AN IMPROVED METHOD OF UNITING SLABS OR BLOCKS OF WOOD FOR THE FORMATION OF PARQUET FLOORING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tighe Hamilton, M.A., of Rathmines, Dublin,
Ireland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF UNITING SLABS OR
BLOCKS OF WOOD FOR THE FORMATION OF PARQUET FLOORING."
led the 6th August 1878, and dated the 13th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tighe Hamilton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1878.
WILLIAM TIGHE HAMILTON, M.A., of Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. AN IM-
PROVED METHOD OF UNITING SLABS OR BLOCKS OF WOOD FOR THE FORMATION OF
PARQUET FLOORING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the joining of slabs of wood to form
parquetry flooring.
To this end instead of rabbeting together or securing by dowels or tongues the
slabs or pieces composing such parts, I employ a system of interlocking by means
of dovetails, the dovetails being in line with the edges of the work. Thus, for
example, if I wish to join up a series of variously colored rectangular slabs to form
a parquetry floor I cut on two edges of the slabs a dovetailed tongue, and in the
other two edges I form dovetail grooves corresponding to the tongues. A series of
slabs thus prepared I connect together by entering the tongues at the end of the
grooves and sliding the slabs into line. I thus produce a piece of flooring of any
required length and breadth, the parts being firmly locked together and incapable
of an independent springing motion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tighe Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1878.
"
WILLIAM TIGHE HAMILTON, M.A., of Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. 'AN IM-
PROVED METHOD OF UNITING SLABS OR BLOCKS OF WOOD FOR THE FORMATION OF
PARQUET FLOORING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the method of joining slabs of wood
in order to form parquet flooring.
To this end instead of the common methods the slabs or pieces composing a floor
are united by means of dovetail tongues and grooves, the dovetails being in line
with the joints of the work. For this purpose a dovetail tongue is cut upon the
edge of one slab and a corresponding groove upon that of another. A series of
Blabs thus prepared are connected together by entering the tongues at the ends of
the grooves and sliding the slabs into line. A composite piece of flooring of
any required length and breadth is thus produced, the parts being firmly locked
together.
The formation of these tongues and grooves may be effected by any convenient
machines or tools suited to such work.
The accompanying Drawings shew several patterns of such composite pieces, and
will serve to illustrate the mode of carrying out this Invention.
Fig. 1 shew the most simple of these constructions of flooring composed of
rectilinear slabs so arranged as to form a herring-bone pattern, and fixed to the
joists in any convenient way. The edge view shows the form of this system of
jointing.
Fig. 1 show that one side edge of the slab has a dovetail groove cut in it, as at
a, and the opposite side is formed with a dovetail tongue, as at b. The opposite
ends of this slab can be similarly fashioned, one with a dovetail groove a¹, and the
other with a dovetail tongue b¹.
The other Figures (2, 3, 4,) shew other patterns treated in a similar manner.
In the operation of uniting such composite pieces and laying them for floors
double dovetail tongues may be used as keys instead of those cut in the solid
wherever a dovetail joint is wanted, and cannot be otherwise secured.
From the foregoing it will be understood that by the means employed for locking
the slabs together a strong ornamental flooring may be obtained, the parts having
their grain disposed lengthwise, or crosswise, or otherwise.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention of "An Improved Method of
Uniting Slabs or Blocks of Wood for the Formation of Parquet Flooring," and
explained by several illustrations the manner of carrying the same into effect,-
I claim the use of dovetailed tongues and grooves cut in the opposite edges of
slabs, so as to form composite pieces for the formation of parquet floors, as above
described.
I also claim the use of double dovetailed tongues or keys, to be introduced, if
desired, into dovetailed grooves when cut along the opposite edges of such slabs, as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, J, the said William Tighe Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TIM
MIATT
TIM
TIGHE HAMILTON. (L.S.)