Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Pavements, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERICK WILLIAM HUESTIS, of 146, Walnut Street,
Newtonville, in the County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Mechanical Expert.]
Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Pavements, and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 treads for stairs, pavements, and the like, and is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a sheet metal plate having integral
wear-point forming portions, which are adapted to be bent outwardly from the plate,
and are shown with under-cut edges and perforations through their body portions.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Figure 1, after the wear-point
forming portions are bent outwardly to form wear-points.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the plate after it is combined with strips of non-
slipping material interlocked with the plate; the non-slipping material and combined
wear-points alternating with striplike portions of the sheet metal plate.
Figure 4 is a sectional detail on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and shows the non-slipping
material interlocked with the wear points and body of the sheet metal plate by
engagement of the non-slipping material with the under-cut edges of the wear-points;
and by engagement with the back or under sides of the plate, the non-slipping
material passing through the holes formed in the plate by the striking up of the
wear-points.
Figure 5 is a sectional view at line 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figures 6-15, inclusive, illustrate modifications; Figure 6 being a top plan of a
sheet metal plate formed with wear-points whose apices are narrower than their basés
instead of being wider than their bases, as in the preferred construction.
Figure 7 is a side view of the sheet metal plate shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a tread plate like that shown in Figure 6 to be
wholly covered and interlocked with non-slipping material. This sectional view, so
far as the plate itself is concerned, is taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6.
Figure 10 is an end view of Figure 7.
Figure 11 is a top plan view of another form of sheet metal plate cut to form
Fear-points.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the sheet metal plate shown in Figure 11 after the
year-points have been bent outwardly from the body of the plate.
Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure 11.

page_text: Figure 14 is a top plan view of the plate illustrated in Figures 11, 12, and 13,
combined with non-slipping material arranged in parallel rows, alternating with un-
covered portions of the plate.
Figure 15 is a sectional view on line 15-15 of Figure 14.
Figure 16 and 17 are sectional views of modified forms of my invention.
The main objects of my invention are to cheapen the cost of production of stair,
pavement, platform and portable treads made up of a hard metal plate combined
with non-slipping material on the tread surfaces, and to make such treads in such.
wise that the different kinds of metal on the tread surfaces will wear more evenly
than heretofore; and at the same time be of lighter weight and give an improved foot-
hold, by providing a multiplicity of wear-points.
In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best mode now
known to me of applying that principle, a is a plate preferably of sheet metal, on the
upper surface of which there are preferably stamped up the integral wear-points a¹,
which in this preferred construction are disposed in straight lines, as shown, each
pair of wear-points being separated by the striplike portions a² of the plate. The
wear-points are preferably at right angles to the plate and the plate is preferably
provided with any suitable means for interlocking it with the non-slipping material.
Preferably, the wear plates are formed with holders a³ at their sides for the non-
slipping metal, and the non-slipping metal engages these holders to interlock the plate
and said metal. The holders a³ may be projections of the upper edges of the wear-
points over the base portions thereof as provided for in Figure 2, or lateral apertures
through the wear-points as in Figure 2 and other figures. This plate is preferably of
steel, readily formed in power or other presses or by hand by the use of suitable
punches, as will be plain to all skilled in the art without further description. The
wear-points a are integral at their bases with the body of the plate and may be
either inclined or vertical, as preferred. I prefer to make them vertical, as shown, in
order to secure the greatest length of wear-points in a tread of given thickness.
When the wear-points a¹ are punched up, the holes a are thereby formed through
the body of plate a; and when the lead composition or other non-slipping material
is on the plate, between the wear-points a¹, it may also be interlocked with the plate
by passing through these holes, and contacting with the other side of the plate. The
non-slipping material is readily applied to the plate a so as to lock itself on
the plate and fill in the spaces between the parallel rows of wear-points a. up to the
outer ends thereof. As the softer non-slipping material wears away, the wear-points
are also worn away practically, as fast as the non-slipping filling material b is worn
away, and an inexpensive durable tread is formed, every portion of whose tread or
wear surface is practically of equal durability so that the wear surface is not worn
into a grooved condition as heretofore, where steel strips have alternated with parallel
lead strips, and the lead has been more rapidly worn away than the steel, leaving
hard metallic surfaces of considerable extent on which persons frequently have
slipped.
In the preferred construction, illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the lead or other
non-slipping material b is arranged in rows which comprise wear-points a¹ and are
separated by the low striplike portions a² of the plate. By this construction, I am
enabled to cheapen the construction of the treads because a relatively small quantity
of softer metal is required.
I am the first, so far as known to me, to make a tread by combining non-slipping
material with a sheet metal plate having wear surfaces of limited extent, preferably
points, and means for interlocking the same together and I desire to claim my
invention in the broadest legally permissible manner. Sheet metal plates, for this
purpose, possess very important advantages over the cast and grooved plates heretofore
used as the sheet metal plates are lighter in weight, cheaper to construct, and the
wear-points present in the wear surface material less hard metal on which to slip.
Another striking advantage of my new treads, lies in the fact that the sheet metal
plate permits the bending of the treads to conform to curved and irregular surfaces.
One marked advantage of the preferred form of treads containing my invention is

page_text: the perforation of the hard metal plate whereby the softer, non-slipping metal (lead
or the like) not only fills the perforations but is anchored on the back of the plate.
Thus, even when, as in Figure 16, the plate is formed without the upturned wear-
points a¹, the combination of hard and non-slipping metal exists after the main
portion of the lead is worn away. The left hand portion of the tread in Figure 16
may be taken as a new tread or as representing the condition of the tread originally
wholly faced with lead as at the right of said figure, but subsequently worn away.
For some purposes it may be desired to fill in with non-slipping material the spaces
above the striplike portions a² (as shown in Figure 17) and when this is done, the
lead or other non-slipping material which fills these spaces may be integral with the
lead between the wear-points a¹ and through the holes at which themselves are
adequate holders for the non-slipping material if it is desired to dispense with either
or both the overhanging edges of some forms of the upturned wear-points, and the
holes through the upturned wear-points. The plate may of course be of the cast
metal or other than sheet metal and the filling material may be of any suitable non-
slipping material. But lead is preferred because shoe leather does not readily slip on
lead. In all forms of my invention it will be seen that lead is present until the plate
is worn through because the lead extends through the holes at which therefore are
not only efficient means for anchoring the lead on the plate but also serve as
repositories of lead during the whole duration or life of the hard metal plate. While
the outer ends of the upturned wear-points a¹ are in some forms of my invention the
wear-surfaces yet in such a form as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 16, for
example, the body portions as of the plate are the wear surfaces which alternate with
the non-slipping material.
Treads containing my invention will be found useful on platforms of guns, in
fortifications; on decks of men of war, and other vessels; as substitutes for metal or
rubber mats largely used at doors and on floors of public buildings, and on ferry-
boats; as treads for stairs; and in street pavements, and generally whenever persons
are liable to injury from slipping.
Conspicuous examples of its utility are found in its use on tread surfaces of the
running-boards along the tops of freight-cars; and on running-boards of electric-cars;
on steam-car platforms and steps, and on steps of vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a tread for stairs and other purposes, the combination of a sheet metal plate
having wear surfaces and holes through its body portion of a non-slipping material
between said wear surfaces and passing through said holes and anchored upon the back
of the plate.
2. In a tread for stairs and other purposes, the combination of a bed plate provided
with holes formed by said plate and bending outward the cut portions; said outwardly
bent integral portions having retaining means formed on their faces; and non-
slipping material secured between said bent integral portions.
3. A sheet metal bed-plate for treads for stairs and other purposes, said plate being
formed with integral, outwardly projecting wear-points and with holes through it.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a tread for stairs and other purposes made up of
bed-plate provided with holes formed by cutting said plate and bending outward the
cut portions, the lateral edges of adjacent cut portions being separated from each
ther by the uncut portions of said bed-plate; and non-slipping material secured
between the faces and the lateral edges of said cut portion.
5. In a tread for stairs and other purposes, the combination of a bed-plate provided
sith holes formed by cutting said plate and bending outward the cut portions; said
utwardly bent integral portions of said bed-plate; and non-slipping material
ecured between said bent integral portions.
6. As a new article of manufacture, a tread for stairs and other purposes made up

page_text: of a bed plate provided with upwardly projecting wear surfaces, said wear surfaces
being separated from each other transversely and longitudinally by portions of said
bed-plate; and non-slipping material laid transversely and longitudinally across and
on said bed plate and engaging said wear surfaces on the sides.
Dated this 5th day of Dagamber 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.