IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COVERING TREADS OF STEPS OR STAIRS WITH THE RISERS, WHERE NECESSARY, AND ALSO FLOORINGS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Bird Stewart, of 20, Olarance Road,
Bow, E., in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COVERING TREADS OF STEPS OR STAIRS
WITH THE RISERS, WHERE NECESSARY, AND ALSO FLOORINGS."
Sealed the 13th June 1873, and dated the 19th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Bird Stewart
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th December 1872.
I, ROBERT BIRD STEWART, of 20, Clarance Road, Bow, E., in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COVERING TREADS OF STEPS
OR STAIRS WITH THE RISERS, WHERE NECESSARY, AND ALSO FLOORINGS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the method of
covering the tread of stairs or steps and also flooring with blocks of wood,
endways of the grain upwards, and in the case of said stairs or steps a

page_text: covering for the risers, where necessary, in so fixing the same that a close
and an even surface may be presented, or an open and ornamental one if
desired, which together with the great lightness of the materials used
renders this mode of covering generally applicable to all treads of stairs
or steps and floorings new and old.
According to this Invention in the method of fixing where an uneven
surface is presented I use what I call a tray, namely, boards or
boarding of necessary thickness and of the size needed, but where this is
not required I place the blocks on the original bearings; they may vary
in length, width, and depth according to the size required, and from
both sides of the same I cut off in width any thickness necessary for the
purpose till within from the eigth of an inch & upward, thus leaving
a shoulder on the sides of each block, and when the blocks are placed
side by side an open groove is formed from the surface between them
down to the shoulders of the same; I then place in the grooves strips of
wood (metal might be used) the way of the grain and even with the'
surface of the blocks, but below the surface if desired, and reaching down
to the shoulders of the same. When I intend the blocks to be
reversable for the purpose of double wear I cut off from both surfaces
leaving the shoulder towards the centre on either side, and the strips of
wood are then placed above and below the same; in either case I then
nail or screw down the strips of wood to the tray, tread, step, or flooring
on which the blocks have been placed, and thus the blocks are securely
fastened in their position and a compact, close, and even surface is
presented, as easily cleansed and as sightly as any ordinary staircase or
flooring, but infinitely more durable. In the case of treads of stairs and
steps the nosing for the same may be cither in metal or wood and where
necessary may run down to the next tread below by which it becomes
a covering for the riser, and is thus made to form at once a front to the
one and a back security to the other tread. or to the strips of wood
running across them, beneath which they can then be fastened and so
avoiding the necesity of their being secured in any other way. This riser
may be also part metal and part wood; when desired for ornamental or
other purposes the strips of wood (or metal if used) running between the
blocks may be sunk below the surface of the same, and the blocks may
have grooves running across them, they may be diagonal or otherwise.
Where but a part of a tread or step is to be covered the remainder may
or may not be made flush with the surface of the blocks with wood or

page_text: any other material. As a modification of this mode of fixing blocks
singly, shouldered or unshouldered, by means of nails or screws upon
the tray, tread, step, or flooring I also name.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Bird Stewart in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BIRD STEWART, of 20, Clarence Road, Bow, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Robert Bird Stewart, Her special licence that I, the
said Robert Bird Stewart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert Bird Stewart, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF COVERING TREADS OF STEPS OR STAIRS WITH THE RISERS,
WHERE NECESSARY, AND ALSO FLOORINGS, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Bird Stewart, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Bird Stewart, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in the method of
covering the treads of stairs or steps and also flooring with blocks of
wood, endways with the grain upwards, and in the case of said stairs or
steps a covering for the risers, where necessary, in so fixing the same that
a close and an even surface may be presented or an open and ornamental
one if desired, which together with the great litreness of the materials
used renders this mode of covering generally applicable to all treads of
stairs or steps and floorings new or old.
According to this Invention in the method of fixing where an uneven
surface is presented I use what I call a tray, namely, boards or
boarding of necessary thickness and of the sizes needed, but where this is
not required I place the blocks on the original bearings, they may vary
in length, width, and depth, according to the sizes required, and from
both sides of the same I cut off in width any thickness necessary for the
purpose till within from the eighth of an inch upwards, thus leaving a
shoulder on the sides of each block, and when the blocks are placed side
by side an open groove is formed from the surface between them down
to the shoulders of the same; I then place in the groove strips of wood
(metal might be used) the way of the grain and even with the surface
of the blocks, but below the surface if desired, and reaching down to the
shoulder of the same. When I intend the blocks to be reversible for the
purpose of double wear I cut off from both surfaces leaving the shoulder
towards the centre on either side, and the strips of wood are then placed
above and below the same; in either case I then nail or screw down the
strips of wood to the tray, tread, step, or flooring on which the blocks.
have been placed, and thus the blocks are securely fastened in their'
position, and a compact, close, and even surface is presented, as casily
cleansed and as sightly as any ordinary staircase or flooring, but
infinitely more durable. In the case of treads of stairs and steps the
nosing of the same may be either in metal or wood, and when necessary
may run down to the next tread below, by which it becomes a covering
for the riser, and is thus made to form at once a front to the one and a
back security to the other tread or to the strips of wood running across
them, beneath which they can then be fastened and so avoiding the
necessity of there being secured in any other way. This riser may be
part metal, part wood, where desired for ornamental or other purposes,
the strips of wood (or inetal if used) running between the blocks may be
sunk below the surface of the same, and the blocks may have grooves

page_text: running across them; they may be diagonal or otherwise. When but a
part of a tread or step is to be covered the remainder may or may not
be made flush with the surface of the blocks, with wood or any other
material, and as a modification of this mode of fixing blocks singly
shouldered or unshouldered by means of nails or screws upon the tray,
tread, step, or flooring I also name.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Bird Stewart have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
ROBERT BIRD STEWART. (L.S.)