IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES." A communication from abroad by
Eugène Celestin Roman, of Paris.
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 19th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1876.
وو
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES.'
A communication from abroad by Eugène Celestin Roman, of Paris.
This Invention relates to improvements introduced into the construction of
elastic mattresses with a view to securing an equal distribution of elasticity over
the bearing surfaces of such mattresses, coupled with increased solidity and light-
ness of the framing.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan of the improved mattress.
Figures 2, 3, are longitudinal and cross sections of the same.
In the first of these Figures 2, 2, represent the framing in wood or iron provided
with head and foot rails, to which are secured the binding springs of the metallic
apron; 3, 3, are two cross bars, hung by the ends to the side rods 7, 7, by means
of iron or other straps 4, 4; 5, 5, are two longitudinal bars of iron or wood resting
on the cross bars 3, 3, and supporting the inner part of the springs; 6, 6, are two
rods of wood, iron, or other suitable material passing through the lower rings of
the springs to maintain the latter in position. These rods may, if so desired, be
covered with india-rubber, cotton, felt, or other suitable material; 7, 7, are two
similar rods passing through and connecting the outer rings; 8, 8, are stay pieces
secured to the frame, and hooked by their free ends to the rods 7, 7; these stay
pieces maintain the separation between the sides of the mattress, thus permitting
the suppression of solid framework and leaving free play to the elasticity of the
springs up to the edge; 9, 9, are two arms on which rest two iron or wooden bars
10, 10, receiving the ends of the outer springs; 11; 11, are] the mattress springs,
arranged as shewn, with all their horizontal rings or loops in the same direction ;
12, 12, are the plat band springs which connect the metallic apron with the frame;
15, 16, represent in vertical and cross section a wooden bobbin pierced through for
the reception of the hooks, which connect the springs 23 and 11, the number of
[Price Sd.]

page_text: bobbins employed corresponding with the number of springs in the mattress; 17
represents one of the hooks with its protecting covering of india-rubber or
other suitable material; 18 represents a modification of the spring No. 11 made
like the latter of a single wire, but forming upright rings or loops, the horizontal
rings being replaced by bobbins provided with a small loop at each side of the
centre for the reception of the longitudinal hooks; 19, 20, shew this spring in plan
and end view; 21 is a piece of wire with a loop at each end, one of these loops
may connect with the lower rod and the other with the central bobbin, or the two
may be fitted to the central and lower bobbins; 22 is an end view of the head or.
foot frame; 23 is a piece of spring with hooks connecting the two springs, the com-
bination of which forms the central apron.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th January
1877.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Searle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELASTIC MATTRESSES."
A communication from abroad by Eugène Celestin Roman, of Paris.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of mattress with compensa-
tory and independently elastic springs, as shewn on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawing.
Figure 1 representing a top plan view of a mattress embodying this Invention,
and Figure 2 a longitudinal elevation of the same.
In Figures 1 and 2, A indicates the frame, which may be made either of iron or
other metal, or of wood. This frame A is provided with two cross pieces or rails B
and B¹, the one forming the head the other the foot of the mattress, and on the
flat top of which are fixed the ties (plat band springs) of the metallic apron. The
rails B, B¹, are T shaped, and simply pinned to the frame A in order to facilitate
the taking to pieces of the mattress. C and C¹ are two cross bars hung by their
ends to the side rods D, D¹, by the aid of two straps E and E¹, made of hoop iron
forming hooks.
These metal straps might be replaced by leather straps or thongs
or any suitable catch or tie. It is intended that the cross bars C, C₁, shall give
to the mattress a double elasticity, and for this purpose they are supported by the
side springs. F and F¹ are two longitudinal bars made of hollowed iron or of wood,
the four sides of which are equal; they rest on the two cross bars C, C¹, and
support the lower part of the inner springs. The cross bars C and C₁ each carry on
their upper surface two iron plates n pierced with a hole.
In these holes pass
wooden pins carried by the longitudinal bars F and F¹, which they keep in position
on the cross bars C and C¹. D, D¹, G, G¹, are round rods of wood or of hollowed
iron or other suitable material passing through the vertical rings of the springs.
G and G¹ are the twoinner rods, which are passed in the springs at the lower part
of the mattress (see cross section, Fig. 3).
These two rods are intended to keep the mattress straight; they may be covered
with some elastic and non-sonorous fabric, such as india-rubber, cotton, felt, or other
material. They are bound together so as to ensure equal and perfect clasticity to
all the middle springs.
The rods D and D¹ placed at the sides of the mattress each receive at their ends
stay pieces I tied to the rails B and B of the frame A. These four stays fixed on
the bars B, B¹, at each end hook on by the other end by means of a fork forming
stop to the rods D and D¹. These two rods are passed through the vertical upper
side rings.
These two rods keep the sides of the mattress apart, so that solid frames may be
dispensed with, and the sides of the mattress thus preserve all their elasticity.

page_text: F and F are two similar rods to those F, F', cach resting upon one of the
longitudinal sides of the frame A. They will be also either of iron or of wood, and
receive the lower vertical springs. The lower end of the springs on the longi-
tudinal sides of the mattress passing over the rods F and F is stopped and fixed
in the cross pieces forming the longitudinal bars or main sides of the frame A. Each
spring is placed and fixed in a small recess made with a centre bit in the wood of
the main sides of the frame A. N are the mattress springs upon a principle novel
in this application, their arrangements form a series of right angles. The rings are
arranged in two ways, that is to say, alternately horizontally and vertically. K in-
dicates the plat band springs connecting the metallic apron with the two cross
rails of the frame A. These springs may be replaced by bands or straps of hoop
iron attached to the rails B, B1, by small spiral springs.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal elevation of the mattress; Figure 3 cross
section through the same.
Figure 4 represents one of the wooden bobbins or reels M pierced for the recep-
tion of the hooks at the end of the springs N and N.
The number of these
bobbins corresponds with the number of springs. Other bobbins non-perforated are
used to fill the interior of the free springs N" of the sides of the mattress.
Figure 5 shows a bobbin M in section.
Figure 6 shows two pieces of wire forming a ring at one of their ends. A thin
bobbin passes through these two rings, which are secured thereon in parallel position
by the aid of two metal washers, and a strong screw rivetted at the end connects
the two washers and the bobbin.
The arrangements of the springs may vary in several ways. For example, the
metallic apron of this Invention might be constructed by the aid of springs arranged
according to another method represented, Figures 7, 8, and 9.
In Figure 3, which is a cross section at X, Z, is shewn one of the two rails B, B¹,
of the mattress; it is hollowed or cut out in the middle longitudinally.
The middle part of the mattress is moveable in its entire length, pivoting upon
one of its sides, as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 3. The left end of the horizontal
spring passes through the centre of the bobbins M.
Directions for taking this improved mattress to pieces.-To take this mattress
to pieces, 1°, remove the straps E and E¹ from the rods D and D¹; 2°, unhook the
four stays ; 3°, take the central longitudinal bars F, F, from off the cross bars C
and C¹; 4°, withdraw the round rods G and G¹; 5°, unhook the middle part of
the apron, which is moveable on one of its sides; 6°, remove the two side rods D
and D¹; 70, remove the hooks or pins of the frame and take to pieces; 8°, lay the
springs against the frame on both sides, and make of the whole a package of small
bulk, and easily carried.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, com-
nunicated to me as aforesaid, I claim, as secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, the construction of elastic mattresses, substantially as
herein-before described and shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A
BRISTOW HUNT. (LS.)