SP MATTRESS AND BEDSTEAD
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Isaacs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1882.
SAMUEL ISAACS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick.
SPRING MATTRESS AND BEDSTEAD."
"A COMBINED
My invention has for its object the combination of a spring mattress with a
bedstead in such a manner that the strength of the mattress is utilized so as to
not require any bottom to the bedstead indeed in one sense the bedstead is
entirely dispensed with. By my invention I not only save a considerable sum in
first cost, but there is also the saving in the number of parts and the consequent
complication avoided. This is especially felt in shipping consignments, as most of
my separate parts would pack inside the mattress thus saving storage room.
I will explain my invention first as applied to a spring mattress made with one
frame only-I make four angle sockets of metal, cast iron being preferred because
it is cheaper and more easily cast to the required shape. These sockets I fix inside
the four angles of the mattress frame with the face of the sockets just about level
with the underside of the mattress frame or they may project slightly. Each of
these sockets are provided with an internal screw thread into which suitable legs
are screwed-The legs would usually in cheap bedsteads be formed of short
lengths of tubing with the top and bottom shoulders cast on them.
One or both ends of the mattress would be provided with two, three or more
sockets into wbich a loose head and foot of any convenient design could be
inserted. They would however by preference be made in some cases to fold
together crosswise and in some cases they would fold together lengthwise so as to
pack neatly inside the mattress. Thus the sides of the spring mattress are also the
sides of the bedstead and the ends of the spring mattress are the ends of the
bedstead. There is in ordinary spring mattresses sufficient vertical strength in the
frame when supported at each end to bear any pressure likely to be brought upon
them

page_text: In cases where the spring mattresses are made in more than one piece so as to
enable them to be taken through small spaces. I connect the several pieces together
by the following amongst other devices viz. I use a flat fish plate of wood or iron
to cross the joint underneath the frame in two, three or more places.-This may be
fastened or hinged to one side and screwed by a screw or screws to the other side.
I also use ordinary laths pivoted to one side to turn under bevelled staples on the
other side or sides. Or simple bolts and staples may be used. Or hooks may be
used. In many cases however angle plates would be found the strongest and most
effective in drawing together the two or more parts and the leverage would be
more advantageous to the stability of the whole which I call a " Mattress
Bedstead."
In the case of the mattress being in several parts more than four legs could be
used. And in small very cheap single "Mattress Bedsteads" three legs would be
sufficient by screwing one at the centre of the foot and the other two a little
distance from the head, to the sides-Generally however four legs would be used
in the angles because the sockets answer the double purpose of holding the legs
and tieing the mattress frame together.
The angle pieces may be made by casting ears around a short piece of tapped
tubing or of solid metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Isaacs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1882.
SAMUEL ISAACS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
SPRING MATTRESS AND BEDSTEAD
"
"A COMBINED
My invention has for its object the combination of a spring mattress with a
bedstead in such a manner that the strength of the mattress is utilized so as to not
require any bottom to the bedstead indeed in one sense the bedstead is entirely
dispensed with. By my invention I not only save a considerable sum in first
cost, but there is also the saving in the number of parts and the consequent
complication avoided This is especially felt in Shipping consignments, as most of
my separate parts would pack inside the mattress thus saving storage room.
I will explain my invention first as applied to a spring mattress made with one
frame only-I make four angle sockets of metal cast iron being preferred because
it is cheaper and more easily cast to the required shape. These sockets I fix inside
the four angles of the mattress frame with the face of the sockets just about level
with the under side of the mattress frame or they may project slightly. Each of
these sockets are provided with an internal screw thread into which suitable legs
are screwed. The legs would usually in cheap bedsteads be formed of short
lengths of tubing with the top and bottom shoulders cast on them.
One or both ends of the mattress would be provided with two, three or more
sockets into which a loose head and foot of any convenient design could be
inserted. They would however by preference be made in some cases to fold
together crosswise and in some cases they would fold together lengthwise so as to
pack neatly inside the mattress. Thus the sides of the spring mattress are also
the sides of the bedstead and the ends of the spring mattress are the ends of the
bedstead. There is in ordinary spring mattresses sufficient vertical strength in the
frame when supported at each end to bear any pressure likely to be brought upon
them.
In cases where the spring mattresses are made in more than one piece so
as to enable them to be taken through small spaces I connect the several pieces
together by the following amongst other devices viz:-I use a flat fish plate of
wood or iron to cross the joint underneath the frame in two, three or more places.
This may be fastened or hinged to one side and screwed by a screw or screws to
the other side. I also use ordinary laths pivoted to one side to turn under
bevelled staples on the other side or sides. Or simple bolts and staples may be
used. Or hooks may be used. In many cases however angle plates would be
found the strongest and most effective in drawing together the two or more parts
and the leverage would be more advantageous to the stability of the whole which
I call a "Mattress Bedstead."
In the case of the mattress being in several parts more than four legs could be
used. And in small very cheap single-" Mattress Bedsteads" three legs would
be sufficient by screwing one at the centre of the foot and the other two a little
distance from the head to the sides-Generally however four legs would be used
in the angles because the sockets answer the double purpose of holding the legs
and tieing the mattress frame together.
The angle pieces may be made by casting ears around a short piece of tapped
tubing or of solid metal.
In order that my invention may be more easily understood and carried into
practice I have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings which I will now
proceed to explain.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spring mattress mounted on tour legs with the
head piece ready for use.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 10 is a broken off elevation showing one means of making my mattress
bedstead in several parts so as fold together in less space.
Figure 11. is a broken off plan of Figure 10 showing one form or plan of hinging
the parts together.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portable bed with the parts so constructed that
the two ends become seats when necessary and the middle part is turned with its
lower side upwards and then by adding four spare legs it becomes a table.
Figure 9 is an inverted plan of Figure 8 showing one mode of connecting the
parts together.
The other Figures illustrate various details but more especially modes of connecting
the parts together such as the legs to the mattress.
My Mattress Bedstead as applied to one frame only as it would probably be
most used is illustrated by figures 1 and 2 where A is the Mattress part and
B, B, B, B are the legs and C, C the movable head piece. The legs B, B in this
particular case are supposed to be united to the mattress part by short screws as
shown in Figure 3 sectional elevation and in Figure 4 plan both of these latter
figures being about full size for a Mattress bedstead say 6 feet long by 4 feet wide.
Four uniting sockets D are screwed by screws inside each corner of the frame of
the mattress by (in this case) four screws at each corner and thus the mattress
receives extra strength from the corner pieces and they are firm junctions for the
legs which may in a few seconds be detached or erected. The head piece in this
case has three projecting spigots c1, c2, c3 which are natural to its design and these
spigots drop into sockets e screwed on to the end of the A part of the mattress.
Or it may drop into sockets u on the legs as per Figure 24.
In single mattress bedsteads three legs would be sometimes found sufficient as
shown in the inverted plan Figure 12 where the sockets f, f' and f2. are placed so
as to most effectively support the weight in a steady manner and where the ground
is uneven as in tents and camping ground the three legs would be found more
useful than a greater number. This mattress bedstead may be made to fold
together at the centre as in the case of Figure 10 and 11 and still only require the
three legs which would pack inside the mattress or otherwise.
In
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a bed suitable for a camp or tent the two end pieces G
and H being quickly separated from the centre part J by the latches i, i¹, 22, 23, 24, 25.
When thus separated the centre piece J is turned with its lower side up (the lower
side in this case being made of solid boards) and four spare legs are dropped over
the dovetail or other projections 1, 1, 1, 1. which are secured to the sides or ends of
the J piece. Thus a table is provided and two seats upon which four may sit in
case of need. I adopt various devices for securing the several lengths of my
Mattress bedsteads together of which the latch shown in Figures 8 and 9 are of a
simple kind and the hinge shown by Figures 10 and 11 is also very simple.
case the binge were applied to the camp bed Figure 8 and 9 the two ends being
equal when meeting together-to the length of the middle or J part the bed
would fold up very close as shown so folded by Figure 13. Figures 14 and 15 are
broken off side elevation and inverted plan of a strong detachable connection for
nattress bedsteads in more than one piece. The metal wing m is screwed to one
side, and the metal piece m¹ to the other side and the bolt or pin m² is then passed
through to keep the two or more parts together. There may be two or more of
these connecting wings according to the width of the bedstead. Generally the
mattress part would be left clear at the part m³ so that the lower part of the
mattress frame might be drawn nearer together while the pins were entered into
their required position which would have the tendency to slightly elevate the
mattress bed at the junction and thus when sufficient weight was brought on it
would be about straight. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate another very effective mode
of attaching two or more parts of my mattress bedsteads together viz:-by the two

page_text: In
brackets n, and n¹ which are securely fastened to either side of the joint and pins
or bolts n² passed through, the advantage in this case is that by a proper key the
connections can at any time be tightened and the joint thus readjusted.
some cases I make the leg with a flat plate on the top as shown by Figure 18
elevation and Figure 19 plan so that the legs may be simply fixed with four screws.
In other cases the legs may be made of flat or angle iron and hinged at or near the
mattress so as to turn down into suitable hollows or otherwise as shown in the case
of one leg by Figure 20 with the leg opened out and by Figure 21 with the leg closed
down. The application of the well known ordinary dovetail connection to my
mattress bedstead is shown by a single leg in Figure 22 elevation and Figure 23.
plan. The plate P carrying the dovetail is screwed in any convenient manner to
the frame and the leg carrying the block W with the recess fits over the dovetail
in a similar manner to ordinary iron bedsteads.
It will be quite evident to anyone acquainted with the trade that the mattress
or part to be lain upon might be made of springs and wool or hair i.e. upholstered
in the ordinary way or it may be composed of twisted wire or spring laths without
any upholstering work the only necessary part being sufficiently strong sides and
ends to support the weight without any bedstead sides so that I invariably save
the bedstead sides and ends and in most constructions the laths also.
Figure 7 illustrates a mode of securing a leg by friction in a suitable socket K. K,
which would be fixed to the mattress frame. The spigot R is formed on the leg
being a continuation of the tube R' but slightly reduced at the point R². Figures 5
and 6 illustrate a single metal plate screwed across the under corner of the frame
but let in level with its edge the inner side carrying the boss S, S to receive the
leg T which may be either screwed or a bayonet joint may be applied to this or
other forms of sockets
Having now described my invention of a combined spring mattress and bedstead
and some of the practical ways of carrying the same into effect I would have it.
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth as
many variations may be made without departing from the principle of the
invention but what I do claim is:-The mattress bedstead as herein set forth
constructed so that no bedstead sides are really required the mattress itself taking
the place of the bedsteads.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Isaacs have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
SAML ISAACS (L.S.)