IMPROVED MODE OF FIXING FLOORING
Year: 1883

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Howard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1883.
GEORGE HOWARD of Oaklands, Cricklewood, in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVED MODE OF FIXING FLOORING"
"AN
My Invention relates to an improved method of fixing flooring to joists or other
supports whereby labor is economised in laying, fixing, and finishing, nail holes on
the surface are avoided, all open joints due to shrinkage may be closed at any
subsequent time without taking up the flooring, and warping is prevented.
My Invention consists in fixing the flooring to the joists or sub-floor by the
interposition of dovetailed tongues or keys cut into lengths and which are
themselves secured to the joists or sub-floor and are received in corresponding
dovetailed grooves cut in the underside of the flooring.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
it in the accompanying drawings and will proceed to describe it more fully with
reference thereto. Figure 1 is a plan, and Figures 2 and 3 are sections on
lines 1-1 and 2-2 respectively, of a piece of flooring laid according to my
Invention.
4
A are the joists, B is the flooring, and C are the dovetailed tongues which unite
the two. According to my Invention I cut dovetailed grooves in the underside of
the flooring B at intervals corresponding to the distances apart of the joists or
other suitable intervals, and I prepare dovetailed tongues C to fit the same and of
any desired length. It is preferred for convenience of laying and fixing boards to
cut the tongues into lengths corresponding to the width of the boards, but any
other suitable length will do. The ends of these lengths may be cut square or
bevelled or otherwise shaped so as to butt, lap, or be otherwise jointed together.
They are shown as lap-jointed.
I commence laying the floor by inserting these tongues partly in the grooves of
the first board, allowing the tongues to project from the edge of the board and

page_text: secure these projecting ends of the tongues to the joists, sub-floor, or other support
preferably by nails or screws. I then slide the board along on the tongues towards
or over their projecting ends until the other ends of the tongues project at the
I then slide the
other side of the board, which ends I secure in like manner.
board back to its original position. The length or the position of the tongues of
the first board laid should be such, relatively to the width of the board, that the
joints of the tongues will not coincide exactly with the joints of the boards so that
when the first board has been thus laid and pushed home, the ends of the tongues
will project into the grooves of the next board to be laid. The next board with its
tongues in its grooves is now placed in position and the tongues secured first at one
end and then at the other end by sliding the board on them as before described and
as shown at B¹ in Figures 1 and 2, and the board is then driven close home against
the previous one, and so on for the successive boards until the whole floor is laid,
with the exception of the last board which may be nailed or screwed in the ordinary
way to facilitate removal for the purpose of enabling the boards to be driven up
close at any subsequent time.
The dovetailed tongues applied as above described hold the boards firmly down
upon the joists and act as stiffening keys to prevent warping of the boards.
I would have it understood that although I have described the Invention as
applied to securing boards, I do not limit myself in this respect as the Invention
may be employed for securing pieces of flooring of any size.
What I Claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is--
The mode of fixing flooring by the employment of dovetailed tongues or keys
fitting grooves in the underside of the boards and secured, in lengths, to the joists
or sub-floor, substantially as herein shown and described.
In Witness whereof I the said George Howard have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of December, A.D. 1883.
CRO TOWARD
Gal