IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BEDS OR MATTRESSES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR COUCHES AND THE LIKE
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Lokie, of Detroit, in the State of Michigan,
temporarily at the Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BEDS OR
MATTRESSES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR COUCHES AND THE LIKE." (Partly a com-
munication from abroad by Charles Auringer, of the State of Michigan, in the
United States of America.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lokie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1879.
JOHN LOKIE, of Detroit, in the State of Michigan, temporarily at the Office for
IMPROVEMENTS
Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"
IN SPRING BEDS OR MATTRESSES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR COUCHES AND THE LIKE."
(Partly a communication from abroad by Charles Auringer, of the State of
Michigan, in the United States of America.)
This Invention consists in a new form of spring mattress made preferably almost
entirely of spiral springs, wire and a slender wood or other framing.
It possesses the advantage that every part of it even the top frame is equally
elastic to the downward pressure, while almost perfectly rigid to a horizontal
strain.
It is composed of two frames an upper and lower one, and a brace or series of
braces to keep the springs and frames rigid, except in a vertical direction. The
lower frame is the basis in which the spiral springs rest, and to which they are
secured. The upper frame is made to conform in outside contour with the lower
frame, and is made of light flexible material jointed together in any convenient
manner. The tops of the springs are fastened to this frame, in such manner that
it moves with them perpendicularly, and by means of oblique bracing between
frames the entire surface of the springs and frame is kept from swaying. The
upper frame is, preferably, a mere skeleton or ring, the shape of the outside
contour of the bed, and the outside springs are fastened to it, preferably, by steel
staples. The other springs are fastened to the outside springs by means of wires,
Dries G21

page_text: hooks, or interlacing work passing from side to side, or from the top of each spring
to the adjacent ones. The brace or braces can be arranged in various modes on the
principle of tying obliquely in opposite directions.
The plan I prefer is to fasten the wire to each corner of the upper frame, and to
the centre of each side and end of the lower frame, passing entirely round the
bed. On each side and end there are consequently two oblique ties meeting at
the centre of the outer side lath of the lower frame. In order to make these braces
as parallel as posible, I sometimes fasten them on blocks, pegs, staples, or other stout
projections from their respective frames, and sometimes tie them only from corner
to corner, the two ties crossing in the middle of the side.
Care must be taken that the projecting staples do not project sufficiently as to
strike the opposite frame, and form a solid support when pressed upon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Lokie, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th February
1880.
JOHN LOKIE, of Detroit, in the State of Michigan, temporarily at the Office for
Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRING BEDS OR MATTRESSES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR COUCHES AND THE LIKE."
Partly a communication from abroad by Charles Auringer, of the State of Michigan,
United States of America.
This Invention consists in a new form of spring mattress made preferably almost
entirely of spiral springs, wire, and a slender wood or other framing.
It possesses the advantage that every part of it even the top frame is equally
elastic to the downward pressure, while almost perfectly rigid to a horizontal
strain.
It is composed of two frames an upper one A, and lower one B (referring to.
Fig. 1), and a brace or series of braces C, C, to keep the springs D and frames
rigid, except in a vertical direction. The lower frame B is the basis on which the
spiral springs rest, and to which they are secured. The upper frame A is made to
conform in outside contour with the lower frame, and is made of light flexible
material jointed together in any convenient manner. The tops of the springs are
fastened to this upper A frame in such a manner that it moves with them,
perpendicularly, and by means of oblique bracing between frames C, C, the entire
surface of the springs and frame is kept from swaying. The upper frame is,
preferably, a mere skeleton or ring, the shape of the outside contour of the bed, and
the outside springs are fastened to it, preferably, by steel staples. The other
springs are fastened to the outside springs by means of wires; hooks, or interlacing
work passing from side to side, or from the top of each spring to the adjacent
ones.
Sometimes when it is desirable on the score of economy to have fewer springs,
the upper frame is made more rigid. Thus by making it of stout laths (as in
Fig. 2) the laths will give sufficient support in the intermediate spaces, but this I
do not claim, except in combination with my diagonal ties.
The brace or braces can be arranged in various modes on the principle of tying
obliquely in opposite directions.
The plan I prefer is to fasten the wire to each corner of the upper frame, and to
the centre of each side and end of the lower frame, passing entirely round the
bed.
On each side and end there are consequently two oblique ties meeting at the
centre of the outer side lath of the lower frame. Or instead of a single set of
bracings, I have two sets of braces and either fasten one brace to every corner of a
frame and the centre of the other frame, or I firmly lock the two braces to each
other in the centre, and either let them cross or return to their own frame. A
single side of each of these forms of bracing is seen in Figs. 4 and 5.
In order to make these braces as parallel as possible, I sometimes fasten them on
blocks, pegs, staples, or other stout projections from their respective frames, and
sometimes tie them only from corner to corner, the two ties crossing in the middle
of the side.
Care must be taken that the projecting staples do not project sufficiently to
strike the opposite frame, and form a solid support when pressed upon.
For couches, cushions and the like, I sometimes use strips of steel curved into
the required shape (see Fig. 3), the ends fastened by screws or other suitable means
to a base of wood or other material, so that the springs form an arch over the base.
This base is fastened to a frame of suitable dimensions, so that the springs can play
inside and can be removed from the frame if desirable at any part without

page_text: disturbing the upholstering or trimming which is secured to the frame over the
tops of the springs. By the use of these springs half of the hair and labour of
upholstering can be saved, and the whole is much lighter and is adjustable to any
required height and shape. To prevent noise, especially with spiral springs, I usually
place a piece of twine running under the springs where they abut on the frame, so
that in violent oscillations they may strike the twine instead of the frame, a strip
of thick cloth or other soft material will do nearly as well.
Having now described my Invention and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new
and desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
First. The manufacture, herein described, of spring beds, couches and the like,
braced with oblique or diagonal bracing, so as to be almost perfectly rigid laterally
while flexible vertically.
Second. The manufacture of spring beds with a skeleton upper frame, and the
more central springs hooked together and to the outer ones, or the frames by means of
metallic wires or their equivalent with hooked ends, substantially as described.
Third. The combined arrangement and construction of spring beds or couches,
substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lokie, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JOHN O. O'BRIEN,
•
Clerk to W. P. Thompson & Co.,
British & International Patent Agents,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool,
and
323, High Holborn, W.C.
JOHN LOKIE. (L.S.)