IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES AND PALIASSES."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dionisio Vericchio, of Queen Street, Oxford Street, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES AND PALIASSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dionisio Vericchio at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
January 1865.
1, DIONISIO VERICCHIO, of Queen Street, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES AND PALIASSES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the arrangements of springs in the
construction of spring mattresses and paliasses of an elasticity exceeding that
of any of the best spring mattresses, and adapted for use by invalids.
I propose to construct two frames of angle iron of any suitable dimensions
required, and to attach thereto, lengthwise and across, flat bands of iron or
steel, to form a bearing surface. These two frames are placed one over the
other, the flanges being turned to each other so as to form ledges, and under-
neath and between each intersection of the iron bands a helico-spiral spring is

page_text: fixed. Each end of the frame has one carriage spring or any other shape of
spring, flat or otherwise, fixed between the angle irons, and each side of the
frame has two similar springs to support the upper frame on the under one.
The under bands of iron are of such strength as not to yield to tho action of
the springs, but the upper bands are slight and will easily yield under the
weight of a person lying on a mattress or bed supported on the frames.
The frames may be made of wood if desired, the principle of the Invention
being the same, and in the construction, iron, steel, leather, gutta percha,
webb, or any other material may be used.
By the use of openwork spring paliasses of this description insects or vermin
are not harboured as with ordinary closed cases.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Dionisio Vericchio in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
4th July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DIONISIO
VERICCHIO, of Queen Street, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Dionisio Vericchio, Her special licence that I, the said Dionisio
Vericchio, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Dionisio Vericchio, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and in all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exerciso, aud vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING MATTRESSES AND PALIASSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Dionisio Vericchio, 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,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Dionisio Vericchio, 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 relates to improvements in the arrangements of springs in
the construction of spring mattresses and paliasses of an elasticity exceeding
that of any of the best spring mattresses, and adapted for use by invalids.
I propose to construct two frames of iron bars or mouldings of any suitable
dimensions and form required, and to attach thereto, lengthwise and across,
flat bands of iron or steel to form a bearing surface. These two frames are
placed one over the other, the flanges being turned to each other so as to form
ledges, and underneath and between each intersection of the iron bands, or
some of them, a helico-spiral or other spring is fixed. Each end of the frame
has, in all large sizes, one carriage spring, or any other shape of spring, flat,
or otherwise, fixed between the iron frames, and each side of the frame
has two or more similar springs to support the upper frame on the under one.
By this construction a permanent elasticity is produced entirely on a new
principle not experienced before in any of the best spring mattresses, which
have only the clasticity limited in the centre and not any in the side, but in
the novel improvement the whole of the mattress will bear an equal pressure
on all sides, thus maintaining a most complete and durable elasticity or
spring.
The frames may be made of wood if desired, the principle of the Invention
being the same, and in the construction, iron, steel, leather, gutta percha,
webbing, canvass, or other suitable material may be used.
By the use of spring paliasses or mattresses of this description insects or
vermin are not harboured as with ordinary closed casos, these improved
mattresses being at the same time conducive to health and comfort.
In some cases the under frame may be dispensed with and the upper frame
and springs may be supported directly on an iron or wooden bedstead
without interfering with the elasticity or springy nature of the paliass or
mattress.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the application of any particular form of springs to
paliasses or mattresses; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by
the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the general construction of
mattresses and paliasses, and the application of any suitable springs to either

page_text: the sides or ends, or to both, of metallic or wooden frames thereof, sub
stantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Dionisio Vericchio," have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
DIONISIO VERICCHIO. (L.s.)
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.