IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPRING MATTRESSES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hamilton, of 45, Ship Street, Brighton,
Upholsterer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SPRING MATTRESSES."
Sealed the 2nd February 1864, and dated the 20th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hamilton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 20th
⚫ August 1863.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON, of 45, Ship Street, Brighton, Upholsterer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SPRING MATTRESSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the manufacture of spring mattresses
consists in making the bottom of the mattress of a light skeleton wood frame,
the top edge or border being made of steel wire, the object being to make the
mattress more portable and lighter than those now in use. The mattress is made
in two parts, which are quilted and twined together, thus forming an internal
hinge of upholstery work, which hinge is introduced in the centre, and is not
seen on the surface of the mattress, allowing the mattress when open to be the
same all over, and thus obviating the ridge that occurs in the mattresses
now made, while adding to its strength, besides being perfectly straight over
the entire surface, the sides or edges being prevented by the steel wire from
sinking.

page_text: In addition to the springs (which may be of the ordinary kind now
used) I stuff my mattresses top and bottom, which gives them greater
elasticity, and rendering same more comfortable to lie upon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HAMILTON, of 45, Ship Street, Brighton, Upholsterer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Hamilton, Her special licence that I, the said William Hamilton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Hamilton, my executors, administrators,, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SPRING MATTRESSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Hamilton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Hamilton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner, the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by, the following
statement, that is to say :-
"
This Invention of improvements in the manufacture of spring mattresses
consists in making the bottom of the mattress of a light skeleton wood frame
of two inches in thickness, the supports for springs being composed of webbing,
wire, or wooden lath, the top edge or border being made of steel or other suitable,
wire for the purpose of preventing the sides or ends of the mattress from

page_text: sinking, the object being to make the mattress inore portable and lighter than
those now in use.
The mattresses are made in two parts, which are quilted and twined
together, thus forming an internal hinge introduced in the centre without
the hinge or join being seen on the top surface of the mattress, allowing the
mattress when open to have a smooth appearance all over, thus obviating the
ridge that occurs in the centre of the mattresses now made. This hinge or
mode of joining adds considerably to the strength of the mattress, besides being
perfectly straight over the entire surface.
In addition to the springs (which may be of the ordinary kind now in use),
I stuff this mattress top and bottom, which gives it greater elasticity and ren-
dering same more comfortable to lie upon.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I would observe in
conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein given, as
they may in certain cases be modified, but what I claim and desire to be
secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the improve-
ments in spring mattresses, substantially as herein-before described, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
WILLIAM HAMILTON. L.S.)