IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND SPRING MATTRESSES, AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, SUCH PURPOSES ور IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lowry of Salford in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BEDSTEADS AND SPRING MATTRESSES, AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED
THEREWITH, SUCH
PURPOSES
ور
IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lowry at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1883.
"IMPROVE-
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND SPRING MATTRESSES, AND IN
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO
OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
The objects of my said invention are to provide improved means of mounting
and stretching the laths of metallic and other bedsteads, and to form the laths in
such a manner that they act as or form partially or wholly the spring materials.
The means whereby I effect these improvements are as follows :-
1. I form the two sides, and the head and foot of the bedstead frame of
triangular or L form, in section, fitting into suitable sockets. These sockets are
permanently fixed to the head and foot main bars, and the sides are so fitted that
they are removable, and can be readily slipped into or out of the same.
2. I fit at each end of the side bars a bracket, with a hook to take on to the
head or foot main bar. These brackets fit the slide bars so as to slide easily
thereon, and the hooks retain then in position. The brackets have also slots in
their upper ends, and set screws entering such slots. Into these slots supple-
mentary head and foot bars are fitted. This supplementary head bar is utilised
for stretching the laths or springs, by means of the set screws.
The set screws may
be dispensed with at the foot, if desired.
3. I form the laths of corrugated or crimpel steel, such corrugations being
transverse to the length, and I form each end of such laths, (by bending over and
rivetting) into loops, through which the supplementary bars pass, and thereby
obtain a very simple and secure mode of fastening.

page_text: 4. I sometimes add an additional crimped or other lath, under each of the
ordinary latbs, which has one or more supplementary spring or springs, partially
sustaining the lath above, and increasing the elasticity.
My improvements under the first and second heads hereof are applicable to
other bedsteads, as well as those constructed with my improved springs; and this
invention partially and in its entirety is also applicable to couches, sofas, and
analogous articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said George Lowry in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th September 1883.
GEORGE LOWRY of Salford in the County of Lancaster, Engineer-IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEDSTEADS AND SPRING MATTRESSES AND IN
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO
OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
The objects of my said Invention are to provide improved means of mounting
and stretching the laths of metallic and other bedsteads and to form the laths
in such a manner that they act as or form partially or wholly the spring materials
The means whereby I effect these improvements are as follows.-
1. I form the two sides and the head and foot of the bedstead frame of
triangular or L form, in section, fitting into suitable sockets-These sockets are
permanently fixed to the head and foot main bars, and the sides are so fitted that
they are removable, and can be readily slipped into or out of the same.
2. I fit at each end of the side bars a bracket, with a hook to take on to the
head or foot main bar-These brackets fit the side bars so as to slide easily thereon
and the hooks retain them in position-The brackets have also slots in their upper
ends and set screws entering such slots-Into these slots supplententary head and
foot bars are fitted. These supplementary head bars are utilised for stretching the
laths or springs by means of the set screws-The set screws may be dispensed
with at the foot if desired
3. I form the laths of corrugated or crimped steel such corrugations being
transverse to the length, and I form each end of such laths, by bending over and
rivetting) into loops through which the supplementary bars pass, and thereby
obtain a very simple and secure mode of fastening.
4 I sometimes add an additional crimped or other lath, under each of the
ordinary laths which has one or more supplementary spring or springs partially
sustaining the lath above, and increasing the elasticity
My improvements under the first and second heads hereof are applicable to
other bedsteads as well as those constructed with my improved springs; and
this invention partially and in its entirety is also applicable to couches sofas and
analogous articles.

page_text: And in order that my said invention may be fully understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings.
Fig: 1 is a side view of a metallic bedstead shewing my improvements.
Fig: 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig: 3 is an end section of the bedstead.
corresponding parts in the three figures.
Similar letters of reference indicate
a are the two loose sides of triangular or L form fitting into b which is a suitable
socket permanently fixed to the head and foot main bars of the bedstead, upon
which socket is placed. a rocking or tightening bracket c which bracket fits
across the said socket 6 sufficiently loosely to allow of its being movable which
movement is made by means of the bracket c being attached to the socket head b
by means of a pin or round stud driven fast into the angular sides a and the
sockets b but a loose working fit in the two sides of the Inovable or rocking
bracket c and which bracket is made to move by means of the set screws e towards
the head and foot of the bedstead as shewn by the dotted lines on the left of
Fig 1. The said bracket has a head wherein is a slot or opening to carry the
spring or end cross bars f and upon which is fixed the loop end of the corrugated
or crimped steel laths g.
It will be seen that when the laths are placed across and fixed upon the bars,
they are made of a certain length to allow of their being threaded on the cross
bars and to allow of the bracket. tightening them up to any degree of elasticity
Fig. 4 is a side view of a metallic bedstead with the side rails of triangular
form cast in the end dovetail piece, as in the ordinary way, and upon which
is fixed the rocking bracket &c. &c. as described in Fig 1. 2 and 3
or
Fig 5 is a plan view of Fig 4.
Fig 6. is a side of another modification of my invention
Fig 7 is a plan, and
Fig: 8 is an end view a cross section of the same.
In this arrangement shewn in Figs 6. 7 and 8 I cast upon the head and foot
pillars at each four corners of the bedstead, the ordinary projections to take in the
dovetail joint; and upon the end of each of the side rails of triangular or L form
of iron I cast the necessary fixing b which has a piece or rib raised upon the
upper side upon or can be attached the tightening screw c And I then have a
rocking or tightening bracket d of a suitable form or design as shewn, this bracket
having a hole or slot through it to allow of the tightening screw c to pass through
it. and then upon the other side is a nut and suitable washer to tighten up the
brackets when the elastic corrugated or crimped springs are placed upon the
cross rods f.
Fig 9 is a side view and Fig 10 a plan of a similar arrangement of tightening
&&o. but for a loose or movable metallic mattress not permanently fastened to
the bedstead.
This I make by using two extra sides of channel or ☐ form of iron which
sides (a) are placed upon the ordinary sides of the bedstead, and thereon is fixed
the rocking or tightening brackets & as shewn in full and in section on Fig 9.
Fig 11 is a side view and Fig 12 a plan of the cross or end bars for the head
and foot-These bars are made the same as an ordinary carriage spring, being a
certain thickness in the centre and tapered thinner towards the extreme ends and
can be made of any thickness and width as the case may require. By making
these a spring or bowed in the centre it causes the mattress to assume a bridge
form in the centre of the bed, so that there is allowance made and provided for a
certain amount of weight to be placed in or upon the centre of the mattress and
thereby preventing the formation of a hollow place or hole, and still adds to the
elasticity at both the head and the foot consequently this arrangement makes
the mattress a complete spring throughout its entire surface.
Fig. 13 is a side view: Fig: 14 a plan-Fig: 15 another side view and
Fig 16 a plan of the elastic corrugated or crimped steel laths-These laths I form
or crimp transversely to the length, either from end to end as shewn in Fig 13,

page_text: or else in the form as shewn in Fig: 15 that is by leaving one two or more plain
or uncrimped surface lengths-and at the ends of each I form a loop by bending or
turning over the ends and rivetting them in the form shewn, which loop allows of
their being threaded or put upon the spring or cross bars (Fig 11) and thereby I
obtain a very simple and secure mode of fastening
Fig: 17 is a side view of a loose or movable mattress-This is made by having
the two sides made of triangular, angular or channel iron to be placed or fixed upon
an ordinary bedstead with the rocking or tightening bracket similar to the
brackets shewn in Fig 1 and worked in a similar manner.
Fig 18 is a side view shewing another modification of a loose or movable
mattress, this is similar to that shewn as Fig 17-only instead of the sides being
of iron or other metallic substance I use wooden sides, which sides are plated or
bound round at the ends with metal and also plated upon the top, such plates
being for the purpose of thing as well as to carry the pin or round stud
and the rocking brackets and to prevent the set screws
ing the wood
when tightening the brackets for stretching the corrugated or crimped elastic
laths
Figs 19 and 20 are respectively plan and end views of Figs 17 and 18.
Fig: 21. is a side view of another mode or method which I employ for
tightening or stretching the corrugated or crimped laths, and which is as follows:-
form the ends of the side rails b with the ordinary dovetail joint, including a
small rib or projection upon each side and having a snug to carry the set screw for
moving forward the brackets & which, brackets & slide or move upon the before
mentioned ends of the side rails b the brackets thereby being moved one towards
the head and the other towards the foot of the bedstead to lighten the laths.
Fig: 22. is an end view shewing the way of fixing the brackets d, upon the
slides and also shewing the screws & & for tightening up.
Fig 23 is a side view: Fig 24 a plan and Fig: 25 an end view, of another mode
or method I employ to tighten or stretch the crimped or corrugated laths-This
I effect by means of a bracket b at each end of the side bars, with a hook or
anchor, d, fastened by means of a screw or stud to the brackets band made to fit
or clip upon the main head and foot cross rails e so as to retain the brackets b in
position The brackets b are made to fit the side bars easily, and to slide thereon:
the foot bracket can be made a fixture as shewn at f or they can be both inade
alike as g that is each with the sliding bracket, upon which is fixed a small
moveable rocking or swivel bracket g which said bracket is rocked or moved
towards the head by means of the thumb or winged screw h acting upon an
L piece of iron sliding through a square hole in the bracket b and then pressing
forward the rocking bracket g
Fig: 26 is a side view of a mattress having a double crimped or corrugated lath
which double lath is formed by crimping or corrugating it upon the top and thence
it is bent round at each end to fit upon the cross spring bars and thence returned
to the middle underneath and formed into a coil and riveted, which partially
supports the top spring, and thereby increase the stability or elasticity of the
spring throughout its entire length
The stretching or tightening process is the same as in all the other arrangements
before mentioned
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I claim
First. The arrangement or combination of parts hereinbefore (described, and
illustrated in Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5 of the accompanying drawings, for fixing or
erecting the bedsteads sides, and for tightening the metallic crimped or corrugated
laths also for the mode or method and form of the corrugated laths, as illustrated
in Figs 11. 12 13. 14. 15. 16. and 26, also for the arrangement or mode of the cross
bars or head and bottom springs as illustrated in Figs 11 and 12 of the said
bedsteads or cots
Secondly-The arrangement or combination of parts herein before described and

page_text: illustraved [sic] in Figs 6. 7. 8. of the accompanying drawings for tightening the
metallic crimped or corrugated laths, of the said bedsteads cots.
Thirdly The arrangement or combination of parts hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figs 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings for tightening the
metallic crimped or corrugated laths for movable or loose spring mattress to fit
upon an ordinary bedstead
Fourthly. The arrangement or combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figs 17. 18. 19. 20 of the accompanying drawings for tightening the
metallic crimped or corrugated laths for movable or loose spring mattresses
Fifthly The arrangement or combination of parts herein described and illus-
trated in Figs 21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings for tightening and fixing
the metallic crimped or corrugated laths
Sixthly. The arrangement or combination of parts herein described and illus-
trated in figs. 23, 24 and 25 of the accompanying drawings for tightening and
fixing the metallic crimped or corrugated laths.
In witness whereof I the said George Lowry have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1883.