Improvements in wire SpringV
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
Improvements in wire SpringVD.
I, ADELBERT HENRY GALE, of Waterville, in the County of Compton in
the Province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of wire mattresses,
and frames therefor, and the invention consists in various details of construction
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, is a part plan of a mattress with the springs removed.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 1 is a part plan view of the mattress with springs in position.
Figure 3, is a transverse section of the mattress, Figures
and 1ª.
Figure 4, is a plan and elevation of a short section of "V"-shaped links of the
fabric composing the bed, this particular section being employed midway between
the ends thereof.
Figure 5, shews a part plan of a mattress such as is shewn in Figures 1 and 1ª but
having chains to make the connections between the terminal "V"-shaped links and
the springs actually terminating the fabric of which the bed is composed, and
shewing also certain improvements in the end rail, and
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the same.
Figure 6, shews an end view in elevation of the construction shewn in Figure 5.
Figure 7, is a plan of the metal plate detached from said end rail, said plate
forming with the ordinary wooden rail a part of my improvements.
and
Figures 8 and 9 shew certain other improvements in the end rails.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 shew details of a tension attachment a part of our invention,
Figure 13 an enlarged perspective view of the parts forming the dovetail
joint.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
The ends of the side D of the mattress frame are connected to the face of the
end rails by a tapering dovetail joint, the members j, k making a tight joint,
see Figure 6. The end rails are arched upward and outward to resist the end
tension strain of the fabric and the inward lateral strain upon the fabric when its
edges are attached to the said side rails.
Two end rails A, B, Figures 1 and 5 also form an important part of said mattress
frame, which may be of metal, wood only or wood reinforced by the metal flange
shewn in Figure 7, in which case the actual attachments of the ends themselves of
the fabric of the mattress as hooks or springs reach to and are secured into this
flange as shewn at "E" in Figures 5 and 6. When this flange attachment is
employed two advantages are gained, 1st, greater strength of construction in which
the metal combined with the wood enables better results to be obtained with less
bulk than where wood alone is used and greater elasticity and better bracing than
if metal such as angle iron alone were substituted and 2nd, a greater space for the
fabric than could be otherwise readily obtained in the customary and arbitrary
lengths of bedsteads such as are in general use. The ends A and B are bent
upward and outward, as clearly shewn in Figures 8 and 9.

page_text: This flange "E," is made to correspond in shape to the outside of the end rail,
and is secured thereto by any suitable means and presents its upper edge a little
above the end rail to receive the hook attachments, with spring e, connecting the
springs of the fabric or the said springs may be hooked directly into the holes;
corresponding notches being made in the edge of the flange above these holes to let
the wite shank of the said 'hook attachments 1, or of the springs e, lie flush with the
said edge of the flange Figs. 6 and 7.
The end rails are made to rest upon and are very much higher than the side rails
and a set screw g, (see Figure 2) is used to increase the tension of the fabric
end wise, said screw acting in conjunction with the complementary parts of the dove
tailed attachments already explained these latter serving to hold the end rails down
on to the side rails while the former applies the required tension through the screw
threaded parts of the dove tailed pieces. In practice the socket of the tension
piere k, should open downwards to prevent the dust from lodging.
The end rails are rounded at their ends to present a greater surface to receive
the fabric, as shewn in the drawings.
The mattress itself is provided with an unbroken foot.portion and two independent
or separate head portions h. The broken head part h, Fig. 14 being for the
purpose of preventing two persons of unequal weights who might occupy the bed at
the same time from having any tendency to roll to the centre thereof. The sides
of the broken parts being made of heavier wire. The head portion being opened
also breaks up the extent of the diagonal connection from the centre towards the
end so that pressure applied upon the wire border of said opening at any point
between its terminal spring and its extent inward will have just half the spring
support that it would have did this central opening not exist, whereas the hips or
heavier part of the body, the foot end not being opened receives from said end its
full support, thus the shoulder sinking more than it otherwise would do must allow
the body to lie in a still more level and natural position.
The mattress is held suspended from the hook attachments f, by means of the
helical tension springs e. Across the middle of the fabric of the mattress are placed
two or more tiers of short "V"-shaped links a, b, followed cach way towards the
ends by longer sections c, and the links, or chaine.d, to join the tension springs & ;
heavier springs may be used or the same size of springs but increased in number
and placed nearer together at the ends on the said end rails for reasons to be
presently referred to.
Owing to the height given to the end rails we are enabled to connect the mattress
to them at the top, and also to carry it down over the ends thereof to connect it
thereto at the ends, and preserve a rotundity to the mattress corresponding to that
of the said ends of the end pieces.
The upper edges of the side rails are convexed to prevent the contact of a
sharp corner with the occupant should he weigh enough to depress the fabric
sufficiently to touch the top of said side rail. We attach the fabric to the side
rails by means of the hooks 1, shewn in Figures 1 and 2 so that the said fabric
may not become displaced.
The immediate edges of the fabric are made of heavier wire than that used in
the other of its parts, except the centre sections perhaps, these edges being heavier
to withstand the greater strain at the sides of the fabric. Any suitable lengths of
wire may be used and any convenient looping employed such as shewn in the
drawings or otherwise so long as such material and form will meet the end sought
for, viz., to make a strong and durable edge, and to bring into action one or more
springs at each end to support any or every central point.of pressure, and thereby
stiffen the bed in the centie and soften it at the ends. If the "V" shaped links
were of equal length instead of the short sections being inserted across the centre
as above described, then no central point would receive the special support of one
or more springs at each end that it does actually receive by this arrangement and
consequently the central portion of the bed would be that much weakened. It is
very important in suspension spring beds to have the central portion of the same

page_text: as strong as possible to allow the body to rest in the most level and natural
position which we thus accomplish by means of these special short sections of
"V" shaped links combined with the special attachments or end connections c, d,
hereinafter described.
If two sections of short links a, b are used in the centre (across the middle of
the mattress) they should be one half the length of the links to which they are
attached on either side towards the ends, and if three short sections are employed
they should be two-thirds of the length of the link to which they are attached ;
and these sections of shorter links serve to break up the straight lines of resistance
to pressure from end to end applied upon any given point of the surface of the
bed, more particularly upon the centre thereof. These lines of resistance lie
diagonally across the bed from end to end when sertions of "V," shaped links of
uniform lengths are used.
The object of breaking up this diagonal connection is to bring the strength of
one or more springs at each end into action to sustain the pressure applied on any
given point in the centre than could otherwise be obtained.
When oue bears upon the edge of the bed, only one half the full benefit of the
diagonal connection is realized on account of the intersection of this diagonal
connection by the outer straight edge of the bed it is necessary to use heavier
wire at the sides.
The fact also of attaching the springs and fabric down over the rounded ends of
the end rails enables us to realize more of the diagonal connection upon the edge
than could otherwise be obtained were the springs only brought flush with the outer
edge of the end of the end rails as is done in the usual form of beds.
In order to increase the elasticity and make the bed more yielding at the ends so
that the body of the occupant may lie in the most level and natural position as
above referred to we insert the long links c c Fig. 1ª, links and chains c, d Fig, 5,
or either of these since the lightest downward pressure occurs and therefore the
least resistance is required nearest the points of attachment. The object gained
by introducing the longer links or chains at the ends of the fabric is to confine the
diagonal connection formed by the "V"-shaped links to points inward nearer the
centre of the bed, where the proportionate weights of the body and the law of
gravitation requires it to be.
It is plain that only parallel lines of connection extend inward so far as the
chains extended inward towards the centre of the bed, which parallel lines of
connection can only join any given point of pressure with its respective terminal
spring.
For instance the shoulder of the occupant would chiefly rest upon this chain
connection and therefore be supported by as many springs at the end as it carried
chains of connection, the connection being parallel, and by as many less as the
parallel connection employs less than the "V" system would employ did it extend
actually to the springs, as is the actual old form, which by actual test is found to be
about three springs less.
The Hanges E, sécured to the outer faces of the head rails afford greater fabric
surface for the mattress as well as a greater strength to the frame.
The short central sections of links are made in the form shewn in Figure 4,
which Figure clearly enough shews the form to be used so that any person skilled
in the art could make up these sections without further description, we however,
deem it advisable to say that these sections are made in pairs, the one part to fit
the other. first make the part b, bringing its looped end downwards from the
plane of its arms which subtend the loop and then upwards to lie nearly parallel
with the said plane of its arms; I then loop down the ends of these arms into
hooks to lie on the same side of the plane of the said subtending arms as that on
which the down bend of the loop occurs. The loop should be made narrow or
angular at the points so as to receive the spreading strain of the shoulder of the
loop of the complementary part a, through which it passes.
The part a, is similarly made as to the hooks but the loops after being made are

page_text: bent downwards from the plane of the subtending sides of the said loop thence
backwards and upwards until the loop will have been brought between the said
arms to project a very slight distance above the level of the said arms. These two
parts a, b are then assembled in the form shewn in the figure referred to, and being
incorporated in the fabric allow the same to terminate uniformly in hooks towards
either end, the loops of all the sections of links pointing towards the centre of
the bed, which we deem the most advantageous way in which to construct a bed
the fabric of the mattress of which is made up of sections of V shaped links.
The peaked points of the V shaped section of links act upon each other as wedges
when pressure is applied to the surface cramping these links one within the other
and thus forming a sort of bridge work across the central part of the mattress to
resist pressure.
The peculiar way of looping the centre sections of links causes the fabric made
with them to be held spread apart and with an upward buoyancy which it could
not otherwise possess. Moreover, it is to be observed that the fabric formed of
links arranged in the manner described, rises from the ends towards the centre
describing the arc of a circle, this crowning or arching towards the centre is a
salient feature in our present invention the nature of the material composing the
fabric contributing in this result, and the placing of the points or loops of the
"V" shaped links towards the centre while their terminal hooks turn down to
engage with the loops of the succeeding sections of links, act to build up this arch
from the ends towards the centie. If it is desired to form a mattress more
bridging or very stiff through the centre many more tiers of these short sections a, b
could be used even extending them from end to end connection. While this
peculiar system of "V" shaped links, serviceable to form this, arching when the bed
is assembled, it also affords another advantage, viz: that when the fabric is detached
from the frame, for shipment, which is in tlie manner in which these mattresses are
actually shipped, this peculiar system of "V" shaped links allows the fabric to be
more closely folded and more compactly packed than could be done if any other
form of central connection were employed. Greater resisting power is thus given
to the centre when pressure is applied and greater elevation in the centre at all
times, and a bed constructed in this manner can never sag or bag in the middle.
This form of mattress, fabric, is designed to be supported in a bed frame of
metal or wood or any combination thereof.
In Figures 10, 11 and 12, certain other improvements are shewn. These relate
to a cheap and serviceable tension attachment for any sort of spring bed which has
side rails such as C, D and end rails such as A, B. Figure 10 shews a section of
the underside of the corner of such a frame for a bed. To the end rail A, is
secured by means of bolts or screws the metal piece, H, the ends of which are bent
at right angles upward from the surface of the said end rail.
Similarly the piece G, is secured to the side rail D, suitable holes are left in the
turned up lugs of these metal pieces, G, H, for the reception of the bolt, which
passes through ard binds these pieces G, H, together. The nut S, of the bolt rests
between the lugs of the pieces G, H as clearly shewn in the drawings at Figure 11,
while in the lug opposite to that against which the nut rests is arranged a cavity U,
into which the rounded point of the bolt will rest. A lip t, is arranged in the
lug to prevent the nut from turning, where the bolt is turned the tendency is
to slide the pieces G H, apart while still held in line with each other and thence,
through their fastenings, the end rail along the side rail of the bed thereby giving
the necessary tension.
An increased number of openings or divisional spaces h, may be formed at both
the head and foot of the mattress if it is desired to make the fabric more yielding
towards the ends, and the more these openings or spaces extend toward the middle,
the greater would be the softness of the bed, also these openings at the ends
admit of more material being used in the central or body part of the mattress
than near the ends, and thus a mattress is formed that stands out better on the
outer edges, avoiding the necessity of side fastenings.

page_text: Instead of using V's toward the ends, chains or linked V's may be used :.
increase the flexibility of the said parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the sail
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that wha
1 claim is :-
1st. The mattress frame composed of end rails and side rails combined with
mattress secured to the top of said end rails, and extended down over the rounde i
ends thereof and secured to the said ends by means of a flange substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The mattress frame composed of side rails and end rails, combined with a
mattress having an unbroken foot portion and independent head portions: secured
to the top of said end rails, as set forth.
3rd. The mattress frame consisting of the side rails and two end rails, the latter
having flanges provided with a series of perforations, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4th. The mattress frame comprising side rails, and two end rails arched upwards
and outwards to sustain and support the fabric substantially as set forth.
5th. The mattress frame comprising end rails and side rails of suitable material,.
the said end nails being arched upward and outward and having rounded en'ls
substantially as set forth.
6th. The mattress frame comprising end rails and two side rails the former
being arched upward to resist the vertical pressure upon the fabric and tension
pressure of the springs and arched outward to resist the inward tension of the
fabric when attached to the said side rails substantially as set forth.
7th. The mattress frame consisting of two side and two end rails the latter
rounded at their ends to give greater fabric surface substantially as set forth.
8th. The mattress frame consisting of two end rails secured to two side rails
the former being arched upward and outward and convexed on top as described
said side rails arched upward to resist the end tension pressure of the fabric,
arched outward to resist the lateral pressure of the fabric when attached to the
side rails, substantially as set forth.
9th. The mattress frame consisting of two end rails and two side rails the
former being arched upward and outward substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
10th. The mattress frame comprising end rails and side rails the former being
arched upward and outward, the ends of the eud rails round over to give greater
bed surface and strength and arched upward and outward to give greater tension
strength, the side rails arched upward and outward to give greater tension strength
and resistance to pressure applied internally and convexed on the top substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
11th. The mattress fabric consisting of "V" shaped sections of looped wire,
the central sections made in pairs and of heavier wire that those nearer the ends of
the fabric and shorter than the other sections, said central sections looped into each
other to give increased elevation and central support and to spread the fabric apart
in the manner substantially as set forth.
12th. The mattress fabric secured on the eud rails of the frame the sides of the
said fabric being secured above the convex surfaces of the side rails; and links or
hooks to engage with the heavier side wire forming the edge of the said fabric all
substantially as set forth.
13th. The mattress fabric consisting of "V" shaped sections of looped wire a, b,
across the centre of the said fabric combined with longer sections of "V" shaped
links across the fabric between the said centre sections a, b, and the end and still
longer "V" shaped links joining the fabric to the tension springs e, substantially
as set forth.
66
14th. The mattress fabric consisting of "V" shaped sections of looped wire
with two or more tiers of shorter central sections, combined with sections of

page_text: uniform length extending towards each end to engage with links or chains which
join same with tension springs substantially as set forth.
15th. The mattress fabric consisting of "V" shaped sections of looped wire
with two or more tiers of shorter central sections combined with uniformly
lengthening sections extending towards each end to engage with links or chains
which join the same to the end tension springs substantially as set forth.
16th. The tension attachment consisting of the parts G. H secured to the end
and side rails and arranged at right angles to slide upon the bolt r, one lug of the
part G having the lip t, to hold the nuts, of the bolt and the corresponding lug of
the part H, having a socket u, to receive the point of the bolt all substantially as set
forth.
17th. The herein described frame attachment to join the end rail to the side rail
consisting of a dove-tailed tension sliding into and retained in the corresponding
socket with the dovetail socket downward to prevent the accumulation of dust,
thickened at the back to prevent its sliding through the socket and to hold the end
rails firmly down upon the side rails and acted upon by the tension attachment
substantially as set forth.
18th. The herein described hold fast and tension attachments of the end rail to
the side rail of the frame consisting of the dove-tailed hold fast attachment
thickened at the back end to prevent its sliding through the socket; combined
with and functionally acting through the dove-tailed attachment at the other end
uniform in dimensions with the socket and holding the other end rail down upon
the side rail by means of its dove-tailed shape and made also a tension attachment
by means of the tension screw substantially as set forth.
19th. A mattress frame comprising end rails and side rails, said end rails arched
upward to sustain and support the mattress fabric suspended between said end rails
and to give a rotundity to the surface of the said fabric and the bed substantially
as set forth.
20th. A mattress having one or more openings or divisional spaces ½, from either
or both ends toward the middle of the fabric, as and for the purpose set forth.
Doted this 23rd day of November 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.