IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH SPIRAL SPRING, MATTRESSES AND FRAMES, AND SPIRAL SPRINGS USED IN CONNECTION WITH FRAMES, BEDSTEADS, COUCHES, AND FOR OTHER UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Aston, of Summerfield Villas,
Icknield, Street West, Birmingham, Manufacturing Ironmonger,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH SPIRAL SPRING,
MATTRESSES AND FRAMES, AND SPIRAL SPRINGS USED IN CONNECTION WITH
FRAMES, BEDSTEADS, COUCHES, AND FOR OTHER UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Aston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th April 1872.
I, CHARLES HENRY ASTON, of Summerfield Villas, Icknield Street
West, Birmingham, Manufacturing Ironmonger, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH
SPIRAL SPRING MATTRESSES AND FRAMES, AND SPIRAL SPRINGS USED IN CON-
NECTION WITH FRAMES, BEDSTEADS, COUCHES, AND FOR OTHER UPHOLSTERY'
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
:
•
ML T
also ha

page_text: sofas, chairs, and other articles of furniture wherein the
springs are used.
usum spu
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangements in
the making of spring mattresses, whereby a greater amount of durability,
ventilation, and facility for detaching, changing, re-arranging, and
cleaning springs, also for packing in small bulk for transport or
removing, is obtained, combined with cheapness and simplicity of con-
struction.
According to this Invention a metallic or wood frame or combined
frame of wood and metal is constructed consisting of two longitudinal
or side pieces and two traverse. or end pieces at or near cach extremity
made in one piece or in parts secured together or made portable by
connecting them by pins, dovetails, hooks, or other detachable fastenings,
wood or iron .laths, or framework of laths, secured or portably secured
to these as a foundation for the spiral springs to rest upon, or for the
same purpose I make use of the laths of ordinary iron bedsteads as they
are usually arranged or so arranged for both the long and short laths to
be of the same equal distance from each other, using five or more long
laths (from head to foot of bedstead) in place of the usual four used
on full-sized metallic bedsteads.
In some cases I make use of two transverse wires, or metallic or wood
laths for each row of springs to rest upon with or without two longi-
tudinal laths or wires for each row of springs.
When to advantage I make use of a small cross bar of strong wire or
flat hoop iron, or other metal turned up at their ends, or without being
turned up but with spring' fasteners attached, or one end turned up and;
spring fastener or catch on the other end, secured on wood or iron laths
as an additional support for the bottom of spring to rest upon, as shewn
in accompanying Drawings, Figure A, with or without fastening screws,
Figure B, or for also portably securing the bottom of the spring to the
metallic or wood laths I use an improved metallic turnbutton fastening,
Fig. O, with shoulder to rivet loose on bottom lath, or without riveting
piece but a hole through for rivet, screw, or pin (Fig. D) made in
one piece or when to advantage in two or more parts (Fig. E) secured
together by the screw or rivet going through to fasten it to wood
or metallic lath, for securing any of these buttons to laths, when to

page_text: advantage I use rivets or pins with shoulders or swells to give a steadier
hold (Fig. F).
"
In some cases I use only one or two of the spring fasteners to each
spring, using in connection therewith catches or stops (Fig. G, G, G).
In others I prefer the use of four for to secure the bottom of spring to
lath by the use of two on cach side of the spring, placed a little distance.
from each other, prevents by the swell of the spring the bottom of
spring from sliding sideways (Fig. H), or a combination of fasteners and
catches placed in same position, answers the same purpose for keeping
the bottom of spring in its proper position. When to advantage and
springs are to be portably secured, and for also securely fixing to
metallic laths of iron bedsteads, or for spring mattresses, I make
use of the cross parts or section of traverse and longitudinal laths
where they cross at right angles for placing the springs on, thus
giving a better foundation for springs to rest upon (Fig. I), riveting or
attaching by a screw nut a portable spring fastener or catch on each
arm to keep bottom of spring in its right position by arranging the
laths to cross at right angles at equal distances from each other I get a
more uniform distance between bottoms and also of the tops of the springs
to each other.
.
'
When to advantage I make use of portable spring screw fasteners as
(Fig. J and K,) or fit bottom of spring on wood laths by cutting à
groove for bottom wire of spring to fit on and using a turnbutton to
keep spring in its place Fig. L), or where to advantage I make use of a
metallic plate or saucer (Fig. M), with or without one, two, three, or
four loops underneath for long or short laths to slide in, or a metallic
rim (Fig. N) for the bottom of spring to rest upon or within.
For the side and ends of frame for spring mattress I use when to
advantage a metallic strip or piece of strong hoop iron secured to the
under or bottom edge of wood sides and ends bringing it round, the two
ends of sido pieces with overhanging edge to form at the ends sides of a
groove for end piece to slide in (Fig. O), and to act as a foundation at
the bottom for the ends of traverse wood or metallic laths to rest upon
(Fig. P), putting turnbuttons on the said ledge for portably securing
ends of laths to or riveting the ends of metallic laths on to or fastening
wood blocks thereon to keep wood laths in their right position if used.
I also secure a-like piece of iron under the bottom or under edge of
traverse or top and bottom piece of the frame in the same manner to
receive when required the ends of the long or longitudinal laths on

page_text: riveted thereto, or portably secured on with turnbuttons or other portable
fastenings.
For portably securing and keeping the tops of the spiral springs in
their right position, I make use of a metallic cross bar with one or more
arms with spring holders or catches thereon, or cross bars with ends 5
turned down (Fig. Q) with or without fastening screws (Fig. B) or cross
bars, or cross bars with one end turned down, and turnbutton or other
portable spring fastener used on the other end, or metallic plate or
saucer or metallic rim, Fig. M and N reversed over springs attached to
the under side of a continuous or jointed hoop iron, wire, or elastic steel 1
lath or webbing for going over the tops of springs to form a flexible
foundation for the stuffing or mattress made of wool or any other
material.
For the same purpose I make use when to advantage of wire hooks
with both ends fastened to top of spring, the hook part thus made of 1
double wire which may be from half an inch to six inches wide where it
hooks on or attaches itself to next round or square top spring, or use
hoop iron, metallic or wire hooks, one end secured to top wire of spring
(Fig. S) or hook loose (Fig. T) to hook on next spring traverse or
longitudinal so as to form a continuous top (X Figure). The hooks on 2
outside row of springs to hook into staples on inside of wood framework,
or iron rod or frame attached to bottom of mattress or bedstead, or when
to advantage to clip the under or bottom edge of angle iron of metallic
bedstead, for the same purpose I make use when required of metallic
plates or saucers, Fig. M, reversed, and rims, Fig. N, reversed with loops
attached, or otherwise (Fig. U) to fasten metallic hooks to and into, and
thus secure top springs so as to form a continuous top traverse and
longitudinal from side to side and end to end of mattress or bedstead.
When the bottom metallic plate or saucers are used in connection with
metallic plates or saucers over the tops of the springs, the springs are
easily detached from between the saucers for cleaning or re-arranging
by compressing the spring and withdrawing it. I sometimes attach
fastening screws, Fig. B, to these saucers to make top or bottom of
spring more secure.
By arranging the metallic traverse and longitudinal laths or frame of
laths used for bottom or foundation for springs to rest upon to match
with a similar set of laths or frame of laths with or without joints to go
over the top of the springs so as the cross pieces, or where the laths

page_text: When I make use of the top wire of spiral springs to form with hooks
or loops attached to catch into next spring traversely and longitudi-
nally to form an elastic top (Fig. S), or for general use in making
spring mattresses with portable or detachable springs, I find it advan- .
tageous in carrying out some of the above improvements to extra secure 5
the top coil of wire of springs from stretching, by cutting nicks or
grooves in spring where usually fastened and binding it tight with wire,
or in some cases soldering or brazing it together; also I get a firm ring
by galvanizing the spring after being made or thus fastened, or using
springs with top end of wire turned very tightly round the top ring of 1
the spring, and in some cases the end continued and turned over the
spring on the opposite side, thus forming a bar on the top or across the
top of spring. I also find it advantageous for making some kinds of
mattresses to use spiral springs made of homogeneous steel or iron
wire..
"
1
I also in some cases make use of spiral springs, galvanized or other-..
wise, made oval shape in place of round, and round springs with oval.
tops or bottoms or square tops or bottoms; squaro tops can be used with
advantage with some descriptions of the wire or hoop-iron hooks or
loops to form a flexible top; these springs can be used in connection with 2
any of the above improvements, and for portable and detachable spiral..
spring mattresses of other descriptions.
"
A servicable and economical spring mattress can be made by utilizing
the metallic laths of iron bedsteads at ordinary fixed or specially
arranged, by using it as a foundation for the spiral springs to rest upon, 2
making use of either of the portable spring fasteners to secure the
springs to laths. The springs being casily detachable they admit of
being re-arranged; if after long wear the centre springs shew weakness,
they can be readily shifted and replaced by new ones, or by springs
exchanged from sides of mattress, and using a covering over the springs 3
made of ordinary wire netting, galvanized or otherwise, or when to
advantage using a covering of G. Baker's patent peg lattice, or wire
netting, or a network of strong twine or canvas. Nail bagging or cocoa
fibre matting, either of them fixed on wood or iron frames with one or
more joints to fold or otherwise, with cross bars of iron, or wire, or wood, 3
or other fastenings for the top of springs to fit into, or made portably
fast or otherwise to under side of covering, when to advantage web or
metallic laths jointed, elastic or otherwise, can be used over the springs

page_text: or covering, the ends of which can be secured by hooking on to a
framework, or to laths of bedstead, or clip the bottom edge of angle iron
of bedstead.
The covering or framework can also be attached by webbing or
hooks to laths of bedstead, or clip bottom edge of angle iron of
bedstead.
In some cases I use springs with portable or fixed hooks on (Fig. 8)
to form by hooking springs traverse and longitudinally together a
flexible top to receive stuffing or soft mattress on, but in place of using
metallic hooks from the last row of springs to hook on to staples
or strong parallel wire attached or inside of portable frame round
mattress.
I prefer using pieces of webbing to keep outside row of springs in
their proper position, one end sewn on outside spring or portably
attached, and bring the webbing over the top edge of portable wood
frame or metallic frame or bar attached to bedstead, and attach on the
other end of webbing a hook to fasten on laths of bedstead or to clip the
under edge of angle iron of bedstead, or in place of attaching a hook
to end of webbing a buckle or any other portable fastening can be
used.
When required I also make use of an outside portable covering or cap
made of linen, canvas, or other suitable material, with a deep border or
curtain to cover springs and frame, portably securing the same to wood
frame of mattress with studs or buttons, or when to advantage by hooks
sewn to covering and hooking it on to a parallel wire running round
sides and end of framework secured on outside of frame, or when to
advantage attaching it by hooks and webbing to clip on the under edge
of angle iron of iron bedstead, when required lining the same with wire
netting, or nail bagging, cocoa fibre matting, flocks, wool, fibre, or any
other kind of stuffing.
.
• When the portable spring holders, catches, or stops are fastened to
the laths of iron bedsteads, the laths can be used as advantageously for
the usual straw palliasse or other bedding thereon by reversing the face
of lath on which the fastenings are, thus turning the level surface
upwards to receive the usual bedding on.
I make use of, when to advantage for securing the traverse piece of

page_text: wood frame round springs to longitudinal or side piece, ordinary hooks
with screw eyes, or staples, or cabin hook to portably fasten it together.
Also sometimes an ordinary turnbutton on end of side piece over the
groove the traverse piece slips into, to turn over traverse or end piece
when in its place to keep it from slipping up.
I
When making use of the laths of iron bedsteads as foundation laths
for springs to rest upon in connection with any of the above improve-
ments, I use when to advantage for hooking the loops or hooks attached
to outside rows of springs to and (also for other purposes), a rod of iron
or bar running parallel over.angle iron of bedstead, attached by small 1
screws, or nuts and bolts, or other portable fastenings to the pillars of
metallic iron bedstead, sometimes, using a swell on pillars or groove to
keep the rods or bars in their proper position.
In some cases I find it advantageous to use an angle iron frame with.
cast dovetail joints to attach laths to as a foundation or bearing to rest. 1
the springs upon, with small pillars and bar of iron attached to to run
parallel over the angle iron to attach the fastenings or hooks to, from
the outside row of springs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,:
filed by the said Charles Henry Aston in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 22nd July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HENRY ASTON, of Summerfield Villas, Icknield Street West, Bir-
mingham, Manufacturing Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Henry Aston, Her special
licence that I, the said Charles Henry Aston, my executors, adminis- 3
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Aston,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: 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 CONNECTION WITH SPIRAL SPRING MATTRESSES AND FRAMES,
; AND SPIRAL SPRINGS USED IN CONNECTION WITH FRAMES, BEDSTEADS, COUCHES, AND
FOR OTHER UPHOLSTERY PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Charles Henry Aston, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly 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 Charles Henry Aston, do hereby
5 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 :—
This Invention consists of improvements in spiral spring and other
mattresses, and the Invention or some of the improvements can also be
> applied to sofas, chairs, and other articles of furniture wherein the usual,
spiral springs are used.
This Invention relates to à peculiar construction and arrangement
in the making of spring mattresses, whereby a greater amount of
durability, ventilation, and facility for detaching, changing, re-arranging
3 and cleaning springs, also for packing in small bulk for transport or
removing, is obtained, combined with cheapness and simplicity of con-
struction.
f
According to this Invention a metallic or wood frame or combined
frame of wood and metal is constructed, consisting of two longitudinal
) or side pieces and two transverse or end pieces at or near each extremity,
made in one piece or in parts secured together or made portable by con-
necting them by. pins, dovetails, hooks or other detachable fastenings,;
wood or iron laths or framework of laths secured or portably secured to
these as a foundation for the spiral springs to rest upon, or for the same.
purpose I make use of the laths of ordinary iron bedsteads, as they are
usually arranged or so arranged for both the long and short laths: to be.
of the same equal distance from each other, using five or more long.

page_text: laths (from nead to 100t or bedstead) in place of the usual four used on
full-sized metallic bedsteads.
In some cases I make use of two transverse wires or metallic or
wood laths for each row of springs to rest upon, with or without two
longitudinal laths or wires for each row of springs.
E
When to advantage I make use of a small cross bar of strong wire or
flat hoop iron or other metal turned up at their ends, or without being
turned up,
but with spring fasteners attached, or one end turned up and
spring fastener or catch on the other end, secured on wood or iron laths
as an additional support for the bottom of spring to rest upon, as shewn 1
in accompanying Drawings Fig. A, with or without fastening screws
Fig. B, or for also portably securing the bottom of the spring to the
metallic or wood laths I use an improved metallic. turnbutton fasten-
ing Fig. C, with shoulder to rivet loose on bottom lath or without
riveting piece, but a hole through for rivet screw or pin (Fig. D), made 1
in one piece, or when to advantage in two or more parts (Fig. E), secured
together by the screw or rivet going through to fasten it to wood or
metallic lath; for securing any of these buttons to laths when to
advantage I use rivets or pins with shoulders or swells to give‘a steadier
hold (Fig. F).
In some cases I use only one or two of the spring fasteners to each
spring, using in connection therewith catches or stops (Figs. G, G, G).
In others I prefer the use of four to secure the bottom of spring to lath
by the use of two on each side of the spring placed a little distance from
each other prevents by the swell of the spring the bottom of spring from
sliding sideways (Fig. H), or a combination of fasteners and catches.
placed in same position answers the same purpose for keeping the
bottom of spring in its proper position.
2
When to advantage and springs are to be portably secured, and also
for securely fixing to metallic laths of iron bedsteads, or for spring 3
mattresses, I make use of the cross parts or section of transverse and
longitudinal laths where they cross at right angles for placing the
springs on, thus giving a better foundation for springs to rest upon
(Fig. 1), riveting or attaching by a screw nut a portable spring fastener
or catch on each arm to keep bottom of spring in its right position by 3
arranging the laths to cross at right angles at equal distances from each

page_text: other, I get a more uniform distance between bottoms and also of the
tops of the springs to each other.
When to advantage I make use of portable spring screw fasteners, as
Figs. J and K, or fit bottom of spring on wood laths by cutting a groove
for bottom wire of spring to fit on, and using a turnbutton to keep
spring in its place Fig. L, or where to advantage I make use of a
metallic plate or saucer (Fig. M) with or without one, two, three, or
four loops underneath for long or short laths to slide in, or a metallic
rim (Fig. N) for the bottom of spring to rest upon or within.
For the side and ends of frame for spring mattress I use when to
advantage a metallic strip or piece of strong hoop iron secured to the
under or bottom edge of wood sides and ends, bringing it round the two
ends of side pieces with overhanging edge to form at the ends sides of a
groove for end piece to slide in (Fig. O), and to act as a foundation at
the bottom for the ends of transverse wood or metallic laths to rest
upon (Fig. P), putting turnbuttons on the said ledge for portably securing
ends of laths to or riveting the ends of metallic laths on to or fastening
wood blocks thereon to keep wood laths in their right position if used.
I also secure a like piece of iron under the bottom or under edge of
transverse or top and bottom piece of the frame in the same manner to
receive when required the ends of the long or longitudinal laths on,
riveted thereto, or portably secured on with turnbuttons or other
portable fastenings.
For portably securing and keeping the tops of the spiral springs in
their right position I make use of a metallic cross bar with one or more
arms with spring holders or catches thereon, or cross bars with ends
turned down (Fig. Q), with or without fastening screws (Fig. B) or cross
bars, or cross bars with one end turned down, and turnbutton or other
portable spring fastener used on the other end, or metallic plate or
saucer or metallic rim, Figs. M and N, reversed over springs attached to
the under side of a continuous or jointed hoop iron, wire, or elastic steel
lath or webbing for going over the tops of springs to form a flexible
foundation for the stuffing or mattress made of wool or any other
material.
.
For the same purpose I make use when to advantage of wire hooks
with both ends fastened to top of spring, the hook part thus made of
double wire, Fig. R, which may be from half an inch to six inches wide

page_text: where it hooks on or attaches itself to next round or square top spring;
or use hoop iron, metallic, or wire hooks, one end secured to top wire of
spring (Fig. S), or hook loose (Fig. T), to hook on next spring dia-
gonally, transverse, or longitudinal, so as to form a continuous top
(Fig. X). The hooks on outside row of springs to hook into staples on 5
inside of wood framework, or iron rod, or frame attached to bottom of
mattress or bedstead; or, when to advantage to clip the under or bottom
edge of anglo iron of metallic bedstead for the same purpose, I make use
when required of metallic plates, or saucers, Fig. M, reversed, and
rims, Fig. N, reversed, with loops attached or otherwise (Fig. U) to 10
fasten metallic hooks to and into, and thus secure top springs so as to
form a continuous top diagonally or transverse and longitudinal from
side to side and end to end of mattress or bedstead.
When the bottom metallic plates or saucers are used in connection
with metallic plates or saucers over the tops of the springs, the springs 1
are easily detached from between the saucers for cleaning or re-arranging
by compressing the spring and withdrawing it. I sometimes attach
fastening screws, Fig, B, to these saucers to make top or bottom of
spring more secure.
By arranging the metallic transverse and longitudinal laths or frame 20
of laths used for bottom or foundation for spring to rest upon to match,
with a similar set of laths or frame of laths with or without joints,
Fig. Z, to go over the top of the springs, so as the cross pieces or where
the laths form right angles are over and opposite to cach other (Fig. V),
I get a more favorable bearing for placing the spiral springs, portably 25
secured by either of the spring fasteners, catches, or stops used on top or
bottom of spring.
I use when to advantage to keep the tops of springs in their right
position in connection with any of these improvements, jointed steel or
iron laths, diagonal, transverse, and longitudinal, with or without joints, 30
with or without either of the spring fasteners, catches, or stops attached;
or turn-down cross bars with loops (Fig. W) and hooks attached; or
loops of hoop iron or wire bent over and permanently attached to loops
or joints on cross bar, using fastening screws, Fig. B, or without socuring
the ends to mattress, frame, or bedstead, portably or otherwise.
When I use webbing for top of springs in connection with two cross
bars, with the four ends turned down or otherwise (Fig. Q), when to
35

page_text: advantage I make the cross bars secure to the webb by placing it between
the bars and riveting them together at right angles with web between
to form a hook at the ends of webbing for fastening the same to the sides
of mattress or iron frame, or under edge of angle iron of metallic bed-
stead, to form a hook at the end of webbing, for greater durability I tip
the end with sheet iron or fasten a metal, or hoop iron, or sheet tin, or
iron hook, or clip to end of web by riveting it on or turning the iron or .
metal down upon it. When I use wire hooks for same purpose I sew
them to the webbing.
When I make use of the top wire of spiral springs to form with
hooks or loops attached to catch into next spring transversely and
longitudinally or diagonally to form an elastic top (Fig. 8) and Y for
general use in making spring mattresses with portable or detachable
springs, I find it advantageous in carrying out some of the above
improvements to extra secure the top coil of wire of springs from
stretching by cutting nicks or grooves in spring where usually fastened,
and binding it tight with tinned iron wire, or in some cases soldering or
brazing it together; also I get a firm ring by galvanizing the spring
after being made or thus fastened, or using springs with top end of wire
turned very tightly round the top ring of the spring, and in some cases
the end continued and turned over the spring on the opposite side, thús
forming a bar on the top or across the top of spring.
I also find it advantageous for making some kinds of mattresses to use
spiral springs made of homogeneous steel or iron wire. I also in some
cases make use of spiral springs galvanized or otherwise, made oval
shape in place of round, and round springs with oval tops or bottoms, or
square tops or bottoms. Square top can be used with advantage with
some descriptions of the wire or hoop iron hooks or loops to form a
flexible top. These springs can be used in connection with any of the
above improvements, and for portable and detachable spiral spring
mattresses of other descriptions.
A serviceable and economical spring mattress can be made by
utilizing the metallic laths of iron bedsteads as ordinarily, fixed or
specially arranged by using it as a foundation for the spiral springs to
3 rest upon, making use of either of the portable spring fasteners to secure
the springs to laths. The springs: being easily detachable they admit of
being re-arranged if after long wear the centre springs shew weakness

page_text: they can be readily shifted and replaced by new ones or by springs
exchanged from sides of mattress, and using a covering over the springs
made of ordinary wire netting galvanized or otherwise, or when to
advantago using a covering of George Baker's patent pig lattice or wire
netting or a network of strong twine or canvas, nail bagging, or cocoa!
⚫ fibre matting, ceither of them fixed on wood or iron frames with one or
more joints to fold or otherwise, with cross bars of iron or wire or
wood or other fastenings for the top of springs to fit into, or made
portably fast, hooks fastened thereon to catch on tops of springs or
otherwise to under side of covering.
ง.
When to advantage, web or metallic laths Fig. Z, jointed, elastic, or
⚫ otherwise, can be used over the springs or between rows of springs to
attach them together by hooks or covering, the ends of which can be
secured by hooking on to a framework, or to laths of bedstead, or clip
the bottom edge of angle iron of bedstead, Fig. 85. The covering or l
.framework can also be attached by webbing or hooks to laths of
bedstead, or clip bottom edge of angle iron of bedstead.
In some cases I use springs with portable or fixed hooks on (Fig. S)
to form by hooking springs, transverse and longitudinally or diagonally
together, a flexible top to receive stuffing or soft mattress on; but in 2
place of using metallic hooks from the last row of springs to hook on
to staples or strong parallel wire attached on inside of portable framė
round mattress, I prefer using pieces of webbing to keep outside row of
springs in their proper position, one end sewn on outside spring or
portably attached, and bring the webbing over the top edge of portable 2
wood frame, or metallic frame, or bar attached to bedstead; and attach
on the other end of webbing a hook to fasten on laths of bedstead, or to
clip the under edge of angle iron of bedstead, Fig. 35; or in place of
attaching a hook to end of webbing, a buttle or any other portable
fastening can be used, or india-rubber used instead of webbing, Fig. 32. 30
When required I also make use of an outside portable covering or cap
made of linen, canvas, or other suitable material with a deep border or
curtain to cover or hide springs and frame, portably securing the same
to wood frame of mattress with studs or buttons, or when to advantage
by hooks sewn to covering, and hooking it on to a parallel wire running 35
round sides and end of framework secured on outside of frame; or when
to advantage attaching it by hooks and webbing to clip on the under

page_text: edge of angle iron of iron bedstead when required, lining the same with
wire netting, or nail bagging, cocoa fibre matting, flocks, wool, fibre, or
any other kind of stuffing.
When the portable spring holders, catches, or stops are permanently
fastened to the laths of iron bedsteads, the laths can be used as
advantageously for the usual straw palliass or other bedding thereon by
reversing the face of lath on which the fastenings are, thus turning the
level surface upwards to receive the usual bedding on.
When making use of the laths of iron bedsteads as foundation laths
for springs to rest upon in connection with any of the above improve-
ments, I use, wlfen to advantage for hooking the loops or hooks attached
to outside rows of springs to and (also for other purposes), a rod of iron
or bar running parallel over angle iron of bedstead, attached by small
screws or nuts and bolts or other portable fastenings, to the pillars of
metallic iron bedstead, sometimes using a swell on pillars or groove to
keep the rods or bars in their proper position.
In some cases I find it advantageous to use an angle iron frame with
cast dovetail joints to attach laths to, as a foundation or bearing to rest
the springs upon, with small pillars and bar of iron attached to to run
parallel over the angle iron to attach the fastenings or hooks to form the
outside row of springs.
In making another description of spiral spring mattress for utilizing
the laths and bottoms of metallic bedsteads, I securely but portably
attach the springs on to the ordinary laths of bedsteads, or mount the
springs on independent laths or sections, and portably fasten these
laths or sections to bedstead laths by interlacing the bedstead laths
therewith, or using moveable metallic screw clamps, Fig. 1, or by
the use of cross laths with catches on or other suitable means.
For portably securing springs to metallic laths, I sometimes make use
of springs with a hoop iron or other metallic strip across the top of
bottom coil of the spring, fastening it on by turning down the ends over
the wire of spring, Fig. 2, sliding the metallic lath over the said strip
and under the spring, the action of the metallic lath binding against
the under edge of spiral spring, keeping the spring in its right position
on the lath; also for the same purpose I turn the bottom termination of
the wire of spiral spring fastening to slide on and grip tight the metallic

page_text: lath, attaching by soldering or other means a second fastening or long
hook with point turned the reverse way on the opposite side of bottom
coil of spiral spring, Figs. 3 and 3a, sliding the hooks or fastenings with
a twist motion on the metallic lath I obtain a firm, secure, and yet
portable attachment, where to advantage I use more than two of these 5
fastenings in connection with the bottom coil of the spring for securing
springs with extra firmness on two laths where they cross at right
angles.
I sometimes apply the same peculiar fastenings in connection with
the top coil of the springs, to portably secure jointed or other metallic 1
laths for a flexible foundation for a soft mattress or bed to rest thereon..
I sometimes also portably secure the bottoms of spiral springs to
metallic laths by a screw clamp attached to a strip across bottom of
spring, Fig. 4; or a tongue attached to a strip across, as Fig. 5; or a
hook attached to a strip to fasten over the strip, Fig. 6; or loose 1
fastening to go over the strip and under spring, Fig. 7; or double
hooks, Fig. 87; or slide hooks, Fig. 38.
To form a firm and yet portable frame for portably securing the top.
coils of the outside rows of springs to for to keep them in position I
make use of pillars or supports with bottom end turned up to clip on to 2
the under edge of bedstead angle iron, the top end turned into an eye
to receive the iron rods forming the top frame round springs. I make
use of a swing drop, so as to drop over the angle iron when the bottom
clip is brought up in position, Fig. 8; or obtain the same result by
pillars or supports, as shewn on accompanying Drawings marked Figs. 2
9, 10, and 10a, and 13.
To form a firm and yet portable frame for securing the top coils of the
outside rows of spiral springs to by means of hooks to keep them in
position, I make use of two lengths of rod iron with ends turned at
right angles to fit into the head and foot pieces, each formed of a piece 3
of straight tube, Fig. 11; or for the same purpose I make use of elbow
sockets for ends of sides and head and foot piece to fit into, Fig. 12; or
a bent piece of iron tube at head and foot for sides to fit into to
portably connect the frame to outside rows of springs. I make use of
hooks to slide on the rod, Fig. 14, and hook on to the top coil of springs 31
to keep them in position; or use for same purpose a leather or webb strap
with buttle, so as to tighten the parts of top together..

page_text: To portably connect the inner rows of the top coils of the springs
together to keep them in position and form an elastic top I make use
of peculiar and advantageous chains, with connections for springs
attached at right angles in the links of chain, Fig. 15, using links wide
3 enough to take a connection or hook at each side of the link the chain
is composed of to fasten portably on to the top ring or coils of springs
to connect each together, so as to form a good flexible foundation for
soft mattress of wool, hair, or other material to rest thereon. I prefer
making the chains of elongated links and flat iron or flat wire loops
▸ between each elongated link, so as to allow the connecting loop or hook
attaching chain to top cores of springs a fuller play, so that the loops
or hooks may be attached to the links of chains to suit any number of
springs in the row or on the lath, Fig. 16. For attaching the chain to
top coils or rings of the springs I prefer using hook links, as Fig. 17,
or improved spring links, Fig. 18.
I sometimes use to advantage for portably connecting the tops of the
inner rows of springs together to make an elastic top flat iron con-
nection, or loops to hook from spring to spring, diagonally or otherwise,
with a joint between the two hook ends, Fig. 19, but obtain a more
flexible top by the use of a double connection or loop made by attaching
four hooks or loops on to a ring centre, Fig. 20, or they can
be made to work on a square centre, Fig. 21, or diamond-shape
centre, Fig. 22; or wire used in place of flat iron, or wire connections,
Fig. 23. For the same purpose I use connections made of a combina-
tion of india-rubber either in the form of an endless band with two
hooks attached to hook from spring to spring, or loops attached to strips
of india-rubber, Fig. 30. When I use this kind of fastening diagonally
between springs I find it advantageous to twist one over the other, as
Fig. 31; or a ring of india-rubber with four hooks attached, as shewn,
Figs. 34 and 20; or four rings of india-rubber attached to a round
metallic ring attaching the rubber rings to springs by small hooks, or
analogous way.
To improve the appearance and to prevent rust on the springs, links,
and other connections I sometimes coat them with blue colour varnish;
but in some cases for the same purpose I coat them with black varnish,
or have them galvanized. To prevent the springs from making a noise
I use a length of web between the bottom of coils of springs and
metallic laths, or I sometimes make use of a piece of webbing or flat
B

page_text: india-rubber across the second coil of the spring near the bottom, or
stretch an india-rubber band or ring across, so that when the mattress
is in use the springs are impinged upon the webbing or rubber, which
acts as a cushion to deaden the sound caused by metallic coming in
contact. I keep the rubber bands in their position when stretched on 5
coil of spring by the use of a little solution between the wire and
rubber. When to advantage I make use of very small india-rubber
tube for the same purpose, cutting off enough to cover part of the
spring subject to concussion, and threading or pushing it on wire where
required; or coat the part of spring subject to concussion by dipping it 1
in prepared melted gutta percha. I sometimes use elastic rings stretched
across over the tops of spiral springs to keep soft mattresses from
sinking down.
When to advantage, to complete the mattress and form a soft foun-
dation for laying on, I use a stuffed covering to fit over the tops of 1
springs with a deep border or curtain round to hide the springs and give
the mattress a better appearance.
For making a spring mattress or bottom to fit on any ordinary bed-
stead laths to be complete and universal in itself, requiring neither
connections or frame, I use, to prevent the swerving motion of ordinary 2
double cone or hour-glass shape mattress springs, I use a spring
composed of a single cone, preferring to make it of stronger wire,
namely, No. 2, 3, 4, or 5 wire gauge in place of the usual 6, 7, and 8
gauge wire generally used; by this means I get it to stand more stiff.
At the termination of the cone I continue the wire to form a large flat 2
top, either round, Fig. 25, or oblong, oval, or other shape, with or with-
out strips of hoop iron across, Fig. 26; or where to advantage, I cut off
the wire at termination of conc and attach a metallic plate or wire top
to the top of the spring by soldering, interlacing, or otherwise using
about 60 of these springs, portably attached on bedstead laths by either 3
of the methods described and illustrated, or fastened otherwise, as a
foundation or spring bottom for an ordinary wool or hair mattress to
rest thereon, or using a stuffed covering, as Fig. 24.
For same purpose I sometimes use single cone springs reversed, made
of No. 2, 3, 4, 5, or higher gauge steel or iron wire, Figs. 33 and 36, 3
with or without strips of iron across top of spring; and also springs
made parallel with or without large flat tops attached.
I sometimes keep the outside rows of springs firmer in position by the

page_text: use of an elastic webb or india-rubber connection hooked on to top of
spring, and other end fastened by clipping on to under edge of angle iron
by a wire or other description of hook, Fig. 32.
For making portable metallic spring mattresses with bottom frame,
of laths complete, that may be used on wood lath, sacking, or other'
description of bed bottom, I sometimes find it advantageous to construct
the bottom outside frame of four pieces of strong flat iron one to two
inches wide, to %, in thickness, with button, Figs. O and D, attached
thereon for portably securing the laths across and from head to foot, as
a foundation for spiral springs to be portably attached to by either of
the methods described and illustrated, portably securing the ends of
bottom frame by corner sockets, Fig. 27, or open elbows tapped or
screwed to receive thumbscrews, Fig. 28, using pillars, as Fig. 29, also
top frame, Fig. 11, and either of the connections described.
I sometimes use in spring mattress making advantageous shaped.
single reversed cone spiral springs with bottom termination of wire
turned into a ring to make a firmer flat base, Fig. 39, springs of this
shape having the advantage of being noiseless. The ring also acts as a
portable fastener to metallic laths, Fig. 40..
[..
I also sometimes use moveable wire staples attached on tops of
springs, Fig. 41, for keeping webbing or metallic laths when used over
springs in their proper position.
"
""
Also a peculiar formed chain to connect tops of springs together,
Fig. 42, made by attaching wire hooks to large rings.
Having now described the nature and object of my said improvements
and Invention, together with the manner in which the same may be
carried into practical effect, I wish in conclusion it to be distinctly
understood that I do not bind or limit myself to the precise details
herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention, and that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the improvements in
connection with spiral spring mattresses, and frames, and spiral springs
used in connection with frames, bedsteads, couches, and for other
upholstery purposes, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the
5 herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-*
.
Tinat Who construction and secondly the annlication thereof to
: