Improvements in the Manufacture of Mats, Scrapers, Stairtreads and other Floorcoverings.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Mats, Scrapers, Stairtreads and
other Floorcoverings.
I, WILLIAM CAMPBELL CUNNINGHAM Quinn Villa, Leyland, near Preston,
Lancashire, India Rubber Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a strong efficient rubber mat, scraper,
or other floorcovering, and the invention consists in a combination of cavited or
tubulated strips, or bars, of india rubber with strips, or rods, of any suitable strong
hard material, as steel, iron, brass, vulcanite, and the like, secured together by means
of metal wires and intersected by short pipes, or tubes, of any suitable inetal or
composition.
In carrying out my invention I take a number of cavited or tubulated strips or
bars of india rubber, of convenient section and length, and I insert bodily into each
of such cavited or tubulated strips or bars, a strip say of steel, pierced at intervals
with holes; or instead, I may insert in like manner two rods, say of steel, into each
strip or bar. I then secure together a sufficient number of these compound bars to
form a mat, by threading wires say of steel, transversely through them, and simul-
taneously through the holes in the inserted steel strips, or between each equivalent
pair of wires, as the case may be.
The compounds may come close up against each other, or they may be set at short.
distances apart, the spaces being formed by the insertion of short pipes or tubes of any
suitable metal or composition, through which the transverse wires will pass.
form of mat is preferable as the dirt will fall through.
The strips or bars of rubber may be cavited or tubulated centrally of their width,
so that they may be reversible; or they may be cavited nearer to one edge that they
may be nonreversible; and they may if required be cut in short pieces, a sufficient
number being threaded on the steel strips or equivalent rods, beforementioned.
A frame of metal or other suitable material may enclose the compounds and
transverse wires and tubes, and may be secured by any suitable means to the ends of
the inserted strips, or equivalent rods, and transverse wires.
By constructing mats as above described, I am enabled to produce a stronger article,
and by inserting the metal parts in the rubber strips or bars, rusting is obviated, and
as no transverse or diagonal bars of rubber rise flush with the compounds, they have a
greater effect in cleansing the boots.
day of Santamber 1906

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Mats, Scrapers, Stairtreads and
other Floorcoverings.
I, WILLIAM CAMPBELL CUNNINGHAM, Quinn Villa, Leyland, near Preston, Lancashire,
India Rubber Manufacturer, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce a strong, efficient rubber mat, scraper,
stair tread, or other floor covering and the invention consists in a combination of
tubulated strips or bars of rubber (or tubes of rubber baving one or more ridges or
thickened edges extending longitudinally on their outer surface) with strips or rods
of any suitable strong hard material as steel, iron, brass, vulcanite & the like, but
preferably tempered & hardened steel, and secured together by means of metal
wires, and intersected by short pipes or tubes of any suitable metal or composition
preferably india rubber.
In carrying out my invention I take a number of cavited or tubulated strips or
bars (or tubes having one or more wearing edges extending longitudinally outside) of
india rubber of convenient section & length, and I insert bodily into each of such
cavited or tubulated strips or bars, a strip of tempered steel pierced at intervals with
oblong holes or instead I may insert two rods of steel into each strip or bar, I then
secure together a sufficient number of these compound bars to form a mat, by
threading wires or rods transversely through them and simultaneously through the
holes in the inserted steel strips or between each equivalent pair of rods as the case
may be. The compound bars may come close up against each other or they may be
set at distances apart, the spaces being formed by the insertion of short pipes or
tubes of any suitable material, preferably rubber, through which the transverse wires
will pass. (This form of mat is preferable as the dirt will fall through.) The whole
may then be secured by enclosure within a frame of suitable material or metal,
preferably galvanized iron, and fastened by any convenient means to the steel
strips and wires, preferably as shewn in the drawings.
The accompanying drawings shew the invention as applied to a door mat the
manner of construction being substantially the same for scrapers, stair treads C
other floor coverings & the same letters of reference applying to corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a door-mat constructed of tubulated strips & steel
strips, rubber pipes & wires, frame work & mats, after the manner above
described, letters a, a, (pointing to the interrupted lines) indicate the inserted steel
strips b, b, indicate the tubulated strips of rubber: c, c, indicate the transverse
wires: d, d, indicate the short pipes or tubes separating the compound bars: e, e,
are small brass nuts screwed or rivetted on the end of the wires one of which may be
dispensed with by using a headed wire as shewn in c, Fig 5: f,f, indicate sleeves or
hollow beadings of galvanized metal into which the two halves of the frame are
secured and which also engages the notches at either end of the steel strips, thus
simultaneously securing both: 9, 9, are the two halves of the frame and are pierced
at intervals to engage the ends of the wires c, c, as shewn.
Fig. 2, is a cross section of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same shewing the inserted position of the
steel strips also position of oblong holes and the manner in which the sleeves engage
the frame and the ends of the metal strips.
Fig. 4, is a cross section of the short pipes or tubes and wires when in

page_text: Fig. 5, is a perspective sketch of a compound rubber and steel strip and headed
wire, also shewing the shape of the holes, see Fig. h.
Fig. 6, indicates a manner of alternating the compound strips with inetal strips
uncovered with rubber; the latter being similarly pierced with holes are likewise slid
on the wires, each compound & single metal being separated by a similar short
pipe as d, d: a, a, indicates the steel strips: a², a², show the alternating metal strips
which are preferably galvanized or tinned to prevent rusting.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, indicate respectively; a section of compound for making a reversible
mat: a section for use with two transverse wires, the steel strips placed in a flat
position: a section shewing the transverse wires passing through two inserted wires
instead of a steel strip.
The before mentioned tubulated strips may if required be cut into short lengths,
a sufficient number being slid on to cover the steel strip or core, and they may be
enamelled or otherwise coated to give an improved appearance or colour.
It will be obvious that the section, of metal or. rubber strips may be altered at
pleasure without departing from the character of the invention, also I wish it
particularly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact manner described
of covering the metal strips or wires with the tubulated strips, as I may produce the
like effect in various ways well known to rubber manufacturers, notably by covering
the strip with rubber in its plastic condition and subjecting it to pressure in a
suitable mould; or by enclosure within a strip of doubled plastic rubber, and then
subjecting to the vulcanized process; also if convenient I may insert canvas, cloth,
leather, or any suitable fabric or material in the body or hollow of the tubulated
strips.
By constructing rubber mats as above described I obtain a simple, strong, compact,
light, efficient, durable & cleanly door mat, and the cross-stays lying below the
parallel wearing surfaces, allow the latter freedom to more effectually brush the feet
and unlike some previous inventions, aiming at a sectional rubber door-mat, the
principal metal parts are concealed in the rubber, thus preventing the appearance of
rust and imparting to the mat a more uniform appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Constructing mats, scrapers, stair treads and other floor coverings, substantially as
herein shown and described, of tubulated strips (or tubes with one or more wearing
edges) of india rubber as b, b, enclosing strips or wires of metal or other suitable
hard strong material, but preferably tempered and hardened steel, as a, a, secured
together by wires of metal c, c, and intersected by short pipes of suitable material
preferably rubber as d, d, and enclosed within a frame f, f, & g, g, as set
forth.