Improvements in Apparatus for Marking Out String Boards of Staircases, and for other like purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
Improvements in Apparatus for Marking Out String Boards of
Staircases, and for other like purposes.
I, JOHN LUTLEY 2 Cambridge Villas, Old Trafford, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This improved apparatus or appliance is especially adapted for marking out the
string boards of staircases for the risers and treads of the steps, but it may also
be used for various similar purposes of a like nature.
Hitherto it has been usual before setting out the string board for a flight of
steps or stairs to make a template known as a pitchboard having the correct sizes
of the tread and of the riser (and this may vary in nearly every set of stairs) and
with this template placed against a longitudinal drawn line upon the string board
the steps are marked out, first the outside angle then the inside angle, and then
the nose of the tread.
I propose to make an adjustable apparatus or instrument, by which when once
adjusted and fixed, the three before mentioned operations can be at once
performed.
It consists of a triangular arrangement of three adjustable straight edges. Two
of these are connected by means of a joint pin at one end or thereabouts, and from
these the rise and tread of each step is set out, and to enable this to be done
quickly I mark one or both sides with the ordinary divisions of a foot rule.
Each of these strips have a longitudinal slot extending for any desired length
towards the joint pin before mentioned, and an increase in width from the joint
end to the opposite end, say for example, quarter of an inch in six inches, so that
when the outer edges are square, the inner edges form an acute angle, this is
necessary in setting out a stairboard for a staircase.
The third straight edge which may be said to form the base of the triangle, is
also provided with longitudinal slots, or one long slot, and by means of screws,
passed through the said slots, both parts may be securely connected, so as to form
a rigid triangle. I prefer to make the straight edge called the base, stronger than
the other parts; thus for example the base may be of wood one inch thick, and
the other two may be made of sheet metal; instead of placing the base upon the
flat side of the strips I make a longitudinal sawgate through each end of the base,
in the opposite direction to the slots before-mentioned, and pass the ends of the
connected metal strips through them, by this arrangement half the edge of the
base projects on either side of the metal strips, and thus permits the instrument to
be used on either side.
The wearing surfaces of the wood base may be protected by strips of metal.
It is very convenient for staircase work, to have one of the strips project past
the other at the joined ends to set out the " nosc or overhanging part of the
tread.
"
This instrument can be fixed at once to any size of riser or tread and the whole
operation of setting out a string board can be completed in a few minutes.
Dated the 31st day of October 1890.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Marking Out Stringboards of
Staircases, and for other like purposes.
I, JOHN LUTLEY 2, Cambridge Villas, Old Trafford, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Traveller, 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 :-
This improved apparatus or appliance is specially arranged for marking out the
stringboards of staircases for the risers and treads of the stairs or steps, but it
may also be used for various purposes of a similar nature.
Hitherto it has been usual before setting out the stringboard of a staircase, or
for a flight of steps, to make a template, known in the trade as a pitchboard,
having the correct sizes of the tread and the riser, (and these may vary in nearly
every set of stairs) and with this pitchboard placed to a longitudinal line drawn
upon the stringboard, the steps are marked out, first the outside angle, then the
inside angle, and then the projecting nose of the tread.
My apparatus and the method of using it, are illustrated in the annexed sheet
of drawings, like letters of reference indicate like parts, in any of the figures..
Fig. 1, is a plan of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, edge view of base or straight edge when the metal square passes
through it.
Fig. 3, the detachable nosing.
Figs. 4, & 5, show different positions of apparatus in setting.out steps of different
inclines.
The apparatus will be seen, on reference to Fig. 1 to consist of a metallic
square, the outer edges of the arms A, and B, being rectangular, while the
corresponding inside edges form an acute angle each arm being provided with a
longitudinal slot C, D; the said square being. preferably attached to a base, or
straightedge E, either by being secured upon its upper face as shown, or by being
passed through slots E, made through its edge, as shown in Fig. 2; but in some
cases the base may be dispensed with, and the heads of the two bolts G, may be
used to rest against the edge of the stringboard, or other board.
The base has two, slots, H, made through it, and these in combination with the
slots C, D, enable, the square to be moved to any desired position or angle, in
which position it may be secured by the nuts and bolts, G.; the working faces of,
the base may with advantage be faced with.metal plates.
Loose nosings" of various, dimensions, see Fig. 3, are made so that they can be
readily attached to the corner of the square as seen in Fig. 1, to mark out, the
various sizes required.
To enable the given dimensions of the tread and riser. to be found readily, the
square is marked down each side with the ordinary divisions of a carpenter's rule;
also to render the apparatus useful in finding different angles or inclines, the
square may be marked with the different angles, as shown on the arm A, drawn
from the edge of the head.of bolt C. on arm B, that would come in contact with
the stringboard or other object, when the said bolt is pushed to the extreme, end
of the groove D, as indicated by a dotted circle.
When the apparatus is once fixed to the sizes required both for the riser and
tread, which is only the work of a few minutes, the setting out, of a number of
similar stringboards can be rapidly and accurately accomplished.
In Figs. 4 and 5, I show the setting out of two stringboards of different inclina-
tions, and the steps of different forms, showing the position of the arms of the
square in relation to the base.
I do not bind myself to any material, as although I have mentioned the square
as being made of metal may be made of wood or other material.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An instrument for marking out the stringboards of staircases and other like
work, consisting of a square formed by two arms, A, B the inside edges forming
an acute angle, fitted with longitudinal slots C, D, and adjustable bolts, G detach-
able nosings, and with or without a base or straightedge E, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 30th day of July 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.