Improvements in Spring Mattresses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Mattresses.
I HERMANN REINHOLD of Händelstrasse 2, Berlin in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to spring mattresses in which a central, more or less, non
elastic sheet for instance a piece of wire chain netting is stretched within a strong
framework by the tension of one or more series of spiral springs connecting it to said
framework.
Heretofore it has been sought to keep up the central portion of such mattresses and
prevent the same from sagging by means of a number of strutts fastened at one end
to the beam below the springs and at the other end to the said non elastic sheet at or
near the points of connection of the latter with the springs.
With this construction however the depressing of the mattress by a load thereon
will unduly distend the springs and take the tension of the latter from the sheet by
reason of the relative approach of the ends of the two sets of trusses increasing with
the downward displacement of the ends supporting the sheet.
It is the object of this invention to improve the attachment of the said trusses or to
supersede them by other devices adapted to hold up the sheet without the drawback
mentioned.
According to this invention the trusses are arranged substantially as aforesaid but
they are elastically connected to the frame work so that with downward pressure on
their outer or sheet ends they may be adapted to give slightly in the direction of
their length so that the sheet may be kept stretched by the spiral springs.
The trusses may also be arranged crosswise at or near the centre of the mattress
frame so that their thrust on the sheet is outward and tends to stretch the sheet, they
being in this case also elastically fastened to the framework to give in direction of
their length.
Or in place of the said trusses, two sets of jointed levers may be employed the end
of the lower lever bears on a cross beam, the end of the upper lever is attached to
the sheet, the two sets being arranged parallel to each other with the joint or elbows
of each pair of levers directed away from the corresponding joint or elbow of the
opposite pair. The joints of these opposite pairs of levers are connected by spiral
springs so that the action of the latter tends to straighten the levers and lift the
sheet.
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The same effect may also be obtained by fastening a cross beam below the mattress
a series of C springs bearing against the under side of the sheet for instance on two
parallel-beams a series of springs resembling D springs bearing on the two beams at
the ends and supporting the mattress along a cross centre' line and two series of
C springs each bearing on one of the beams and branching outward to support the
mattress at a certain distance on either side of the centre line.
D
3
A 1900
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Mattresses:
I, HERMANN REINHOLD of Händelstrasse, 2, Berlin, in the German Empire,
5 Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 spring mattresses in which a central more or less non-

page_text: elastic sheet, for instance a piece of wire-chain-netting is stretched within a strong
framework by the tension of one or more series of spiral springs connecting it to said
framework.
Heretofore it has been sought to keep up the central portion of such mattress and
prevent the same from sagging by means of a number of struts fastened at one end to
the beam below the springs and at the other end to the said non-elastic sheet at or
near the points of connection of the latter with the springs.
With this construction however the depressing of the mattress by a load thereon
will unduly distend the springs and take the tension of the latter from the sheet by
reason of the relative approach of the ends of the two sets of struts increasing with
the downward displacement of the ends supporting the sheet.
It is the object of this invention to improve the attachment of the said struts or to
supercede them by other devices adapted to hold up the sheet without the drawback
mentioned.
According to this invention, the struts are arranged substantially as aforesaid but
they are elastically connected to the framework so that with downward pressure on
their outer or sheet ends they may be adapted to give slightly in the direction of their
length so that the sheet may be kept stretched by the spiral springs.
The struts may also be arranged crosswise at or near the centre of the mattress
frame so that their thrust on the sheet is outward and tends to stretch the sheet, they
being in this case also elastically fastened to the framework to give in direction of
their length.
Or in place of the said struts, two sets of jointed levers may be employed, the
end of the lower lever hears on a cross beam, the end of the upper lever is attached
to the sheet, the two sets being arranged parallel to each other with the joint or elbow
of each pair of levers directed away from the corresponding joint or elbow of the
opposite pair. The joints of these opposite pairs of levers are connected by spiral
springs so that the action of the latter tends to straighten the levers and so lift
the sheet.
A somewhat similar effect may also be obtained by fastening on cross beams below
the mattress a series of C springs bearing against the under side of the sheet, for
instance on two parallel beams a series of springs resembling D springs bearing on the
two beams at the ends and supporting the mattress along a cross centre line and two
series of C springs, each bearing on one of the beams and branching outward to
support the mattress at a certain distance on either side of the centre line.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view of
the mattress with struts as usually made. Fig. 2 illustrates the effect of placing a
load thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan view and Fig. 4 a vertical longitudinal section of the
mattress with struts connected according to this invention. Fig. 5 illustrates the
modified arrangement of struts hereinbefore mentioned. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate
the modification in which the jointed levers replace the struts. Fig. 8 shows the
mattresses supported by curved springs. a is the frame having the end cross bars a¹ a¹
over which the mattress is slung, said mattress consisting of the wire chain net-work c
distended by the spiral springs b, d are the struts heretofore fixed to the lower end
cross-beams a² a².
According to this invention the struts in place of being firmly connected to the
beams a' a are hooked on the hooks which are made elastic in the direction of their
length, and the shanks e of which are passed through sockets in the special cross-
beams a placed near the ends of the mattress, and are secured by nuts s screwed onto
said shanks.
By this means when a downward thrust is given to the mattress the ends of the
struts connected thereto will no longer move in an arc of a circle but will move
vertically downward distending the hooks f.
By tightening or loosening of the nuts 8 it is possible to equalize unequal tensions,
which might be found at various places on the surface of the mattress. The whole'
row of struts d together, can also be moved forward or back if the cross-beams a³ or
a* or a are made movable on the mattress-frame. Instead of making the hook with

page_text: a spiral spring therein a spring f could also be placed around the shank e between
cross-beam and nut. Fig. 5 shows such a device, where special cross beams at are
used nearer to the centre of the mattress, and the struts, which otherwise are opposite
to one another, cross each other in this instance.
Another device for the vertical motion of the ends of the supports for the purpose
of raising the netting c is shown by Fig. 6. On the cross beams a are arranged the
jointed levers m n hinged to the beams at i. The upper ends of these jointed levers
engage in the netting c.
The connecting joints o of each two oppositely situated jointed levers are con-
nected with one another by a strong wire-spiral-spring p, which tends to draw the
joints close to one another. The consequence of this being an upward pressure on
the mattress surface. Of course the spring p yields to a load on the mattress, as
shown in Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I déclare that what
I claim is :-
1. A mattress having struts d fastened in such a manner, that each is suspended on
a bolt or hook with a spring made or inserted therein so that the strut can yield in
the direction of its length in consequence of the elastic nature or attachment of the
bolt substantially as set forth.
2. A mattress having two sets of jointed levers m n each pair hinged on a cross
beam at one end and supporting the mattress at or by the other, with springs
connecting the joints o thereof substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.