Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Steps, Footways, or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th July. 1895-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treads for Stairs, Steps, Footways, or the like.
We, HOLMES & SONS LIMITED, of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk,
Engineers and Agricultural Machine Manufacturers, EDMUND NUTTALL, of
Victoria Iron Works, Ramsay Street, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Corn
Milling Engineer, and THOMAS ODDY, of River Street, Rochdale, aforesaid,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention above named is for the purpose of reducing the dangers of slipping
and accidents which arise from unevenly worn parts of stairs, steps, footways and
the like and also to protect such stairs, steps, footways and the like from being
unduly worn by covering them when they are new with the tread described in the
following Specification.
The process adopted in making the treads is as follows viz. :-A wooden pattern
of the necessary dimensions and requirements is first made and a metal mould or
moulds of iron or any other suitable material is then made from this pattern.
These moulds are then placed on a flat metal or earthenware plate which is fixed
and heated on the top of a brick built heating stove or otherwise on a portable
firegrate so as to keep the moulds at a suitable degree of heat whilst molten metal
is being poured into them. After the moulds are placed on the top of the store and
on the plate named molten or liquid metal of any ductile, tenacious, or malleable
nature (but preferably of lead, lead ore, zinc, zinc ore, blende, glass or any combination
or alloys of these metals) is then run into the moulds and whilst the metal or alloys
so named are in a liquid or soft state a combined metal plate and spikes is inserted
in the metal at suitable intervals or distances apart. This combination plate and
spikes is a plate of metal, earthenware, or any other suitable material of about
one-inch square and about one-eighth of an inch thick (or any other suitable
dimensions) in the plate portion, from which plate a number of spikes protrude
from one or both sides of such plate; these spikes being of suitable length and
sectional shape to suit the thickness of the tread and also to allow any liquid
or molten metal to freely circulate around under, between, and about the combined
plate and spikes when such liquid or molten metal is poured on to, between or
about them, or when such combined plate and spikes are placed into or about such
liquid or molten metal. The plate named has a number of holes moulded through
it at intervals each hole being countersunk on one or both sides as necessity may
require. When the combined plate and spikes have been placed in the liquid or
molten metal these holes allows the liquid or molten metal to come through the
plate and when molten metal is used the combined plate and spikes cool down
together in one mass with the metal, (previously molten,) the portion of solid
metal protruding through the holes of the plate forms an automatic rivet, tie, clip
or bind, and so clips or fastens the plate more firmly to the main body or metal of
the tread. One combined plate and one spike only may be used for one tread or
any section of a tread; or any number of plates and spikes, more or less, may be
used in one tread or section of a tread. The combined plate and spikes may be
made any shape or size to suit existing circumstances.
When metal is the substance inserted in the liquid metal it is first galvanised or
tinned by the method commonly known to and used by plumbers and tin plate
workers, so as to give the necessary affinity of the two metals or alloys.

page_text: Along the face of the tread are run at suitable distances either at right angles to
each other, longitudinally, transversely or obliquely a number of V or square cut
grooves, flutes, or recesses, which gradually deepen from the back to the front
portion of the tread. These grooves are placed and made in this manner for the
purpose of making the tread to automatically drain off the moisture and water or
other liquids which might have a tendency to settle thereon. These grooves will
also be made in triangular, circular, or other ornamental forms, either in the shape
of the grooves themselves or in the manner of placing the groove on the face of the
tread to form designs, trade-marks, monograms, or advertisements. These grooves
are also put in to increase the non-slipping efficiency of the tread as the sharp
edges and points of the grooves grips the leather of the boot or other foot apparel
worn by persons making use of the treads. When the treads are taken from the
moulds and after they have cooled down they are heavily pressed between two
hardened steel fluted rollers or two flat surfaces of similar description so as to give
the wearing surface of the trend further non-slipping efficiency by the addition of
the further flutes pressed into the treads by this method. The treads will be made
in any suitable size of slabs either square, round or oblong and then jointed together
to meet existing requirements. It will also be necessary to make a nosing or metal
protector to preserve the front edge of the stair. This nosing will be so moulded
as to form part of the tread proper and also as a separate portion or part thereof.
Where necessary brass, iron, or any other suitable metal nosing will be used
in preference to the combined tread and nosing.
A dovetailed tongued and grooved, also a dovetailed locked joint respectively is
made by cutting indents on the edge of the treads of suitable form. This is done
so as to make the tread more homogeneous in appearance and to prevent the tread
being dislodged either as a whole or any portion of it.
The tread is afterwards submitted to hydraulic or other mechanical pressure
which makes the tread more homogeneous in its combination and thus further
hardens and increases the wearing qualities and general durability of the tread.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1894.
We, HOLMES & SONS LIMITED, of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk,
Engineers and Agricultural Machine Manufacturers, EDMUND NUTTALL, of
Victoria Iron Works, Ramsay Street, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Corn
Milling Engineer, and THOMAS ODDY, of River Street, Rochdale, aforesaid,
Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in treads to be placed upon stairs steps
footways and the like to prevent slipping and to protect them from wear.
It consists essentially of a tread comprising a sheet of lead zinc or similar
material with a spiked plate of hard material embedded or inserted therein on the
underside with the spikes penetrating the material so that they extend up through
the soft metal to the upper or wearing surface thereof for the purpose of
presenting a more durable wearing surface without reducing the non-slipping
qualities of the tread.

page_text: The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Perspective view partly in section of stair tread constructed in accordanco
herewith.
Fig. 2. Perspective view of the spiked plate.
The tread is formed of a sheet or plate A of lead lead ore zinc or other soft
metal or alloy with one or more preferably a number of spiked plates B inserted
therein at suitable distances apart. The spiked plate B is made of metal or
earthenware or other hard material preferably chilled cast iron of any suitable
shape or size preferably rectangular of about one inch square and the spikes >>
correspond in length to the thickness of the sheet or plate A being of such a length
as to project up into the soft metal plate and nearly penetrate the surface so that
as soon as any wear takes place they become exposed to resist it.
Each spiked
plate B has a number of holes c formed in it at intervals into which the lead
or soft metal embeds itself when in a molten state securing the plates in position.
In the manufacture of the treads we construct a mould of iron or other suitable
material with a number of ribs on the surface to form grooves a on the face of the
plate A. Upon the surface of this mould between the ribs we place the spiked
plates B resting on their spikes and pour in around them the molten lead or other
metal thus embedding the spiked plates B in the sheet or plate A. The holes c in
the plate B are preferably countersunk and the molten metal flows into them and
thus when the metal cools forms a rivet or tie to bind or secure the spiked plates in
their place. Instead however of running the molten metal over or around the
spiked plates B the metal may be first run and the spikes of the plates then
inserted therein but we prefer the former method.
When the spiked plate B is made of cast metal it may be first galvanised or
tinned by any known method commonly used by plumbers or tin plate workers to
increase the affinity between the two metals or alloys but we do not consider this
essential.
The grooves a which are preferably made on the surface of the plate or sheet A
may run either longitudinally or transversely and may be of V rectangular
U curved or other shape. They also may be made deeper at the front than at the
back for the purpose of draining off moisture or water that may fall or settle
thereon. The grooves may also be arranged in triangular circular or other form
on the face of the sheet or plate A.
When the treads so formed are removed from the moulds they may be passed
through rolls plain or fluted or they may be subjected to hydraulic or other
pressure to harden and increase the wearing qualities and durability of the lead.
The treads may be made flat throughout or with a rounded nosing of lead as
shown or instead of the latter a nosing of hard metal may be cast in one piece
therewith or affixed to the step.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
-
A tread for stairs steps footways or the like comprising a sheet or plate of lead
zine (or other soft metal) with spiked plates of hard metal or material embedded or
inserted therein on the underside with the spikes penetrating towards the wearing
surface substantially as described.
Dated this 10th dement Tool 100
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.