Title: Floor covering of an elastically deformable material
Abstract: A floor covering (1) made of an elastically moldable material, in particular from a synthetic rubber, which is provided with a regular arrangement consisting of first projections (3) on the upper side (1a) and with a regular arrangement of second projections (5) on the underside (1b), the projections of the first projections and of the second projections not exhibiting any overlapping area on the plane of the covering and that, on the underside within the projections of the first projections, third projections (7) are provided in each case which have a smaller height vis-a-vis the second projections such that the floor covering only touches a floor with the second projections when it is in an unloaded state, however, when a preset load is exceeded locally, the third projections come in contact with the floor.
Patent Number: 6,878,430 Issued on 04/12/2005 to Milewski, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Milewski; Wolfgang (Im Altengrund 14, D-97475 Zeil am Main, DE);
Hafenecker; Simon (Am Mardersberg 18, D-96126 Hafenpreppach, DE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
745645 |
| Filed:
|
December 22, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Current U.S. Class: |
428/131; 428/141; 52/177; 52/180; 15/215; 404/35; 404/34; 404/42; D6/582; D6/583; D6/584; D6/585; D6/586; D6/587; D6/588; D6/589; D6/590; D6/591; D6/592; D6/593; D6/594 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B32B 003//10; E04F 011//16; E04F 015//00; E01C 005//00; E01C 005//16 |
| Field of Search: |
428/131
52/177,180
15/215
404/35,34,42
D6/582-594
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 348782 | Sep., 1886 | Sawyer | 52/177.
|
| 2052605 | Sep., 1936 | Clark et al. | 428/72.
|
| 2326963 | Aug., 1943 | Morton | 52/180.
|
| 2810672 | Oct., 1957 | Taylor | 428/167.
|
| 3699926 | Oct., 1972 | Stockl | 119/28.
|
| 4329981 | May., 1982 | Dungl | 128/25.
|
| 4478901 | Oct., 1984 | Dickens et al. | 404/36.
|
| 5619832 | Apr., 1997 | Myrvold | 52/403.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 8632856 | Feb., 1987 | DE.
| |
| 01070603 | Nov., 1995 | DK.
| |
| 1384544 | Nov., 1969 | FR.
| |
| 0104758 | Jun., 1992 | SE.
| |
| 9506780 | Mar., 1995 | WO.
| |
| 9620627 | Jul., 1996 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Pyon; Harold
Assistant Examiner: Nordmeyer; Patricia L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A floor covering made of an elastically deformable material, comprising
an upper side; an underside; first projections regularly arranged on the
upper side; second projections regularly arranged on the underside for
supporting the floor covering on a floor, the first and second projections
having no overlapping regions in a plane of the floor covering; and third
projections provided on the underside, arranged between the second
projections, and having, in an unstressed state of the floor covering, a
height smaller than a height of the second projections, whereby the third
projections provide for an additional support of the floor covering on the
floor when a load applied to the floor covering exceeds a predetermined
value, wherein the third projections have a load dependent increasing
characteristic line of rigidity whereby a progressive cushioning
characteristic of the third projects is obtained.
2. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein the first projections
essentially have the shape of a spherical segment.
3. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
second and third projections have a shape of one of a flat square prism
and a frustum.
4. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein the first projections are
formed by superimposition of two basic geometric forms including a larger
spherical segment and a smaller spherical segment mounted on the larger
spherical segment.
5. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
second and third projections have a shape of one of spherical segment,
flat truncated cone, and flat cylinder.
6. A floor covering according to claim 3, wherein the second projections
have the shape of the one of a square prism and a frustum with rounded
edges and rounded areas adjoining underside of the covering and extending
to a plane of the floor covering, and the third projections have the shape
of a spherical segment.
7. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein a distance between
opposite edges of each of the second projections correspond to at least a
distance between adjacent second projections.
8. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein a distance between
opposite edges of each of the third projections is less than a distance
between adjacent third projections.
9. A floor covering according to claim 8, wherein the distance between the
opposite edges each of third projections is less than 3/4 of the distance
between the adjacent third projections.
10. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein grid sizes of
arrangements of the first and second projections essentially correspond,
and a grid size of the third projections corresponds to the grid size of
the arrangements of the first and second projections or a multiple
thereof.
11. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein a height of the first
projections is less than 1/3 of a largest dimension thereof in a covering
plane and a height of at least one of a second and third projections is in
a range of between 1/5 and 1/2 of a dimension thereof in a plane of the
floor covering.
12. A floor covering according to claim 1, further comprising at least one
of perforations provided between the first and second projections and
recesses formed in the underside.
13. A floor covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
perforations and the recesses have one of a circular cross-section and a
cross-section of a segment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a floor covering made of an elastically moldable
material, in particular from a synthetic rubber, in accordance with the
preamble of claim 1.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Floor coverings of this type are known in various configurations and in
practical use.
Thus, a floor covering of the generic type is known from each of CH-A-419
547 or DK-B-170 603. According to these publications, the floor covering
has a regular arrangement of elevations on the upper side and the
underside, respectively, whose projections do not overlap one another, but
are spaced slightly from one another.
In these arrangements, considerable tensile stresses occur in the
relatively thin area of the spaces between the projections on the top side
and those on the underside when subjected to strong compressive loads,
since, due to the compressive load, the underside of the covering is
strongly pressed downward between the projections provided there (perhaps,
until they come to rest on the floor). As a result, damage could occur in
these thin areas of the spaces under continuous high stresses, in
particular when there are alternating loads with relatively high
frequency. Damage of this type, at first in the form of microcracks,
enable dust and other dirt to penetrate into the material where they can
act abrasively and even amplify the material-damaging effects of the high
mechanical stress.
A floor covering (non-generic) is known from EP-A-0 800 358 in which the
projections provided on the underside have overlapping areas with the
projections on the upper side of the covering. As a result of an
arrangement of this type, the occurrence of the aforementioned problems is
avoided, however, the floor covering becomes substantially more rigid by
necessity which means a clear deterioration in a crucial functional
parameter.
Thus, the object of the invention is to provide an improved floor covering
of the generic type which combines, in particular, very good cushioning
properties with long durability even under high stress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises the essential idea of providing, in addition to the
projections on the underside of the covering arranged without an
overlapping area with the projections on the upper side, further
projections which act as dynamic limiting means for pressing the covering
down under high compressive loads. The height of these projections is less
than the height of those projections on the underside of the floor
covering on which it rests in an unstressed state, so that it does not
start to act until a specific load (a preset pressure) is applied. They
then increase, compared to a local load, with a characteristic line the
rigidity of the covering, which can be adjusted via its height and shape
as well as its grid size.
In a preferred embodiment, which is especially easy to clean and meets high
requirements with respect to work safety and is esthetically pleasing, the
first projections essentially have the shape of a spherical segment. In a
further development of this embodiment, they are formed by a larger and a
smaller spherical segment mounted on it. In this embodiment, the relative
movement of the smaller spherical segment vis-a-vis the larger spherical
segment produces an additional cushioning effect when loaded. Moreover,
the more finely formed surface structure provides increased non-slip
properties. These effects can also, moreover, be obtained in other
combinations of a larger and a smaller basic moreover, be obtained in
other combinations of a larger and a smaller basic geometric form, so that
embodiments with basic geometric forms superimposed in this way can
generally be considered advantageous.
In an advantageous embodiment, the second and/or third (additional)
projections on the underside of the covering essentially have the form of
flat prisms or frustums or even the form of a spherical segment, a flat
truncated cone or a flat cylinder. In this case, it is especially
advantageous if--in the interest of distinguished setting of the
cushioning characteristics--different basic forms were selected for the
second and third projections.
In view of the fact that the floor covering lies on the floor with the
underside of the second projections (and perhaps also connected with it),
an embodiment of the second projections having the top surface parallel to
the plane of the covering is advantageous. Cutting and laying can be
facilitated with an embodiment in which the second projections have
straight lateral boundary edges, i.e. are formed, for example, almost like
frustums or square prisms. A desirably progressive cushioning
characteristic of the third projections results when they are configured
as spherical segments or flat truncated cones whereby, in the latter case,
the cushioning characteristic can be set, in addition to the dimensions,
in particular also by selecting the angle of the cone.
In a currently preferred combination, the second projections are configured
in the form of square prisms or frustums with rounded edges and rounded
transitional areas to the plane of the covering and the third projections
in the form of spherical segments.
The dimensions (diameter and/or edge measurements) of the second
projections substantially correspond to the spaces between them in
practical embodiments, while the dimensions of the third projections are
clearly less than their distance from one another. In particular, they are
less than 3/4 of the respective distance, optionally also even
considerably less.
Having regard to the fact that, in the proposed floor covering, there is no
overlapping of the first and the second projections and the floor covering
should nevertheless be supported adequately over the entire floor surface,
the grid sizes of the arrangements of the first and second projections
advantageously correspond. The grid size of the arrangement of the third
projections can also correspond, however, it can also optionally be a
multiple thereof. In the latter arrangement, a limiting projection on the
underside would not be allocated to each projection on the upper side but,
for example, only to every second or every third projection.
The proposed floor covering is preferably configured as a mat, in
particular as an ergonomic mat for standing workplaces for almost all
types of standing workplaces. In addition, it can be used as a safety
device for high-grade industrial danger of falling. It is also useful for
keeping animals or transporting animals. Its insulating action also makes
its use in areas in which one could come in contact with live component
parts and in which additional protection against grounding should be
created. In addition to the embodiment as a defined mat, a wall-to-wall
installation is also possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1a shows a bottom view of the covering according to the present
invention;
FIG. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of the covering;
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a floor
covering according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of the
floor covering according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of yet further embodiment of a floor covering
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of still further embodiment of the
floor covering according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
On the upper side 1a of the floor covering 1, it has first projections or
elevations 3 whose form is composed of a first, larger spherical segment
3a and a second, substantially smaller spherical segment 3b, positioned on
the highest point of the first spherical segment 3a. The height of the
first spherical segment is about 1/5 to 1/4 of its diameter on the
covering plane. The height of the second spherical segment 3b is about 1/2
of the height of the first spherical segment 3a and the lateral extension
of the second spherical segment corresponds to about 1/3 of that of the
first spherical segment.
On the underside 1b of the floor covering 1, it carries first of all second
projections or elevations 5 arranged in the interstices of the projections
of the first projections 3 on the covering plane--i.e. essentially not
overlapping with the first projections--and third projections 7 arranged
between them and concentrically to the first projections 3 on the upper
side 1a. (Only two of the third projections are shown in the drawings,
however, it should be understood that a third projection 7 is allocated to
each of the first projections 3 on the underside 1b of the floor
covering.)
The second projections 5 have an end face 5a parallel to the covering plane
and the form of square frustums with rounded edge areas 5b as well as
rounded adjoining areas 5c to the underside of the covering 1b. The edge
measurements of the second projections 5 are somewhat less than their
distance from one another and are in the same order of magnitude as the
lateral extension of the first projections 3 on the upper side 1a of the
covering.
The third projections 7 have the shape of spherical segments and
substantially smaller lateral dimensions than the first and second
projections 3,5 as well as a height of about 2/3 of the height of the
second projections 5. As a result, they only come in contact with the
underlying floor when the floor covering 1 is considerably loaded locally
on the first allocated projections 3 which bring about a substantial
compression and deflection of the covering. In this case, they
additionally support the covering in the area of the first projections 3
allocated in each case, i.e. due to their spherical-segmental shape with a
progressive cushioning characteristic.
FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a nitrile rubber floor covering 11 in
a sectional representation, on the upper side 11a of which spherical
segmental first projections 13 are provided at a distance which is clearly
greater than the distance of the first projections 3 in the floor covering
1 according to FIGS. 1a and 1b and corresponds to about the lateral
measurement of the projections 13 on the covering plane. Second
projections 15 in the form of flat cylindrical knobs are provided on the
underside 11b in the areas of the spaces between the projections of the
first projections 13. The distance of the second projections from one
another--relative to the lateral measurement--is substantially greater
than in the second projections 5 according to FIGS. 1a and 1b. The floor
covering 11 thus is less rigid than the floor covering of the first
embodiment, provided that the material properties are the same.
Below the first projections 13, third projections 17 are arranged
concentrically thereto and have the form of spherical segments in this
case, and their lateral extension on the covering plane is less than that
of the first projections 13 on the upper side 11a (the same as in the
first embodiment).
In FIG. 3, a floor covering 21 is outlined in a sectional representation as
a further embodiment of the invention, said floor covering 21 having first
projections 23 on the upper side 21a which are composed of a flat
cylindrical segment 23a and a spherical segment 23b mounted on them
concentrically. Second projections 25 in the form of truncated cones are
arranged in the interstices of the projections of the first projections 23
on the underside 21b of the covering 21. Third projections 27 are provided
as dynamic forming limiters underneath the first projections 23,
concentrically with their spherical segments 23b and having essentially
the same measurements.
In FIG. 4, a further embodiment of the invention is shown in a view from
the bottom of a further floor covering 31. On its upper side (shown by a
broken line in the drawing), the covering has spherical-segmentally shaped
first projections 33. Second projections 35 in the form of flat square
prisms with rounded edges and corner areas are provided on the underside
of the covering in the interstices between the first projections 33.
Furthermore, third projections 37 are provided on the underside of the
covering diagonally between these second projections 35 and aligned with
the central axis of the first projections 33. In this case also, they have
the shape of flat square prisms, but smaller lateral measurements and a
slighter height of the second projections 35, so that they only touch the
floor in the case of a load and, in addition, act as a cushion.
The scope of the invention is not limited to the examples described above,
but a number of variations are also possible for one skilled in the art.
In particular, the geometric shapes, measurements and grid sizes of the
first, second and third projections can be combined and varied in numerous
ways to adapt to the actual intended use and the load requirements of the
floor covering as well as to obtain preset cushioning characteristics.
In a special further development of the basic idea of the invention, which
can be seen with reference to FIG. 5, the floor covering has openings 8
(perforations) or rebounds 9 provided in the underside of the covering in
which the thickness of the covering is reduced locally. A further
distinguished setting of the elastic properties of the floor covering can
be obtained, on the one hand, with these special embodiments and,
especially in the case of perforations, the flow-off of water (or other
liquid) that might have collected on the top of the covering. The
additional perforations 8 or recesses 9 can be especially easily shown in
circular form, however, they can also have an elongated form following the
path of the interstices between the first and second projections of the
floor covering. A form elongated in this way especially also comprises
circular segments, however, it can also be closely adapted to the shape of
the interstices.
*
