IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sterling Bonsall, of Philadelphia, United States of
America, but now residing in Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS."
Sealed the 21st January 1868, and dated the 23rd July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sterling Bonsall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd July 1867.
I, STERLING BONSALL, of Philadelphia, United States of America, but now
residing in Aldersgate Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in spring beds of that class in
which a series of flexible slats are supported by the large ends of conical or
helico-spiral springs, and consists in the arrangement of a clamp which catches
over the flexible slats and under the upper coils of the spring in such a
manner that the said upper coils are securely fastened to the slats, and that a
spring bed is obtained which makes no noise, and which is durable and not liable
to get out of order. The conical springs are supported on the cross bars attached
to the bed frame, and thereby the slats are carried; they are made of wood,
and cach slat rests on two or more springs placed conveniently for the purpose.

page_text: The ends of the clamps are turned into hooks which grasp the upper coils of
the springs.
The Invention further consists in the production of a frame for supporting
the spring slats, which can be readily taken apart and easily refitted without
screws, nails, or like devices, and admitting of portability, and intended to be
hung or supported upon pendent hooks secured to the bedstead frame. Also
in the application of flexible cushions fixed under the slats whereby all jarring
or noise of the coils is avoided; these cushions may be of felt or other soft
fabric of a circular disc form to receive the pressure of the coils. The
pendents consist of a wire first bent into U shape, then the two opposite ends
are turned into loops pointing in opposite directions, the end of the upper
loop constituting the two ends of the wire have sharp cutting edges so that
they can be driven into the frame of the bedstead at suitable places; the lower
loop receives and holds the pieces of the slat frame, and when the books are
in position the frame supporting the springs and slats is suspended in the
bedstead frame at a height equal therewith. On the inner side of the bed
frame at regular intervals dovetail brackets are secured adapted to receive
the dovetailed ends of the cross pieces, which when secured therein retain the
frame firmly in position without any other fastening. To the end of each
cross piece on both sides are secured plates having a bead or shoulder on
their faces at the middle, and from this shoulder the plate gradually increases
in thickness forming one side of a dovetailed joint. This bead acts as a
guide in introducing the ends of the cross pieces into the brackets, and assists
in forming a more perfect joint. The cross pieces may be cut of a correspond-
ing form, but the plates are preferable, as the wood may warp by wet when
washed. The cross pieces are pierced to receive the ends of the spring coils
which tear the slats; only two cross pieces are necessary but a third may be
placed near the end of the bed so that in case of any one sitting at the foot of
the bed the weight may be duly borne. The springs may be covered with
sections of india-rubber tubing to prevent noise, in addition to the use of the
felt pad or cushion. The top coils of the springs nearest the bed frame may
be secured thereto by a book and chain, and each succeeding top coil secured
to its follower by a hook consisting of a short length of wire bent to a hook at
each end, thereby strengthening and steadying the entire series of springs and
slats. The whole may be taken to pieces and packed in a small compass, and
readily put together again and resubstituted, and each portion may be easily
cleaned and relieved from vermin.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Sterling Bonsall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STERLING
BONSALL, of Philadelphia, United States of America, but now residing in
Aldersgate Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Sterling Bonsall, Her special licence that I, the said Sterling Bonsall, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Sterling
Bonsall, 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 SPRING BED
BOTTOMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sterling
Bonsall, my executors 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 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 Sterling Bonsall, 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in spring beds of that class in
which a series of flexible slats are supported by the large ends of conical
springs, and the Invention consists, firstly, in the arrangement of a clamp
which catches over the flexible slats and under the upper coils of the spring
in such a manner that said upper coils are securely fastened to the slats, and
that a spring bed is obtained which makes no noise and which is durable and
not liable to get out of order.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this part of the Invention,
and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same.

page_text: A represents a bed or frame which is composed of longitudinal bars a and
cross bars b; the cross bars 6 serve to support the conical springs c, which are
placed with their large ends up, and which support the slats d; these slats
are made of wood or other flexible and elastic material, and each slat rests on
two or more springs, being sufficient for all practical purposes. The upper
coils of the springs are secured to the slats by clamps e, the ends of which are
turned into hooks f which are slipped over the slats and catch under the
coils of the springs, as clearly shewn in Fig. 2, so that said coils are drawn up
close to the slats, and the upper ends of the coils turned into the slats, and
the slat is not liable to knock against the coil and to produce a disagreeable
noise. The clamps e are easily made; they are readily attached or detached,
and by their use a cheap and durable spring bed is obtained which obviates
all the disadvantages of other spring beds of a somewhat similar construction
in which the springs are secured to the slats by eyes formed by the end of the
springs themselves; such beds are liable to make a noise because the upper
coils of the springs are not drawn up close to the slats; and, furthermore, the
operation of securing the slats to the springs is tedious and not easily
accomplished.
The Invention further consists of the following arrangements:-Fig. 8 is a
top or plan view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view shewing the connecting parts
of the frame and the pendent sapport; Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of a
spring and protecting cushion.
The object of this part of the Invention is the production of a frame for
supporting the spring slats which can be readily taken apart and easily refitted
without screws, nails, or like devices, and admitting of the portability of the
parts, and are intended to be hung or suspended upon pendant hooks secured
to the bedstead frame.
The Invention further consists in the application of flexible cushions
on the coils whereby all noise or jarring is prevented when the slats are
depressed and the springs compressed, all as will be herein-after more fully
described.
A, Fig. 3, represents the ordinary side and end faces of a bedstead having
pendants a, on which the frame rests; these pendants consist of a wire first
bent into shape; then the two opposite ends turned into loops pointing in
opposite directions. The end of the upper loop constituting the two ends of
the wire have sharp cutting edges, so that they can be driven into the frame
of the bedstead at suitable places. The lower loop receives and holds the
parts B of the slat frame. When the hocks are in position the frame supporting
the springs and slats is suspended in the bedstead frame at a height equal

page_text: therewith. B are the two side pieces of the frame, of ordinary construction
and of the length of the side pieces of the bedstead. On their inner side at
regular intervals there are secured dovetail brackets C, which are adapted to
receive the dovetailed end of the cross pieces D, which when secured therein
retain the frame firmly in position without any other mode of securing or
fastening. To the end of each cross piece D on both sides there are secured
plates E having a bead or shoulder b on their faces at the middle, and from this
shoulder the plate gradually increase in thickness, forming one side of a
dovetailed joint; this bead acts as a guide in introducing the ends of the cross
pieces into the brackets, and assists in forming a more perfect joint. The
cross pieces may have their ends cut of a corresponding form, but as the wood
may warp, or in washing them become wet and then not readily enter the
brackets, I prefer the plates, for their cost is but little and their utility great.
In putting the frame together the two side pieces are set upright and the ends
of the cross pieces fitted into the brackets and pressed downwards to their full
extent, when all parts will be firmly held in position independently of any
other mode of fastening. The cross pieces are pierced to receive the ends of
the springs d, which bear the slats; only two cross pieces are necessary, but I
employ a third one if necessary near the end which will be near the foot of
the bed, so that if any one rests or sits thereon the weight will be brought
directly on this lower piece, and thus prevent the breaking or snapping of the
slats. This third bar may have springs intervening to support the slats; or a
third or safety bar may be applied as shewn at D¹, Fig. 3, having shoulders
at each end, which fit in corresponding recesses cut in the frame and hold the
outside in place. In taking the bed apart the slats and springs are first
removed, then the cross pieces and side pieces separated, and thus all parts
can be readily made in one bundle and in suitable condition for transportation
or cleaning. To the lower side of each slat within the space surrounded by
the upper or larger coil of the spring I secure by cementing or otherwise a
flexible pad F. This pad may be made of rubber, felt, cloth, or other fabric,
and is intended to prevent the noise when the coils strike the slats when the
latter is depressed. To still further attain this object I secure on the coils
above the point to which the wire clamps C are attached rubber cushions G.
These cushions consist of small sections of tubes which can be slipped over the
coils of the spring to their position and are readily removed when desired.
When the coils are compressed by the depression of the slats the cushion on
the first coil will strike the flexible pad F, and so also with the other smaller
coils, and thus all noise will be deadened. The simplicity of this device is
apparent; the slats and springs can be readily cleaned, vermin can find no

page_text: resting place, no noise is made, and the frame can be easily taken apart and
put together again. The top coils of the springs nearest the bed frame may
be secured thereto by a hook and chain, and each succeeding top coil secured
to its follower by a hook consisting of a short length of wire bent to a hook at
each end; all these hooks must be bent so that in setting the top coils therein
the extremity of the hook must spring out slightly to allow of the passage
of the coil, which then is secured from accidental release; thereby the entire
series of springs and slats are strengthened. In Fig. 4 these hooks and chains
are shewn. The springs may be of varying heights in order to form a convex
or barrel form of bed; thus if two rows of springs are used a third series may
be applied between them higher than they are made and placed in or near the
middle section of the bed frame; or the upper row of springs may be higher
than the bottom row, in which case the bottom tongue of the spring should be
inserted in the cross bar in an oblique or slanting position in order to bring
the top coil in a line with the inclination of the slat, so that the pressure may
be borne equally by all parts of the spring, the pressure being in a line at
right angles or perpendicular to the plane of the slat. I prefer to use a single
conical spring, but can also use the double conical spring, the apices of the
spring meeting in the centre. The slats may be placed close together, either
with or without connecting hooks, and may be covered with suitable material,
to which the slats may be attached, and on which stuffing may be put and
the sides enclosed, thus forming an upholstered spring bed in the usual form.
Although I have described a method of suspending the bed frame by means
of pendant books, I can dispense with the use of hooks by placing the bed
within the bedstead frame and resting it on the ordinary internal projecting
ledges fixed thereto. By these means it is obvious that the hooks would not
be required, and I do not confine myself to suspending the said beds by means
of hooks, which manner of suspension I claim as new.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be carried into effect, I claim and desire to be secured
to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent,―
1st. The single wire clamps e with its hooks f catching under the top coil of
the spring and holding it up against the slat, substantially as described.
2nd. The detachable frame herein described, the same consisting of the
side pieces B with dovetail brackets C, and the cross pieces D with dove-
tail ends, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3rd. The plates C constructed as described in combination with the cross
pieces D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 4. The sectional disc-like cushions F applied between the upper coils of
the springs and the slats, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified, and also the tubular cushion G on the wires, as set forth.
5. The hooks intermediate and connecting the springs, and the side chain
and hook fastening the outside spring or springs to the frame, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
6. The pendent hooks a constructed as described in combination with the
bedstead frame A supporting the slat-bearing frame, substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
7. The application of the safety bar for holding in place the outside
frame.
8. The application of a third series or row of higher springs, and of an
upper row of springs higher than the others and set obliquely, and the setting
of the middle slats on varying heights of springs, all substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
9. The arrangement of the slats close together, covered, and with
stuffing applied in order to form an upholstered bed, substantially as
described.
10. The use of the slats and springs either in combination with single conical
or double conical springs, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sterling Bonsall, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
ALEX. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross,
London, W.C.
STERLING BONSALL. (L.S.)