An Improved Mode of Preparing, Fitting, and Laying, Blocks, for Floors, Walls, or Ceilings, of Wood or other Material.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Preparing, Fitting, and Laying, Blocks, for
Floors, Walls, or Ceilings, of Wood or other Material.
I, HENRY HUMPHRIES CRIBB, of the firm of Marsh, Jones, and Cribb, of
Boar Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, Cabinet Makers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which refers to an improved method of treating the abutting
edges of the blocks which are to be joined, has for its object the keying of the
blocks one to another in such a way that they are drawn and held tightly together
in each direction, whilst the outer surface (and also the inner if required) of the
various blocks is so drawn and held by the keys as to cause all to stand truly
together.
I accomplish my object as follows:-I cut, cast, or otherwise prepare, dovetailed
grooves in the sides of the blocks, arranging the said grooves at an equal distance
below the surface which has afterwards to be brought into true line.
I also prepare double headed keys suitable for slipping (end wise) into the double
dovetailed grooves which present themselves when the sides of two blocks are
brought together. These keys require to be cut to lengths such as suit the pattern
or arrangement of the blocks.
The pattern must lend itself to the introduction of these keys, which I introduce,
in each direction, at the open sides of the blocks, whilst the floor, wall, or ceiling is
being laid.
Simple arrangements of blocks, such as rectangular ones, may thus be quadruplely
locked to the four nighbouring blocks.
In some designs, which will not permit long or continuous lengths of keys to be
introduced, short keys may be inserted, and, between key and key, lesser blocks
may be held, in a dovetailed embrace, between the larger pieces through which the
keys run.
The keys may be of metal, wood, or other suitable material. A thin key, such
as a metal one, leaves more wearing surface for flooring, and for that reason may,
in some cases, be preferable.
The inner portions of the blocks may be treated on any plan thought desirable
for keeping them close against their supports, be the same, floors, walls, or ceilings.
In the case of a ceiling or the like the keys may be fastened, at suitable distances,
up to the supports.
Dated this 1st day of December 1891
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Preparing, Fitting, and Laying, Blocks, for
Floors, Walls, or Ceilings, of Wood or other Material.
I, HENRY HUMPHRIES CRIBB, of the firm of Marsh, Jones, and Cribb, of Boar
Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, Cabinet Makers, 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 invention, which refers to an improved method of treating the abutting

page_text: edges of the blocks which are to be joined, has for its object the Keying of the
blocks one to another in such a way that they are drawn and held tightly together
in each direction, whilst the outer surface (and also the inner if required) of the
various blocks is so drawn and held by the keys as to cause all to stand truly
together.
In order to fully explain my invention I have annexed a drawing on which
Figs. 1 & 2 are vertical cross-sections through the dovetails;
Figs. 3, 4, 5 & 6 are plans showing both the blocks and keys; and
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section on the line a, b, in Fig. 5.
The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.
I accomplish my object as follows:-I cut, cast, or otherwise prepare, dovetailed
grooves A in the sides of the blocks B, B, arranging the said grooves at an equal
distance below the surface (which has afterwards to be brought into truc fine.
These grooves run through from end to end.
I also prepare double headed keys A¹ suitable for slipping (endwise) into the
double dovetailed grooves which present themselves when the sides of two blocks
are brought together, as shown in Fig. 1. These keys require to be cut to lengths
such as suit the pattern or arrangements of the blocks; it being a special feature
of the invention to make a key pass through two (or more) blocks so as to cause
all to stand truly together, as before mentioned.
The pattern must lend itself to the introduction of these keys, which I introduce,
in each, or any, direction, at the open sides of the blocks, whilst the floor, wall, or
ceiling is being laid.
Simple arrangements of blocks, such as rectangular ones, may thus be-at
least quadruplely locked to the four neighbouring blocks. Fig. 3 shows a block B
interlocked with six neighbouring blocks B' to 13°. Fig. 4 shows how the keys
Inay run through a block B so as to interlock with eight neighbouring blocks, B¹
to B, the smaller squares are however only quadruplely locked.
In some designs, which will not permit long or continuous lengths of keys to be
introduced, short keys may be inserted, and, between key and key, lesser blocks
may be held, in a dovetailed or other suitable embrace, between the larger pieces
through which the keys run. This is shown in Fig. 5, where Fig. 5 shows a
block B that may be firmly held by the draw of the keys in the neighbouring
blocks B. Even in such a design as that in Fig. 5, "through" keys could be
passed through two blocks if it were considered worth while making the smaller
squares in halves, as shown specially in two places in Fig. 5 with through
keys A¹, A¹
Fig. 6 shows how by causing the keys to break joint with one another a
number of through keys A' A' may be arranged to draw together, and keep true,
numbers of blocks, even when they take a triangular shape.
The keys may be of metal, wood, or other suitable material. A thin, key, such.
as a metal one, as shown in Fig. 2, leaves more wearing surface for flooring, and
for that reason may, in some cases, be preferable.
The inner portions D of the blocks may be treated on any plan thought
desirable for keeping them close against their supports, be the same, floors, walls,
or ceilings.
In the case of a ceiling, or the like, the keys may be fastened, at suitable
distances, up to the supports.
Floors, etc. suitably laid, may of course be taken from together by drawing out
the keys, and thus work may be fully prepared in the workshop previous to its
being relaid at its destination, (and even then again taken up if desired for removal
elsewhere).
Numberless designs, of course, may be arranged; those shown are only samples.
For explanatory purposes the keys are not shown touching one another. but
in practice they would be the better for so doing.
4
5

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) The improved mode of preparing, fitting, and laying blocks for floors, walls,
or ceilings, substantially as described herein and shown on the drawing.
(2) The mode of preparing, fitting, and laying blocks, whereby a double-dove-
tailed-key runs through dovetails formed in four (or more) neighbouring blocks,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
(3) The mode of holding an intermediate block in the jaws of neighbouring
blocks drawn together by double dovetailed keys, substantially as described herein
and shown in Fig. 5 and 54.
Dated this 21st dow
1000
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.