Improvements in Bricks for Pavements and Floors.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bricks for Pavements and Floors.
I HENRY JOHNSON of Trindle Road Dudley in the County of Worcester Mining
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bricks for
pavements and floors by which improvements the pavements and floors made with the
said bricks offer a firm hold to the feet of persons or animals walking on them the
said pavements and floors are easily cleaned and are little liable to injury.
I will describe my invention in connection with paving bricks.
In making a paving brick according to my invention I form on the upper surface
or the surface which is exposed to wear in the pavement a series of projecting ribs
parallel or nearly parallel to the longer sides of the brick. Those ribs are preferably
of a length somewhat less than one fourth the length of the brick and of a breadth
equal to about one fourth their length. The said ribs are rounded at their ends and
their top edges and the troughs or depressions between them are rounded at bottom.
I prefer to make four rows of ribs crossing the brick each row consisting of six
ribs parallel to the longer sides of the brick. I do not however limit myself either to
the number or size of the ribs. The ribs may all be of the same length or they may
be of different lengths. In the latter case I prefer to arrange the long and short ribs
in alternate rows longitudinally. That is one row of ribs parallel to the long side
of the brick may consist say of three long ribs and the next row of four short ribs
and so on.
In this arrangement the several longitudinal rows of ribs break joint that
is the spaces between the ends of the ribs of one row are not opposite to the spaces
between the ribs of the next row.
Although I prefer to make the ribs parallel to the longer sides of the bricks I do not
limit myself thereto as they may in special cases be made oblique to the sides of
the brick.
For ordinary purposes however I prefer to make the ribs all of the same size and
arranged in rows end to end with reference to the longer sides of the brick. When
a pavement is made with these bricks they are laid in ordinary cases so that the ribs
cross the pavement that is the said ribs are at right angles to the direction of the motion
of pedestrians and afford a maximum of hold to the foot and consequently a maximum
of safety to the pedestrian. The pavement is of uniform pattern there being no
difference observable at the junction of the bricks. A pavement of bricks made
according to my invention is readily cleaned by sweeping crosswise that is towards
the gutter at the edge of the pavement.
Dated this 11th day of August 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bricks for Pavements and Floors.
I HENRY JOHNSON of Trindle Road Dudley in the County of Worcester Alining
Engineer 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 consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bricks for
pavements and floors by which improvements the pavements and floors made with the
said bricks offer a firm hold to the feet of persons or animals walking on them the
said pavements and floors are easily cleaned and are little liable to injury.
1 will describe my invention in connection with paving bricks.
.

page_text: In making a paving brick according to my invention I form on the upper surface
or the surface which is exposed to wear in the pavement a series of projecting ribs
parallel or nearly parallel to the longer sides of the brick. These ribs are preferably
of a length somewhat less than one fourth the length of the brick and of a breadth
equal to about one fourth their length. The said ribs are rounded at their
ends and their top edges and the troughs or depressions between them are rounded
at bottom. I prefer to make four rows of ribs crossing the brick each row consisting
of six ribs parallel to the longer sides of the brick. I do not however limit myself
either to the number or size of the ribs. The ribs may all be of the same length or
they may be of different lengths. In the latter case I prefer to arrange the long and
short ribs in alternate rows longitudinally. That is one row of ribs parallel to the
long side of the brick may consist say of three long ribs and the next row of four
short ones and so on. In this arrangement the several longitudinal rows of ribs break
joint that is the spaces between the ends of the ribs of one row are not opposite to the
spaces between the ribs of the next row.
Although I prefer to make the ribs parallel to the longer sides of the bricks I
do not limit myself thereto as they may in special cases be made oblique to the sides
of the brick.
Or groups of ribs some parallel to the longer sides of the brick and others parallel to
the shorter sides of the brick may be employed.
For ordinary purposes however 1 prefer to make the ribs all of the same size and
arranged in rows end to end with reference to the longer sides of the brick as hereinfirst
described. When a pavement is made with these bricks they are laid in ordinary
cases so that the ribs cross the pavement that is the said ribs are at right angles to the
direction of the motion of pedestrians and afford a maximum of hold to the foot and
consequently a maximum of safety to the pedestrian. The pavement is of uniform
pattern there being no difference observable at the junction of the bricks.
A pavement of bricks made according to my invention is readily cleaned by
sweeping crosswise that is towards the gutter at the edge of the pavement.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in plan and end elevation a
ribbed and troughed brick for pavements and floors made according to my invention.
In this paving brick four rows of projecting ribs a a crossing the brick are made on
the upper or treading surface of the brick each row consisting of six ribs of the same
length parallel to the longer sides of the brick.
Figure 2 represents in plan and end elevation another paving brick of nearly the
same kind. In the brick Figure 2 six rows of projecting ribs a a parallel to the longer
sides of the brick are used but the ribs of the alternate rows are of different lengths
the alternate longitudinal rows of ribs breaking joint as represented.
It will be seen by an examination of the said Figures 1 and 2 that each rib a has an
oblong figure and is flat at top and rounded at its ends and at its top edges and the
troughs or depressions between the said ribs are rounded at bottom as seen at bb. At
the longer edges of each brick a half trough or depression c is formed. When the
several bricks are joined together longitudinal troughs at the longitudinal junctions
of the bricks are formed by the combination of the said half troughs or depressions c
of adjacent bricks.
There are also formed cross channels by the junction of the ends of adjacent
bricks.
In making a pavement by the use of the bricks Figures 1 and 2 they are laid side
by side so that the projecting ribs a a cross the pavement or are situated at right
angles to the direction of the motion of the pedestrian the laid pavement being of
uniform pattern and appearance. By this arrangement the projecting ribs afford a
maximum of hold to the foot and consequently of safety to the pedestrian. The
_longitudinal troughs or channels b b and c between the rows of projecting ribs a a
serve as small conduits for draining or conducting water or rain from the bricks to the
gutter or main water channel the several parallel troughs or channels in the joined
or laid bricks being in line. The pavement is readily cleaned by sweeping it
crosswise or towards the gutter at the edge of the pavement.

page_text: As the paving bricks made according to my invention have no half figures or
patterns on their edges to fit together great facility and cheapness in laying down the
pavement results and the junctions of the laid bricks are but little seen.
Figure 3 represents in plan and end elevation another paving brick made according
to my invention. In this brick two groups of parallel ribs are arranged oblique
to the sides of the brick the ends of the ribs being rounded and having troughs
or channels with rounded bottoms between them as described with respect to the
paving bricks Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 represents in plan and end elevation another paving brick in which some
of the ribs a a are arranged parallel to the longer sides and some parallel to the shorter
sides of the brick.
Figure 5 represents in plan and end elevation another paving brick in which groups
of short longitudinal and transverse ribs a a are arranged in a different manner from
the longitudinal and transverse ribs of the brick Figure 4.
Where there is a curve in the pavement or where the pavement changes its
direction I prefer to employ rows of ribs a a parallel to the shorter sides of the brick
as illustrated in plan and end elevation in Figure 6 the ribs of alternate rows being of
different lengths.
The top edges of the projecting ribs a may be bevilled instead being of rounded and the
troughs or channels ec between the ribs and between the longitudinal junctions of the
several bricks may be angular instead of rounded but I prefer that the top edges of
the ribs and the bottoms of the troughs be rounded.
By the use of ribs having rounded edges as described and represented the liability
to the chipping of or damage to the ribs in loading transit unloading and laying
down is reduced and the said rounded edges are less injurious to boots and shoes
than the sharp edges of ordinary projections.
Although I have represented in the accompanying Drawing the several arrange-
ments or grouping of the projecting ribs which I have found to answer well in
practice yet I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to those
arrangements or groupings as the number size and disposition of the ribs upon the
treading surface of the bricks may be varied according to the particular purpose to
which the bricks are to be applied.
The horizontal surfaces of steps and stair treads paved with bricks made according
to my invention give great security in ascending and descending the said steps
and stairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as
my invention of "Improvements in bricks for pavements and floors":-
Forming on the upper or treading surface of the said bricks projecting ribs flat at top
and having rounded ends and rounded or bevilled top edges and preferably with draining
troughs or depressions rounded or angular at bottom between the said projecting ribs
the said projecting ribs being arranged or grouped on the upper or treading surface of
the bricks substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
T
1
CM 1000 -
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.