Improvements in and relating to Flexible Wire Mats and Matting and to the Borders thereof.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Flexible Wire Mats and Matting
and to the Borders thereof.
I, THOMAS CHANNING MCPHERSON, a citizen of the United States of
America, residing at Rochester, in the County of Beaver and State of Penn-
sylvania, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 relates to new and useful improvements in flexible wire mats and
matting and to the borders thereof, the object of the invention being to combine in
a mat flexibility and durability and at the same time effect an appearance which
will be desirable from its ornamental character.
The prime feature on which the invention depends is the introduction into the
coils of the mat of bars of suitable material, preferably wood, by which additional
body is given to the mat for increasing its durability, the same being accomplished
without destroying the flexible nature of the mat.
The invention, therefore, primarily consists in the construction of the mat or
matting of parallel coils of suitable formation connected together by interlocking
respectively one with the other throughout the mat or matting, or by other means
for formning a flexible connection between the parallel coils, and providing the
interior of the coils or helices, preferably every alternate one, with bars of suitable
material extending therethrough.
The invention is also adapted to be applied to the flexible mat in the form of
a border alone, in which application of the invention the mat is provided with
short sections of wood or other suitable material which extend into the coils a
short distance, and at the ends.of the mat extending the entire length of the coils.
The invention also consists in certain other novel features in the arrangement
and construction of parts, all as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawing in which my invention is fully illustrated-
Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a portion of a flexible wire mat or matting;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a top or plan view of a portion of a flexible mat showing the modified
form of the invention in the use of short bars, by the application of which as shown
a very desirable border is provided.
The mat, A, is constructed of a number of helices or coils running parallel to
each other and interlocking throughout the entire mat. These coils may be of
any desired shape, the rectangular form as shown in the drawing being the con-
struction preferred, as by this form flat bearing surfaces are presented, but other
shapes of coils can be employed with good effect. These parallel helices or coils, B
are preferably connected together by the coils of one linking or interlocking
with the coils of the other, thus making a flexible or hinge connection, but a
flexible joint may be secured in various other ways, as by rods running through
the coils.
While the coils or helices may be of any shape they are required to have an
interior space running from one end to the other, so as to permit the insertion
therein of the bars, C. These bars are preferably of wood, and are preferably
placed in every alternate helix, the intermediate or open helix giving the necessary
play, at the connection so that the matting may be readily folded or rolled, and
making or providing the proper amount of open work which is one of the desirable
1

page_text: qualities of a wire mat. The bars are of substantially the same form and size as
the coils, and hence fit within the helices tightly so that any strain put upon the
matting will be borne by the bars and the form of the coils preserved.
The terminal coil of the several helices after linking with its adjacent one,
has its remaining portion, D, bent at right angles to the direction of the helix and
terminating in a hook or eye, E. The ends of the coils thus formed are hooked
together respectively, giving a flexible connection at these points and a straight
edge, and also dispensing with any outside frame or border.
When it is desirable to leave the main portion of the mat open, a border may
be constructed of short sections, F, of hard wood or other material, and long
sections, G, for the ends. The short sections, F, are inserted in the coils from
each side and are of a length corresponding to the width of the border desired.
The sections are firmly held in place by being closely fitted into the coils, but to
insure against any loosening of the coil, the pins, A, are provided in the sections,
which projecting up or down from the surface of the sections engage the wire of
the coil, and hold the sections of wood in their place. The end sections, G, are
inserted in the end coils, and such a number of adjacent coils as will make a width
of border equal to the length of the short sections. In constructing the border of
hard wood, every alternate section is of dark wood, while the others are light in
color. This alternating of different colored wood can be varied greatly and a
large number of woods of different shade used and variously arranged so as to
present pleasing effects.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wire mat or matting constructed of parallel helices of wire connected
together and having extending through the helices in the direction of their length,
bars of suitable material, having a cross section corresponding in shape to the form
of coil composing said helices and of a size sufficient to fill the interior thereof,
substantially as described, whereby the helices are rendered firm and rigid and the
flexibility of the connections of the helices preserved so that the mat may be rolled
or folded.
2. A wire mat or matting composed of parallel helices interlinked, and having
the interior of every alternate helix provided with a bar of suitable material,
having a cross section corresponding to the form of coil composing said helices, the
said bars being of approximately the size of the helices, substantially as described,
whereby to fill the same and render the coils so provided, firm, while by its
alternate open helix the flexibility of the mat is preserved and accumulations
permitted to go through the same.
3. A wire mat or matting composed of parallel helices interlocked, each, or every
alternate helix provided with a bar extending therethrough having a cross section
corresponding to the form of the coil composing said helices and filling the same,
and the terminals of each helix bent in substantially hooked form and connected
with its adjacent terminal thereby, substantially as described, whereby the free
ends are disposed of and the bars secured within the helix.
4. In a mat, a border composed of sections of wood or other material inserted in
the coils of the mat at its sides and ends, those sections forming the side border
extending into the coils but a short distance, while those forming the end border
extend the entire width of the mat, substantially as described.
5. A border frame for flexible wire mats composed of short sections of wood or
other material inserted in the coils of the mat on each side, and sections inserted
in the end coils of a length corresponding to the width of the mat, substantially as
described.
6. A wire mat provided with a border composed of sections of wood, or other
suitable material, inserted in the coils of the mat across the side and ends, the said

page_text: section being provided with pins for holding the sections in place, substantially as
described.
Dated this 24th day of Mo 1902
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.