An Improved Composition for Covering the Walls and Floors of Tennis and Racquet Courts and Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 19th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Composition for Covering the Walls and Floors of
Tennis and Racquet Courts and Analogous Purposes.
I JOSEPH BICKLEY of 62 Lillie Road, West Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
-
Whereas the walls and floors of Tennis and Racquet Courts as at present plastered
frequently become useless for play owing to the water deposited from the atmosphere
running down the said walls.
Now the object of my invention is to remedy such defect by a special method of
treatment hereinafter described. As the lining or covering of the walls are required
to be of great strength and solidity, the materials must be specially prepared for it.
The sand or other sharp finty grit must be freed from pieces of wood, cont
and such like impurities and thoroughly washed and sifted and should be dry before
mixing with cement.
The Portland Cement to be used should be of the best quality and slow setting and
allowed to cool or airslack.
The walls are prepared as follows:-the joints are raked out to a uniform depth of
a quarter of an inch and kept well wetted or douched for several days before the
covering is laid on.
"
I next prepare a material herein after referred to as Glue of Portland Cement
and water, made to the consistency of cream, which is laid on the wall and well
"dubbed "into the wetted brickwork with a brush until the thickness of of an inch
is reached. On this "glue" I lay a coating or backing composed of 1 part by
measure of coarse washed flinty grit, and 1 part by measure of prepared Portland
cement, and when nearly set I score horizontally and allow about 40 hours rest; it is
then sprinkled with water, slightly at first (say for 3 days) and then increasing in
quantity for a week after which I lightly sprinkle for 2 days and then allow the
water to drain off. This treatment ensures the coating or backing "taking" the
"Glue."
Another coat of "Glue" is well dubbed in and the finishing coat, which consists of
1 part of finely washed sand and 1 part of finely sifted cement, is then carefully
applied and well faced.
After 45-50 hours interval the wall is wetted the water not being allowed to run
down.
Black Paint may then be applied at a suitable time after the finishing of the cement
work; Where it is so desired the "Black Staining" may be worked into the finishing
material in the following proportions viz. 2 parts of fine cement, 1 part of finely
washed sand, and 1 part of Black Manganese.
By this system the objectionable sweating" of the walls is entirely prevented
while a sound, strong and hard wall is ensured."
I do not confine myself to the exact proportions named neither do I confine myself
to the exact descriptions of materials as they may be very much varied to suit
circumstances.
Dated this 1 1
1000
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Composition for Covering the Walls and Floors of
Tennis and Racquet Courts and Analogous Purposes.
I JOSEPH BICKLEY of 62 Lillie Road West Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Whereas the walls and floors of Tennis and Racquet Courts, as at present plastered,
frequently become useless for play, owing to the water deposited from the atmosphere
running down the same.
Now the object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of the
walls and floors of Tennis and Racquet Courts and analogous structures, for the
purpose of remedying the above mentioned defect.
My improvements relate partly to the selection of materials, and partly to the
method of applying such materials to the purposes aforesaid.
As the lining or covering of the walls &c. is required to be of great strength and
solidity, the materials must be specially prepared. The sand, or other sharp flinty
grit, must be freed from pieces of wood, coal, and such like impurities, and thoroughly
washed and sifted, and should be perfectly dry before mixing with cement.
The portland cement to be used should be of the best quality and slow setting, and
allowed to cool or air-slack.
The walls are prepared as follows; The joints are raked out to a uniform depth of
a quarter of an inch, and kept well wetted or douched for several days before the
covering is laid on.
I next prepare a material, hereinafter referred to as "Glue," consisting of portland
cement and water, mixed to the consistency of cream. This is laid on the wall and
well "dubbed" into the wetted brickwork with a brush until the thickness of one
eighth of an inch is reached. On this glue I lay a coating or backing composed of
one part by measure of coarse washed flinty grit, and one part by measure of prepared
portland cement, and when nearly set, I score horizontally and allow about 40 hours
rest. It is then sprinkled with water, slightly at first, (say for three days) and then
increasing in quantity for a week, after which I lightly sprinkle for two days, and
then allow the water to drain away. This treatment ensures the coating or backing
taking" the "glue."
:
Another coat of "glue" is well dubbed in, and the finishing coat which consists of
one part of finely washed sand, and one part of finely sifted cement, is then carefully
applied and well faced. After from 45 to 50 hours' interval the wall is again wetted,
the water not being allowed to run down.
Black paint may then be applied at a suitable time after the finishing of the cement
work. When the use of paint is undesirable "Black staining" may be worked into
the finishing material, such staining consisting of two parts of fine cement, one part
of finely washed sand, and one part of black manganese.
By the above described method of covering walls the objectionable "sweating" of
the walls is entirely prevented, while a sound, strong, and hard wall is ensured.
I do not confine myself to the materials, or to the proportions of material herein
before mentioned, as both may be very much varied to suit the description of wall or
floor or other structure to which my invention may be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
The manufacture and use of the improved composition, and the improved method of
applying the same to the covering of walls and floors of Tennis and Racquet Courts
and analogous structures, substantially as hereinbefore described.
1000
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.