US289122A - Life-preserving mattress - Google Patents

Description

(No Model() W. MILLER'. 8

LIFE PRBSBRVING MATTRESS.

No. 289,122. Patented' Nov. 27. 1883.

VZ lave/11,60 7g wnsnsngm. D. t;

N. Puma PmwLiuwmmf,

. o form distances apart.

ilitrrnn 'STATES PATENT Enrica;

VILLIAM MILLER, O F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

" UFE-PRESERVING MATTRESS.

Sl?IlLILFFJZCAIION forming partei'v Letters Patent No. 289,122, dated November 27, A1383.

i A Application filed bray 23, 15583. (No modem [o r1.2?, whom; z muy concern.-

Be it known that I, WIILLIAM MILLER, ofV

part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a topy view of my improved mattress, the cov-V ering or upholstery being partially removed. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section online 2o :t as, Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section online y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section on line a e, Fig. l. Fig. p (i represents an edge view. Fig. 7 represents a transverse section, showing a different ar-A rangement oi' the upholsteryr from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. S represents a modification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the igures. Y

In carrying out my invention I provide, as 3o the basis oi' my improved mattress, a flexible base or structure, A, dcomposed of a 'series of hermetically-sealedtubes, c ce, of rubber or other suitable flexible and Water-proof mate rial, connected by intermediate Webs or flanges, a', formed on or firmly secured to said tubes. Said Webs or flanges are preferably o'f the i, same material as the tubes. Each tube may have independent flanges, as shown in Fig. 8, y. placed upon and secured to the flanges of the 4o adjacent tubes, or all the tubes andwebs or flanges may be made integral. y Each tube is hermetically closed, and has no air communication with any other tube. If desired, each tube may have a tube or orice whereby it 4 5 may be iniiated, such tube or orifice being provided with a suitable cap vor stopper.` The tubes may be lled with cork shavings or other buoyant material. The tubes preferably extend lengthwise of the mattress, and are at uni- I prefer to make about four tubes on a mattress of ordinary Width for ered'by suitable upholstery material, c, composed of hair, cork cuttings, or other equivalent material, vand an inclosing case or tick. The upholstery material is secured to the base or structure A by fastenings e', passing through the Webs or flanges a', and secured to suitable buttons or enlargements bearing on the outer surfaces of the cover or tick. It will be seen that theconnectingm'ebs c keep the tubes a in position relatively to each other, so that said tubes cannot become displaced, and also permit the upholstery material to be secured after it is placed in position` on the base A,

by the needle or other instrument used in passing the securing threads or cords through from side to side of the mattress. The tubes projecting from the sides of the connecting-Webs form protuberances, whereby the operator is enabled to readily locate the connecting-webs and puncture them Without danger of punc turing the tubes. 'Io the bottom'of the mattress I secure, by any suitable means, longitudinal slats or stiffening-strips e, which, when the mattress is in place in a berth,'bear on the frame-work of the berth and assist in support` ing the mattress therein. In case the mattress is thrown into the Water, said strips stiften it, so that it will not sag or bend at any point under the weight of a person or persons sitting upon it.Y by transverse strips e2, if desired, to stiften the mattress crosswise.

frepresents a vertical socket rigidly attached to one or more of the stiffening-strips at one end or edge of the mattress, and adapted to hold a flag-pole to attract attention when the mattress is aioat. On the edges of -the mattress are pockets, loops, or other devices, g g, adapted to hold inl concealed positions a dag-pole, h, and a paddle, t'.

The slats emay be detachably connected to either side of the same. It is obvious that the mattress may be provided with straps or cords, to be grasped by persons in the Water, said straps or cords being arranged in any suitable manner.

The filling portion of the upholstery material may be omitted from the under side of the and wit-hout danger of penetratingsa-id tubes y The strips e may be connected.

the mattress, so that they may be placed onI one person; The structure thus formed is cov- Y roo webs a', to leave vacant spaces under said webs and between the tubes a, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby effecting a saving in material and weight. The webs support the filling above them, so that the mattress is sufficiently yielding` when made in thisv form.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a buoyant mattress with stiffening.- strips and with devices for holding` paddles and flagpoles; hence I do not claim these features.

I claim- 1. In a .life-saving mattress, a body, A, of rubber or other suitable flexible yielding and Waterproof material, composed of alternating lhermetically-sealed parallel tubes c aud penetrable connecting webs or ilanges a', formed on said tubes, but having no communication with the air-spaces thereof, and serving to receive upholstery-securing devices, combined with upholstery or covering material secured to the body A by fastening devices passing through -2 :assume said webs or flanges,the latter constituting elastic or yielding supports for the upholstery,

and presenting broadcontinuous penetrable areas to the tool used in inserting said devices, whereby liability of puncturing the tube a by said tool is obviated, as set forth.

2. A mattress composed of a series of substantially parallel hermetieally-closed iiexible tubes connected by intermediate webs or flanges, and upholstery or covering material applied to the upper side of saidl tubes and webs,vaoant spacesbeing left between the tubes below said webs, as set forth. l

In testimony whereof I have 4signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of May, 1883.

VILLIAM MILLER.

Images