Improvements in and relating to Mattresses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mattresses.
I, OTTO SCHRÖDER, of 56, Colonnenstrasse, Schönenberg, near Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Foreman Mechanic, 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:-
-
This invention relates to mattresses and more particularly to novel means
employed to support wire woven or spring mattresses, so that the sagging of the
bottom of the mattress is prevented as much as possible without interfering with
the necessary elasticity of the same. If the ordinary wire woven mattresses
are not supported they permanently give way in time in the centre as the metal
strips from which the mattress is built up and the connecting eyes of the
same stretch beyond their point of elasticity, and, in some cases, even draw
asunder.
To support the mattress bottoms the improved means are applied, and they may
be divided generally into two separate constructions or types.
First, certain arrangements which are connected to the mattress bottom only,
and, second, certain other arrangements which are connected to the sides of the
bed frame containing or carrying the mattress. In the first case the support
is suspended. In the second case the support is a fixed one.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates different modifications of the
two improved types of mattress support, as follows:-
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a mattress bottom in which the sagging is
prevented by the stretching of a spring.
Figures 2 and 3 show the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 applied to a
camp bedstead.
Figure 4 is a transverse section through a mattress bottom in which the support
is fixed to the bed frame and operates through angle levers.
Figure 4 illustrates the pieces or supports which transfer the pressure from
the mattress to other portions of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a transverse section in which a fixed support is used and straight
double levers.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of a mattress with suspended support in which
the central spring is replaced by a rod.
Figure 6 is a transverse section illustrating another modification of the sus-
pended device.
Figure 6 shows a further modification of Figure 6 in which the rods acting on
the springs are curved and connected linkwise.
Figure 7 is a transverse section of a mattress in which the sagging is taken
up by a straight rod with spring.
In all the modifications illustrated in the drawings as hereinbefore described
similar letters indicate similar parts.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent the device modified to support the mattress bottom
in a folding camp bedstead.

page_text: The bottom a is constructed in the ordinary manner from wire rings and eyes.
The edges of the mattress bottom are fastened to longitudinal rods 6 running
along on either side from the foot to the top of the camp bedstead. At one or
more parts of the mattress bottom the improved supports are placed to prevent
injurious sagging or bending. To attach the supports, pieces or props chaving
the shape shown in Figure 4* are fastened to the mattress, and these pieces crun
through the lower ends of draw bars d which are pivoted at their upper ends
on the rods b, the said draw bars carrying between them a spiral spring such
as e. When the mattress is used the weight or pressure on the same is transferred
to the spring, drawing or stretching it, while, on removing the weight
or pressure, the spring returns the mattress to its original form. The dotted
lines in Figure 1 clearly show the position taken when the mattress bottom is
sagged or bent, and therefore illustrates clearly the re-action of the spring e.
The modified arrangement shown in Figure 4 of the drawings is constructed
and operates as follows;The mattress bottom a is attached to pieces or props f
and these in turn at their lower ends are attached to angle levers gg which are
pivotally supported on fixed arms h, the said arms h being securely fixed in a
stationary position to the bed frame i carrying the mattress. The longitudinal
edges of the mattress bottom a in this modification are also constructed so as
to be threaded or carried upon rods b b. Bars are attached at their upper
ends to the rods b while their lower ends are pivotally attached to the arms g¹
of the angle levers g¹g. A spring e is attached to the ends gg of the angle
levers g¹g, and it is evident that when the mattress is carrying weight and
sags, that the spring e will be stretched and absorb or take up the said weight,
the tension or pressure being transferred to the spring by the pieces for
the rods according to the position of the weight upon the mattress. The dotted
lines indicate the position the mechanism would assume under such pressure.
Of course immediately the weight is taken off the mechanism would return
the mattress bottom into its first position, marked a.
Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates a certain modification in which the angle
levers just described are altered into straight double arm levers.
alteration a parallel cr vertical lowering of the mattress edges under weight
By this
is obtained. If the mattress bottom is only supported by a single lever or
simple props and draw bars, then as these supports move radially, the mattress
bottom must have its individual links stretched or drawn apart In Figure 5
the wire bottom a is supported by the pieces or props f between which is
arranged the spiral spring e. Arms are rigidly attached to the bed frame
of the mattress i. Pivoted upon the arms are the double straight levers P
and the arms of these levers are connected with the spring e by the links m
while the arms 11 of the levers are connected with the rods b
of the mattress bottom by the bars k. When the mattress bottom is
weighted the edges 6 of the said bottom a sink down vertically in such a manner
that all the different portions of the mechanism take up the positions clearly
shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. It is evident that the mattress edges will
sink down vertically under all circumstances no matter whether the weight
operates directly on the sides or on the middle of the mattress bottom. Further,
it is evident that the spiral spring e could be re-placed by a rod and the con-
necting links mm by springs. Such a modified arrangement is represented
clearly in Figure 5*.
Figure 6 illustrates in transverse section and in ground plan a method of
support not attached directly to the bed frame but suspended from the mattress
bottom itself. Transverse rods o are preferably made of the configuration shown
clearly in elevation and attached to the longitudinal rods b. Draw rods p of
the shape shown in the plan are provided pivoted at their outer ends to the
rods and attached at their inner ends to the spring e. Props or pieces f are
attached at their top ends to the mattress and at their bottom ends to the
spring € and bars P, and it is evident that pressure cr weight

page_text: a
upon the said mattress will be transferred to the springs e in such
manner that the sagging of the bottom a is absorbed by
the tension springs e, the whole mechanism assuming the position shown in
dotted lines clearly in Figure 6. This modification, however, has certain dis-
advantages compared with that last described as the bottom can be easily
pressed towards one side.
Figure 7 shows a further modification of the device last described with refer-
ence to Figure 6. The draw bars p are in this case not fixed to transverse rods,
such as o, connecting the mattress sides, but to the permanent bed frame i.
The props or pieces f transfer the pressure when the mattress is used from the
bottom a to the draw bars p and to the spring e situated between them and
this spring is put in tension so that the sagging of the mattress is absorbed
and when the pressure is removed the bottom a is brought back into its original
position.
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:-
1. An arrangement for supporting mattress bottoms so constructed and con-
stituted that the edges of the mattress are carried on rods, such as b, while
bars, such as k, are also carried on the rods and on the arms of levers, such
as, while the said levers are pivotally carried upon brackets fixed to the
mattress frame in such a position that the other ends of the said levers are
connected directly or indirectly to a spiral spring, such as e, and to props or
pieces, such as f, which connect the bottom of the mattress with the said spring
and said end of the levers.
2. A modification of the arrangement for supporting mattress bottoms claimed
in Claim 1, consisting in providing (instead of stationary brackets) suitably
bent rods, such as o, transversely stretched under the mattress bottom from
side to side, and attaching to the said rods in one or more places rods, such
as p; the other ends of the said rods being connected to props or pieces, such
as f, which support the mattress and which are also attached, along with the
said rods, to springs, such as e; the whole arrangement forming a suspended
or swinging support.
3. A modification of the arrangement for supporting mattress bottoms claimed
in Claim 1, consisting in connecting the draw rods which carry at their inner
ends the props or supports, such as c and springs such as e, at their outer ends
to the longitudinal bars or rods such as b, of the mattress bottem, such as a.
4. A modification of the arrangement for supporting mattress bottoms claimed
in Claim 1, consisting in connecting the draw rods which carry the props or sup-
ports and spring such as e, at their inner end, to the bed frame of the mattress,
such as i, at their outer end.
TYL 1
111
1
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
And 133, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.