US304128A - Step or stoop protector - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 A J. H. POTTS.

STEP OR STUOP PROTBCTGR.

Patented Aug. 276, i884.

S N n W 1an. D. C.

lUNrrnD STATES nrnnrr` @lirica JOSEPH HUNT POTTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEP OR STOOP PROTECTOR.

PECIICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,128, dated August 26, 1884.

Application filed January 28. 1384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l', Josnrrr H. Porrs, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step or Stoop Pro"- tectors, of which the following is a specification, reference boing had therein to the accompanying drawings, wherein*H Figure l is a perspective illustrating the application of the protector to the outside steps of a house or building. Fig. 2 is a broken perspective showing a roll of the protector material, or the form in which it is made upV for the market. Figs?, ande are respectively a broken elevation and perspective of the lower and upper end fastenings for securing the protector' in position upoh aiiight of steps. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations illustrating modifications in construction of the protector. Fig. is a perspective of another modification. Figs. S, 9, 10, and 11 are edge views of various further modifications, and Fig. l2 is a perspective of still another modification illy invention has relation to protectors or coverings for the inside and outside steps oi' buildings or houses, particularly the outside steps,whereby they are preserved from undue wear, and are kept clean and free from icy accumulations.

Heretofore removable wooden steps have been used as a protector or covering for the outside steps oi' houses; but such covering has to be specially made to suit or fit each step of the iiight designed to be protected, and will not, therefore, tit other ilights of steps that vary in size or number. The expense of these Wooden steps and the time and labor consumed in placing them in position upon the outside steps limit the extent of their use in Winter, and that, together with their bulky and unsi ghtly appearance, utterly condemns them for use temporarily or otherwise during rainy or muddy weather in summer.

My invention has for its object to avoid these disadvantages by providing a flexible weighted protector or covering` which is easily and quickly pnt down upon and removed from the steps,wliich can be made to lit or conform to the various risers and treads of the different steps in the flight without requiring special manipulation to obtain such tit or conformation, and which, in like manner, can be made to fit other or difierent flights or sets of steps having like or unlike risers and treads. n

The protector possesses suificient flexibility to permit of its being fitted to the steps and to fold or roll u p into a compact form when not in use, and although its attached Weight is also flexible, to provide for such fitting and rolling or folding, yet it affords the necessary gravity for imparting to t-heproteetor the requisite rigidity to enableit to maintain itself upon the steps and prevent its being accidentally displaced or blown ofi" or raised therefrom by the wind.

My invention accordingly consists of the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts forming a flexible Weighted protector or covering, as hereinafter described and claimed; and it 'further consists of a flexible Weighted protector having corner or end fastening devices for securing it in position upon the steps designed to be protected.

In the drawings, A, Pig. l, represents the protector in position upon a Aiiightof steps. lt is composed of a layer or layers of duckcanvas, rubber, carpet, matting, or other suitable or desired flexible material, B, which may be of any desired Width. At its edges b are secured narrow strips C, of' thin sheetlead or other flexible metal or material which will give weight to the fabric B. These lead strips may be inserted in hems formed by the overlapping or turning over of the edges b of fabric B, as indicated in Figs. l and et, or be cemented thereto, as represented in Fig. 9; or they may be riveted to the fabric B or secured therein in the act of Weaving, molding, or forming it, or be affixed thereto in any other suitable or desired manner.

In addition to the edge strips or weights, C, the fabric B may also have like lead strips secured in or at its middle part or interposed between the edge strips. The middle strip or weight may be arranged longitudinally or parallel with the edge strips, as shown in Fig. 5, or be composed of a series of short transverse strips, as indicated in Fig. 6. lf desired, the edge and longitudinally-arrangedcentral strips IOO , then connected to their fastening-eyes, andthe Q scalza may be dispensed with, and transverse strips or Weights running from edge to edge ofthe protector be substituted, as illustrated in Fig. 7. These stripsfmay be narrow flat lead strips riveted to fabric B, as indicated in saidlastnamed figure, or they may have a triangular, square, oblong, or circular outline in crossseetion, as shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive. rIhey may be cemented to the fabric B, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, or be inserted therein in the act of making or forming it. (See Figs. l and ll.)

Instead of using lead or other strips to Weight the fabric I3, the former may be of the same Width as the latter, and be inserted between two layers of such fabric; or said parts may be otherwise arranged and secured together, as desired. The protector A may be made in short lengths of standard sizes, or it may be manufactured so that it can be rolled up like carpet, as indicated in Fig. 2, for convenience in handling when selling or cutting the material in suitable lengths, such lengths being enough to reach from the sill of the door to the pavement and conform to the risers and treads of all the steps to be covered or prol'ected. The cut piece or protector is then provided at each of its corners with fasteninghooks d, which are riveted to the lead strips C, as shown more plainly in Figs. 3 and 4, and engage with eyes d', driven into the floor of the house, ljust back of the sill-piece E, and into the pavement F. If desired, the hooks ci maybe inserted into the sill and pavement, and the eyes il secured to the protector; or it may be provided with any other suitable devices, or, if desired, they may be dispensed with.

To place the protector in position upon a flight of steps, its upper end or corner hooks are inserted in their respective fastening-eyes. The protector' is then spread over the steps and bent to rest upon or conform to the rise and tread of each step. Its lower end hooks are protector is thereby securelyheld in position. lts flexibility permits it to be easily and quickly laid upon, and adjusted to the steps, and it is as readily removed therefrom. 'When not in use, itis folded orrolled upto a compact form. The Weight C gives to the protector sufficient rigidity to prevent its bei ng drawn out of shape by the scraping of feet or travel over it, and whereby it maintains itself in position, so that it cannot be raised from the steps or otherwise l accidentally displaced bythe force of the Wind 1 or from other causes.

The cheapness of the protector, combined with the convenience with which it can be placed upon and removed from the steps, commend it for use for either long or short intervals at any season of the year.

I have shown and described. my invention as being particularly adapted for protecting the outside steps of houses; but it is obvious that it may be used as a covering for inside steps, floors of kitchens, outhouses, or other like fixtures and places.

I am aware that extensible step-protectors have been made; but when extended they do not entirely cover the tread of the step,there by permitting dirt to be deposited upon the latter 5 also, that other protectors of sheet metal have been used, but these are merely employed to prevent wear of the steps; also, that rubber mats or protectors are now used for like purpose; but I am'not aware of a step-protector formed of a continuous piece of flexible material having attachedstrips or weights, as set forth.

W'hat I claim is- 1. A flexible continuous weighted protector or covering for door-steps, substantially as shown and described.

2. The protector or covering A, composed of a layer of continuous flexible material and attached Weight or lead strips, substantially as shown and described.

8. Acontinuous flexible weighted protector or covering having corner or end fastening devices, substantially as shown and described.

et. The protector A, composed of the continuous flexible fabric B and Weight C, substantially shown and described.

5. The door-step protector A, composed of a continuous iiexible layer, B, having loaded or weighted edges I), substantially as shown and described.

6. vAs a new article of manufacture, a iiexible Weighted door-step protector or covering material formed as a continuous Web, sub stantially as shown and described.

7. Acontinuous or nnjointed Weighted cov- I JOSEPH HUNT POTTS.

Vitnesses:

S. J. VAN SrAvonnN, Crus. F. TAN HORN.

IOO

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