto by means of solution, or solution and stitching, for the double
purpose of adding to their strength, and to prevent the possibility of damp arising
between C and D, and a similar piece c¹, and for a similar purpose, is attached to b
and in the same manner. The partition, or division thus formed is ready to be
placed in position, and having prepared in the manner described the number of
partitions required, and marked the inner surfaces of A and B where said partitions
are to be placed, the face of c' is covered, or painted with solution and placed in the
required position upon B, and when the number required are upon B, and firmly
attached thereto, the ends c may then be connected to A in a precisely similar
manner. The said partitions, or divisions may be placed lengthwise, crosswise
diagonally, or any combination of these positions relatively to the length and
breadth of A, and B, as shewn in Fig. 4, always providing that one end of
each division formed is easily come-at-able for the purpose of placing and
removing the stuffing. In cases where the end of one partition abuts against
the side of another, flanges may be formed upon the end of the one, for attachment
to the side of the other, in any suitable manner. The number of partitions
required being all in position and the solution making the connections perfectly
set, the hair, wool, or other stuffing E, is placed in the divisions formed,
usual way of stuffing such articles, and this may be carried out if desired, so
that A and B may be perfectly flat, or undulating, or reeded, as shewn in Fig. 3,
the flanges a a¹ and conforming to either method.
the
It will be understood that, should any part of A or B become punctured by
accident or otherwise during the wear of the article made, although the stuffing of
the division punctured may become damp, or wet in consequence, the remainder are
in no wise affected thereby, as each division formed is in itself a watertight com-
partment, and the affected stuffing can be easily removed and replaced, and the
puncture in A or B repaired, without removing, or interfering with any of the other
compartments, and this facility forms one of the salient features of my invention.
The outer extremities of A and B may be brought together and solutioned, one to
the other, and the mattress, or the like, bordered in the form of such articles
generally, or A and B may be sewn together as at d Fig. 5.
In cases where B is to be proof, and A unproof, the partitions may be constructed
as at F and G Fig. 1, the bottom of which 6 and 6' and c¹ may be identical with
that of C and D, and fastened to B in the same manner, but in this method c may
be dispensed with, and a and a' sewn, or sewn and solutioned to A, which may be
faced, or covered with silk, or other fancy material as desired, the stuffing being
carried out in the same manner as in the previous method. Mattresses and the like
are sometimes made in this manner, i.e.-one surface proof, and the other unproof,
so as to be reversible in case of sickness, and for other purposes.
When A and B are both of unproof material, I may construct my partitions as
at H, I, Fig. 2, dispensing with c and e¹, or the partition may be of single substance

page_text: as at J Fig. 2, the flanges a and being turned in opposite directions, or both in
the same direction as may be required. In this case a and b may be stitched to A
and B if desired, and the stuffing carried out as before.
In Fig. 3 I have chosen to illustrate the section of a stuffed mattress, or the like,
and shewn the application of C and D as partitions, but it is obvious that either
of the methods described of forming the partitions may be employed without altering
the manner of stuffing, or without confining myself to any particular distance that
the partitions should be apart.
In Fig. 5 I have shewn a method adopted by me in carrying out my invention, of
constructing a mattress with a recess K formed within the upper surface thereof, in
which may be placed a water squab in cases of sickness, or for other purposes, the
mattress generally being constructed in the manner described, provision of course
being made in the disposition and height of the partitions, or divisions, for the
purpose of arranging said recess, Fig. 5 may be made wholly, or partly proof, or
wholly unproof as circumstances may require.
My invention may be employed either proof, or unproof, or partly proof and
partly unproof, in the fitting of padded rooms, or for the seats of coachmen, or for
any other purposes where cushioned surfaces are needed.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the exclusive use of any
particular material as proof, or unproof, nor to any one substance as a solution
for fastening together the different parts in the manner described, but may make
use of any material, or substance, suited for the purpose, without departing from
the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. For improvements in mattresses, seats and the like, the manner of constructing
and building the same, substantially as herein described and shewn by the accom-
panying drawings.
2nd. For improvements in mattresses, seats and the like, the employment of
partitions or divisions constructed in either of the manners herein described, with or
without the supplementary pieces c and cl, solutioned or otherwise connected to the
surfaces A and B, which may be of proof or unproof material, or proof and unproof
material, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by Figs. 1, 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. For improvements in mattresses seats and the like, the manner of arranging
the partitions, or divisions mentioned in the preceding claim, in any direction, or
directions relatively to the length, and breadth of A and B, the method of stuffing,
in sections, or subsections in order than one part may be removed, and replaced.
without disturbing any other part thereof, when cleaning carding, or renewing is
needed, substantially as herein described and shewn by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings
hereunto appended.
4th. For improvements in the construction of mattresses and the like, the
employment of a recess K, for the reception of a water squab, or for other purposes,
substantially as herein described and shewn by Fig. 5 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 6th day of March 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.