An Improved Gauge or Square for Use in Constructing Stairs.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Gauge or Square for Use in Constructing Stairs.
1, CYRENUS GRANT VAN ALSTINE of 606 Rocton Avenue, Rockford,
Illinois, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby stairs may be
constructed perfectly true.
The invention comprises a rigid right-angle-square, having each of its arms
slotted. A similar square is provided, but its arms are adjustable to any angle and
turn at their meeting-point around a pivot-pin. Set-screws are passed through the
slots in the arms of the square rendering said squares adjustable on a straight
slotted bar.
When in use, the straight bar is laid upon the edge of the side-piece of the stair-
way and the squares are adjusted thereon. The squares indicate the position
where the ends of the boards or stones forming the stairs are to be secured.
Dated this 21st day of June 1893.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Gauge or Square for Use in Constructing Stairs.
I, CYRENUS GRANT VAN ALSTINE, 606 Rocton Avenue Rockford, Illinois,
U.S.A., Inventor, 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 :—
The object of this invention is to construct a square and gauge for use in
constructing stairs.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 illustrates the application of my improved square and gauge to the upper
side of the string.
Fig. 2 is an illustration of its application to the lower side of the string.
Fig. 3 shows its application to the upper side of a string in which the space for
the step is of a wedging form.
Fig. 4 is an isometrical representation of the cross bar employed to connect the
right angle bars.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line a in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line b, Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line c, Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line d, Fig. 1.
The cross bar 1, is of rectangular form having vertical slots 2, and horizontal
slots 3, extending inward some distance from its ends.
The rigid right angled bar is composed of two like arms 4, provided with
lengthwise slots 5, extending entirely through the material and its outer faces 6,
being enlarged.

page_text: Both faces of the arms are provided with graduations 7.
The other right angled bar is composed of arms 8, pivoted together by means of
a clamping screw 9, and thumb nut 10, each counter-sunk into the arms.
The arms at their junction are halved and a lap joint is formed; these are
provided with lengthwise slots 11.
In order to connect the right angled bars to the cross bar the arms of the bars
are inserted through the horizontal slots 3, of the cross bar and screws 12, are
passed through the vertical slots 2, of the cross bar and the slots of the arme, and
thumb nuts 13, clasp the parts together, and by means of the various slots the arms
of the bars can be adjusted in various positions.
I have constructed a gauge for indicating the centre of the nose of the step which
consists of a base 14, provided with a lengthwise slot 15 and an uprising socket
portion 16. The ends of this socket are enlarged and the shaft 17, of the pointer 18,
A spiral
extends upward through the socket and has a cap 19, on its upper end.
spring 20, encircles the upper end of the shank and is located in the upper enlarged
recess of the socket, the tendency of which is to hold the pointer elevated, but
permit it to be depressed when required. This gauge is connected to the arms 4,
by a screw 21, whose head is flat and lies within the countersink of the arms and is
flush therewith. A thumb nut 22, clamps the gauge in position.
In laying out stair work I will describe the method employed in connection with
the top of the string. I draw a line 23, in the lengthwise direction of the string at
the point of the junction of the top of the step and outer face of the rise. I then
measure on the edge 24, of the arms of the bar 4, the distance of the rise from the
top of the next step, and on the opposite arm the width of the step less the rise, and
firmly clasp this bar to the cross bar. I next locate the arm 8, of the other bar the
proper distance from the rigid bar so that the space between their meeting faces
will equal the thickness of the riser and of the step respectively. Said arms are
then clamped to the cross bar. The gauge bar is clamped to the lower arm of the
rigid bar.
The device thus adjusted is placed in position so that the cross bar will
lie in contact with the upper face of the string as shown at Fig. 1, and connecting
it near the end of the string the inner faces of the arms are traced with a knife or
pencil which will form the space to be occupied by one riser and one step.
The nose is formed by depressing the shank 17, which will leave an imprint in
the wood which will be the center of the nose.
The device is moved along the string until the inner edge 24, of the arm 4, of
the riser, crosses the top of the step at its intersection with the line 23 when the
inner faces of their arms are again traced and a point for a new nose is formed.
This is repeated for each combination of step & riser.
In stair building some builders prefer to drive a wedge under the step in order
that it may be forced up against its seat.
I make the wedge opening by loosening the thumb screw 10, and lower the lower
arm until the required bevel is acquired as shown at Fig. 3.
In cutting out the groove for the step in this instance I extend the lines of the
step to the rear of the string in order that the wedge may be driven in place under
the step as shown on dotted lines Fig. 3.
At Fig. 2, I have shown the device as it is used in connection with the underside
of the string and in such case the rigid bar is placed on the outside in order that its
inner edge will form the upper face of the step and outer face of the riser at right
angles to each other. In order to form the point for the nose in this instance I
clasp the gauge to the arms 4, by a thumb screw 25, the point of the gauge
extending through circular opening 26 in the arms, said opening being large
enough to allow sufficient adjustment of the pointer to bring it in proper
position.
I work from line 27, which is the inner junction of the step and riser. Both sides
of both arms of the rigid bar are made alike so that it may be reversed to lay out a
right and left hand string.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
―
1. A square for stair work comprising a rigid right angle bar, an angled bar
adjustable at its angle and a cross bar for holding the right angle bars in
position.
2. A square for stair work comprising a rigid right angled bar, an angle bar
adjustable at its angle and a cross bar for holding the right angled bars in position,
said cross bar provided with slots arranged at right angles to each other.
Dated this 21st day of March 1894.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.