IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPRING MATTRESSES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPRING MATTRESSES AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Ezra Hinckley, of San
Francisco, California, United States of America, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPRING
MATTRESSES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES." [A communication from abroad by Ezra
Hinckley, of San Francisco, California, United States of America, Engineer.]
This Invention relates to spring mattresses or bed-bottoms and similar articles,
and consists essentially in improved means for uniting or connecting spiral springs
in the manufacture of mattresses or the like.
According to the said Invention I connect spiral or double helical springs at
their bases and tops by means of a thin metallic clamp or band which unites such
springs to each other and also to the outer retaining or binding wires, which bold
the mattress in form; and, furthermore, I attach the outer or free end of the coiled
wire to the outer thread or coil of the spring in such a manner as to prevent all
danger of the outer end of the wire composing the spiral from slipping upon the
first turn or coil of the spiral when the spring is compressed or expanded in a plane
at right angles to the axis thereof.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ double helical springs for
the mattress and metallic clips, loops, or bands, which are bent around and firmly
connect the adjoining side of the top and bottom wires or coils of adjacent springs.
A similar spring is also employed to connect the outer row of springs to the borders
or guards which surround the mattress upon all sides or edges.

page_text: Along some point on the outer coil of wire I form a bend which is inclined in a
direction parallel with the vertical axis of the spring. With the free end of the
wire forming the spring I then take a few turns around the wire, forming the bend
at the centre thereof. By this construction the spring is prevented from slipping
upon itself, and, furthermore, the metal clips and the stiff borders which surround
the mattress will form a close union of the upper and lower coils, so that when
pressure is brought to bear upon the surface of the mattress the springs will be
compressed in a more uniform manner than in other methods now employed in the
construction of spring-beds.
As the spring is compressed it will have a tendency to expand in a direction at
right angles to its longitudinal axis, and the end of the spring will be inclined to
draw back, but is prevented from so doing by the twisted end binding upon the
side of the bend.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
SPRING MATTRESSES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by
Ezra Hinckley, of San Francisco, California, United States of America, Engineer.
This Invention relates to spring-mattresses or bed bottoms and similar articles,
and consists essentially in improved means for uniting or connecting spiral springs
in the manufacture of mattresses or the like.
According to the said Invention I connect spiral or double helical springs at
their bases and tops by means of a thin metallic clamp or band which unites such
springs to each other and also to the outer retaining or binding wires, which hold
the mattress in form; and furthermore, I attach the outer or free end of the coiled
wire to the outer thread or coil of the spring in such a manner as to prevent all
danger of the outer end of the wire composing the spiral from slipping upon the
first turn or coil of the spiral when the spring is compressed or expanded in a plane
at right angles to the axis thereof.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan view of my Invention, showing its application to four springs
in one corner of a mattress, though any number of springs may be connected in
like manner to form a mattress of any desired size.
Figure 2 is a perspective view, illustrating the bend in the first coil of the spiral,
and the mode of attaching the end of the wire thereto.
Figure 3 is a side view elevation of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents a double helical spring, and B the metallic clip, loop, or band,
which is bent around and firmly connects the adjoining sides of the top and bottom
wires or coils of adjacent springs. A similar clip is also employed to connect tho
outer row of springs to the borders or guards C, which surround the mattress upon
all sides or edges in the manner shewn in Figure 1. At a point on the outer coil
of wire I form a bend D, which is inclined in a direction parallel with the vertical
axis of the spring. With the free end of the wire forming the spring I then take a
few turns around the wire forming the bend D at the centre thereof, as shown
at E.
By this construction the spring is prevented from slipping upon itself, and,
furthermore, the metal clips and the stiff borders which surround the mattress will
form a close union of the upper and lower coils, so that when pressure is brought
to bear upon the surface of the mattress the springs will be compressed in a more
uniform manner than in other methods now employed in the construction of spring-
beds. As the spring is compressed it will have a tendency to expand in a direction
at right angles to its longitudinal axis, and the end of the spring will be inclined
to draw back, but is prevented from so doing by the twisted end binding upon the
side D¹ of the bend D.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The double helical spring having the outer coil provided with a bend D,
at which point the free end of the wire composing the said spring is made fast and

page_text: attached to the adjacent springs by metallic clips, substantially in the manner set
forth and shown in the accompanying Drawing and for the purpose specified.
Second. In the manufacture of spring-mattresses and the like, the combination
with the spiral or helical springs provided with bends or indentations of the borders
or guards and the metallic clips, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially
in the manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)