AN IMPROVED MATTRASS FOR BEDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Nash, of No. 37, Princes Street, Leicester
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Furniture Dealer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED MATTRASS FOR BEDS."
Sealed the 26th April 1864, and dated the 30th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Nash at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1868.
I, JOHN NASH, of No. 37, Princes Street, Leicester Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Furniture Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MATTRASS FOR BEDS," to be as follows :-
My Invention consists of a combination of the ordinary spring mattrass.
(but without stuffing except at the edges) with the ordinary wool, horsehair,.
or other mattrass, in such a manner that the two combined form one mattrass
answering all the purposes of a bed.
I first construct the spring frame in the ordinary manner, using a thicker
canvass than usual at the top, and in lieu of stuffing the whole surface of the
spring frame I stuff only the edges with the usual edge roll. I next take an
ordinary wool, hair, or other mattrass, and fasten it permanently to the top of
the spring frame by tufting it in the usual manner, taking the cords of the
tufts through the mattrass and canvass, and so fastening the top mattrass to
the springs, leaving a space unfastened all round the edges about a foot in

page_text: width, so as to allow the bed clothes to be tucked underneath. This mattrass
answers all the purposes of a stuffing upon springs and a extra mattrass, as
ordinarily used, and the combination forms a very economical bed, great saving
being also effected in the materials used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Nash in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th April
1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NASH, of No. 37, Princes Street, Leicester Square, London, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her, heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Nash, Her especial licence, that I, the said John Nash,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Nasb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MATTRASS
FOR BEDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Nash,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Nash, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
The improvement consists of a combination of the ordinary spring mattrass
(but without stuffing except at the edges) with the ordinary wool, horse-hair,
or other mattrass, in such a manner that the two combined form one mattrass
answering all the purposes of a bed with the saving of one mattrass.

page_text: I first construct the bottom spring frame in the ordinary manner, only using
a thicker canvass than usual at the top, and instead of stuffing the whole top
surface of this spring frame, as is usually done, I stuff only the edges with the
usual edge roll. This being complete I next take an ordinary wool, hair, or
other suitable mattrass, and form the improved combination by fastening it
permanently to the top of the spring frame by the common method of tufting,
taking the cords of the tufts through the canvass of the spring frame, and in this
manner fastening the top mattress to the spring frame. In fastening the
two together I leave a space all around the edge of about a foot in width
unfastened, so as to allow the bed clothes to be tucked between the edge of
the stuffed mattrass and the spring frame. This combination answers all the
purposes of a stuffing upon springs and an additional mattrass, as ordinarily
used, and forms a very economical bed, and also effects a great saving of
materials. In order to facilitate the tucking-in of the bed clothes, and to
keep the outer edges of the spring frame and mattrass apart, if this should be
desired for more convenience, I modify the combination by fixing upon each of
the top corners of the spring frame, but not projecting, a slight wooden block,
and within the outer edges of the sides of the top mattrass I place a slight
wooden lath of sufficient strength to allow its elasticity to play upon the spring
frame without breaking, and the ends of these laths I fasten to the aforesaid
blocks.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for an
improved mattrass for beds, together with the manner in which the same is to
be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark, in
conclusion, that I claim as my Invention forming an improved mattrass for
beds by combining an ordinary mattrass with a spring frame, substancially in
the manner and for the purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Nash, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.