Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Steps, Gratings, and the like, With or Without Devices for Advertising, Lighting, or Ventilation.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Steps, Gratings, and the
like, With or Without Devices for Advertising, Lighting, or
Ventilation.
FREDERICK FITTON 41 Lord Street, Rochdale in the County of Lancaster,
Ventilating Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A safety stair step and street grate tread applicable to lighting ventilation
advertising and non-slipping purposes.
The object of the present application is to protect an original method of making
the face or tread of stairs or steps of any building absolutely safe and to prevent
any slipping of the feet by the persons who use them.
The method consists in moulding a block of lead exactly the length and breadth
of any or all stairs and steps and whilst the lead is in a molten or liquid state, to
insert therein numerous short lengths of iron, brass or steel tubes from long and
upwards and from one-eighth of an inch diameter and upwards. These tubes are
placed "end up" in the molten lead, so as to allow one end (or both) to fit level
with one or both sides of the block. These tubes previous to being placed in the
molten lead are covered with a very thin film of tin so as to make them adhere
strongly to the lead. Previous to the tubes receiving the thin coating of tin and
also before being placed in the liquid or molten lead a rough or coarse screw thread
is cut upon them to the full length of each one, for the purpose of giving it a firm
hold or grip of the solid lead when it cools to a solid state. Each tube is cut the
same length by specially prepared tools and machinery made for the purpose. The
lead and tubes are heated together to an intense heat and are then allowed to cool
gradually together, the lead as it cools gripping the tubes and so making both in
one solid rigid block, with an exactly even surface. The ends of the tubes being
rather thin in section sinks into the boot or shoe sole of the person ascending or
descending the stairs very slightly but so far as to reduce the risk of the foot
slipping to a minimum. The surrounding lead gives the tubes a thoroughly rigid
and upright position both wearing down in a level plane together.
A brass plate fixed on the front face of the stair and parallel to the horizontal
face of the stair, forms an ornamental nosing to the tread and front face of the
stair. This nosing covers the junction is made by the top face of the stair and the
under face of the tread.
The tubes can be so arranged in the tread to form ornamental designs, letters,
names, trade-marks, monograms or any form of trade advertisement. This is done
by making the section of tubes either of brass or white metal, and forming them
into ornamental designs or when necessity requires brass or white metal block
letters or earthenware block letters and designs either glazed or unglazed can
be inserted in the molten lead and all allowed to cool down together in one
rigid mass.
These grates when used for lighting purposes have a "bulls eye" or prismatic
piece of glass placed in the centre when round grates are used, or at different
distances apart when any other form of grate is used. These treads, and grates
and ventilators may be made in all conceivable shapes such as square, round oblong,
semi-circular, conic or any form giving a plane surface, and of all sizes.
Where necessary the tubes in the lead can be left open from end to end, and so
form a tube ventilator for carrying off heated vitiated or noxious fumes from
cellars, basements, sub-ways and other low lying rooms requiring a strong, grate,
light, and ventilation.

page_text: The tread as one block may be either fixed in the frame of the stairway per-
manently to form the stair tread or it may be simply laid flat either in one block or
in the form of tiles or smaller blocks to cover the stair on the face of the existing
stair without fixing to the stair frame or tread.
I wish to include in this application the right and protection of applying this
foot tread and grating, for advertisement purposes such as the making of
ornamental letters, designs, trade-marks, words, monograms, or the like by the
arranging of the tubes to meet these purposes, or by inserting in the lead any
heavy or light brass moulded, or white metal, plain or fluted, steel letters, or
.earthenware, terra-cotta and the like letters to form initials, monograms, designs,
trade-marks and the like, and surrounding these with the ordinary tubes of the
tread.
Dated this Third day of March 1892.
FREDERICK FITTON,
41, Lord Street, Rochdale, Ventilating Engineer...
I
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Steps, Gratings, and the
like, With or Without Devices for Advertising, Lighting, or
Ventilation..
I, FREDERICK FITTON, of 41 Lord Street, Rochdale in the County of
Lancaster, Ventilating Engineer, 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 has reference to improvements in treads for stairs, steps, gratings
and the like with or without devices for advertising lighting ventilation; also for
non-slipping purposes.
The dangers which surround ordinary wood stone or iron stairs or steps are
incalculable owing to the fact that after a short period from the commencement of
the time when the stairs come into use the faces and edges of the stairs or steps
become thoroughly smooth some wearing almost as slippery as glass, this drawback
increases the risk of slipping to the persons using the stairs and steps and will not
allow such person or persons to secure a firm foothold when ascending, standing
upon, or ascending such stairs or steps, this wearing tendency and the risk of
slipping at the same time is further increased by the stairs or steps assuming an
unevenly worn surface, which again has a tendency to tilt the foot on either side.
My invention is adapted to be affixed to the floors of passages or places used for
pedestrian traffic, which invention I term a safety stair or street grate tread.
1
This invention consists of the moulding of a block or piece of lead which may be
of any suitable form or of any suitable dimensions according to the requirements
of the stair or place where the tread may may be required to be affixed, or my
said invention may be made in separate parts or tablets, which tablets may be of
rectangular, or other suitable form, which form admits of great variety, in which
blocks, tiles, or tablets as the case may be, I cast or mould'therewith circular metal
pieces or rings, letters, emblems etc., which metal pieces may be utilised in some
cases so as to serve a dual purpose, viz. to ensure durability. of the tread and at the
same time to serve for advertising purposes.
The insertion of the rings before named are provided in order to relieve the
tread-partially from pressure when trod upon, as the said pieces obviate the flat-
tening or the lateral expansion of the tread, as the lead being of a yielding nature,
is liable. to such expansion due. to such causes, and when letters, emblems, or
characteristic pieces are employed, these pieces will manifestly answer the same
purpose, also may be used with effect for advertising purposes, also the rings may
be adapted in such a manner as to be utilised for ventilating or lighting purposesit

page_text: carried into effect, for this purpose I shall have reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout
the figures therein shewn.
DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. represents an elevation of stairs shewing the application of my invention.
Fig. 2. is a plan shewing separate pieces or tablets placed in position and
illustrating the application of my invention for advertising, ventilating, and lighting
purposes.
Figs. 3. 4. 5 are sectional views of the tablets shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6. is a view of my invention cast in one piece or block.
Fig. 7. is a view shewing my invention affixed in position on a stone step or
surface.
Fig. 8. is a section of a tablet shewing the position of ring therein when not
required for ventilating or lighting purposes.
Fig. 9. is a sectional view of a mould in which my tread is cast or moulded.
I may mould or form my tread in block form as shewn in Fig. 6. in a suitable
mould or vessel a. Fig. 9. of any convenient depth according to the thickness of
the tread required to be moulded, provided with division pieces b. the lead a being
run therein in a molten state, consequently the interstices or spaces c. are formed
on the block d. I place in each or any of the wells e. of the mould a., a circular
piece of galvanised or tinned metal, and preferably provided with a screw thread
or roughened surface see Fig. 7. in order that the said piece may have a firm hold
of the lead when cast therewith, or I may place therein an alphabetical letter,
emblem, or characteristic piece which may be used for advertising purposes
see Fig. 2. and in each or any of the wells e. I provide studs or pieces g. which are
provided for the purpose of forming an aperture 4. in the tablet see Fig. 8. for the
admission of or insertion of a screw i. for the purpose of affixing the tread in position.
According to a modification I may form my invention in separate pieces or
tablets, p. see Figs. 3. 4. 5 and 8. which may each be formed in a separate well
instead of being formed in one block as shewn in Fig. 6. such well being of any
desired form according to the form of tablet required, or the block may be cut into
parts and tablets thus formed therefrom.
When the molten lead is passed into the mould as before named it is found
necessary to apply heat thereto, which I apply as in the drawings hereunto
annexed, by means of gas jets a¹ see Fig. 9., or any other suitable means may be
employed, in order to ensure the complete adherence or coagulation of the molten
metal with the rings or pieces f. because it is found in practice that if molten
metal be run into the moulds without the application of heat, the adherence would
not be complete, and during the period of running the metal into the mould 1
apply to the rings or pieces suitable weights . by which means the said pieces f.
may be retained, and held down in the mould during the running in of the metal,
as the metal being heavier than the said pieces f. they would rise or float on the
metal were not the said pieces weighted, consequently the pieces become by this
means cast with and form part of the tread.
In order to further ensure liquefaction or mobility of the, molten metal I create
a dux by the addition thereto of resin more or less as may be required, thus the
coagulation or adherence of the metal with the pieces is further ensured.
The employment of the rings, letters, emblems, etc. hereinbefore referred to, is
the essential feature of this my invention, as by the combination of the said pieces
with the tablets or tread the said tread is partially relieved from pressure when
trod upon, the weight being borne by the piece cast therewith, thus obviating the
flattening of the tread as would be the case did not the ring, letter, or emblem form
part of the tread in one homogeneous whole as is the case in this invention, thus
the tread wears uniformly whilst in use, and the letters, characteristic pieces or
devices etc., present a bright surface as the tread is worn, accordingly as the
.

page_text: pieces etc. are of brass, steel, or other bright metal or material, thus the said
pieces become visible to the pedestrian, and consequently serve for advertising
purposes.
According to another modification of my invention as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
the said ring or circular piece f. may be provided with a transparent substance such
as glass, n. and o. of semicircular, angular, prismatic or other form, but being level
at its upper part, or the said part being in the plane of the tread, by this arrange-
ment light may be admitted to a basement, area, or space below the part where the
tread is fixed.
According to another modification of my invention the circular pieces or rings
may be so arranged as to form an opening or aperture m. which may be utilised
for ventilating purposes as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
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.
CLAIMS.
In a tread the forming of the tread from lead or other soft metal in block or
tablet form and combining therewith letters, glass, or characteristic pieces as and
for the purposes herein fully set forth and described.
2. In a tread composed of lead or other soft metal in block or tablet form the
combination therewith of circular metal pieces or rings whereby the tread when
trod upon may be to some extent relieved from pressure and wear uniformly
substantially as and for the purposes herein fully set forth and described.
Dated this 11th law of 1000
FREDERICK FITTON.
J. H. Butterworth,
Rochdale, for the Applicant.
FREDERICK FITTON.
J. H. Butterworth,
Rochdale, for the Applicant.