Improvements in Stair Rod Eyes or Holders.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Stair Rod Eyes or Holders.
I, ALBERT BLAKE, of 31, St. James's Street, Portsea, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in stair rod eyes or holders by means of
which the rods can be easily fixed in position or removed without straining the
same or shifting the eyes or holders. For this purpose I form my improved eyes or
holders of a suitable metal strip, bent to a right-angle to fit the angle of the stairs,
the vertical and horizontal portions of which strip are provided with a spike near
each end formed with or punched out of the said portions, the said spikes being
forced or hammered into the wood work of the stairs for fixing the eyes or holder's
in position. The said vertical portion is about double the length of the horizontal
portion to permit of its being doubled or bent over to form a spring flap or catch
for holding the stair rod between the said flap and the vertical portion the lower
end of the spring flap or catch being suitably bent outwards and curved inwards
for receiving and gripping the rod.
In order to fix the stair rods in position they are simply forced underneath the
lower end of the spring flap or catch, (for which purpose the latter may be pulled
slightly outwards or raised) so as to engage with the inwardly curved end of the
same whereby the rods are tightly gripped between the said end and the vertical
portion of the eye or holder, the spring flap or catch being of sufficient strength to
resist any ordinary strain on the rod, and in order to release the latter the spring
flap or catch is drawn outwards so as to raise it free of the said rod.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1897
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
ALBERT BLAKE, 31 St. James's Street, Portsea, Calling nil, 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:
This Invention relates to improvements in Stair Rod Eyes or Holders, by means
of which the Rods can easily be fixed in position, or removed without straining the
same, or shifting the Eyes or Holders.

page_text: For this purpose, I form my improved stair Rod Eye or Holders of a suitable Metal
Strip about 2 or 2½ inches long by an inch (or thereabouts) wide, and about 20th
an inch thick, or stout enough for the purpose herein detailed.
Apart from the Manufacturers mode of making them by machiery in large
quantities, they may be made in this manner. I form my improved Stair Rod
Eyes or Holders of a suitable Metal Strip about 2 or 2½ inches long by an inch
wide & stout enough for the purpose herein detailed; then with a pair of T'inman's
Pliers with Jaws about th an inch thick, I tightly grasp the whole width of one
end of this Metal Strip and forcibly curl it nearly right round one of the Jaws of
the Pliers; then slue the Jaw of the Plier round this 3 part Cylinder, & slightly.
bend this Cylinder to an upward angle like that shown at (A Fig. 1). This
Cylinder or curved edge is about an inch diameter; or larger according to the
size of the whole Eye.. I now with a larger pair of Tinman's Pliers having Jaws
about an inch thick, grasp the Metal in exactly the same way as before, but just.
beyond the neck of the cylindrical edge, (A Fig. 1) & again curl it about half way
around this larger Jaw of the Plier, thus, giving it the shape shown at (B. Fig. 1).
This half circular or arched Top by lapping over the Rods, keeps them down on
the angles of the stairs. I now with an ordinary pair of square Jawed Jewellers'
Pliers bend up this portion, at the left side of the arch as shown by the dotted line
(ć Fig. 1). This forms the spring Flap or Catch, beneath which the Rods are
slipped.
The vertical part of this Eye as at (D. Fig. 1) has a spike of suitable form stamped.
from it by means of a Die; also a Hole or perforation for screws.
This spike
when Hammered into the Wood aided by the screw (F. Fig.) fixes the Holder
into the stairs. The top of this Vertical part may be ornamented by perforations
at the Top Edge. These Eyes must be of steel, or any other Metal capable of
being tempered, or made resilient or springy at the part needing it (the Hinge
part of the Flap) (c. Fig. 1) to enable the Flap to press on the Rods. To raise
this Flap, a Hook (Fig. 4) may be inserted through the Cylindrical edge of the
flap, & pulled up for the reception of the Rods. This Eye is represented by (Fig. 1).
The same principle admits of another variation in form, but with the same
object in View.
I cut a strip of Brass or any Metal capable of a springy quality as above and
about 4 inches by an inch wide by about 20th an inch thick according to the
size & strength of the Eyes needed. This strip may be oblong, but preferably the
shape of (Fig. 2).
With the Bigger round Pliers, the edge at (A Fig. 2) is half curled like that
part (A Fig. 3) then near the Hinge part of this Curl, it is turned up & curled
over one of the Plier Jaws, thus forming a part Cylinder for inserting the Hook
to raise up this spring flap, then at the narrowest part of this strip (B. Fig. 2) it
is bent double so as to come right under the Cylinder top. Then at (c Fig. 2)
the other part of the strip is bent up vertically, thus forming the Rod Eye
like (Fig. 3) when the spike & Hole is punched out. By inserting the Hook through
the Cylinder Top (B. Fig. 3) the Flap can be pulled up for the Rods reception.
The Eyes can be made of any suitable metal having a resilient quality at the part
needing it. It is immaterial whether the strip (Fig. 2) is cut tapering in the
middle, but the Hinge part being narrower than the others, makes the flap easier
to raise.
i
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The making of Stair Rod Eyes that will take in Rods of any thickness, by means
of a strip of Metal, with one end bent up & suitably formed into a Flap that will
press on the Rods the edge of the spring Flap being formed into a part cylinder
to allow its being raised by a Hook of suitable shape. I consider the Flan to ha

page_text: new, also the spike as adapted to Stair Rod Eyes of this form, & also the Hook
to raise it by, when used for Eyes or Holders of this design.
October 18th 1897
ALBERT BLAKE,
(the Inventor),
31, St. James's Street, Portsea.