IMPROVEMENTS IN TREADS FOR STEPS OR STAIRS, AND ALSO FLOORINGS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hubert Hedges, of 43, St. Stephen's Road, Bow, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREADS FOR
STEPS OR STAIRS, AND ALSO FLOORINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hubert Hedges at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1880.
"
HUBERT, HEDGES, of 43, St. Stephen's Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TREADS FOR STEPS OR STAIRS, AND ALSO FLOORINGS."
My Invention relates to an improved system of constructing the treads of steps
or stairs, and also floorings, and consists principally of alternate rows of wood or
other suitable blocks and strips or bars of metal or other suitable substance of any
suitable section, the whole of which is securely held together by means of clamps,
bolts, or any other suitable means.
In order to explain my Invention I will describe it as applied to the treads of
steps or stairs, although the same system is equally applicable to floorings.
According to one arrangement, at the back of the step or stair is a small angle
iron or other metallic or other piece made with a flange at the bottom, projecting
inwards, and at the edge of the step or stair is another angle iron or other metallic
or other piece with a flange at the bottom, also projecting inwards. This latter
piece is preferably rounded at its outside surface to form the nosing. Between these
two pieces which form the side frames is placed parallel with the frames a series of
tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces with double flanges at the bottom.
Blocks of wood, preferably with the cross grain upwards, or of other suitable
material are placed between the spaces thus formed and rest upon the flanges.
These blocks may, if necessary, be preserved by creosote or any other well known
preserving agent. The tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces with double
flanges may reach to the top surface of the wood or other blocks, cr may be less in
height so as to form.grooves or channels between the blocks for water or moisture
to run off. The whole is securely held together by clamps at the bottom, fixed to
the side frames, or by bolts passing through the frames, tee-irons, or other metallic
or other pieces, and the wood or other blocks, or by any other suitable means.
A second arrangement consists in arranging the tee-irons or other metallic or
other pieces with double flanges, and the wood or other blocks at right angles to the

page_text: frames, in which case the clamps or bolts will run parallel with the side frames and
pass through the tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces and wood or other
blocks.
A third arrangement consists in dispensing with the bars between the blocks and
making grooves transversely across the bottom of the wood or other blocks, into
which are fitted metallic or other bars or strips.
A fourth arrangement consists in making the bars or strips of metal or other
substance between the blocks with tapering or curved sides or with projections or
indentations thereon, the wood or other blocks being made so as to fit into the
space between two bars or strips, and be firmly wedged or cramped therein.
Although I have herein described the blocks and bars as being placed longi-
tudinally or transversely on the step or stair it will be fully understood that either
or both may be placed diagonally or in a curved form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hubert Hedges in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1880.
HUBERT HEDGES, of 43, St. Stephen's Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREADS FOR STEPS OR STAIRS, AND ALSO FLOORINGS."
My Invention relates to an improved system of constructing the treads of steps
or stairs, and also floorings, and consists principally of alternate rows of wood or
other suitable blocks and strips or bars of metal or other suitable substance of any
suitable section, the whole of which is securely held together by means of clamps,
bolts, or any other suitable means.
In order to explain my Invention I will describe it as applied to the treads of
steps or stairs, although the same system is equally applicable to floorings.
According to one arrangement, at the back of the step or stair is a small angle
iron or other metallic or other piece, with a flange at the bottom, projecting
inwards, and at the edge of the step or stair is another angle iron or other metallic
or other piece with a flange at the bottom, also projecting inwards. This latter
piece is preferably rounded at its outside surface to form the nosing. Between these
two pieces, which form the side frames, is placed parallel with the frames a series of
tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces with double flanges at the bottom.
Blocks of wood, preferably with the cross grain upwards, or of other suitable
material, are placed between the spaces thus formed and rest upon the flanges.
These blocks may, if necessary, be preserved by creosote or any other well known
preserving agent. The tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces with double
flanges may reach to the top surface of the wood or other blocks, or may be
less in height so as to form grooves or channels between the blocks for water or
moisture to run off. The whole is securely held together by clamps at the bottom,
fixed to the side frames, or by bolts passing through the frames, tee-irons, or other
metallic or other pieces, and the wood or other blocks, or by any other suitable
means.
A second arrangement consists in arranging the tee-irons or other metallic or
other pieces with double flanges and the wood or other blocks at right angles to the
frames, in which case the clamps or bolts will run parallel with the side frames and
pass under or through the tee-irons or other metallic or other pieces and wood or
other blocks. The two side frames may in this case be attached to the rest of the
tread of the step or stair by means of screws which pass through the respective side
frames into the wooden or other blocks, or any other suitable means for firmly
connecting the side frames to the rest of the tread of the step or stair may be
employed.
A third arrangement consists in dispensing with the bars between the blocks,
and making grooves transversely across the bottom of the wood or other blocks,
into which are fitted metallic or other bars or strips. In this case the blocks may
be placed either parallel to the side frames or at right or any other angle thereto,
and the side frames will be connected to the rest of the tread of the step or stair,
as herein before described in the two previous examples.
A fourth arrangement consists in making the bars or strips of metal or other
substance between the blocks with tapering or curved sides or with projections or
indentations thereon, or of any other suitable section, the wood or other blocks
being made so as to fit into the space between two bars or strips and be firmly
wedged or cramped therein. The two sides of the wood or other blocks may be
grooved or ploughed in the centre, and bars of metal or other suitable material
inserted in the cavities thus formed by the contiguous blocks.
Although I have herein described the blocks and bars as being placed longitudinally
or transversely on the step or stair it will be fully understood that either or both.
may be placed diagonally or in a curved form.

page_text: But in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed
to explain the same by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of a tread of a step or stair in which the tee-irons
or other pieces with double flanges at the bottom and the blocks are arranged
parallel to the side frames; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. A is an angle iron or
other piece with a flange at the back of the step or stair; B is the flanged piece of
iron or other material at the front of the step or stair, and which forms the nosing.;
C, C, are the tee-irons or other pieces with double flanges at the bottom; D, D, are
the wooden or other blocks which rest upon the flanges and fill up the spaces thus
formed; E, E, are clamps for securely fastening the whole together.
Fig. 3 shows a vertical section of a tread of a step or stair in which the tee-irons
or other pieces with double flanges at the bottom and the blocks are placed at right
angles to the side frames A, B ; Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
In order to firmly
secure the side frames to the rest of the tread the screws F, F, are employed which
pass through the side frames into the blocks D, D; E, E, are bolts passing through
the blocks and tee-irons or other pieces with double flanges.
Fig. 5 shows a vertical section of a tread of a step or stair in which the bars
between the blocks are dispensed with, grooves being formed transversely across the
blocks into which are fitted the metallic or other bars or strips G, G. As above
described the blocks may in this case be either placed parallel to or at right or any
other angle to the side frames, the whole being firmly secured together by means of
clamps, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or by means of screws, as in Figs. 3 and 4.
Fig. 6 shows a vertical section of a tread of a step or stair in which bars or strips
are placed between the blocks with tapering or curved sides, or with projections or
indentations thereon. a, b, c, d, and e show several forms of bars or strips, which
can of course be varied according to requirements. In the same Figure the
blocks D¹, D', have one side grooved or ploughed in the centre, the bar or strip f
being inserted in the cavity thus formed between the two blocks.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is, the manner of
constructing the treads of steps or stairs or floorings, substantially as herein
described and shown in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hubert Hedges, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord 1880.