Improvements relating to Parquet Flooring.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Parquet Flooring.
I, EDWIN MARSHALL SMITH, of 7, Albert Terrace, Etherley Road, West
Green, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a method of fixing parquet flooring, the object being to
allow of the flooring being easily and quickly taken up when removing from one
house to another without in any way damaging the flooring.
For this purpose I provide what I term keys adapted to fit into corresponding
recesses in the edges of the parquet strips, such keys being fastened down to the
sub-floor by screws or other means.
In laying the flooring I place one parquet strip in position with the key or keys
fitting therein and I then fasten down the said key or keys to the sub-floor. One
edge of the next strip is then placed over the said key or keys with its other edge
fitted over the next key or keys which is then fastened down to the sub-floor and
so on.
Dated the 24th day of January 1801
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Parquet Flooring.
I, EDWIN MARSHALL SMITH, of 7, Albert Terrace, Etherley Road, West
Green, in the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved means of fixing parquet flooring, the main
object being to allow of the flooring being easily and quickly taken up when
required, such as when removing from one house to another without in any way
damaging the flooring.
For this purpose I provide what I term keys adapted to fit into corresponding
recess in the edges of the parquet squares or slabs, such keys being fastened down
to the sub-floor by suitable means, such as by screws.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a room shewing the application to the ordinary
Hoor thereof of parquet flooring laid according to my invention:
Figure 2 is a section on the line a z of Figure 1:
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 but shewing the parquet flooring arranged
as a border:
Figure 4 is a section on the line y y, Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged scale:
Figure 5 is a detached view shewing a section of part of one of the squares or
slabs:
Figure 6 is a cross section of one of the keys.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
a, a indicate the squares of parquet flooring which are built up of a number of
pieces to form the required pattern in the usual manner, such for example as
shewn at A; each square a is.grooved or recessed on its four edges, the form of the
groove being clearly shewn at Figure 5 and being marked b; c, c, c represent the
keys adapted to fit into the recesses b, b, b in the edges of the squares a, a, one of

page_text: the said keys, which I call double keys, being shewn detached in Figure 6. d, dare
the screws by which the keys c, c are fastened to the sub-floor e. The keys which
are to be placed next the walls.I call single keys, one of such being shewn in
Figure 4.
In'laying a parquet flooring according to my invention I first fasten down a long
single key (Figure 4) by means of screws to the sub-floor e close to the skirting
of one of the walls-g of the room to be floored and also similarly fasten down a short
single key e close to the skirting of one of the other walls and.adjacent to the long
key. then place in the corner of the room a parquet square a, the keys c fitting
n'two of the recesses therein. A short double key.c is then placed in position
opposite the short single key and is fastened down. Another square of parquet is
placed in position with the other side of the double key in one of its recesses and
another square is placed in position and so on up to the last square but one of the
row having a short double key placed in its free edge. To lay the last square of
the row: fasten down a short single.key against the wall and slide the said square
into position.
A. long double key is then placed in the edges of the squares which have been
ilaid and another short single key is fastened down against the wall in a line with
the former one; the row of squares is completed similarly to the first row and so.on
until the desired quantity of flooring has been laid, it being obvious that the last
square laid will be simply rebated so that it can be dropped into position and then
screwed down.
Where my parquetry is to be laid as a thorder I employ the usual carpet slips j
but provided with my key on one edge thereof, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, the
squares being laid as before described.
Where the parquetry is laid on a cement sub-floor wooden joists are laid in the
cement to receive the screws.
In the drawing the slabs of wood are shewn of a square form but other forms
may, as is obvious, be employed where the character of the flooring may render it
advisable.
From the preceding description it will be obvious that my parquet flooring can
be very easily and expeditiously taken up without injury thereto and without
damage to the sub-floor as all that ismecessary is to unscrew the last square or slab
laid and then to remove the short keys and squares of a row of squares, then the
long key and so on for each row.
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. The herein described means of fixing parquet flooring consisting in the
employment of 'keys such as c fixed to the sub-floor and adapted to fit into grooves
or recesses in the edges of the parquet squares or slabs, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The improved parquet flooring and means of fixing the same hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
3. The use of squares or other slabs having grooved or shaped edges in com-
bination with keys having edges so far corresponding with those of the squares or
slabs that the projecting tongues of the one piece may be fitted into the grooves of
another piece as the squares are laid down in proper succession and so form. a sound
parquet flooring easily and firmly laid and easily and safely removed when
required, all substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated the 7th day of March 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.