Improvements in the Manufacture of Treads for Floors, Stairs, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Treads for Floors, Stairs, and
the like.
We JONATHAN MASON and JOSEPH MASON, Contractors, of 15 Barbican in the
City of London and WILLIAM SQUIRES CODNER, Iron Merchant of 10 Queen
Elizabeth's Walk, Stoke Newington in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in treads or coverings for floors,
stairs and the like, the same having reference to the subject matter under Letters
Patent No. 16852, dated 22nd Oct., 1890, granted to the present applicants, the
object being to prepare and combine a hard metal plate with a softer anti-slipping
material.
The main plate is prepared by rolling or stamping so as to give a back plate
with raised ribs and intermediate openings. The ribs are made with a vee (V)
depression longitudinally thereof.
After this first rolling or stamping the plates are again rolled or stamped with a
second pair of rolls or stamps which will further open the vees of the raised ribs, so
as to lay open the upper arms thereof, outwards towards the intermediate openings,
between the vee cut ribs of the plate. The plate is then chilled to harden same.
(The lead may be poured into the openings which in this case may be previously
tinned.) After this there is to be laid into the plates so prepared strips of lead or
of compressed tarred rope and the whole is to be again passed through rolls or
stamps which will have imparted thereto sufficient pressure to force open the vees
of the ribs and to lay the upper arms of the vees outwards on to the outer edges of
the intermediate strips so giving a compact anti-slipping and anti-wearing surface
to the finished article. Instead of rolling the plate with the V grooves in the raised
ribs and then opening same the raised ribs may be undercut on each side thereof by
means of planing and the softer material be then laid on and the plate be finished.
When compressed tarred rope is employed the metal plates should be heated
before the material is laid into the openings and then the plates and filling so
prepared is to be passed through compression rollers or stamps. The finished plates
should then be stacked to cool and allow the tarred substance to set hard. The
faces of the finished treads are laid down on to sheets of metal or boards and when
cooled they will be ready for use and present the required surface.
The plates when used for stair-treads will have the ordinary curved-over front
edge for fitting the rounded nosing otherwise the plates may be flat.
The method of fixing these treads will be substantially as ordinarily and 'needs
no further indication.
According to a modification of this invention, for using cast plates the upper
surface of the plates are V grooved and recesses are cut away (in the pattern) from
the ribs between the grooving so that when the plates are cast gaps will appear
extending down to the back plate.
Headed studs or staples can be put into the mould at the groovings to be cast in
with the plate metal.
23
The lead or soft material strips when poured or pressed in will be expanded in
and fill into the gaps and under the headed studs or staples and will form "keys"
which will effectually serve to retain the pieces of the softer material so finishing
the tread surface level.
For cover plates for openings, such as for hydrants, manholes for sewer-ways, coal
holes to cellars and the like where the prepared plates have to be set into a framing we
employ in combination double angle-irons which will be rivetted together, that is to

page_text: say, an outer or main frame of two webs one horizontal and the other at right angles
thereto finished together with corner pieces; and inside of and to the upstanding
web of the outer angle-iron frame will be rivetted or cast an inner angle iron ledge
which at the same time that it supports the outer web will furnish a ledge upon which
will be laid the tread or wearing surface. This angle-iron frame will be cheaply
and easily made.
For heavy treads the bottom plate can be cast and the under or body plate be
lightened by gaps or openings upon the underside so that when laid upon cement
or concrete foundation the cement or concrete will fill into and set in the said under
gaps and openings to form key-like holding means. Studs or staples may also be
cast in on the said underside.
The upper surface will be corrugated in the main metal and be furnished with the
anti-slipping filling medium as described.
A
1
1001
WALTER A. BARLOW,
For Mason, Mason, and Codner,
46, Chancery Lane, W.C., Consulting Engineer and Patent Expert.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Treads for Floors, Stairs, and
the like.
We JONATHAN MASON and JOSEPH MASON, Builders and Contractors of
15 Barbican in the City of London and WILLIAM SQUIRES CODNER Iron Merchant
of 10 Queen Elizabeth Walk, Stoke Newington in the County of Middlesex 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 invention relates to certain improvements in the treads or coverings for
floors stairs and the like the same having reference to the subject matter under
Letters Patent No. 16852 dated 22nd October 1890, granted to the present
applicants the object being to prepare and combine a hard metal plate with a softer
anti-slipping material.
The main plate is prepared by rolling or stamping so as to give a back plate
with raised ribs and intermediate openings. The ribs are made with a vee (V)
depression longitudinally thereof.
After this first rolling or stamping the plates are again rolled or stamped with
a second pair of rolls or stamps which will further open the vees of the raised ribs,
so as to lay open the upper arms thereof outwards towards the intermediate
openings between the vee-cut ribs of the plate. The plate is then chilled to harden
same. After this there is to be laid into the plates so prepared strips of lead or of
compressed tarred rope or other anti-slipping material of like character and the
whole is to be again passed through rolls or stamps which will have imparted
thereto sufficient pressure to bed in and consolidate the filling material so giving a
compact anti-slipping and anti-wearing surface to the finished article.
When compressed tarred rope or like material is employed the metal plates
should be heated before the material is laid into the openings and then the plates
and filling so prepared is to. be passed through compression rollers or stamps.
The finished plates should then be stacked to cool and allow the tarred
substance to set hard. The faces of the finished treads are laid down onto sheets
of metal or boards, and when cooled they will be ready for use and present the
required surface.
The plates when used for stair treads will have the ordinary front edge for fitting
the nosing otherwise the plates will be flat.
The method of fixing these treads will be substantially as ordinarily and needs
-no further indication.

page_text: According to a modification of this invention, for using cast plates the upper
surface of the plates are V grooved and recesses are cut away (in the pattern) from
the ribs between the grooving so that when the plates are cast gaps
will appear
extending down to the back plate. The lead or soft material strips when poured
or pressed in will be expanded in and fill into the gaps and will form "keys
which will effectually serve to retain the pieces of the softer material, so finishing
the tread surface level.
22
For cover plates for openings such as for hydrants, manholes for sewer ways,
coal holes, to cellars, and the like where the prepared plates have to be set into a
framing we may employ in combination double angle-irons which will be rivetted
together, or the framing may be cast that is to say an outer or main frame of two
webs, one horizontal and the other at right angles thereto finished together with
corner pieces, and inside of and to the upstanding web of the outer angle iron frame
will be rivetted or cast an inner angle-iron ledge which at the same time that it
supports the outer web will furnish a ledge upon which will be laid the tread or
wearing surface.
This angle iron frame will be cheaply and easily made.
For heavy treads the bottom plate can be cast and the under or body plate be
lightened by gaps or openings upon the underside so that when laid upon cement
or concrete foundation the cement or concrete foundation will fill into and set in the
said under gaps and openings to form key like holding means.
The upper surface in the main metal will be corrugated or roughened, that is
will be made with V ribs and intermediate openings for receiving the filling
material and when finished will be furnished intermediately with anti-slipping
medium as described.
In considering the matter in the following description distinction may be drawn
as between light coverings suitable for inside work such as staircases and floorings
and heavier constructions for outside ground floor and main work.
In the drawings annexed hereto :-
"Fig. 1 is an end view or cross section of a rolled strip of hard metal (mild steel
iron sheet or brass) to receive the softer anti-slipping material.
Fig. 2 shows in like view the treads after a second process of rolling has been
done for fixing the softer material.
Fig. 3 shows the finished surface of such a stair-tread-covering consisting of a
nosing strip 1 filling strip 2 and end plate 3. This end piece 3 may be a strip of
heavy linoleum or the like. Without the nosing these plates will serve for floor
coverings.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a modification of this invention for using cast plates.
Fig. 7 represents the same adapted as a kerb for pavements, footways, areas and
pavement lights.
Fig. 8 shows the intermediate wear-resisting and holding ribs rivetted to the
bottom plate to retain and support the softer material.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 represent in cross section bars for pavement lights and
gratings for edgings or cross bars.
Figs. 12 to 15 illustrates the application of the invention to coal plates or man-
hole covers or the like (portions only of the plates being shown).
Fig. 16 represents the construction of a frame for treads, or coverings of man-
holes, coal holes, cellar openings, and hydrant covers, to receive either the prepared
rolled or stamped or the cast plates.
Referring to Fig. 1 the main plate a is prepared by rolling or stamping so as to
give the raised ribs a', and the intermediate openings a². The ribs a' are made
with a V depression longitudinally thereof.
After this first rolling or stamping the plates are again rolled or stamped with a
second pair of rolls or stamps which will further open the vees.of the raised ribs so
as to lay open the upper arins thereof outwards towards the intermediate openings
between the vec-cut ribs of the plate. The plate is then chilled to harden same.
After this there is to be laid or poured into the openings a³ of the plates strips of

page_text: lead or of compressed tarred rope or other anti-slipping material and the whole is
to be again passed through rolls or stamps which will have imparted thereto
sufficient pressure or force to lay the intermediate strips under the overlaid
arms a of the vecs so giving a compact anti-slipping and anti-wearing surface to
the finished article.
Instead of rolling the plate with the vee grooves in the raised ribs and opening
same, the raised ribs may be undercut on each side thereof by means of planing and
then the softer material be laid in and the plate be finished as before described.
The plates a, a, a may be produced by casting, but in such case a core-box is to
be used in the mould.
When compressed tarred rope is employed for filling, the metal plates a, a', a³
should be heated before the material is laid into the openings and then the
plates and filling so prepared is to be passed through the compression rollers or
stamps. The finished plates should then be stacked to cool and allow the tarred
substance to set hard, first laying the finished treads face down on to sheets of
metal or boards so that when cooled they will be ready for use and present the
required surface.
65
According to the modification of this invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 for using
cast plates the upper surface of the plates are V grooved at a¹ and are
cut away
(in the "pattern") from the ribs a¹ so that when the plates are cast the vee gaps
will appear extending down to the back of plate a.
Headed studs or staples indicated at c Figs. 4 and 5 can be made in the plate by
inserting such studs or staples in the mould before the metal is "poured" and so
will be of a piece with the back plate a at a².
The lead or soft material strips b when poured or pressed in will fill in and be
expanded into the gaps d under the headed studs or staples c which will form
keys" with and for the strips which will effectually serve to retain the pieces
of the softer material in finishing the tread surface.
66
Before pouring in" the lead filling
into the plate a, a', a² the metal of the
spaces between the ribs may be tinned or prepared (as by spirits of salts) so as to
set the lead with the metal of the plate.
The stair tread shown in Fig. 6 consists of the cast nosing plate 1, filling piece 2,
and end piece 3, corresponding to the description given of Fig. 3.
At a Figs. 5 and 6 are indicated strengthening portions of the cast plates which
will leave the plate a lighter between said parts a³. This same description and
letters of reference will suffice for the kerb Fig. 7.
In Fig. 8 a are through rivets fixing the bars a¹ to the plate a.
In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 the side veed wing pieces a¹ will serve to hold the filling
pieces b. Fig. 9 represents a made-up bar connected by the through rivet a³ which
will be clearly understood upon inspection of the said figure, together with the
letters of reference marked thereon conformably to the foregoing description.
Fig. 12 shows a perforated plate and its receiving ring f
Fig. 13 a plate with glass lights therein; Fig. 14 a plate and rim with the
alternate anti-slipping lead & and wear resisting body metal al; and Fig. 15 shows
a cross section of the plate Fig. 13. the reference lettering of these figures
correspond with the foregoing description as to the surface a¹ b.
The cover plates for openings such as for hydrants, man-holes, for sewer ways,
coal holes to cellars and the like where the prepared plates have to be set into a
framing as shown in Fig. 16. The space e indicates the opening in which the
"tread" surface is to be laid. f are outside walls of angle iron and g are other
angle-iron bars bolted to f and forming a ledge to space e upon which the treads or
covers will rest as before observed the framing may be produced as a casting.
This description of the framing is intended to be by way of direction but we do not
lay claim to the matter apart from our special construction of tread or covering
surface.
It will be seen that notwithstanding the means of preparing the plates a, a¹, a²,
and of fastening the filling material b, there is maintained in the finished surface

page_text: the broad anti-slipping portions lying between the anti-wearing portions a' the
whole forming when finished a permanently combined tread or covering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
First. In the manufacture of treads or coverings for stairs floors and the like the
plate a with the dividing strips or ribs a¹, and intermediate openings a³, for the
reception of the anti-slipping filling material strips b, as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
Secondly. The combined "tread" covering or strips having the rolled plate a
the open V ribs a' and the filling pieces held by the depressed arms of the vees
a's and for the purpose herein set forth.
Thirdly. The modification of a cast plate a with ribs a³, recesses a² and
strengthening bars a³, and filling strips as herein described in reference to Figs. 5,
6, and 7 of the drawings.
Fourthly. The modification of a cast plate a with ribs a¹ and recesses a²
strengthening bars a³, gaps d, and filling strips bas herein described in reference to
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Fifthly. In treads or coverings as set forth the headed buttons studs or staples c
for holding the filling pieces bas herein described and shown by Figs. 4 and 5 of
the drawings.
Sixthly. In a tread or covering the combination of the parts a, a', and rivets a',
with spaces a² and filling b, as herein set forth and showu by Fig. 8 of the drawings.
Seventhly. The coverings of man-holes coal plates, and such like openings as and
for the purpose herein set forth and shown by the respective figures of the
accompanying drawings.
24
Dated 9th September 1891.
J. and J. MASON and W. S. CODNER,
Per Walter A. Barlow,.
46, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.