Year: 1886

page_text: I THOMAS EDMUND WALE of the Firm of T. E. Wale and Son of Coventry
Road Small Heath in the County of Warwick Wholesale Manufacturers of Wire
Mattresses Bedding &c do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in bedsteads and their fittings
which renders the bedstead and fittings more simple when taken as a whole cheaper
and less complicated besides giving stability with easy means for compensating the
parts under great strain.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which a complete
bedstead and its fittings are illustrated and which other applications may be made
by those aquainted with the trade.
Figure 1. is a general perspective view of the bedstead and fittings complete so
far as my invention refers, thereto.
Figure 2 shews the tightening arrangement applied direct to the side of the
mattress.
Figure 3. is a longitudinal section of the foot casting C and bottom end M of the
mattress.
I attach the wooden sides N of the mattress direct to the head and foot of the
bedstead by means of metallic sockets carrying dovetail projections or sockets so as
to form practically metallic joints with wood sides.
These castings are so made as to connect in the most solid and substantial
manner with the sides without being unduly heavy. The foot castings C and O¹
are made to receive the sides N and N¹ tightly and the end piece M is fitted against
the bracket ear c¹ and is beld down by the bolt c³ the dovetail piece c³ being formed
in one casting with C or a socket may be formed in C to answer the same purpose
the projection in that case would be on the ordinary junction casting P of the
bedstead.
The head joint is made with the casting A which is provided with the lip a¹ the
bolt a passing through the bottom or other equivalent part to secure it to the
side N. The sliding shoe B is also formed with a lip b and the end M¹ bears
against it and is held down by the bolt 6. Now in the case of Figure 1 the tension

page_text: is increased by means of the screws S which enter either into a loose nut R. in
the casting B or it may be tapped into the casting itself but I prefer the loose nut.
The snugs D and D¹ may be either cast one with the head junction pieces E or
they may be cast or fastened on separately but in either case the tightening of the
wire sacking or other elastic covering is effected by means of the screws S. But
instead of using the snugs D I may carry up the joint pieces A to a³ as shown at
Figure 2 when the bolt would terminate behind it and draw the covering tightly
therefrom. I pull down the sides of woven wire or other material for forming
the tension surface by means of hooks or clasps F, F1, F2 which may be attached
by staples or eyes to the wood or iron sides of bedsteads or mattresses which gives
a rounded elegant and graceful appearance thereto and counteracts in some
measure the tendency for the covering to become hollow at the centre. The eyes
hooks or rings H under the head of the bedstead enable me to affix the hangings
with much greater facility than formerly which gives an improved appearance and
assists ventilation.
It will be clearly understood that when the sides N are affixed as shown Figure 2
that they can be either applied direct to the head and foot of a bedstead as shown
at Figure 1 (with the exception of the screw S being as shown by Figure 2) or
direct to a complete bedstead having its iron or other sides and laths. Usually
however the ordinary angle sides of bedsteads and laths with all their complication
are saved by this invention. The castings C may be formed without the dovetails
for ordinary mattress work and in that case the castings A would not be needed
but in either case they have the effect elevating the tension surface material and
giving a deeper and more massive appearance to the whole. I make the dovetail
joints of any size or proportion or design to suit the work in hand.
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. Connecting woven wire or other similar mattresses having wooden sides
direct to the head and foot pillars by dovetail joints substantially as herein
set forth.
2nd. Elevating woven wire, sacking or other tension surfaces of mattresses or
bedsteads by means of castings B and C substantially as herein set forth.
3rd. The snuga D attached to the pillars of bedsteads or the junction pieces for
the purpose of tightening the woven wire or other surfaces of mattresses or bedstead
bottoms substantially as herein set forth.
4th. The means for pulling down or rounding the edges of woven wire mattresses
bedsteads or other tension surfaces of bedding to the sides thereof substantially as
herein set forth.
5th. The means for hanging curtains to the head of bedsteads by the hooks or
other devices H substantially as herein set forth.
6th. The improvements in bedsteads and their fittings of mattresses connected
direct to the head and foot by means of castings elevating and connecting the
same the one to the other substantially as herein set forth and shown upon the
drawings.
Dated this 13th day of August 1886