IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS OF, AND FOR, ROAD CARRIAGES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE HARRISON No 10 Noel Road Edgbaston Birmingham Manager
of Works do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEPS OF, AND FOR, ROAD CARRIAGES to be as follows :-
My invention applies to those carriage steps which having an iron frame to
support or carry the tread are called by carriage builders "Frame Steps" and
consists of a long flap which is generaly bolted to the carriage body, and the
frame to support the tread, and the tread. The frame is connected with the flap
by means of an oval or other shaped piece of iron which I will call the neck.
I propose to make the flap mentioned above and the frame in one solid piece by
means of a drop stamp, of course of wrot iron, and the tread or that part on which
the foot is placed when used to enter or alight from the carriage I propose making
of Maleable cast iron (or other cast metal) and on the top thereof I form a
roughened surface, of suitable and proper pattern, to afford a perfect hold for the
foot. Underneath, that is on the bottom side of the said tread I cast in solid two
cross ribs or ridges of metal, which are placed flush and even with the ends of
tread, and furnish proper means for riveting or other way securing the frame of
step to tread and holding same perfectly tight and firm. At the back of the ribs
or ridges as described above, I form overhanging stops, or lugs, which are so
arranged that the frame when attatched to the tread shall abut against the
overhanging stops, or lugs, and taking a firm seat reduces the strain and pressure
on the rivets, bolts, pins, or other contrivance for holding the frame and tread
together. I also cast in solid with tread, at the back thereof, a fence or toe guard,
properly shaped for the purpose, to prevent the foot passing too far through the
frame of step, and so causing injury to the leg when entering the carriage, as well
as to prevent the foot sliping between the the frame and tread of step. The above
description is intended for steps having fixed or set treads. When it is desirable
to use folding or closing steps, I make the ribs or ridges on top side of tread, that
is on the side having the roughened pattern cast on, as well as the toe guard, and
near the overhanging stops or lugs, I form a joint, and make the ends of frame to
correspond, so that the tread may fold against the frame, and show a perfectly
even surface when so folded, but in all other respects I form the frame and tread
as described when the tread is fixed and set. I claim as new, firstly my method
of making the frame by means of a drop stamp, secondly my arrangement of cross
ribs or ridges on cast treads for attatching frame, thirdly my application of cast
metal treads having suitable patterns of roughened surface cast thereon along with
the solid toe guards, and finaly the combination of parts as described herein, of
Stamped Frame and cast treads.

page_text: Improvements in Steps of and for Road Carriages.
I, JOHN GEORGE HARRISON, N° 10 Noel Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Manager
of Works do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN.
STEPS OF, AND FOR ROAD CARRIAGES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention applies to those carriage steps, which having an iron frame to
support or carry the tread, are called by carriage builders, "Frame steps," and
consists of a long flap, which is generaly bolted to the carriage body, and the
frame to support the tread, and the tread. The frame is connected with the flap
by means of an oval or other shaped piece of iron, which I will call the neck.
I propose to make the flap mentioned above, and the frame in one solid piece, by
means of a drop stamp and suitable dies, and the tread, or that part on which the
foot is placed when used to enter or alight from the carriage, I propose making of
Maleable cast iron (or other cast metal) and on the top thereof I forin a roughened
surface of suitable, and proper pattern, to afford a perfect hold for the foot.
Underneath, that is on the bottom side of the said tread I cast in solid two cross
ribs, or ridges, of metal, which are placed flush and even with the ends of tread,
and furnish proper means for riveting or other way securing the frame of step to
tread, and holding same perfectly tight and firm. At the back of the ribs or
ridges, as described above, I form overhanging stops or lugs, which are so arranged
that the frame when attached to the tread shall abut against the overhanging
stops, or lugs, and taking a firm seat reduces the strain and pressure on the rivets,
bolts, pins, or other contrivance for holding the frame and tread together. I also
cast in solid with tread, at the back thereof, a fence or too guard, properly shaped
for the purpose, to prevent the foot passing too far through the frame of step, and
so causing injury to the leg when entering the carriage, as well as to prevent the
foot slipping between the frame and tread of step. The above description is
intended for steps having fixed or set treads. When it is desirable to use folding
or closing steps, I make the ribs or ridges on the top side of tread, that is, on the
side having the roughened pattern cast on, as well as the toe guard, and near the
overhanging stops or lugs I form a joint and make the ends of frame to correspond;
so that the tread may fold against the frame and show a perfectly even surface
when so folded, but in all other respects I form the frame and tread as described
when the tread is fixed and set.
Figure 1 represents the flap, neck, and frame, A. A. being the flap, B the neck,
and C. C. C. C. the frame, in one solid piece as I propose making them and using
them when the tread is made to fold or close. Figure 2 shows the flap, neck and
frame A. A, B, & C, C, C, C, with a continuation of the frame at D. D. for riveting
to the tread by means of the ribs or ridges E. E on Figure 3, which shows the
tread as I propose making same fixed or set. F. F. on Figure 3, shows the fence
or toe guard and G. G. the overhanging stops or lugs. Figure 4 shows the tread
when used as a folding, or closing step, H. H. being the ribs or ridges on the same
side of tread as fence or toe guard F. F. figures 3 & 4. Figure 5 shows the step

page_text: complete when used fixed and set, and Figure 6 shows the step complete when
made to fold or close, in this figure (6), the step is shown open, and ready for use,
and folds or closes on joints K. K as shown also in Figures 1; 4 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
Firstly my method of making the frame by means of a drop stamp.
Secondly my arrangement of cross ribs or ridges on cast metal treads for
attaching the frame to tread.
Thirdly my application of cast metal treads having suitable patterns of roughened
surface cast thereon along with the solid fence, or toe guards, and finaly the
combination of parts as described herein, of stamped frames, and cast treads.
Dated this 26th day of October 1885.