IMPROVEMENTS IN TIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR WOVEN WIRE AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTRESSES
Year: 1885

page_text: OTHER Similar mattresses.
1, EDWARD BILLINGTON (Junior) of 13 Hope Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Mattress Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN TIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR WOVEN WIRE AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATTRESSES to be as follows:-
In existing arrangements for tightening up woven wire mattresses one end of the
fabric is secured to a fixed, the other to a movable bar of wood, iron or other
material. This tightening up is effected by means of nuts and screws, the latter
passed through the frame and the movable bar. In this case, if the head of the
screw be outside the frame the end with the nut thereon must project beyond the
movable bar and as a large range of tightening is required; this end projects
considerably under the mattress and the latter being pressed down against it, the
fabric in time is cut or worn through.
Now my invention is designed to avoid this evil. It consists in preventing the
screw from projecting by means of the substitution of a long hollow metal
cylinder, or its equivalent for the nut now used or more strictly, it consists in
placing the screw holding portion of the nut on the side of the movable bar
nearest the end of the frame against which the bolt head rests, or right through
the bar while its purchase is against the further side of the bar. By this means
the entire thickness of the bar can be used for the free end of the bolt (beyond the
nut proper) to extend into, or if the cylinder be used tapped throughout, then
the screw can be passed to a greater or less distance into said cylinder embedded
in the bar. The positions of the nut and head can be reversed.
The said cylinder is screwed in the interior and carries a flange on the exterior
at one end, and fits in a suitable hole in movable bar of mattress.
The thread on the tightening bolt engages with that within the cylinder and
thus by turning the bolt head with a spanner the mattress is tightened.
It will be obvious that the nut could be placed in the frame and the head at the
movable bar, or two nuts could be used instead of head and nut both being of the
tubular pattern, but one of them with a canted or squared head and no feather,
a feather being usually placed on the nuts to prevent them turning in the hole, and
means used also for turning the screw. Or the nuts and screw could be right

page_text: and left handed and both nuts stationary, the bolt only being moved. A plate
secured on the side of the movable bar nearest the bolt head by means of wood,
screws, bolts or other means and having a tapped hole for the bolt would be a
mechanical equivalent for the cylindrical nut, it being by no means necessary that
a tapped cylinder should project through the bar.
The main advantages of this invention are. 1st. a very much shorter bolt can be
used, the injury usually sustained by web bearing upon the projecting bolt below
is entirely avoided. 2nd. the point of effort is transferred from the inner to the
outer edge of the movable bar thus counteracting the tendency of the latter to
turn over.

page_text: Other smlar mattress08.
'I, EDWARD BILLINGTON (Junior) of 13 Hope Street' Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Mattress' Manufacturer 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 :-
In existing arrangements for tightening up woven wire mattresses, one end of
the fabric is secured' to a fixed, the other to a movable bar of wood, iron, or other
material. This tightening up is effected by means of nuts and screws, the latter
passed through the frame or a bracket thereon, and the movable bars. In this
case, if the head of the screw be outside the frame, the end with the nut thereon
must project beyond the movable bar, and as a large range of tightening is required,
this end projects considerably under the mattress, and the latter being pressed
down against it, the fabric in time is cut or worn through.
Now my invention is designed to avoid this evil. It consists in preventing the
screw from projecting by means of the substitution of a long hollow metal cylinder
or its equivalent for the nut now used, or more strictly it consists in placing the
screw-holding portion of the nut on the side of the movable bar nearest the end of
the frame or bracket, against which the bolt head rests, or right through the bar
while its purchase is against the further side of the bar. By this means, the entire
thickness of the bar can be used for the free end of the bolt (beyond the nut
proper) to extend into, or if the cylinder be used tapped throughout, then the
screw can be passed to a greater or less distance into said cylinder, embedded in
the bar. The positions of the nut and head can be reversed.
The invention will be best described by aid of the accompanying drawing. On
sheet 1, it is shown applied to a wooden frame, and on sheet 2 to metallic bedstead.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, Figure 2 elevation showing the wire mattress
secured in position fitted with my improvements, Figure 3 plan of same Figure 4
end view of cylinder G, Figure 5, sectional elevation of metallic bedstead.
A is the frame on which the mattress is stretched, B the bed posts, C the wire
mattress which is secured in any known way at one end, preferably the head of
the bed. D is the movable bar to which the mattress is secured at the other end
E the fixed frame or bracket to which the tightening screw is attached. F a long
screw for drawing up or tightening the wire mattress C. G a hollow cylinder or
elongated nut, secured in the sliding or movable bar D at the one end, or through-
out its length internally is cut a screw thread to receive the tightening bolt F.
The end of the cylinder G is formed, so as to be held securely and from turning in
the bar D, preferably by being made taper, and provided with a lug or feather g,
which fits into a nick or slot provided in the bar D. A square or angular end
with flanges or other head may be employed if found more suitable. When the
mattress is tightened up by the screw, the end of the screw remains embedded
in and protected by the cylinder, and as it does not project under the mattress to
any great extent, friction between the two is avoided and consequently the wear
that would otherwise ensue.

page_text: It will be obvious that the nut or cylinder G could be placed in the frame or
bracket E, and the bolt project through the movable bar with the head secured
thereto, or two cylinders could be used, with a screw between them but one of
them with a canted or squared head and no feather, a feather being usually placed
on the nuts to prevent them turning in the hole, and means used also for turning
the screw. Or the cylinder nuts and screw could be right and left handed, and
both nuts stationary, the bolt only being moved. A plate secured on the side of
the movable bar nearest the bolt head by means of wood screws, bolts, or other
means, and having a tapped hole for the bolt would be a mechanical equivalent for
the cylindrical nut, it being by no means necessary that a tapped cylinder should
project through the bar.
The main advantages of this invention are
1st, a very much shorter bolt can be used the injury usually sustained by web
bearing upon the projecting bolt below is entirely avoided;
2nd, the point of effort is transferred from the inner to the outer edge of the
movable bar, thus counteracting the tendency of the latter to turn over.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1st The herein described improvements in tightening apparatus for woven wire
and other similar mattresses, whereby the bolts used can be made so short as not
to project into the space below the wire netting, even when tightened up, while at
the same time, the thread at the end of the screw is enclosed, and thus kept from
being injured, and from injuring the web.
2nd The tubular cylindrical nut affixed to or passed through the movable bar
carrying the mattress, in combination with a long screw carried by a fixed frame
or bracket, substantially as and for the purposes described.
.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.