Improvements in Wood Block Flooring.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wood Block Flooring.
I, JOHN RICHARD GIBBARD, Wood Block Floor Manufacturer, of St. Sidwell's,
Exeter, Devonshire, 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 for improvements in wood block flooring has for its object
improvements in connection with flooring of the kind known as wood block" or
parquet flooring whereby the blocks are more securely fitted together and rising
up or other displacement owing to the uneven pressure upon them is prevented.
According to this invention small double pointed metal fasteners are employed
adapted to be forced into each of two adjacent blocks so that when the blocks are
fitted together rising up or other displacement is prevented.
In order that this invention may be more readily understood reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which
Fig. 1 shows a plan of a portion of a wood block floor showing the arrangement
of the fasteners.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a single block having the fasteners inserted in it with the
points projecting and
Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the fasteners.
The fasteners A are cut from sheet metal in an elongated diamond shape so
that two points a a¹ are provided. The point a is preferably somewhat longer
than the point a¹.
These fasteners A are adapted to be forced one into each side of a block as
shown in Fig. 2. This block has preferably two of these. fasteners arranged on
two of its sides inserted by the smaller point a¹ so that there are two longer
points a projecting.
In laying the floor as shown in Fig. 1 the block B is arranged in position
relative to the other blocks and the projecting points a forced into the adjacent
blocks EF. The blocks C and D already laid have their projecting points a
forced into the sides of the block B so that there is a connection by means of
these fasteners on all four sides of the block B. Similarly in the case of the
adjacent block G it is secured by means of the longer points to the blocks E
and H while the other projecting point a of the block D and a projecting point
on the block I is forced into it. The other blocks are similarly arranged as can
be readily followed out although on the drawings no other connections are
indicated.
It will thus be seen that each block is secured by means of these fasteners A
to four other blocks and displacement owing to uneven pressure upon the floor
is thereby prevented as the blocks strengthen one another.
Although an arrangement of the points has been described by which each
block has two of the fasteners A forced into it before laying and receives the
points of two others when in position it will of course be understood that this
arrangement of fasteners can be varied somewhat without departing from this
invention.

page_text: The fasteners are preferably stamped from sheet metal as sharp as possible
and if necessary slots may be cut in the wood into which they can be fitted but
preferably they should be forced into the wood only. Instead of being elongated
as described and illustrated the points may be of equal size, but the elongated
form has been found preferable in practice.
When used for other kinds of flooring the arrangement of fasteners A will of
course have to be varied slightly according to the arrangement of the blocks
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention I declare manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In wood block flooring the use of sharp double pointed fasteners, adapted
to be driven into each of two adjacent blocks so as to secure them together, sub-
stantially as described.
(2) In wood block flooring the use of sharp double pointed fasteners having
one point longer than the other adapted to be forced into two of the sides of a
particular block before the floor is laid and to receive the points of two other
blocks already laid so that each block is secured to four other blocks, substantially
as described.
(3) Improvements in wood block for flooring, substantially as described and
illustrated with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of September 1899.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.