IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED-BOTTOMS OR MATTRESSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRING BED-BOTTOMS OR MATTRESSES. A communication from abroad
by Edward Thomas Slayton of Saint Paul in the County of Ramsey, State
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1882.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED-BOTTOMS OR MATTRESSES.'
[A communication from abroad by Edward Thomas Slayton of Saint Paul in
the County of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, United States of America, Mechanic.]
This Invention is an improvement in spring mattresses or bed bottoms which are
designed to be detachably seated in the beḍstead frame. It belongs to that general
class in which volute spiral springs are arranged upon a foundation of slats. The
improvements consist in the means for staying and preserving the rectilinear
position of the marginal springs, for which purpose strips of metal or wood are
laced through the upper spiral convolutions of the marginal springs. at the head
and foot or sides, or both at the head and foot and sides, and which strips are then
connected either directly or indirectly to the abutments of the mattress frame.
The Invention also consists in connecting the two sections of a twin spring by
links or otherwise, so as to prevent the said sections from falling apart. Also
further in making the spring mattress in two independent sections so as to prevent
the bed from tipping or sagging laterally under persons of unequal weight lying
upon the two sides of the bed. And the Invention further consists in connecting
the head and foot strips to the abutments of the mattress frame by take up springs;
also in making one or more of the rows of springs at the foot of lighter springs ;
and also further in combining a twin spring with a slatted bed bottom frame so as
to be an integral part thereof.

page_text: The mattress frame is constructed of head and foot bars or abutments and slats
arranged longitudinally and sometimes strengthened in position by means of an
oblique brace. The springs are preferably made double or in twin form connected
at the top by the wire forming the uppermost convolution being continuous from
one to the other, and below this point by a tie or supporting link, or in any other
manner whereby the two sections of the spring are held from falling apart under
the superincumbent weight. Instead of a tie or link one of the lower convolutions
of the spring section may be hooked around a corresponding convolution of the
other section, the object being to connect the two sections of the spring together by
a firmer connection than that which is afforded by the diagonal connection between
the uppermost convolution. This connection between the sections of the twin springs
permits the use of lighter wire for the springs than would otherwise be necessary,
giving to the bed a pleasanter effect and saving expense. Connecting strips of metal,
wood, or other suitable material are interwoven through the upper convolutions
of the springs along the head and foot and these strips or bars are provided with
take up springs connected to the head and foot bars or abutments of the frame.
In connection with these end strips it is proposed also to use side strips the object
of said strips at the head and foot being to provide a simple means for holding the
marginal springs of the bed in right line position and to reduce the number of
connections with the abutments and still permit the whole-bed of springs to be
drawn in an even and uniform manner and kept in position. The head and foot
strips and take up springs may be dispensed with and the row of springs at the
head and foot connected individually to the abutments by means of links,
preserving however the interwoven strips along the sides, which side strips are
in that case connected directly to the abutments.
The springs of the bed bottom at the head and in its central position are made
heavier than those at the foot, the object being to give a stronger support in the
centre and at the head than. at the foot and thereby to avoid any central sagging
of the bed. I sometimes also use a row of light springs at the head.
In order to prevent the bed from tipping or sagging laterally under persons of
unequal weight the springs may be divided longitudinally into two lateral sections
which are either disconnected along their adjacent margins or may be connected by
take up springs similar to those at the head and foot which will yield readily
without unduly affecting the supporting springs of either side. The supporting
springs are laterally and longitudinally connected by links except along the
dividing space between the two sections.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1882.
">
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent " IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BED BOTTOMS OR MATTRESSES
A cominunication from abroad by Edward Thomas Slayton, of Saint Paul in the
County of Ramsay, State of Minnesota, United States of America, Mechanic.
This Invention is an improvement in spring mattresses or bed bottoms which
are designed to be detachably seated in the bedstead frame. It belongs to that
general class in which volute spiral springs are arranged upon a foundation of
slats. The improvements consist in the means for staying and preserving the
rectilinear position of the marginal springs for which purpose strips of metal or
wood are laced through the upper spiral convolutions of the marginal springs at
the head and foot or sides, or both at the head and foot and sides and which
strips are then connected either directly or indirectly to the abutments of the
mattress frame. The Invention also consists in connecting the two sections of
a twin spring by links or otherwise so as to prevent the said sections from falling
apart. Also further in making the spring mattress in two independent sections
so as to prevent the bed from tipping or sagging laterally under persons of
unequal weight lying upon the two sides of the bed. And the Invention further
consists in connecting the head and foot strips to the abutments of the mattress
frame by take up springs; also in making one or more of the rows of springs at
the foot of lighter springs, and also further in combining a twin spring with a
slatted bed bottom frame so as to be an integral part thereof.
In the accompanying Drawings. Figure 1 is a top or plan view of one form
of the bed bottom. Figure 2 is an edge view from the side thereof. Figure 3 is '
a detail, in perspective, of the twin spring and supporting link and Figure 4 is a
top view of a modification of the Invention.
In Figures 1, 2, the letter A designates the head and foot bars or abutments of
the frame, and B the slats arranged longitudinally and sometimes strengthened in
position by means of an oblique brace as shown. C. C. indicate the springs which
are preferably made double or in twin form'; the branches being connected at the
top as indicated at a and below this point by a tie or supporting link b which hold
the two sections of the spring from falling apart under the superincumbent weight.
The two sections of this twin spring may be connected either by this tie or link
or in any other manner. Thus for instance one of the lower convolutions of the
spring section may be hooked around a corresponding convolution of the .
other section, the object being to connect the two sections of the spring together
by a firmer connection than that which is afforded by the bend at a
connection between the sections of the twin springs enables me also to use lighter
wire for the springs than would otherwise be necessary, giving to the bed a
pleasanter effect and saving expense. The springs along the head and foot are
provided with connecting strips D, of metal or wood or other suitable material
which strips are interwoven through the upper convolutions of the springs and
these strips or bars at the head and foot, are provided with take up springs c
which are connected to the abutments A of the frame.
This
In connection with these end strips D I propose also to use side strips D¹ the
object of said strips being to provide a simple means for holding the marginal
springs of the bed in right line position, and when used at the head and foot to
reduce the number of connections with the abutments and still permit the whole
bed of springs to be drawn in an even and uniform manner and kept in position.

page_text: As a modification of the arrangement of the strips I may dispense with the
head and foot strips and take up springs and connect the row of springs C, at the
head and foot individually to the abutments by means of links preserving, however
the interwoven strips D¹ along the sides, which side strips are in that case
connected directly to the abutments, all as shown in Figure 4.
The springs C, of the bed bottom at the head and in its central position are
made heavier than those C¹ at the foot as shown in Figure 2, the object being to
give a stronger support in the centre and at the head than at the foot, and thereby
to avoid any central sagging of the bed. I sometimes also use a row of light
springs at the head.
In order to prevent the bed from tipping or sagging laterally under persons of
unequal weight, the springs may be arranged in two lateral sections E and F
(Figure 1) which are disconnected along their adjacent margins, or may be
connected by take up springs x as shown similar to those at the head and foot
which will yield readily without unduly affecting the supporting springs C of
either side. The supporting springs C are laterally and longitudinally connected
by links Z except along the dividing space between the two sections.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1st The combination with the marginal coil springs in a bed bottom of a strip
or bar laced or interwoven with the coils of said springs as described.
2nd A twin spring for a bed bottom having its sections connected at a point
between the upper and lower coils as described.
3rd The twin springs having the top connections a and below the same the
supporting links b, substantially as specified.
4th In a bed bottom the transverse bars D interwoven with the springs C at
the head and foot, in combination with said springs, the take up springs and the
abutments of the framing at the head and foot substantially as specified.
5th A spring bed bottom made in two independent sections separated at the
longitudinal middle line as and for the purpose described.
6th A bed bottom composed of coil springs arranged substantially as described
and having the springs at the foot made of lighter metal substantially as
described.
7th The combination with a slatted bed bottom, of a series of twin springs
connected to each other at the top and permanently attached to the slats at the
bottom as described
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Tenth day of July A.D. 1882.