Year: 1886

page_text: We, HUBERT HEDGES, Manufacturer, and ALFRED WILLIAM, BEVIS, Engineer,
both of 78 Malmesbury Road, Bow, London, 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 relates to improvements in the invention described in a previous patent
granted to the above mentioned Hubert Hedges, and dated 6th January 1880,
No 42, the object being to simplify the construction of the treads and enable the
front and back edges of each side of such treads to be placed successively in a
position to form the front top edge of the step or stair, where the greatest amount
of wear occurs, so that as one surface, becomes worn it can be replaced by a new
one by simply changing the position of the tread.
For this purpose each tread is composed of a set of blocks of wood or other
suitable material, which are secured together in the manner hereinafter described,*
so as to form a complete tread in one piece, which can be secured in position on
the riser of the steps or stairs, and when its front top edge becomes worn it can
readily be detached and its back top edge brought into the front position by
turning the tread end for end. When this second top surface becomes worn the
tread can be turned upside down and the bottom front and back edges thus being
brought on the top, they may be successively placed in position to form the front
top edge of the step or stair.
Each tread will thus be able to provide practically four distinct treading surfaces
before the blocks require renewing.
In the case of floorings or other surfaces on which the wear of the treading
surface is practically uniform 'throughout the area, the present construction will
still be advantageous as by reversing the treading surface when one side is worn,
Price 8d1

page_text: a new surface will be brought into position for wear, so that the same flooring will
provide practically two distinct treading surfaces before it requires reblocking.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a wooden staircase with our improved treads
applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 illustrates the application of our improved treads to iron staircases.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of our improved
treading surface, drawn to an enlarged scale.
A are the blocks of wood or other suitable material, which are placed side by
side in rows, the blocks in adjacent rows being preferably arranged to break joint
as shown in the plan view Fig. 2. Through the whole of the rows of blocks at
suitable distances apart, pass bolts or rods B, their ends being rivetted over on or
otherwise fastened to the nosing C at the front and back. The blocks through
which the bolts or rods B pass are bored transversely with a central hole for the
passage of same, and the whole of the blocks have a longitudinal groove cut in
each side, the groove in one side being in such a position that it opens into the
central hole bored for the bolts or rods B, above such hole, while the groove in the
other side opens into the central hole from below same. In those blocks through
which no bolt passes, the grooves above referred to in the sides, are in the same
position in relation to the height of the block, as in those through which the bolts
or rods do pass, so that when the blocks are placed in position and the bolts or
rods B passed through the rows, the grooves in the whole of the blocks will
coincide and form a series of channels transverse to and alternately above and
below the bolts or rods. Through these channels rods D of iron or other suitable
material are passed, and thus support the blocks in each row. Each two adjacent
rows of blocks are preferably arranged so that the grooves on one side thereof are
brought together, whereby one rod D will serve to support two rows of blocks as
shown.
Although it is preferable to make the longitudinal grooves to receive the rods D;
in the sides of the blocks as above described, they may be made to pass through
the body of the blocks.
In the two end rows the groove on the outer surface is preferably formed in the
middle of the height of the blocks, and the nosing is made with a rib or web C¹
to enter such groove, the bolts B passing through to the front of the nosing, where
it is rivetted over as shown in Fig. 4, or otherwise secured.
The treading surface thus formed may be secured in the position in which it is
to be used in any suitable manner.
A suitable thethod of securing a stair tread in position on a wooden staircase is
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where the ends of the tread are shown as resting on side
joists or bearers' E secured to the strings F of the staircase, to which such ends
may be screwed, while the front edge of the tread is supported by and screwed to
the top edge of the riser G. In Fig. 3 the tread is shown as applied to an iron
staircase, the front edge being screwed or bolted to an angle iron G³ secured to the
top of the riser G below it, and its back edge to an angle iron G³ secured to the
bottom of the riser G above it. It will at once be seen that in both cases
the tread can be readily detached for the purpose of turning it end for end or
reversing it, and then as easily be again secured in position.
As the blocks by shrinking would leave open spaces between the ends of the
blocks in the same row, and this might be objectionable, we prefer to make the
end of one block with a shoulder, and the end of the adjacent block in the same
row with a projecting part to fit over such shoulder, as shown at A¹ Fig. 5.
Instead of constructing the whole of the treading surface of blocks as above
described, it may be formed of such blocks combined with ordinary boards, glass,
or other suitable material,
L'

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is—
The improved mode of making reversible treading surfaces consisting in con-
structing them of blocks placed in rows side by side (preferably endways of the
grain when of wood), the whole of the rows being secured together by means of
bolts or rods passing transversely at suitable distances apart through the same, and
the blocks forming each row being supported by means of rods entering longi-
tudinal grooves formed in each block, all substantially as described and shown,
Dated thin and T... 1000