AN IMPROVED METHOD AND MEANS OF COVERING STAIRS WITH CARPET OR TORTIVE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hawgood, of Vine House, Vineyard, Richmond,
Surrey, House Furnisher, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND
MEANS OF COVERING STAIRS WITH CARPET OR
TORTIVE"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hawgood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1882,
HENRY HAWGOOD, of Vine House, Vineyard, Richmond Surrey, House Furnisher
AN IMPROVED METHOD AND MEANS OF COVERING STAIRS WITH CARPET OR THE
LIKE
"
My invention relates to an improved method of covering stairs with carpet or
the like and means or apparatus to be used in connection therewith. Heretofor
stairs have been covered by a continuous or practically continuous length of carpet
or the like which is held in position by stair rods passing through eyes attached to
the stairs when it is required to take up such carpet in order to allow the same to
be beaten or to enable the stairs to be cleansed or for other purposes.
It is necessary to remove these rods and in cases where tacks are employed in
addition to the rods for holding down such carpet or the like, these tacks must be
removed also and fresh tacks again used when the carpet is to be replaced.
Moreover the ordinary method of covering stairs is far from satisfactory from a
sanitary point of view as it is impossible to remove the accumulation of dust and
dirt from the stairs without first taking up the whole length or strip of carpet
therefrom. By my invention, however, obviate these defects and provide for the
ready cleansing or sweeping of the stairs without any inconveniences attending the
use of stair carpets laid as at present.
In carrying my invention into practise I employ in connection with the tread
of each stair a separate piece of carpet or other material. This material is secured
to a frame (preferably of metal) which is adapted to be hinged to brackets or ears
arranged beneath the nosing of each stair. This frame may be secured to the said
ears by screws or in any other suitable manner so that it may when desired be
turned back or raised from the tread of the stair to permit the brushing of such
tread or removed entirely from the latter to enable it to be washed. preferably
:

page_text: provide such frame with a rod or bar which I term a stretcher and which is
designed to be connected to the ears, lugs, or brackets by a screw or screws as
- desired, at or adjacent to the hinges of the said frame I provide a spring (spiral or
otherwise) which serves to retain the said frame; and the carpet or other material
thereon in close contact with the tread of the stair when such frame is let down
upon the same, in order to cover the hinges and stretcher lying below the nosing
of the stair. I preferably hang in the front of the same and of the stair à strip of
fringe, lace, or the like, this material gives a very ornamental appearance to the
stairs. It will be evident that any material such as Brussels carpet, Tapestry,
Pile Mat, Turkey, Oilcloth, or the like may be attached to the aforesaid frame
adapted to be secured to the stairs in such a manner as to be capable of being
turned back or removed for cleaning or dusting purposes without departing from
the principle of my invention which as above stated consists essentially in providing
a separate piece of material attached to a hinged frame to each tread of the stairs
for the purposes specified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Henry Hawgood in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June 1883.
HENRY HAWGOOD, of Vine House, Vineyard, Richmond, Surrey, House Furnisher.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD AND MEANS OF COVERING STAIRS WITH CARPET OR THE
LIKE
"
My Invention relates to an improved method of covering stairs with carpet or
the like and to means or apparatus to be used in connection therewith. Heretofore
stairs have been covered by a continuous or practically continuous length of carpet
or the like which is held in position by stair rods passing through eyes attached to
the stairs. When it is required to take up such carpet in order to allow the same
to be beaten or to enable the stairs to be cleansed or for other purposes it is
necessary to remove these rods and in cases when tacks are employed in addition
to the rods for holding down such carpet or the like these tacks must be removed
and fresh tacks again used when the carpet is to be replaced.
Moreover the
ordinary method of covering stairs is far from satisfactory from a sanitary point of
view as it is impossible to remove the accumulation of dust and dirt from the stairs
without at first taking up the whole length or strip of carpet therefrom.. By my
Invention however I obviate these defects and provide for the ready cleansing or
sweeping of the stairs without any of the inconveniences attending the use of stair
carpets laid as at present, and my Invention consists in providing a hinged frame
(preferably of metal) secured by any suitable means beneath the nosing of the stair
and so constructed as to permit of its being raised or turned back. To this frame
I attach a separate piece of carpet for each tread of the stair. I also affix to the
aforesaid frame a rod or stretcher which is securely adjusted in position beneath
the nosing of the stair by means of a button or other suitable device, which may
be covered with fringe or the like. When proceeding to clean the stairs it is
simply necessary to raise the covered frame, which by means of the hinged brackets
can be turned over on to the next stair below thus leaving the tread altogether
clear, or the covering can be entirely removed by turning the before mentioned
buttons and releasing the bar or stretcher. The frame is provided, if necessary,
with a spring (spiral or otherwise) which serves to retain the covered frame in
close contact with the stair when such frame is let down upon the same.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect I append a sheet of Drawings hereunto in which similar letters of
reference denote corresponding parts throughout.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Figure 1 is a front view of stairs shewing my improved frame and stretcher

page_text: to brackets or ears (a) arranged beneath the nosing (b) of each stair. This frame (A)
may be secured to the stairs by screws (c) or in any other suitable manner so that
it may when desired be turned back or raised (as shown in Figure 3) from the
tread (d) of the stair to permit the brushing of such tread or removed entirely from
the latter to enable it to be washed. I preferably provide such frame (A) with a
rod or bar (B) which I term a stretcher and which is designed to be connected to
the ears, lugs or brackets (a) aforesaid by a button (e) or screws as desired,' In
order to cover the hinges (f) and stretcher (B) lying below the nosing (b) of the
stair I preferably hang in the front of the same and of the stair a strip of fringe,
lace, or the like attached to the stretcher (as shown in Figure 2).
.
31
This gives a very ornamental appearance to the stairs. It will be evident that
any material such as Brussels carpet, Tapestry, Pile Mat, Oilcloth, or the like may
be attached to the aforesaid frame adapted to be secured to the stairs in such a
manner as to be capable of being turned back or removed for cleaning or dusting
purposes without departing from the principle of my Invention which as above
stated consists essentially in providing a separate piece of material attached to a
hinged frame for each tread of the stairs for the purposes specified."
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect I wish to state that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details herein described and delineated but what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is.
First. My improved method of and means for covering stairs with carpet or the
like substantially as herein before set forth.
Second. The hinged frame with stretcher to which is attached the carpet or
other material secured to each stair in any suitable manner all as hereinbefore fully
described and set forth in the accompanying Drawings.
28.01
"1
In witness, whereof I the said Henry. Hawgood' have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twentieth day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
..