IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR STAIR RODS AND OTHER OBJECTS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of
Harris and Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENINGS FOR STAIR RODS AND OTHER OBJECTS."-A communication
from abroad by Henry Charles Marston, Gentleman, and Franklin
Wisner Brooks, Lock Manufacturer, both of the City, County, and
State of New York United States of America..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 2nd December 1871.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR STAIR RODS AND OTHER OBJECTS," a com-.
munication to me from abroad by Henry Charles Marston, Gentleman,
and Franklin Wisner Brooks, Lock Manufacturer, both of the City,

page_text: County, and State of New York, United States of America, to be as
follows:-
The device consists of a turn button, formed with one or more folding
leaves, and attached to a screw or other shank, so that after passing
through a slot in a stair rod or other object to be fastened, the head can
be turned to secure it, and the leaf or leaves being turned down will
mask the slot and may present an ornamental finish.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 35, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, Her special
Licence that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR STAIR RODS AND OTHER OBJECTS," a communication
to me from abroad by Henry Charles Marston, Gentleman, and Franklin
Wisner Brooks, Lock Manufacturer, both of the City, County, and State
of New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to

page_text: be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The device consists of a turn button, formed with one or more folding
leaves, and attached to a screw or other shank, so that after passing
through a slot in a stair rod or other object to be fastened, the head can
be turned to secure it, and the leaf or leaves being turned down will
mask the slot and may present an ornamental finish.
And in order that the said Invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a flight of stairs provided with rods and
fastenings therefor, illustrating the Invention; Figures 2 and 3 are
clevations of one of the fastenings on a larger scale.
The shank A may consist of a wood screw, and is provided with a
sleeve z at its upper end; B, B, are two leaves formed with matching
sleeves y, which are united to the sleeve z by a pintle C passing through
them. The leaves B are thus hinged to the screw A and to each other,
so that they may be folded together in line with the screw, or outward
at right angles thereto, as required. The stair rods D are made with
slots x adapted to receive the heads or buttons formed by the leaves B
when folded together, and turned in line therewith. The rod being thus
applied the heads or buttons are turned one quarter round, which brings
them across the slots and secures the rods. The leaves are then separated
and folded down on the rods and over the slots, which they thus serve to
mask. This additional manipulation is readily accomplished, and will
not occupy any appreciable time.
It nanition of the travesa ore aleaale monsted: T

page_text: The outer surfaces of the leaf or leaves B may be ornamented in
any way, or the leaves may simply be made of some tasteful outline, as
represented.
The surface is preferably plated with nickel or other non-corrosive
metal. The parts may be made of any suitable metal, and be cast or
swaged, as preferred.
When the heads or buttons are made as illustrated in the Drawing
with two hinged flaps they may overlap the slots in the rods on all
sides, they will thus more effectually mask the slots, and by their size
are rendered more easy of manipulation, as well as being ornamental in
appearance.
The formation of the shank with a screw thread is not an essential
part of the Invention. It may be adapted to a suitable socket to be pre-
viously attached to the stairs, or the head may turn on the shank while
the latter is stationary.
It is not intended to limit the application of the Invention to
stair rods or to the particular form and arrangement of parts herein
represented.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
Firstly. The stair rod or other fastening herein described, constructed
with one or more folding leaves to operate substantially as set forth.
Secondly. The combination of the hinged or folding and turning
head or button B with a suitable shank A, to operate substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.