IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD BLOCK FLOORING
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM DUFFY of number 66 Storks Road, Bermondsey, in the County of
Surrey, Wood paving and Wood Block Flooring Contractor do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD BLOCK FLOORING to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved method of laying and securing together the
wood blocks or briquetts employed in constructing or forming wood block flooring.
The object of my Invention being mainly to prevent the separation of the said
blocks individually or separately as also the prevention of the flooring leaving the
substratum or bed upon which it is placed and thereby presenting irregularities of
surface.
In carrying out my Invention the substratum or bedding upon which the wood
block flooring is to be placed, formed or constructed, is prepared in the usual way;
but, disposed at suitable intervals in the area intended to be covered over with
the wood block flooring or paving aforesaid I insert vertically and build in with
the concrete or other substructural material employed for the bedding aforesaid,
blocks of wood for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The blocks or briquetts of wood which I employ for the flooring, I prefer to
thoroughly desiccate in the first instance; and with a view to more effectually
accomplish the tying or bonding together of the blocks or briquetts aforesaid
I adopt the following novel means. I form laterally in the adjoining side of each
block or briquett, a circular hole or recess, at a suitable distance from the top (or
bottom) of each of such blocks or briquetts, into which I introduce in the operation
of building up or forming the floor, a corresponding short cylindrical pin, plug, or
dowel of wood, for the purpose aforesaid. Further, I secure such of the flooring
or paving briquetts as are superposed on the top of the vertical blocks before
mentioned (as being built in with the concrete or other substratum) to said
imbedded structural wood blocks, by nails, screws, or equivalents; inserting the
same by preference angularly and through the sides, of the said paving blocks or
briquetts.

page_text: Also, when laying or constructing wood block flooring according to my Invention
as aforesaid, and with a view to increase the bonding together of the whole, I form
a V or other suitably shaped groove extending along the adjoining sides of the
lower portion of each of the briquetts aforesaid; though I do not purpose to claim
said longitudinal grooving as being novel. The briquetts aforesaid, immediately
before being laid, are dipped in a suitable adhesive substance or combination of
substances when said substance or substances or combination of substances, is, or
are, in a heated and semi-fluid state and so as to well coat or cover therewith, the
lower portion of said briquetts.

page_text: I' WILLIAM DUFFY of 66 Storks Road, Bermondsey in the County of Surrey
Wood block flooring contractor 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 an improved method of laying and securing the wood
blocks or
briquets" such as are used in the formation of the floorings of the
interior of edifices and in lieu of ordinary boarded floorings.
The objects of my Invention are to ensure that wood block flooring when laid
in accordance with my improved system shall be reliable as regards immunity from
the wood blocks or "briquets" aforesaid becoming loosened; whilst, at the same
time, the system which I adopt, results in a structural formation free from
interstices; and, consequently, rendering it a matter of impossibility (practically
speaking) for damp to penetrate, or for foul air or vermin to accumulate.
I. attain these objects in the following manner, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing, in which, Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrative of my
improved system, Figure 2 a plan view on top of flooring, Figure 2 a plan view
shewing the sub-stratum and foundational bonding blocks herein before referred to.
Figure 3 a detailed view in section, illustrative of one of the modes hereinafter
referred to of securing the flooring “briquets" to the sub-structural bonding
blocks; Figure 4 is a plan view to a reduced scale shewing several of the wood
blocks or "
briquets" pinned or secured together, Figure 5 is a detailed per-
spective view of one of the flooring "briquets" (shewn in situ, Figs. 1, 2 and 4).
Similar letters are employed to denote like parts throughout the several views.
The sub-stratum or bed of concrete and cement A. B, is prepared generally much
in the manner usually hitherto adopted for the reception of the "briquets" for
wood block floors. But, disposed at suitable intervals in the area intended to be
coverd over with the wood "briquets aforesaid C, I insert and bed or build in with
the substratum A B aforesaid, bonding blocks D, usually, of wood for the purposes
hereinafter mentioned.
The wood which I employ for the "briquets "C as also for the bonding blocks D,
I thoroughly season before use; so as to ensure immunity from shrinkage when
the flooring is laid, as also to prevent the destructive effects of "dry rot." And,
with a view to the effectual tying or bonding together of the wood "briquets" C,
I form holes or recesses E, preferably of circular configuration, in the sides and
ends of the "briquets" C; and into which holes or recesses I introduce, in the
operation of building up or forming the floor, pins or plugs F-preferably of
wood (Figures 1,-4, and 5) said pins or plugs being of course of corresponding
sectional shape to that of the holes or recesses E into which they are entered.
Further I thoroughly secure to the imbedded bonding blocks D, such of the
flooring "briquets" C as are superposed thereon; one method of accomplishing this
is shewn at G, Figure 1; and, another at H, in the detailed view Figure 3;
but I do not confine myself to the particular device to be adopted under this head.
(Also, an alternative form of structural bonding blocks is shown in dotted lines
at D1 Figure 1)

page_text: Before the flooring "briquets" are laid, they are dipped into a preservative
adhesive composition-while the latter is in a heated fluid or semi-fluid state-
with which not only the under surface of each "briquet" becomes coated, so as to
forin a hard and fast joint with the concrete and cement substratum A. B. but
which also enters into the longitudinal > shaped grooves a formed. along the
bottom of the sides of the "briquets," as shewn at 6 Figure 1.-Thus, an additional
keying or bonding together of the whole system ensues. Hence, in accordance
with my Invention, the flooring becomes solid throughout; presenting an even and
immovable structural formation free from interstices, thereby preventing the
penetration of moisture or the accumulation of foul air or vermin. Also, with
a view further to conduce towards the accomplishment of the objects last referred
to, I may employ foundational bonding blocks which instead of being of wood as
herein before described, may be of a fireproof composition or material of such a
nature as to allow of the introduction and retention, therein of the necessary
fastenings. In some cases also the flooring joists of the building might be used to
serve the purposes of the structural foundational bonding blocks aforesaid.
The surface of a wood block floor in accordance with my Invention may be
washed or scrubbed without risk of affecting any other part than the actual
flooring surface to be cleansed.
J
I am aware that prior to the date of my Invention wood flooring blocks have
been formed with a groove such as at a and also that an adhesive preservative
film has been introduced between the top of the cement and concrete sub-
stratum A. B, and the under surface of wood "briquets"; I therefore lay no claim
to these features, by themselves, but what I do claim as my Invention, and desire
to secure by letters patent, is
:
First. In wood block floorings-such as herein before referred to the recesses E
and corresponding pins or plugs F, substantially as shewn, and described, for the
purposes aforesaid.
Secondly. In wood block floorings, the introduction of structural foundational
bonding blocks substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1886