Improvements relating to Flexible Stays for Air-mattresses, Air- cushions and like articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE DIMUITICATION.
Improvements relating to Flexible Stays for Air-mattresses, Air-
cushions and like articles.
I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS YOUNG, of Wakefield, County of Middlesex, and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-.
My present invention is designed especially as an improvement in devices for
staying the walls of pneumatic mattresses, cushions and of air goods generally;
the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper and more effective means for stay-
ing the walls of the air sack to each other than is now in ordinary use, whereby
the necessity of slitting said walls to enter the stay is avoided and yet a sufficient
bearing surface is attained on the outer faces of said walls to afford a requisite
lock for said stays.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be understood from the
following explanation.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a pneumatic mattress wall;
Fig. 2 a sectional view showing two walls of an air bag or mattress connected
by my improved stay;
Fig. 3 a plan view of the same, a portion of the friction cap being represented
as broken away to show the stay holder;
Figs. 4 and 6 views similar to that in Fig. 2 showing modifications in the
method of fastening the stay, and
Figures 5 and 7 respectively plan views of the parts shown in Figures 4 and 6.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures
of the drawing.
A, B, represent the two walls respectively of a pneumatic mattress or other air
sack.
These walls, as is commonly understood, are stayed together at intervals by
flexible stays, which permit slight natural movement but hold said walls against
distortion in any part when weight is applied at another portion of the mattress
This lateral or tortional movement has always been a menace in that, as the
flexible stay, usually a tape, was passed through a slot in the walls and secured
to the outer wall faces by vulcanizing, such movements tended to enlarge the slots
and cause leakage.
In my improvement I connect the flexible stay to the mattress walls by means
of an interposed non-flexible material and by the use of which a circular hole of
materially small diameter in said walls may be employed for the flexible stay to
pass through.
Referring again to the drawings, g represents the stay in Figures 2 and 3
which in this example is a braided or twisted cord of suitable length.
The ends of this cord are passed centrally through segmental wooden discs, f,
similar to the ordinary "button-mould."

page_text: The flat faces of these disks f are counter sunk centrally at h, and the knotted
ends i, of the stay g, rest therein.
It will be understood that the stays g, are passed through the small circular
punctures t, in the mattress walls, A, B, before the wooden heads f, are attached
thereto; and, as thus disposed the spherical surface of said heads engages the
outer, or rubber faced, surfaces of said walls.
These wooden heads f, are then capped or covered by a disk d, of friction cloth
and the whole is vulcanized together.
I find in practice that the caps d, and rubber faces of the walls A, B, will vul-
canize securely to the wood whereas if metal or many other rigid materials are
employed the joint is less perfect and the parts more liable to work loose.
Now, it will be seen that, while the cord g holds the mattress walls in the
same position relative to each other vertically they admit all the play desired
in other directions; and torsional action is neutralized by the rotation of the
stay in the heads.
Moreover in resisting the pull longitudinally of the stay there is the same
strain on all sides of the wall opening t, and for such distance therefrom as the
curved face of the heads engages or is secured to the walls A, B, because the
point of force applied is centrally of the flat face of the disk, or at the knot i.
In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5 a tape m, is substituted for the twisted
cord g.
The hole v, through the button is enlarged and a diametrical groove a,
is formed in the flat face of said button. In this groove a pin or rod w, lies, so
sunken that it will be out of contact with the friction cap d.
The tape m, is
threaded through holes t, v, around or over the rods w, and its ends are rivetted
together at p, forming a double stay for use where strength not possessed by
cord 9, is needed.
In Figures 6 and 7 the hole y, through the button may be rectangular and
forked or forming a bridge z, over which the tape m, may be passed, said bridge
being merely a substitute for the rod w.
It will be seen that in addition to the advantages recited in the preamble the
necessity of using more than one cap d, or supplemental pieces of friction cloth
in order to close the slots in the bag walls and prevent them tearing, is entirely
avoided in my device.
In its use as pressure is applied to one portion of the air sack and the air driven
to another section where it tends to expand the walls, said walls are securely
held by my improved stay; and the strain thereof being central of the segmental
buttons there is substantially no pull at all exerted on the fabric at the edges of
the hole, t, therein. Such pull is distributed equally on all portions of the fabric
that is in contact with the curved face of the head or button f.
Practically the only place in which a leak can occur is through the button
hole, v, and as this is sealed by the rubber-coated air proof cap d, upon which
no material strain or wear ever comes it will be seen that the danger from such
leakage is reduced to a minimum.
Any form and any material desired may be employed without departing from
the spirit of my invention, the salient feature of which comprises a flexible stay
connecting the walls of an air sack and secured thereto by a button or head of
non-flexible material covered by an air-proof cap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. A stay for connecting the walls of a mattress or similar air goods which
comprises a Hexible cord or tape provided at each end with a head of non-flexible
material centrally of which it is secured.
2nd. A stay for connecting the walls of an air sack comprising a flexible cord
provided at each end with a segmental head having a curved and a flat face sub-
stantially as specified.

page_text: 3rd. A stay for connecting the walls of an air sack comprising a flexible cord
provided at each end with a wooden head centrally of which said stay end is
secured.
4th. A stay for connecting the walls of an air sack comprising a flexible cord
provided at each end with a wooden head having a flat and a curved face.
5th. The herein described stay for air mattresses comprising two wooden
heads, f, provided with a central opening, v, and the flexible cord having its
respective ends secured in said openings.
6th. In combination the sack walls, A, B, having the perforations, t; the
buttons, f, having openings, v, and a curved face engaging the outer faces of said
walls respectively; a flexible cord having its ends respectively secured in said
openings and passing through said perforations; and the caps, d, covering said
buttons and vulcanized to said walls, all being arranged to operate substantially
as specified.
Dated this 10th day of Octahan 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.