A NEW SYSTEM OF BEDDING
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Evette, of Lisieux, Department of the
Calvados, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "A NEW SYSTEM OF BEDDING."
Sealed the 9th December 1859, and dated the 17th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Evette at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th June 1859.
I, HENRI EVETTE, of Lisieux, Department of the Calvados, in the Empire
of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A NEW SYSTEM OF BEDDING," to be as follows:-
My improvements apply to mattrasses, bolsters, pillows, and similar articles
enabling them to be easily folded into comparatively small compass for trans-
portation, and I effect this by making the springs of the mattrass, bolster, or
pillow to pivot upon each other in their fastenings, which are of any solid
material, and formed with hinges or joints so that each fastening may, if
required, fold upon the other. The springs may be placed in squares or
circles, rectangularly, octagonally, or sometimes rectangularly within a triangle,
forming double joint, the tension being produced by the torsion of the iron;
in this case the mattrass can only be stretched in a box or frame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henri Evette in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRI
EVETTE, of Lisieux, Department of the Calvados, in the Empire of France,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henri Evette, Her special licence that I, the said Henri Evette
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henri
Evette, 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 "A NEW SYSTEM OF BEDDING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henri Evette, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
'formed, 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 Henri Evette, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had' to the Sheet of Drawings, hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and
letters of reference placed thereon.
In the first place my system consists chiefly in improved springs, and new
modes of connecting and arranging such springs, also of new accessory parts,
the whole serving to obtain easily numerous combinations or applications,
either altogether new or partly in use combined with other less efficacious
means. And first, as regards springs. By a modification in the last spirals of
elastic springs, I replace the usual circular termination by terminations of the
most varied kind resulting from a combination of straight and curved lines, as
shewn in the Drawing, Figure 1, shewing square or rectangular termination;

page_text: Figure 2, termination with a combination of straight with curved lines;
Figure 3, the above terminations with projecting parts to fix the fastenings..
New forms of elastic springs with unequal cones are shewn in diameter at
Figure 4, in elevation at Figure 5, and in both at Figure 6. These springs
can be usefully employed in a great number of cases, some of which I will
now specify; firstly, in constructing seats, couches, or divans, and other articles
where the spring is now placed, so that its upper part is distant from the
projecting point which the cover should attain to give the object the desired
form (see Figure 7) it is necessary to fill up this space with a considerable
quantity of stuffing which would not be necessary if the last spirals of the
spring were made to approach nearer to the point of projection as at Figure 8.
The spring above described with the upper cone larger than the lower (see
Figures 8 and 9) gives this result, and while it causes a considerable saving
in the lining and stuffing, gives greater elasticity, because it extends to the
extreme edge of the object; Figure 10 shews a spring with an arm elongated
after fastening; Figure 11, a spring with a free arm or branch. This arm
or branch may serve to bind the springs together, and form them into combi-
nations of any form or size. With this arm, which may be bent at will, the
most varied outlines may be formed, and in adapting it to support the covering
a considerable saving is effected in the material employed for stuffing; springs
with eliptical spirals are shewn at Figure 12. The cone of these springs has
for base an clipsis instead of a circle, and by means of varied elipses springs
are obtained whose spirals may be more or less elongated as required. All
the improvements shewn in the above Figures, as well as others derived there-
from can be applied to all springs, whether ending in a circular part, or
composed of curved lines, or ending by straight lines or their combination with
curves. The termination of the springs is independant of these improved
arrangements. Finally, as regards the elastic springs, I will now describe an
improvement applicable to all kinds of springs for whatever purpose they.
may be used, namely, a means of preserving them from oxydation, which often
causes the destruction of objects constructed with springs. Hitherto, recourse
has been had to plating, but this operation, besides adding considerably to the
expense, has the inconveniece of making the springs brittle, soft, or devoid of
elasticity. Preservation from oxydation may be achieved by a greatly pre-
ferable process, both as to economy and retention of the essential qualities. of
the springs by employing a coating of an innoffensive substance, which may be.
applied either cold or with a heat so moderate as not to injure the-resistance.
of the metal composing the spring. This process can either be applied. to the
entire spring or for economy only to those parts in contact with the cords,

page_text: lining, et cetera, necessary to be preserved. This, preservative coating can be
applied either with a brush or in any other way. The readiest and most
economical method is to dip the spring into the liquid, either wholly, or only
those parts requiring to be coated. I employ the following substances for this
purpose, namely, paint, varnish, resin, wax, caoutchouc, gutta percha, oils,
glue, mastic, and generally all combinations, mixtures, or solutions whatever,
used for covering and preserving iron from damp. My system of fastenings
consists in a new method of fixing the springs, and collecting them together
by means of fastenings, forming binges. These can be varied in form, and
may be made of any suitable material. Their function is to form hinge, the
arm or branch being either fixed or forming the pivot of the hinge. The
purpose is to enable the springs to be folded against each other, so that an
object constructed in this way may be rolled up like an ordinary mattress.
These fastenings may be made to collect together the springs, either directly
as in Figure 13, or by means of rods or bands placed between the rows of
springs; they may be made of any substance, but flexible material is preferable,
so as to add to the elasticity of the whole (see Figure 14) pieces (of various.
forms and of any substance) for binding the springs together, either the
new springs above described or those already known are shewn at Figure 15..
Accessories are employed in the various articles formed of these springs serving to
prevent their deviation, to maintain their separation, and to give perfect solidity
to the whole, as at Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, which shew stiffening.
bars placed inside the object to sustain the separation of the parts in their
length and breadth. These pieces may be made of various substances, but
iron wire is preferable of such thickness as may be required to give the desired
strength, and formed of two parts joined together in the middle by fastenings
forming hinge. These pieces will thus follow the movements of the springs
which they will at the same time keep in a perpendicular position, and prevent
oscillation. The method of adjusting them is herein-after explained, these
pieces which are very convenient and economical might be replaced, if desired,
by springs already known, which in the same way form a hinge at their centre,
but their employment would be more costly, and they would not afford the
same solidity. At Figure 21 a new torsion spring is shewn; in the centre of
the Figure is a rod in which are sunk two grooves in its length above and
below it. The end of an iron wire forming the rectangle a, b, c, d, is sunk by
one end (d) into a small hole made in the rod so as to be moveable like an
axle, and at the point (e) it is fixed into the groove of the rod so as to render
that point completely immoveable. The part of the wire from this point (e),
to the angle (a) is sunk in the grooves of the rod after having undergone a

page_text: twisting which gives it the spring necessary to act on the whole of the
rectangle a, b, c. d. The lower rectangle is made in the same way so that the
two parts form a double spring and double hinge at its centre which may be
used as already said for the interior of objects, but which may be more specially
applied as stretcher to the extremities of the article. In this case it may be
economically replaced by a piece of the same form that is formed of two
rectangles simply fastened together, and then making a hinge, but without a
spring (Figure 22) or even by a single piece a rectangle without hinge
(Figure 23). The upper and lower parts of all these pieces might be arched
so as to swell out the article as at Figure 24. In objects made in one single
piece, and of considerable size, it would be well to support the centre, either
as in Figure 25, or in some other way. These stretchers might be composed
of two or three separate pieces in the total width (see Figures 26 and 27.)
The means of preserving the springs from oxydation already indicated may
also be applied to all the accessory, parts.
The following is a description of the principal objects of my Invention, and
their mode of construction. Firstly, an elastic bed capable of being rolled up,
extending itself without frame or box, and placed on any kind of bedstead
without mounting or adjusting, light, easy of transport, easily cleaned and
aired, elastic and soft on the edges as well as in the centre, avoiding the
uneasiness resulting from the unequal weight of two persons in the same bed,
in fact, perfectly solid. This bed is formed by assembling the springs by.
means of the fastenings forming hinge into as many rows, and of such breadth
or length as may be necessary for the size of the bed, and according to the
degree of resistance desired. Figure 28 shews profile of a bed in length, and
Figure 29, connexion of two rows of springs above or below the bed. In the
interior and as many other parts as may be found necessary for this kind of
elastic bed, I place between the springs the pieces before mentioned and shewn
at Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, which serve to support the whole firmly
without preventing the bed being rolled up. These pieces are fixed to the
arms or branches of the springs or upon the intermediaries with fastenings of
the same kind as those which serve to connect the springs, and the placing of
these pieces in the bed is shewn at Figures 30 and 31, (T), shewing stretching
rod crossways; (a); fastenings of stretchers; (2), fastenings of springs, and at
Figures 32 and 33, (T), shewing stretching rod lengthways; (a), fastening of
stretcher; (7) fastening of springs. At the head and the foot are placed one
of the pieces already described and shewn at Figure 21, and for their position:
in the bed at the head and foot, see (a) and (B), Figure 28. As already
stated I may employ here either stretchers with torsion springs, those with.

page_text: binges with springs or simply those of one single piece, see Figures
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.
Secondly, a mattress formed in a similar manner to the bed, that is to say,
by connecting the springs into rows in number proportioned to the size and
strength desired. In the mattress the employing of stretching rods in the
interior may be dispensed with because it is possible to obtain the same result
by approaching and fixing together the upper and lower portions of the
springs forming the outline of the mattress which then form a projecting
arch by being pressed against each other, and thus keep the springs in a
right position as at Figure 34. The lining of the mattress may be made of
any suitable material, but it may be made very economically without
any loss of comfort by lining or covering only the upper side; this covering
may be laced or buttoned in order to air and clean easily, the inside part of
the mattress, and, if necessary, to turn the elastic frame, in fact, all the
objects, constructed on this system offer the same advantages.
Thirdly, a pillow made in the same way as the mattress, and usually by
fastening the springs the one to the other without intermediaries as at
Figure 35. The upper part and the lower, which form the outline of the
pillow are united and fixed together (as for the mattress) causing it to assume
the curvature of the ordinary pillow. Figure 36 shews special springs for
pillow angles; the arm or branch of the spring is prolonged in a way to cover
the first angle of the end, and to maintain both sides of the square at the
right distance apart.
Fourthly, of an elastic bolster made similarly to the other mentioned articles
by means of a row of springs with fastenings forming hinge, and, if necessary,
strong stays or stretchers if the bolster be separate, but it is often united to
other articles to make up a whole which I will now proceed to describe.
By uniting in one construction, that is to say, by connecting the clastic bed
and mattress together, considerable saving is effected, above all in the furniture,
and at the same time greater comfort is attained than afforded by the means
at present used. To this combination I add that of the bolster and pillow,
or that of an elastic pillow serving at once as pillow and bolster (see complete
beds, Figure 36); such couches and beds may offer at head and foot trunks
which may contain a number of objects used for the toilet; these trunks may
also be contained in the lower bed or in the mattress. The beds formed by
the union of the bed and elastic mattress offer the convenience of being
always ready for use, since there is never any sinking down. Besides the
sheets may be made in such shape that the under one may be fixed on the
mattress as a case, that is to say, stretched so as not to move, which would

page_text: be at once an economy of linen, and of the time daily taken up in making the
bed. By my system very light and transportable beds may be obtained with
a little trunk under the pillow to contain the bed clothes; these beds might not
exceed the volume of a carpet bag, and be used as travelling or camp beds.
The various articles herein described may be constructed in several parts to be
united in forming a whole, for instance, the bed might be divided in two
pieces either in breadth or length, and serve for two beds if necessary.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the means by
which it is carried into practical effect, I would have it distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described and shewn
as such may and indeed must be varied to suit the circumstances of particular
cases, but I claim the exclusive use of the various combinations of springs with
other mechanical contrivances, forming, when combined, as herein-before des-
cribed and illustrated in the annexed Drawing "A New System of Bedding."
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Evette, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
Veu par nous Maire du 4e Arrond,
pour légalisation de la signature de
Mr. Henri Evette, dont l'identité nous
a été attestée par MM. Edouard
Arthur Delatre, négt, Rue Bertin-
Poirée, 15. Désiré Hue Lacroix,
nég, Rue des deux Boules, 7.
DELATTRE.
Paris, le sept Décembre, 1859.
HUE LACROIX.
HENRI EVETTE. (L.S.)