IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES OR BED-BOTTOMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES OR BED-BOTTOMS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Samuel II. Reeves, of Brooklyn, New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 18th June 1880, and dated the 24th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES OR BED
BOTTOMS." [A communication from abroad by Samuel H. Reeves, of Brooklyn,
New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in spring mattresses or bed bottoms.
The said Invention comprises a bottom frame-work, upright spiral or helical
springs erected thereon and arranged in rows so that springs in each row are
opposite the spaces between the springs in the adjacent rows, spiral or helical
connecting springs extending from the top coils of the upright spiral or helical
springs in lines oblique with the length of the mattress or bed bottom and without
crossing one another, and a rim or frame surrounding the top coils of the upright
spiral or helical springs and connected thereto, whereby an almost alsolutely
noiseless and very superior article is produced having a resting surface which, yielding
easily at all points, will conform perfectly to the contour of the occupant and afford
great comfort. Preferably all parts will be made of metal so as not to harbor
vermin.
The said Invention also comprises a spring mattress or bed bottom composed of
a bottom frame-work made of two independent sections arranged side by side, two
series of upright spiral or helical springs erected thereon and arranged so that the
springs in the several rows of each series are opposite the spaces between the
springs in the adjacent series and the innermost rows of springs in the two series
are opposite cach other, two series of spiral or belical connecting springs extending
ID 671

page_text: from the top coils of the upright spiral or helical springs in each series and
extending in lines oblique to the length of the mattress or bed bottom, and without
crossing one another, links connecting the top coils of the rows of upright spiral or
helical springs of the two series which are adjacent to each other, and a rim or
frame made of two sections surrounding the top coils of the upright spiral or helical 5
springs connected thereto and hinged to each other, whereby an article having all
the advantages above set forth is made capable of folding longitudinally to facilitate
its transportation or the cleaning of a bedstead on which it may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING MATTRESSES OR BED
BOTTOMS." A communication from abroad by Samuel H. Reeves, of Brooklyn,
New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in spring mattresses or bed-bottoms.
The said Invention comprises a botton framework, upright spiral or helical springs
erected thereon and arranged in rows so that the springs in each row are opposite
the spaces between the springs in the adjacent rows, spiral or helical connecting
springs extending from the upper or top coils of the upright spiral or helical springs
in oblique lines with regard to the length of the mattress or bed bottom and
without crossing one another, and a rim or frame surrounding the upper coils of
the upright spiral or helical springs and connected thereto, whereby an almost
noiseless and very superior article is produced, having a resting surface which,
yielding easily at all points, will conform perfectly to the contour of the occupant
and afford great comfort. All the parts are preferably made of metal so as not to
harbor vermin.
The said Invention also comprises a spring mattress or bed bottom composed of
a bottom framework made of two independent sections arranged side by side, two
series of upright spiral or helical springs erected thereon and arranged so that the
springs in the several rows of each series are opposite the spaces between the
springs in the adjacent series and the innermost rows of springs in the two series
are opposite each other, two series of spiral or helical connecting springs extending
from the upper coils of the upright spiral or helical springs in each series and
extending in lines oblique to the length of the mattress or bed bottom, and without
crossing one another, links connecting the upper coils of the rows of upright spiral
or helical springs of the two series which are adjacent to each other, and a rim or
frame made of two sections surrounding the top coils of the upright spiral or helical
springs connected thereto and hinged to each other, whereby an article having all

page_text: the advantages above set forth is made capable of folding longitudinally to
facilitate its transportation or the cleaning of a bedstead on which it may be used.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan of a spring bed bottom embodying my improvements and
composed of two sections.
Figure 2 is an end view thereof shewing in full lines one of the two sections
comprising the bed bottom folded upon the other, and in dotted lines the said
section laid out flat beside the other in its normal position.
Figure 3 is a plan of a non-sectional spring bed bottom constructed according to
this Invention.
Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
The bottom framework of the spring-bed bottom may be of any suitable
construction (such for instance as that illustrated) and composed of a number of
longitudinal metal slats A, A³, and connecting cross-slats B, B', the slats B¹ being
arranged obliquely.
C, C¹, represent series of spiral or helical springs supported, in the present
instance, upon the longitudinal slats A, A', of the bottom framework in upright
positions. The upper coils of these springs C, C₁, are connected preferably in
oblique lines, as shewn, by secondary springs D, D', which are represented in the
Drawing as of spiral or helical form. These secondary springs may be connected to
the main springs by simply bending their ends around the coils of the main springs
or in any ather suitable manner. It will be readily understood that connections
susceptible of yielding under tensile strains and capable of flexure from transverse
strains are thus formed. The said connections between the main springs are very
desirable for the reason that they enable the main springs to assume various
positions, enabling them to better adapt themselves to the contour of the bodies of
occupants of the bed bottom. The main springs are thus, for instance, enabled to
shift or tilt laterally and to move with greater independence relatively to each
other than is the case with the ordinary connections; moreover, the connections
themselves, inasmuch as they are susceptible of yielding in every direction, trans-
versely as well as longitudinally, are much more comfortable than ordinary
connections, as by their employment I am enabled to produce a spring bed bottom
having a bearing or resting surface capable of yielding in every direction at all
points, a desideratum not hitherto attained.
As represented in Figures 1 and 2, the springs C of one series are connected
independently of the springs C₁ of the other series by the secondary springs or
connections above referred to, the adjacent rows of springs in the two series being
preferably connected by links E. A rim G of rectangular form arranged around
the outermost springs C, C', and secured to the top coils thereof by metal clips f
surrounding the said coils and rivetted to the rim completes the top or resting
surface of the bed-bottom. The rim G, shewn in Figures 1 and 2, is formed of
metal slats and in two three sided parts or sections, connected at their ends by
hinges a. When thus constructed and the two series of springs are connected by
links as aforesaid, the whole bed-bottom may be folded up longitudinally, one
section upon another, the bottom framework being made in two parts or sections
to permit of this folding, as shewn. If desirable, instead of forming the upper rim
of two three-sided pieces hinged together, I may use a rim composed of two
rectangular frames, as represented by the additional slats b, shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 1.
In the bed bottom shewn in Figure 3 there is but one series of spiral springs C
connected by secondary spiral springs D, and the rim G is unprovided with joints.
The bottom framework is connected throughout. This form of bed-bottom is
intended for narrow beds, that is to say, beds which are not so bulky in their
nature as to render it desirable to fold them.
If desirable, I may use in lieu of or in addition to the connecting springs D a
metallic elastic webbing extending and occupying the space between the tops of
the main springs C or C, C², and connected thereto and to the rim G. I can thus

page_text: produce an easily yielding and hence exceedingly comfortable resting or bearing
surface which will support the body of the occupant at all points.
It will be seen that by the said Invention I produce a very simple, cheap, and
superior bed-bottom, affording greater comfort than those heretofore generally used
by reason of its increased capability of conforming to the contour of the body of an
occupant.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The combination in a spring mattress or bed bottom of the bottom
framework, the upright spiral or helical springs erected thereon and arranged in
rows so that the springs in each row are opposite the spaces between the springs in
the adjacent rows, the spiral or helical connecting springs extending from the upper
coils of the upright spiral or helical springs in oblique lines with regard to the
length of the mattress or bed-bottom without crossing one another, and a im or
frame surrounding the upper coils of the upright spiral or helical springs and
connected thereto, substantially as above set forth.
Second. The combination in a spring mattress or bed-bottom of a bottom
framework formed of two independent sections arranged side by side, two series of
upright spiral or helical springs erected thereon and arranged so that the springs in
the several rows of each series are opposite the spaces between the springs in the
adjacent series and the innermost rows of springs in the two series are opposite
each other, the two series of spiral or helical connecting springs which extend from
the upper coils of the upright spiral or helical springs in each series in a line
obliquely to the length of the mattress or bed-bottom without crossing one another,
the links which connect the top coils of the rows of upright spital or helical springs
of the two series adjacent to each other, and a rim or frame inade of two sections
surrounding the upper coils of the upright spiral or helical springs connected thereto
and hinged to each other, substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.