Improvements in Spring Bed Mattresses.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr.,
1892
Improvements in Spring Bed Mattresses.
I WILLIAM DAY of 245 Commercial Road, Landport, in the County of
Hampshire, Shop-keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to bed mattrasses and comprises various improvements
hereinafter described.
The main object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, clean, and durable
mattrass.
In making a mattrass according to one form or modification of my invention I
first provide two rectangular frames made of steel or iron angle, or flat bar, these
frames correspond in size to half the length and the whole width of the mattrass I
desire to construct, as my mattrasses are made in two complete separate lengths
afterwards connected by hinged joints.
Across and lengthways of each rectangular frame I fit narrow flat bars of steel
or iron connected to each other and to the frame in such a manner as to form lattice
framing.
The part of my mattrass upon which the bedding is placed consists of a number
of large wire springs of conical and spiral form, and also other smaller spiral springs,
each and all disposed in manner hereinafter described.
The large conical springs are riveted in an inverted vertical position at their
pointed end, or apex, to the lattice framing, where the cross bars intersect each
other, and also where the latter meet on the rectangular frame, the rivets passing
through both the frame and crossbars.
The first-that is the largest-complete turn of the large conical springs, forms
a ring, the second turn or spiral is of considerably less diameter than the ring, but
each of the remaining spirals gradually decreases in diameter until the spring
finishes in one or two turns of very small size, say about half an inch in diameter
more or less as desired, it is this end of the springs which is riveted to the lattice
frame in manner hereinbefore described; the other or large end of the springs form
together when the latter are riveted in place the level or approximately level-
top part of the mattrass upon which the bedding is placed.
Presuming that the conical springs are all riveted in place as described, I
further provide and fit another rectangular steel or iron frame at the top part but.
on the outside of each half mattrass and suitably connect the border or outside row
of conical springs to this frame-which extends all round the border of each half
mattrass-and it is these frames which are connected together by hinges, or hinged
in such a manner that the two parts forming the complete mattrass can be folded
together.
Further, the conical springs are all connected to each other at the top by other
small spiral springs (hereinbefore referred to,) fitted in a horizontal direction, thus
any downward pressure upon the mattrass is communicated to each and every
conical spring by means of the horizontal springs, whereby the pressure is distributed
over the whole mattrass.
The corner, and therefore the other conical springs, are kept in a vertical, or
approximately vertical, position by suitable stays or struts supported and connected
to the rectangular frame or frames; and other struts and stays will be provided
where necessary-probably for instance midway of the width of the mattrass-
giving further support to the whole.

page_text: The essential feature of my improved mattrass is the arrangement and combina-
tion of the vertical and horizontal springs as hereinbefore described.
The mattrass being made wholly or principally of iron or steel and every part
being accessible, it offers little or no opportunity for the secretion of insects, dust,
or dirt of any description.
Dated this 16th day of June 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Bed Mattresses.
1, WILLIAM DAY of 245 Commercial Road, Landport, in the County of
Hants, Spring 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in mattresses, couches or other
articles that contain wire springs, and is designed to secure greater elasticity
under pressure, and consequently greater ease to anyone recumbent upon them.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shows an enlarged plan view of my special spring attachments a.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of a mattress, the springs b, of which are
connected by the spring attachments a, and
Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the kind of spring which I prefer to use, although
springs of the ordinary shape could of course be employed if desired.
The attachment a, has, it will be seen, two hooks standing at right angles to
each other and has also near the angle a small coiled spring a'. These attach-
ments are so constructed that they interlace at the space a, as shown in the centre
of Fig. 2., so that two of them connect four springs together and form an elastic
coupling in the form of a cross which while allowing the desired amount of play in
the direction of their coiled springs, is quite rigid in the opposite direction.
In order to obtain sufficient elasticity in every direction, it is only necessary to
set each alternate pair of couplings so that their springs work in a different line to
those which they adjoin or are nearest to.
The advantage of the spring shown in Fig. 3 is that when compressed, the coils
clear one another, and there is none of the grinding noise sometimes heard in the
springs made in the Figure 8 or hourglass pattern. They are also more elastic
and retain their shape better in use than the ordinary springs. I do not however
claim to have invented these springs but merely to have made an effective and
In Fig. 2,
improved mattress, by combining them with my spring attachment.
c, c, are laths to which the bottoms of the springs are attached. The box or outer
frame of the mattress can be made of wood or sheet metal, in the usual way, and
can be hinged together in two halves for purposes of transit, as with the ordinary
mattress. I construct my frames by preference of strips of sheet or hoop steel.
In this way I construct at small cost a most easy and comfortable mattress, and
one which yields locally to any incumbent weight and thus avoids the discomfort
of too great rigidity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. In a spring mattress, couch, or other article of furniture, the spring coupling
attachment a, for connecting the springs, as herein explained or set forth.

page_text: 2. In a spring mattress or other article of furniture the combination of the
spring attachments a, with the tapering coiled springs b, and with or without a
steel outer frame, as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 17th day of March 1905
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.