IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF INDIA-RUBBER SPRINGS TO MATTRESSES, SOFAS, CHAIRS, AND OTHER CUSHIONS AÐ Á BERAT DE AD KUREICHES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Reynaud, of Lyons, in the Empire of France,
and of 2, Catherine Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Upholsterer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF
INDIA-RUBBER SPRINGS TO MATTRESSES, SOFAS, CHAIRS, AND OTHER CUSHIONS
AÐ Á BERAT DE AD KUREICHES " Partly a communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Reynaud at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th March 1857.
I, CHARLES REYNAUD, of Lyons, in the Empire of France, and of 2,
Catherine Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Upholsterer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION
OF INDIA-RUBBER SPRINGS TO MATTRESSES, SOPAS, CHAIRS, AND OTHER CUSHIONS OR
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," to be as follows:-
I support the indin-rubber springs that carry and form the spring surface
of the mattress, cushion, or other article on a number of wood rails, over
which the india-rubber springs are looped, and disposed at suitable intervals
throughout the area of the mattress. These springs depend from the rail,
and carry at the lower loop or double a bobbin. This bobbin is placed on the
lower end of a light metal frame, which surrounds and rises up on each side

page_text: of the supporting bar. The upper part of this frame is flattened, and having
perforations by which it is sewn or attached to the cross girths or webbings
forming the upper part of the mattress. The india-rubber springs I prefer
for this purpose are mere rings, which I double over the wood rail, and
pass the two double ends down to the bobbin. When not subject to pressure,
these springs raise the metal frame nearly up to the lower part of the bar, but
when pressed on, the metal frame is brought down towards the rail, the frame
being of sufficient length to permit the necessary play of the spring and the
rise and fall of the surface to afford the elasticity required, as before mentioned.
The upper part of the frame is sewn or attached to the surface of the mattress,
which, by preference, I make of a series of cross webbings placed diagonally
to the supporting rails. The lower ends of the several spring frames are
connected by a cord which keeps them in position. Cross bars are applied to
the bearing rails to keep them in position. The whole is contained within an
outside frame, on which the bearing rails of the springs rest. This frame is
hinged or jointed at the angles, and also in the length of the several rails, so
that the entire mattress may be folded up and condensed into a small space
for carriage or removal. These springs may be similarly applied to cushions
for sofas, chairs, or other articles of furniture requiring elastic-surfaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed!
by the said Charles Reynaud in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
REYNAUD, of Lyons, in the Empire of France, and of 2, Catherine Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Upholsterer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Reynaud, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Roynaud,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Reynaud, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE

page_text: APPLICATION OF INDIA-RUBBER SPRINGS TO MATTRESSES, SOFAS, CHAIRS, AND OTHER
CUSHIONS OR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," (partly communication,) upon the con-
lition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Reynaud, my executors or
alministrators, 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 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 Charles Reynaud, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to the formation of an elastic or. resilient system or
surface, having for its basis the use of vulcanised india-rubber as a substituto
for the metallic springs employed in spring mattresses and other: spring sur-
faces of furniture, which is applicable to spring mattresses,, sofas, chairs,.stools,
and generally to other articles of furniture having stuffed or spring surfaces.
I support the india-rubber springs that carry and form the improved spring
surface of the mattress, cushion, or other article on a number of wood rails,
over which the rubber springs are looped and disposed at suitable intervals
throughont the area of the mattress. These springs depend from the rail and
carry at the lower hoop or double a bobbin. This bobbin is placed on the
lower end of a light metal frame, which surrounds and rises up on each sido
of the wood supporting bar. The upper part of this frame is flattened, and
bas perforations by which it is sewn or otherwise attached to the cross girth
or webbings forming the upper part of the mattress. The india-rubber springs
I prefer for this purpose are mere rings, which I double over the wood rail
and pass the two double ends down to the bobbin. When not subject to
pressure, these springs raise the metal frame nearly up to the lower part of
the bar, but when pressed on, the upper part of the metal frame is brought
down towards the rail, the frame being of sufficient length to permit the
necessary play of the spring, and the rise and fall of the spring surface to
afford the elasticity required. As before mentioned, the upper part of the
frame is sewn or attached to the surface of the mattress, which, by preference,
I make of a series of cross webbings, placed diagonally to the supporting
rails. The lower ends of the several spring frames are connected by a cord,
which keeps them in position. Cross bars are applied to the bearing rails to

page_text: keep them in position. The whole is contained within an outside frame, on
which the cross bars carrying the bearing rails of the springs rest; this frame
is hinged or jointed at the angles, and also in the length of the several rails.
so that the entire mattress may be folded up and condensed into a small
space for carriage or removal. These springs may be similarly applied to
cushions for sofas, chaire, or other articles of furniture requiring clastic or
resilient surfaces.
resilient surfaces.
www requing clastic or
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a metal frame or fork, at the end of which a bobbin is
placed, separately represented in Fig. 2. The holes A, A, at the upper end
of the fork F serve to fix thereto the straps C constituting the surface of the
mattress, which is secured by means of a wire passing through the holes, and
thus preventing the moving of the fork at its upper end.
Fig. 2 represents-separately the bobbin to be placed at the lower end of
the fork F. The small parts of the bobbin E, E, serve to receive the india-
rubber ring; the metallic rod P being immoveable prevents the india-rubber
ring from getting out from the grooves E, E, of the bobbin. The eye H
receives a longitudinal cord U, and prevents movement at the lower end of
the fork.
Fig. 3 represents the several parts before described combined, and as put
together in the mattress. The bar L supporting the india-rubber ring B is,
at it may seen in cross section, round at its upper part and thinned at
its lower part. The staple S prevents the rubber ring B from getting out
of its place.
Fig. 4 represents in perspective the mattress complete, constructed accord-
ing to this Invention. It is very light in its construction, the frame or box
consisting of open work. The cross bars T support tho rails L. X, X, are
the crossing points of the straps C, which form the surface of the mattress,
and whey-they are fixed to the fork by means of a wire or other suitable
-fixing. At the corners or angles of the frame are hinges K, see Figs. 5 and 6,
whereby the frame may be readily taken to pieces, when the mattress may be
folded up and easily carried under the arm.
Fig. 5 represents the hinge, having fixed knuckle plates and a moveablo
pin. By removing the latter the mattress may be taken to pieces, which
obviates the necessity of unscrewing the hinges for that purpose.
Fig. 6 represents a part of the frame or box of the mattress, showing that
it may be folded in two at a joint, furnished with a similar hinge to Fig. 5,
but of a more lengthened form.

page_text: The advantages of this system of construction is that it considerably dimi-
nishes the weight of the pieces of furniture fitted with spring surfaces, and
also to enable the regulation at will of the resistance of the elastic pressure;
it is further easy of and inexpensive in its application.
This construction of spring mattress may be applied in ships, schools,
hospitals, barracks, &c. with advantage, being inexpensive, readily adapted,
and of light weight.
Fig. 1, metallic forks. A, A, holes to fix by means of a wire the cross girth
or straps to the fork.
Fig. 2, wood bobbin, adapted to the lower extremity of the fork; E, E,
grooves to receive the india-rubber spring; P, immoveable metal bar, to pre-
vent the india-rubber from getting out of E, E; H, eye of screw, fixing the
bar P and receiving the longitudinal cord U.
Fig. 3, fitting of a single part, which being repeated over the entire surface
forms the whole system. L, portion of rail, supporting the whole system; F,
metal frame or fork; R, axis of the bobbin, in which the short arms of the
fork is introduced; by springing it opens; B, B, round fillet of vulcanised
india-rubber in the form of a ring (when free); S, wire staple, securing the
india-rubber; U cord, passing through and secured to every ring or eye of
screw H, to prevent the moving of the fork frames F, F, at the lower end.
Fig. 4, clastic mattress complete. T, three cross bars supporting the system;
X, X, crossing of the straps, forming the surface of the mattress.
Fig. 5, hinge, having fixed plates and knuckles, with a moveable pin, in
order to take the mattress to pieces.
Fig. 6: this Figure represents the mattress as being folded double.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the application of india-
rubber springs to sustain and form the resilient or elastic surfaces of mattresses
or other articles of furniture, as herein-before described, or any mere modi-
fication of the same.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Reynaud, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.