Improvements in the Manufacture of Stair Rods.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Stair Rods.
I, CHARLES ASHFORD, of Cofton Hackett, near Bromsgrove, in the County of
Worcester, Whip Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to the manner in which I construct stair rods for
fastening carpets upon steps and stairs, whereby I am enabled to introduce a com-
bination of cane and metal, wood and metal, or other like materials, for the purpose
of increasing the ornamental effect of such articles and to permit of a variety of
designs being introduced in harmony with any desired style of furniture within the
building. I also sometimes construct my improved stair rods entirely of cane or
other like material instead of supplying the ordinary metal bars and rods for the
purpose as now commonly and usually done by the methods in general use.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a rod for holding stair carpets
in position, with the central or main length formed out of cane or other similar
material, instead of out of metal. 1 attach to the ends of the rod, metal or
other caps for increasing the ornamental character of the rod; and I sometimes
arrange bands of metal at or near the ends of the rod for preventing any damage
to the softer material by the eyes or other ordinary fastenings which are employed
to secure the rods in position upon the stair cases or steps. I attach the metal
or other mounts to the cane or central portion of my improved rods by drilling
or boring the ends to suit the stem of the mounts which I then firmly force in; or
I screw the interior of the ends to receive a threaded surface formed upon the
projecting stem of the caps or mounts.
Sometimes I dispense with boring the canes by forcing the stems into the hollow
ends and then securing them in position by shellac cement or other composition
of a similar nature. The bands or rings which I place at or near the ends I
sometimes form upon the caps so that the eyes or fastenings may engage and bear
against the metal without any abrasion of the surface of the softer material being
caused; and when dispensing with end caps I prefer to place metal rings or bands
round the ends of the canes for this purpose.
When constructing my improved rods to withstand a great tension or pull from a
thick carpet I pass a metal rod through the hollow centre of the cane and attach
the ornamental caps on to the projecting ends of this central rod thus enabling a
strong and substantial stair rod to be formed out of the light cane.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any peculiar form of cane or
natural stick, but employ the same system of construction as hereinbefore described
when using a covered or silk braided cane, or when employing a composition centre
and metal mounts. Similarly I do not always employ metal rings for my improved
rods but sometimes turn the ends down to suit the ordinary eyes or stair rod
brackets and then plug up the hollow ends with plugs of any suitable material.
Dated this 15th day of January 1891.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Stair Rods.
I, CHARLES ASHFORD, of Cofton Hackett, near Bromsgrove, in the County of
Worcester, Whip 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 :-
My invention has reference to the manner in which I construct stair rods for
fastening carpets upon steps and stairs, whereby I am enabled to introduce a com-
bination of cane and metal, wood and metal, or other like materials, for the purpose
of increasing the ornamental effect of such articles and to permit of a variety of
design being introduced in harmony with any desired style of furniture within the
building.
I also sometimes construct my improved stair rods entirely of cane or other
like material instead of employing the ordinary metal bars and rods, for the
purpose as now commonly and usually done by the methods in general use.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct rods for holding stair carpets
in position as illustrated in the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings.
The central or main length A I form out of cane or other similar material
instead of out of metal. I attach to the ends of the rod, metal or other caps B for
increasing the ornamental character of the rod; and I sometimes arrange bands of
metal Cat or near the ends of the rod for preventing any damage to the softer
material A' as in Figure 3 by the edges or other ordinary fastenings which are
employed to secure the rods in position upon the stair cases or steps.
I attach the metal or other mounts B to the cane or central portion of my
improved rods A by drilling or boring the ends to suit the stem of the mounts
which I then firmly force in; or I screw the interior of the ends to receive a
threaded surface formed upon the projecting stem of the caps or mounts.
Sometimes 1 dispense with boring the canes by forcing the stems into the hollow
ends 'and 'then securing them in position by shellac, cement or other composition of
a similar nature. The bands or rings C which I place at or near the ends I
sometimes form upon the caps so that the eyes or fastenings may engage and bear
against the metal without any abrasion of the surface of the softer material A³
being caused; and when dispensing with end caps I prefer to place metal rings or
bands round the ends of the canes for this purpose.
When constructing my improved rods to withstand a great tension or pull from a
thick carpet, I pass a metal rod through the hollow centre of the cane and attach
the ornamental caps on to the projecting ends of this central rod, thus enabling a
strong and substantial stair rod to be formed out of the light cane.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any peculiar form of cane
as A, A, A, A, or natural stick as A5, but employ the same system of construction
as hereinbefore described when using a covered or silk braided cane, as in A'
Figure 3, or when employing a centre rod of any composition or manufactured
material with metal mounts at the ends. Similarly I do not always employ metal
rings as C for my improved rods, but sometimes turn the ends down to suit the
ordinary eyes or stair rod brackets, and then plug up the hollow ends with plugs of
any suitable material.
also employ any shape of centre rod such as a plain or polished flat lath or bar
of wood or other suitable material other than metal, and attach the metal mounts
to the ends of the bars similarly to the manner hereinbefore described when
employing round sections or canes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1)-The combination and arrangement of metal mounts or ends such as B with

page_text: central cane or other similar material rods such as A for forming a stair carpet
rod, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
(2) The construction of stair carpet rods having the central portion such as A'
formed of braided material, and the ends closed and protected by metal mounts
such as B', as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(3) The construction of stair carpet rods having the central portion formed of
wood or other similar material and provided with metal end mounts and bands or
rings for entering the fasteners substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of October 1891.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.