Handhole Covers in Roads and Pavements.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1887
Complete Left, 28th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1888
Handhole Covers in Roads and Pavements.
JOHN KNIGHT, 62 Marsham Street Westminster S.W. & 5 Harrow Alley Devon-
shire Square, Bishopsgate Street E.C. Builder, Plumber & General Contractor do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a metallic reversible tread for stairs, steps &c. whether of
wood iron stone concrete or of any material whatsoever. It is also intended for use
in Footways such as covering for fire hydrants covers to telegraph wires, coal plates,
side entrances to sewers or covering to any recesses formed in public & private foot-
ways, to doorsteps of shops, offices, or approaches to same or any building public or
private to railway stairs steps or approaches thereto the tread & frame to be composed
of metals or alloys of metals, advantages claimed for the invention are:-Durability,
being non-absorbing & smooth surface are a great sanitary advantage, being easy of
removal, can be removed or replaced without noise & hindrance to business or hind-
I also claim for them
rance to business & being reversible give 2 sides to wear.
perfectly sure footing either wet or dry & consider them a sure preventative against
accidents by slipping on stairs &c.
The tread for steps & stairs or manhole & handhole covers consists of a copper,
brass zinc, or iron frame, with hardened lead slabs fixed in same, the slabs to
treads &c. in one piece or divided in small panels, with copper brass zinc or iron
margins as occasion or design required, for use as doorsteps or approaches, will also
bo in similar frames with hardened leadslah & letters, referring to the trade, or
occupier or number of premises cast in same, the whole surface being smooth & flush.
They are fixed by 2 screws only which can be easily taken out, when it is the wish
to reverse them.

page_text: Handhole Covers in Roads and Pavements.
I, JOHN KNIGHT of 62 Marsham Street Westminster, Builder 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 :-
My invention chiefly relates to stair-treads and the like.
One object of my said invention is to provide a metallic reversible stair-tread which
will have a very smooth surface and great durability, will afford a secure footing and
be non-absorbent, which can be removed or replaced without noise or hindrance to
business, and which, being reversible, will afford two sides for wear. My said
invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I bave shown how my said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practico.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a step of a stair showing one form of
my improved tread.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are vertical central sections showing modifications of my
invention hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 is a section on the line x, x Figure 6 drawn to an enlarged scale showing
a further modification of my said invention.
Like letters indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.
a is a step of a stair constructed of wood, stone or other material, b is the tread
which consists preferably of a slab of hardened cast lead, c is a frame of any suitable
metal in which the hardened cast lead slab or tread b is fitted. d is a round nose to
the said tread. The hardened cast lead slab or tread b is retained in position by two
or more screws e provided with metal washers countersunk in the said slab or tread b
so as to be flush with the same when the slab or tread 6 is fixed to a stone tread, the
screws e are preferably arranged to screw into metal dowels which are secured in
suitable holes in the said stone tread by being run in with portland cement, lead or
other suitable material. For purposes of advertisement, notices, directions, or the
like, I cast metal letters g in the slab or tread bin such a manner as to be flush with
the same.
The slab or tread b is sometimes rounded off at the extremities 6' (Figure 1) so
that, when one side of the said tread has been worn away, it can be turned round to
present the other side for wear. In this case I sometimes cast in the metal letters for
advertisements or the like at both sides of the slab or tread b. When the slab or
tread b is worn out or when it is desired to alter the matter represented by the letters
cast in the said slab or tread, the said letters can be recovered by melting down the
slab or tread, and can then be again employed in a similar manner if desired.

page_text: Figure 3 shows a modification of my invention wherein the slab or tread b is
provided with a "rabbet" joint h adapted to fit in a corresponding portion i of the
frame c.
In this instance the slab or tread bis provided with a square nose d¹; when
this slab or tread is worn at the part or portion near the edge of the step it can be
turned end for end so as to bring another surface, that is to say, the inner portion of
the said slab or tread near the edge of the said step.
Figure 4 shows a further modification, in which the tread is provided with a
round nose having a separate metal frame j. When the edge of the slab or tread b
is worn the frame can be removed and fresh lead be run into the same.
Figure 5 is a modification wherein the "rabbet" joint is dispensed with, and the
slab or tread b is formed square at its extremities, in this case the said slab or troad
can also be reversed when one side is worn as hereinbefore described.
l
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the application of my improvements to a covering for a
fire-hydrant. In this case the hardened lead is run into a light metal frame c
carried in a strong frame k. The slab or tread thus formed is fitted into another
frame supported upon the usual masonry. To avoid the risk of persons slipping
upon the portions of the frames k, k' that are flush with the pavement, grooves aro
formed in the said frames and filled with hardened lead. The grooves are preferably
formed dovetail in transverse section, to ensure the retention of the lead in the same.
Although I have hereinbefore more particularly described my improvements as
applied to stair-treads and the coverings of fire-hydrants, it is obvious that they are
also applicable to covers for sower-entrances, telegraph-boxes, coal-plates, or the like,
in public footways, as well as to coverings for landings, entrance-halls, or corridors,
approaches to shops, and to other objects.
It is obvious moreover that my improved slab or tread, can be somewhat further
modified to suit stairs of different patterns, covers for various purposes, or covering
for different places, and that I can form the frames or margins or the letters herein-
before described of copper, brass, zinc, iron, or other suitable metal, or I can employ
other suitable metal or alloy in place of hardened cast lead to form the hereinbefore
described slabs or treads.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A metallic removable and reversible slab or tread consisting of lead or other
suitable metal or alloy hold or supported in a metal frame, substantially as, and for
the purposes, set forth.
Second. The combination, with a metallic removable slab or tread, of a separate
metallic nosing carried in a removable metal frame, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Third. A slab or tread having metal letters cast into the same for advertising or
other purposes, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved metallic removable and reversible slab or tread consisting
of the parts constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to
either of the forms or modifications shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated thig 28th day of April 1888
Dated this 28th day of April 1888
JOHN KNIGHT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.