Improvements in Block Flooring.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Block Flooring.
We, FREDERICK SHOOLBRED, of the Firm of James Shoolbred & Co., of
Tottenham Court Road, in the County of London, Manufacturers, and EDWIN
MARSHALL SMITH, of 148, Wightman Road, Harringay, in the County of
Middlesex, Foreman Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to flooring of the kind in which a series of blocks or
strips of wood is employed, the chief object of the said invention being to provide
means whereby a floor may be laid without the use of mastic or cement, which is
of great advantage when it is desired to lay blocks upon a damp surface. Another
advantage of the improved flooring is that it is comparatively inexpensive.
According to the said invention the blocks are recessed or halved at their ends
and held in position by strips of wood which fit into the said recesses, each strip
being designed to retain the adjacent ends of two rows of blocks. The strips
themselves are preferably longitudinally grooved or rabetted so that the central
portion of each strip will lie upon the surface upon which the blocks are laid.
The said strips are secured by any suitable means to the said surface.
When this mode of fixing is adopted the blocks are free to expand and contract
without disturbing the floor.
Dated the 23rd dos of November 1895
Improvements in Block Flooring.
We, FREDERICK SHOOLBRED, of the Firm of James Shoolbred & Co., of
Tottenham Court Road, in the County of London, Manufacturers, and EDWIN
MARSHALL SMITH, of 148 Wightman Road, Harringay, in the County of
Middlesex, Foreman Cabinet Maker, 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 flooring of the kind wherein a series of blocks or strips
of wood is employed, the chief object of the said invention being to provide
means whereby a floor may be laid without the use of mastic or cement, which is
of great advantage when it is desired to lay blocks upon a damp surface. Another
advantage of the improved flooring is that it is comparatively inexpensive.
According to the said invention the blocks are recessed or halved at their ends
and held in position by strips of wood which fit into the said recesses, each strip
being designed to retain the adjacent ends of two rows of blocks.
The strips
themselves are preferably longitudinally grooved or rabbetted so that the central
portion of each strip will lie upon the surface upon which the blocks are laid.
The said strips are secured by any suitable means to the said surface.

page_text: When this mode of fixing is adopted the blocks are free to expand and contract
without disturbing the floor.
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe it by reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which :
:-
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of block flooring made according to our
invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same :
Figure 3 is a plan of one of the blocks :
Figure 4 is an elevation of the same :
Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of one of the strips; and
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same.
a is the usual concrete on which the flooring is laid and 6b are the sleepers to
which the flooring is secured. cc are our strips of wood which are secured by any
suitable means, such as nailing, to the sleepers b b and are longitudinally rabbetted
or grooved as shewn at d d.
ee are our blocks the said blocks being rabbetted or grooved as shewn at ff so
that they can be slipped under, and be held by, two adjacent strips c c as shewn
clearly in Figures
and 2.
In the drawing the blocks are shewn rhomboidal in shape so that their
longitudinal edges are inclined to the strips c c, but it will be obvious that the said
blocks can be otherwise shaped for instance so that they lie at right angles to
the strips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In block flooring, recessing or halving the blocks at their ends and retaining
them in position by strips which are rabbetted or grooved, substantially as
described.
2. The improved block flooring herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 19th day of Anœust. 1896.
drawing.
e 19th day of August 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.