Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Figure 3 18 a view showing the tread in position
Figure 4 shows the tread applied to a man-hole cover;
Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows the tread in the bath.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.
The object of my present invention is to provide an article of manufacture,
which may be attached to the steps of stairways or to other places with which
the feet come in contact, and which, when so attached, will prevent the slipping
of the feet.
In carrying out my invention, I provide a series of strips of material A, this
material being of such a nature as to adhere, as it were, to the feet and prevent
slipping. Any desired material for this purpose may be used, such for example
as lead. These strips may be of any desired length and are preferably provided
with inclined edges. Between the strips A, I provide a series of strips B of more
rigid material, such for example as copper, a portion of the surface of the
strips B being exposed between the strips A. It is of course evident that any
desired material may be used for this purpose. The strips A and B are then
attached to some suitable support C of material which is not a conductor of
electricity, such for example as wood, or which has been treated so as to destroy
its conducting properties. These strips may be attached in their proper re-
lative position to the support C in any suitable manner, as for example by means
of nails or the like C. The series of strips on this support are then placed in
an electrolytic bath, as shown in Figure 6, the strips acting as the cathode and
being opposed to some suitable anode, so that the coating of metal will be
deposited thereon as shown at D, Figure 2. This deposited metal engages both
the strips A and B and binds them into a solid piece or tread. It is of course
evident that any suitable electrolytic bath may be used and I of course do not
limit myself in this particular. When the deposited metal D is of sufficient thick-
ness, the tread is taken from the bath and removed from the support C. The

page_text: tread is then ready for use and is attached to the stairway or other place with the
deposited metal D down, so that the non-slipping material A is exposed on the
surface, as illustrated in Figure 3. The non-slipping material thus prevents the
slipping of the feet and the deposited metal D firmly binds the several strips to-
gether. The strips B, which are of more durable material than the strips A,
hold the parts together and prevent the strips A from getting out of shape and
also from becoming easily worn. It will thus be seen that I have here a simple
and durable tread which may be applied to any surface with which the feet
come in contact where it is desirable to prevent the feet from slipping. In
Figures 4 and 5, 1 have shown the tread as applied to a man-hole cover. In such
constructions the tread would be made in the same manner as for stairs, the
deposited metal D forming an outer casing in which the strips A and B are held.
It is of course evident that any desired number of pieces may be assembled to-
gether in this manner and I have attempted only to show a simple construction
80 as to make my invention clear.
I have described one construction. embodying my invention, but it is evident
that the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts may be varied
without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish
to be limited to the construction shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The tread to prevent slipping of the feet herein shown and described.
2. A tread to prevent slipping of the feet, comprising a series of strips of
non-slipping material, a series of independent strips of harder material between
the strips of non-slipping material, the several strips associated together so as
to form a substantially continuous surface, and a binding device adapted to
firmly bind the several strips together.
3. A tread to prevent slipping of the feet, comprising a series of strips of non-
slipping material, a series of strips of harder material between the strips of non-
slipping material, the several strips placed in proximity to each other so as to
form a practically continuous surface, and a layer of deposited metal which
engages the several strips and binds them firmly together.
4. A tread to prevent slipping of the feet, comprising a series of strips of non-
slipping material provided with inclined or beveled edges, a series of intermediate
strips of harder material also provided with inclined or beveled edges, the several
strips associated together so as to form a substantially continuous surface, and a
coating of electrically deposited metal on one of the continuous surfaces formed
by said strips, said electrically deposited metal engaging the strips and binding
them firmly together, as herein shown and described.
Dated this 20th day of March 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.