IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER SURFACES TO SIT OR RECLINE ON
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Maw, of the Doncaster Iron Works, York-
shire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER SURFACES TO SIT OR RECLINE ON."
Sealed the 23rd March 1858, and dated the 7th January 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Maw at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th January
1858.
I, EDWIN MAW, of the Doncaster Iron Works, Yorkshire, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS AND OTHER SURFACES TO SIT OR RECLINE ON," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
metallic bedsteads and other surfaces to sit or recline on. For these
purposes, in constructing and fixing metal laths, each lath is formed with
a slot or opening at one end, or otherwise suitable to attach that end to
a side or end rail; the other end of the lath has fixed to it an axis or
stud, or is formed with an opening or slot to receive the stem of an axis or
stud, on which a fastener is placed and capable of rotating; on the side or
end rail where such fastener comes, there is formed an incline, by preference
a curved incline, and there is a slot or opening formed through the rail to
admit of the passage of the fastener, on the turning of which it not only
fastens the end of the rail, but, by acting against the incline, causes the
fastener to act as a stretcher to the lath. In forming the surface or frame to
receive the mattrass, cushion, bed, or seat, angle iron or bent iron is used in
place of flat laths, and which are connected to the side or end rails in any
convenient manner; on these longitudinal or transverse framings or surfaces,

page_text: bent springs are applied, the two ends of each of which are supported by two
of the angle or bent irons, and such ends are retained from moving from their
proper places. The springs are, by preference, arranged to alternate in respect
to their points of bearing in such manner that, where a neighbouring spring
rests by its two ends on two of the angle or bent irons, the next spring by its
two ends rests on two other of the parallel angle or bent irons, which are one
on either side of one of the irons on which one of the ends of the neighbouring
spring rests. By these means the mattrass, cushion, bed, or seat will rest on
the upper surface of numerous bent springs, the ends of which are capable
of free movement on their respective points of bearing. In constructing testers
or upper framings of bedsteads, angle or bent iron or other metal is used in
place of the rods and sections of metal heretofore employed; and to facilitate
the fixing of drapery to such testers or upper framings, the same are perforated
with numerous holes.
When making a portable bedstead, the lower frame is composed of three
boxes or frames, which are capable of being fixed when brought together; each
of these three parts is capable of being used as a seat or ottoman, the upper
surface being made with springs, as above explained, or otherwise formed with
an elastic top. It is preferred that two of these parts should be of the same
size to be used as the two ends, whilst the other or central one should be of
larger dimensions, and the two which are alike are made with one surface or
side to be raised and lowered, and capable of being retained at any angle by
rule joints and stops. The three parts are arranged to form packing cases
when being transported from place to place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Maw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
July 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
MAW, of the Doncaster Iron Works, Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edwin Maw, Her special licence, that I, the said Edwin Maw, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edwin
Maw, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF METALLIC BEDSTEADS, AND OTHER SURFACES TO SIT OR RECLINE ON," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edwin Maw, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Edwin Maw, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-
The
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
metallic bedsteads and other surfaces to sit or recline on. For these purposes
in constructing and fixing metal laths, each lath is formed with a slot or opening
at one end, or otherwise suitable to attach that end to a side or end rail.
other end of the lath has fixed to it an axis or stud, or is formed with an
opening or slot to receive the stem of an axis or stud, on which a fastener is
placed and capable of rotating on the side or end rail; where such fastenér
comes there is formed an incline, by preference a curved incline, and there is
a slot or opening formed through the rail to admit of the passage of the
fastener, on the turning of which it not only fastens the end of the rail, but
by acting against the incline causes the fastener to act as a stretcher to the
lath. In carrying out this part of my Invention, each lath at one end is
formed with a button or catch on the under side on an axis, see Figure A;
this button or catch passes through an opening formed through the side or end
rail, and when through, the button or catch is turned partly round. On the
under side of the rail is fixed an incliné, against which the outer edge of the
button or catch presses; the button or catch and the slot in the rail are
formed in such manner that the button or catch may pass through the slot
when the catch or button is in a transverse direction in respect to the lath, but
when the button or catch is turned nearly one-fourth of a circle, the button or
catch comes nearly at right angles to the slot in the rail. In forming the
surface or frame to receive the mattress, cushion, bed, or seat, angle iron or
bent iron is used in place of flat laths, and which are connected to the side or
end rails in any convenient manner. On these longitudinal or transverse

page_text: framings or surfaces bent springs are applied, the two ends of each of which
are supported by two of the angle or bent irons, and such ends are retained
from moving from their proper places. The springs are by preference arranged
to alternate in respect to their points of bearing in such manner that, where a
neighbouring spring rests by its two ends on two of the angle or bent irons, the
next spring, by its two ends, rests on two other of the parallel angle or bent
irons, which are one on either side of one of the irons on which one of the
ends of the neighboring spring rests. By these means the mattress, cushion,
bed, or seat will rest on the upper surface of numerous bent springs, the ends
of which are capable of free movement on their respective points of bearing.
Figure 1 shows a section of part of a bedstead or frame for a seat. a, a,
are laths of angle or bent iron, and b, b, are a series of bent springs, the rows
of which are arranged to step alternately on the laths b, b, as shown. In
constructing testers or upper framings of bedsteads, angle or bent iron or other
metal is used in place of the rods and sections of metal heretofore employed,
and to facilitate the fixing of drapery to such testers or upper framings the
same are perforated with numerous holes, by which the drapery may readily
be sewn to the tester by passing a needle and thread through the drapery and
through holes in the metal tester or upper framing.
:
When making a portable bedstead, the lower frame is composed of three
boxes or frames, which are capable of being fixed when brought together;
each of these three parts is capable of being used as a seat or ottoman, the
upper surface being made with springs, as above explained, or otherwise formed
with an elastic top. It is preferred that two of these parts should be of the
same size, to be used as the two ends, whilst the other or central one should
be of larger dimensions, and the two which are alike are made with one
surface or side to be raised and lowered and capable of being retained at any
angle by rule joints and stops. The three parts are arranged to form packing
cases when being transported from place to place. Figure 2 shows a side
view of a bed constructed according to this part of the Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Maw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight
Witness,
GEO. PITT.
EDWIN MAW. (L.S.)