AU2005100142A4 - Improved Anti Slip Surface - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT IMPROVED ANTI SLIP SURFACE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: IMPROVED ANTI SLIP SURFACE For many years Anti slip surfaces have consisted of EVA foam sheeting incorporating a grooved surface to provide traction under a person's foot.

In particular the current invention relates to an Anti Slip surface for the use on surfcraft.

Over the past few years manoeuvres performed on surfcraft have taken a noticeable change where it is now common for a surfer to attempt arial manoeuvres while riding along the wave. Such arial manoeuvres and other radical techniques have prompted the surfer to roll his or her ankle and stand on the edge of the foot. Rather than the original technique which was to stand more or less flat footed while riding along the wave.

The current invention is a method of improving the anti slip qualities on the vertical surfaces of a traction pad by application of an ink or similar substance.

Until recent breakthroughs in printing technology it was not possible to successfully print on the vertical surfaces of a traction pad.

The printed ink works to improve the performance of the anti slip surface in three ways.

1. By applying the ink to a portion of the EVA foam material the areas either side of the applied ink remain soft and the area with applied ink becomes harder More Ridged Hence when downward or sideward pressure is applied to the surface by the person's foot the areas either side of the ink applied area depress which leaves a harder raised portion in the area that the ink has been applied.

This raised portion helps to increase surface tension and therefore improves the traction on the wet surface.

2. The ink applied to the foam surface stiffens and helps prevent the higher sections of the surface from crushing and distorting when downward and sideward pressure is applied by the persons foot.

Hence improving the non slip quality of the traction surface.

3. Preferably the ink used has anti slip qualities within itself which increase the surface tension between the underneath of the persons foot and the traction surface when wet.

O A traction surface in accordance with this invention comprises of ink applied to the vertical surfaces of a grooved profile.

C)

STo provide the maximum anti slip qualities an EVA based ink is preferred, however other ink types may be suitable such as acrylic or rubber based inks.

The preferred method of Ink application for the current invention is Water Transfer Printing, O however other liguid transfer printing systems or spraying methods may have a satifactory result.

O For the purpose of providing the maximum non slip qualities it is preferred that the ink is applied to approximately fifty percent of the total under foot surface area. However ink application to a greater or lesser surface area will still improve the non slip quality of the traction surface.

The ink applied area may form a decorative pattern, pictures or logo's across part of or the entire grooved traction surface.

The current invention is most suitable and designed to improve the traction on various watercraft such as surfboards, windsurf boards and jet ski's. However it is quite common that similar traction pad material is used as anti slip material in other wet areas such as boating, yachting and for the top surface on some footwear, mostly thongs.

Although the surface of a thong does not need the same high performance traction as a traction pad for surfing, it is desirable by surfers as a trend to wear the same traction on their thongs as used on their surfboard.

The invention maybe better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodements of the invention which: Figure 1 is a section view of a common grooved traction pad showing the horizontal 1 sloped 2 and vertical 3 surfaces of the traction pad.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a common grooved traction pad 1 with the dotted areas 2, 3, 4 showing examples of areas where the ink could be applied.

-3- Figure 3 is a view of a common grooved traction pad 1 showing the ink applied to the horizontal, sloped and vertical surfaces within area 2.

Figure 4 is an expanded view of a grooved traction pad 1 showing the ink 2 applied to the vertical surface 3.

Figure 5 is an expanded view of a grooved traction pad 1 showing how the ink 2 applied to the vertical surface 3 helps to prevent downward compression.

Claims (4)

1. An Anti slip surface having ink applied to the vertical surfaces of the profiled material.

2. An Anti slip surface According to claim 1, having ink applied that continues across horizontal, sloped and vertical surfaces.

3. An Anti slip surface according to claims 1-2 whereas ink applied to the horizontal, sloped and vertical surfaces creates a picture, logo or decoration.

4. An Anti slip surface according to claims 1-3 whereas an ink or similar substance is applied to the vertical surfaces of the profiled material for the purpose of stiffening or hardening the anti slip material. An anti slip surface substantially as here in before described with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings. Perry Underwood 16 FEBRUARY 2005