Improvements in Stair Fittings and Stair Carpets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stair Fittings and Stair Carpets.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PRICE, of Torrington Lodge, Barrowgate Road, Chiswick,
in the County of Middlesex, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object (1) increased facility in fixing shifting and
removing stair carpets or mats (2) obtaining uniform wear of the whole of the
carpet or mat (3) using up those portions of ordinary stair-carpets which have
received less wear than other portions and which, but for my invention, though
only partially worn out, could not be further used for the purpose.
According to the existing method of carpetting stairs the length of the carpet
which is required and the nature of the fittings employed make the operations of
laying shifting and removing the carpet matters of much difficulty.
That portion of the carpet which is on the outer edge of the tread receives more
wear than any other portion of the carpet.
One particular stair, owing to its position, often receives more wear than the
others and the whole length of carpet consequently is spoilt for stair purposes.
According to my invention, I have separate carpets or mats for each stair.
Such carpet may be of the kind ordinarily used for stair purposes cut into the
requisite lengths, or a reversible mat, or a mat or carpet so woven or manufactured
or joined as to form a continuous band.
Each of such carpets or mats can be easily removed (for the purpose of being
brushed or otherwise) and when replaced can be shifted to any required extent so
that the wear is distributed over the whole carpet or mat. If one onc carpet or
mat, owing to its position, wears out quicker than the rest it can be replaced by a
new one.
I effect this object by having an additional rod or bar, which is flat or triangular
in shape so as to secure a grip of the carpet, suitably fixed at the top of the stair
riser. This gripping-rod grips one end of the stair carpet or mat whilst the other
end is secured by a corresponding gripping rod on the riser of the next stair below
which gripping rod in turn grips also the mat for the succeeding stair below. The
ordinary stair rod being fixed as at present (for my new fitting for this stair rod
see below) to keep the carpet or mat further in position.
When a continuous carpet or mat (as above described) is used such carpet or
mat may be shifted bit by bit without removing the mat until the whole has been
worn, and, meanwhile a double tread is secured.
Another part of my invention consists of an improved fitting which is applicable
not only to stair carpets or mats constructed as above but also to the existing
form of stair carpet. It consists of an open clip in lieu of the ordinary circular
stair-rod eye so constructed as to enable the stair rod to be at once placed in
position by downward pressure instead of pushing the end of the rod through the
circular stair rod eye.
By means of this invention ornamental knobs can be used at the end of the stair
rod larger than the hollow of the clip and the rod is most easily placed in position.
Dated thin 20th day of Mov 1800

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stair Fittings and Stair Carpets.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PRICE, of Torrington Lodge, Barrowgate Road, Chiswick,
in the County of Middlesex, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawing,
that is to say :-
In stair carpets, owing to the length of the carpet ordinarily used, and the
nature of the fittings employed, there is usually considerable difficulty in removing,
shifting, and relaying the carpet. That part of the carpet which covers the edge
of the stair tread receives more wear than that on the inner part of the "tread
or the outer face of the riser, and except by having sufficient extra carpet at each
end to allow it to be shifted up and down to some extent, it is impossible to
distribute the wear, and even where this is possible the worn parts are exposed to
view.
It also frequently happens that one stair, owing to its position, is more worn
than the others, the carpet covering that stair becoming worn out and thus rendering
the whole length of carpet unfit for further use.
Considerable difficulty is also experienced when an angle has to be turned,
necessitating the cutting and gathering in of the carpet at that place.
The present invention has for its object to avoid these objections.
A separate carpet or mat is provided for each stair which is held in position in
such manner that it may readily be removed and replaced when necessary, thus
facilitating cleaning and allowing the carpet or mat to be so shifted that the wear
is distributed in turn over its whole surface, preventing waste and keeping the
parts which have been worn hidden from view.
When the carpet or mat of any one stair has worn out, another may be
substituted for it without necessitating a fresh carpet for the whole stair-case.
Reversible mats may be used, so that when the whole of one side of the mat has
been worn out, it may be reversed and the other side used.
Ordinary stair carpets may be utilized in this invention it being only necessary
to cut the carpet into sufficient lengths to cover one stair and leave a margin of
from four to six inches.
Partly worn carpets may in this way be used, omitting any parts which are so
worn as to be unfit for further use, or leaving such worn parts at the ends of the
lengths so cut, as such ends will be hidden from view.
By using my invention, the present system of stair rods and eyes may be
utilized, an additional rod being fixed at the top of each riser immediately below
the projecting edge of the stair tread which overhangs it. This additional rod is
made flat or triangular in section; as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, and either solid or hollow, and is
hereinafter referred to as the "gripping rod."
a is the metal rod the centre part of which for a sufficient length is of triangular
section, having ends b, b, which are held in metal eyes c, c, fixed to the stairs.
One of these eyes is shewn in Figure 2, two of them being fixed directly above
the ordinary stair eyes d, d, as shewn in Figure 3 and the other figures. In the
drawing all the eyes are shewn open above instead of being closed in the usual
way, so that the several rods can be introduced into them from above, instead of
being pushed in endways in the ordinary way. By this means the ends of the
stair rods can be provided with ornamental knobs or terminals as shewn, but it is
to be understood that for the open eyes d, d, shewn, the closed eyes may be
substituted if desired.
The gripping rods (shewn in Figure 1) fit into eyes at their parts b, b, as
shewn in Figure 3, which represents one stair with the gripping rod in its place
but without the carpet. As the whole of the gripping rod between the eyes is

page_text: covered by the mat it may be made of plain iron or steel or other metal of proper
section, as already described.
-
Brass knobs e, e, are shewn at the ends.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, shew the method of fitting and fixing the mats.
The mat (2) to be laid below that (1) already in position (Figure 4), is reversed
as shewn, its under side being uppermost, and it is laid along the stair tread "
leaving sufficient margin at overhanging the "riser" of the stair and lying upon
the lower end of the previous mat (1). The gripping rod a is dropped into its
place in the open eyes c, c, or inserted endways into ordinary closed eyes when the
latter are used, and the end g of the mat (1) is pulled tight. The mat (2) is then
thrown over, as shewn in Figure 5, and the. ordinary stair rod h is dropped or
pushed into its place in the eyes d, d, (as shewn in Figure 6) and the mat (2) is
fixed. The more tightly the mats (1 and 2) are pulled, the tighter the angular
gripping rod a holds them.
As the part where the two mats meet follows the contour of the stairs, the
appearance of the stair case is improved, as shewn in Figure 6, which represents.
the staircase with the carpets or mats fixed. By making the mats sufficiently
long, the parts which first become worn (at the front edge of the treads of the
stairs) can be brought down sufficiently to conceal such worn parts behind the
vertical part of the next mat below, as shewn on a larger scale in Figure 7.
Any folding which may be found necessary in order to turn an awkward corner
of the stair-case, is also hidden behind the same vertical part of the mats. When
the end of a mat upon the horizontal edge of a stair is worn out, the mat can be
turned end for end, the worn part being then hidden behind the vertical part of
the next mat, and the other end of the mat receiving the wear.
When both ends of the mat are worn they can still be re-used, by commencing
to fit and fix them from the bottom of the stair-case upward, instead of from the
top downward as first described.
In this case the positions of the gripping rods a, a, and the ordinary stair rods
are reversed, the former being fitted in the eyes d, d, and the latter in the
eyes c, c.
In order that, if desired, the whole of the mat may be exposed to wear by
degrees, each mat may be made in the form of a continuous band, the mat being
made of sufficient length and its ends sewn or otherwise joined together. The
advantages of this form of mat are that it may be shifted inch by inch until the
whole of it has been exposed to wear, and being double greater softness of tread
and less wear and tear are ensured.
In Figure 8 is shewn a form of the open eye which may be used at d, d, to
receive the ordinary stair rods instead of the closed eyes at present in use. When
the carpet is in its position and held by the stair rod, the direction of strain upon
the carpet is such that it is impossible to free the rod from the eye.
The materials, dimensions, shape, and ornament of the rods and eyes may be
varied more or less, as may be found desirable according to the size and character
of the stair-case to which the invention is to be applied.
I am aware that it has been proposed to use open eyes instead of closed ones for
the purpose of holding stair rods, and I do not claim broadly the use of such
open eyes, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The method of using stair carpets in the form of short pieces or mats,.
arranged and held substantially in the manner described and shewn.
2. The gripping rod, substantially of the shape and operating in the manner
described and shewn.
3. In combination with the gripping rod used and operating in the manner
described and shewn, the open eyes c, c.

page_text: 4. The methods of laying, adjusting, and altering the position of the carpets or
mats, substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn.
5. The use of separate stair carpets or mats in the form of endless bands,
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd der of March 1901
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.