IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEPS OF FLIGHTS OF STAIRS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Doulton of Lambeth in the County of Surrey,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEPS
OF FLIGHTS OF STAIRS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Doulton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1882.
"
HENRY DOULTON of Lambeth in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEPS OF FLIGHTS OF STAIRS
Heretofore in some cases the steps of flights of stairs have been formed of terra-
cotta but the treads of such steps have been found to wear rapidly. According
to my Invention I provide such steps with a tread of hard vitrified stoneware
or other substance in the way shewn in the Drawing hereunto annexed. The
drawing shews a cross section of the terra cotta step and of one of a number of
hard stoneware treads which are secured to its upper surface.
A is the terra-cotta block forming the step, B is the hard stoneware tread.
The upper surface of the step A is as shewn formed with a recess at the front for
the hard tread piece to lie in so that the top of the tread may be level with the
remainder of the top of the step.
The front end of the tread piece is made to somewhat overlap the front of
the step the back end of the tread piece is made with a projecting dowel
to enter an under cut recess. On the underside of the tread piece there is also
a projection which is received into a recess of somewhat greater length in
the step.
The hard vitrified treads are made a few inches in width and are laid one
by one along the front of the step. A thin layer of cement is first applied over
the surface to which the hard tread is to be secured-the tread is then laid in its
place and pushed backwards so that the dowel at its back end passes into the
corresponding under cut recess in the step. When the tread has been firmly and
evenly bedded the cement filling the space between the projection on the underside
of the tread piece and the recess in which it lies keeps the tread from moving
forwards and getting out of its place. In this way the treads are securely held
without any screws or such like fastenings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Doulton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May
1883.
HENRY DOULTON of Lambeth in the County of Surrey
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEPS OF FLIGHTS OF STAIRS 39
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Heretofore in some cases the steps of flights of stairs have been formed of terra-
cotta but the treads of such steps have been found to wear rapidly. According
to my Invention I provide such steps with a tread of hard vitrified stoneware
or other substance in the way shewn in the drawing hereunto annexed. The
drawing at Figure 1 shews a cross section of the terra-cotta step and of one of a
number of hard stoneware treads which are secured to its upper surface. Figure 2
is a perspective view of one of the steps.
A is the terra-cotta block forming the step, B is the hard stoneware tread. The
upper surface of the step A is as shewn formed with a recess at the front for the
hard tread-piece to lie in so that the top of the tread may be level with the
remainder of the top of the step.
The front end of the tread-piece is made to somewhat overlap the front of the
step the back end of the tread-piece is made with a projecting dowel to enter an
undercut recess. On the underside of the tread piece there is also a projection
which is received into a recess of somewhat greater length in the step.
The hard vitrified treads are made a few inches in width and are laid one by
one along the front of the step. A thin layer of cement is first applied over the
surface to which the hard tread is to be secured-the tread is then laid in its place
and pushed backwards so that the dowel at its back end passes into the corre-
sponding undercut recess in the step. When the tread has been firmly and evenly
bedded the cement filling the space between the projection on the underside of
the tread-piece and the recess in which it lies keeps the tread from moving forwards
and getting out of its place. In this way the treads are securely held without any
screws or such like fastenings.
What I claim is the combination of terra-cotta step blocks and treads of a hard
vitrified ware or material substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Doulton have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three."
HENRY DOULTON (L.S.)