Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Wood Block and Parquet Flooring.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Wood Block and
Parquet Flooring.
I, ALFRED EDWARD GEARY, of Oakleigh, Gloucester Road, Kingston Hill, S.W.,
Manufacturer, 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 produce panels or squares, for wood block
and parquet flooring, having waterproof backings or foundations combined there-
with. The necessity for preparing a special foundation of asphalt or bitumen on
which to lay the flooring is thus obviated, and flooring composed of panels or
squares made in accordance with my invention may be laid direct in mortar or
cement in the dampest places without fear of moisture penetrating from below.
Further, I may, as hereinafter described, so construct, arrange and combine the
panels and their waterproof backings or foundations, that they may, when laid
as a flooring, be freely washed with water without fear of the floor bulging or
becoming uneven owing to swelling of the wood.
My invention will be clearly understood on referring to the annexed drawings,
in which similar letters refer to like parts in all the figures, and wherein;-
Figure 1 is a plan of the underside of a parquet flooring panel or square before
the application of the waterproof backing or foundation. Figures 2 and 3 are
sections upon the lines - and y-y Figure 1, respectively, the waterproof back-
ing or foundation being shewn in place.
Figure 4 is a plan of the underside of a panel for wood block flooring before
the application of the waterproof backing or foundation.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively sections on the lines - and y-y Figure 4,
the waterproof backing or foundation being shewn in place.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the under surface of the parquet panel or
square A, is provided with grooves in which are glued or otherwise secured
tongues c which also enter and are glued within corresponding grooves formed in
the backing or foundation blocks d, a space being left between such blocks and
the under surface of the panel proper A. The said backing or foundation blocks d
would preferably be of deal or other inexpensive wood. Melted asphalt or
bitumen is then applied in any suitable manner so as to entirely encase the backing
blocks d and fill the space between the latter and the under surface of the panel A.
It will be noted that the tongues do not extend quite to the ends of their grooves
so that when the asphalt or bitumen is applied it fills the ends of these grooves
(as shewn in Fig. 3) and prevents moisture or damp from penetrating the same.
In laying the floor the sides of the panel proper would be brushed over with
asphalt, bitumen or the like thus effectually preventing the penetration of damp
or moisture between the panels or squares.
Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a a are a series of wood blocks formed with
transverse grooves b and connected together, so as to form a panel or square A, by
the tongues c, interspaces a¹ being left between the block a. The backing or founda

page_text: tion blocks dare attached to the panel A as before described but the asphalt or
bitumen not only entirely encases the backing blocks d but also fills the inter-
spaces al of the panel blocks a as shewn clearly in Figure 5. Slightly elastic or
yielding damp proof joints between the latter are thus produced and a flooring com-
posed of panels thus constructed may be freely washed with water without fear of
bulging owing to swelling of the wood.
It is obvious that in lieu of tongue and groove connections between the panel and
the backing or foundation blocks, dowel pins or equivalent devices may be sub-
stituted without departing from my invention.
A convenient method of applying the asphalt or bitumen would be to pour a
sufficient quantity thereof when melted into a sand or other suitable mould, and
then to place the panel, with wood backing attached, in the mould until the asphalt
is set, care being taken to prevent the asphalt from running over the floor surface
of the panel. I do not however confine or limit myself to any particular method of
applying the asphalt or bitumen which may be effected in any convenient manner.
Although I have described the waterproof material as consisting of asphalt or
bitumen, any suitable bituminous composition that will set hard and is not liable
to become soft or tacky under ordinary conditions of temperature may be
employed.
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 panel or square for wood block or parquet flooring combined with a water-
proof backing or foundation consisting of wood blocks coated with asphalt.or bitu-
men or a suitable bituminous composition, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a panel or square for wood block and parquet flooring,
of a wood backing or foundation-secured thereto-by-tongue-and-groove or equivalent
connections so that a space is left between the panel and the backing, and asphalt
or bitumen or a suitable bituminous composition filling said space and encasing
the backing or foundation, substantially as described.
3. In a panel or square for wood block or parquet flooring, the combination of
a waterproof backing or foundation and slightly elastic or yielding damp proof
joints between the component blocks of the panels, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. A flooring panel or square composed of blocks having interspaces, combined
with a wood backing or foundation secured thereto and encased in asphalt or
bitumen or a suitable bituminous composition whch also enters the said inter-
spaces and forms slightly elastic or yielding damp proof joints between the panel
blocks, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. Waterproof panels or squares for wood block and parquet flooring, constructed
and arranged substantially as illustrated in the annexed drawings.
cordary του.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.