A Non-slipping Tread for Entrance Steps and Foot-ways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Non-slipping Tread for Entrance Steps and Foot-ways.
We, ARCHIA LEMON Ross, Barber, of 41 East 53rd Street New York City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, FRANK STEIGER
BENNETT. of Cumberland Gap, County of Claiborne and State of Tennessee,
United States of America, Merchant, and CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SCOTT of
Wesley in the County of Claiborne and State of Tennessee, United States of
America, Labourer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cover or tread
for the entrance steps and footways in front of private houses, theatres, and other
buildings, to permit persons to readily ascend and descend the steps without danger
of slipping and falling in icy weather, the device being of very simple and durable
construction, neat in appearance, and readily applied or removed and folded up for
storing in a comparatively small space.
The invention consists principally of a series of mats, flexibly connected with
each other, each mat being adapted to hook with its rear end upon hooks,
permanently secured on the steps of the building.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied, with the steps and
part of the house in section. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the improvement as applied and with
parts broken out.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gutter end of the cover or tread.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a locking device for the mat as applied and
with parts broken out.
a
Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement as applied, and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the improvement.
Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The improved covering consists of a series of mats A made of rubber or a like
material and preferably fluted longitudinally, as indicated in Figure 1, to permit
person to get a secure foothold on the mat when stepping thereon.
Each mat A
is bound at its ends by lateral top and bottom slats B and C connected with each
other by suitable rivets passing through the mat, the inner ends of the bottom
strip C being rigidly connected with each other by a longitudinal strip C' formed
with openings C at the junction of the strip with the vertically-extending
flange C3 integral with the strip C'. The openings C2 are adapted to engage
hooks D fastened to the under side of the steps E said hooks being made of thin
metal driven in the joint between the adjacent steps to permit of fastening the rear
end of the hook to the under side of the top step, as plainly indicated in Figure 1.
Thus the hooks D are permanent on the steps E, and in applying the mats the
strips Care simply hooked upon the hooks D to prevent lateral and longitudinal
movement of the mats on the steps.
The front ends of the top strips. B of one mat are flexibly connected preferably
by chains F with the flange C' of the next mat below so that when the cover is not in
use the several mats can be readily folded one on the top of the other to be stored'

page_text: away in a comparatively small space. The outer ends of the strip C of the
lowermost mat A are preferably curved to form spring hooks C adapted to
engage the front end of the tread E' of the lowermost step E, as indicated in
Figure 1.
As shewn in Figure 2, the several mats are placed near one of the hand rails of
the flight of steps with the upper mat at the door step somewhat at one side to
permit a person to conveniently reach the door. In this case only a single chain F
is employed for connecting the top mat with the next following one and the free
end of the outermost strip C is formed with a hook similar to the hook C on the
lowermost mat.
The mats of the footway E2 are connected with each other by chains Fas
described above in reference to the mats on the steps and the mat next the first
step is formed with a strip C for engagement with a hook D fastened to the edge
of the flag-stone next to the step, as indicated in Figure 1. The outermost
mat A-that is the one nearest the kerb-has its bottom strip C formed with
notched downwardly bent flanges C adapted to engage pins G projecting from the
edge of the flagging, the said flanges C being connected with each other by a
rod C which permits of swinging the flanges C upon the pins G so as to securely
hold the cover in place. If desired a suitable locking device may be employed for
securely holding each mat firmly down on the top of the step but ordinarily such
device is not necessary.
As shewn in Figure 5, the locking device consists of two bolts H fitted to slide
in suitable bearings on the strip C and adapted to move in front of the hooks D
to clamp the latter between the bolts and the flange C³. The inner or adjacent
ends of the bolts are formed with vertical finger pieces pressed apart by a spring 1,
said finger pieces being adapted to be taken hold of to move the bolts H toward
each other and bring the same out of engagement with the hooks D.
It will be seen that by the arrangement described the cover or tread may be
readily put in place on the steps or footway or removed therefrom whenever
desired, it being understood that said cover or tread permits a person to readily
ascend or descend the steps, without danger of falling or slipping in wintry or icy
weather. If it is desired to cover the entire length of the step by a mat the latter
is provided with arms adapted to swing down on the ends of the step to hold the
mat from accidentally shifting, see Figure 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A cover or tread for the entrance steps of huildings, comprising a series of
mats flexibly connected with each other and means for removably securing the
mats to the steps substantially as described.
2. A cover or tread for entrance steps and footways comprising a series of mats
flexibly connected with each other each mat being provided at the rear with a
strip having an upturned flange and formed with openings and hooks permanently.
secured to the steps and adapted to be engaged by the said openings substantially
as described.
3. A cover or tread for entrance steps and footways, comprising a series of mats
each provided at the rear with a strip formed with openings and having an
upturned flange, chains for connecting the mats with each other, hooks permanently
secured to the steps and adapted to be engaged by the said openings, and locking
devices for fastening the said mats to said hooks substantially as set forth.
4. A cover or tread for entrance steps and footways, comprising a series of mats,
lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the
mat near the side thereof, the bottom strips being connected with each other at
their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned flange and formed with
openings and hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted to be engaged by
said openings substantially as shewn and described.

page_text: 5. A cover or tread for entrance steps and footways, comprising a series of mats,.
lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the
mat near the side thereof the bottom strips being connected with each other at
their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned flange and formed with.
openings, hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted to be engaged by
said openings, and chains for connecting the front ends of the top strips with the
upturned flange of the longitudinal strip for the next mat substantially as shewn
and described.
6. A cover or tread for entrance steps and footways, comprising a series of mats,.
lateral top and bottom strips connected with each other and to the edge of the
mat near the side thereof, the bottom strips being connected with each other at
their rear by a longitudinal strip having an upturned flange, and formed with
openings and hooks permanently secured to the step and adapted to be engaged by
the said openings, some of the mats having their lateral bottom strips formed into
hooks substantially as shewn and described.
7. A cover or tread for entrance footways, comprising a series of mats having
lateral top and bottom strips rivetted together on the mat, chains for connecting
the strips of one mat with those of the next following mat, hooks engaged by the
mat next to the step, and pins fixed in the foot-way and adapted to be engaged by
depending notched flanges on the bottom strips of the outermost mat substantially
as shewn and described.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Ageuts.