EP1364359A1

EP1364359A1 - Floor carpet

Info

Publication number: EP1364359A1
Application number: EP02716542A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jonny Lindros
Original assignee: Mattrek AB
Current assignee: Mattrek AB
Priority date: 2001-02-01
Filing date: 2002-01-31
Publication date: 2003-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-31
Also published as: SE0100319L; ATE356399T1; SE518311C2; WO2002061719A1; SE0100319D0; EP1364359B1; DK1364359T3; DE60218635D1

Abstract

A floor carpet designed as information carrier for removable elements (3) similar to sheets, such as advertising sheet (4), which floor carpet (1) comprises a base (7) and a wearing course (9). The carpet (1) comprises at least one in the wearing course (9) formed recess (13) comprising an essentially horizontal application surface (19), provided for the element (3), wherein the floor carpet (1), within the area of the recess (13), comprises a reinforcing portion (15, 17).

Description

A floor carpet

The background of the invention

The invention refers to a floor carpet according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to the furniture and carpet industry, but is not limited to these. Various types of carpets are used at entrances which being passed by many people. These carpets have for advertisement purpose an information means, in the state of a sign with an advertisement, logotype or the like, applied to the carpet visible to the people passing onto or next to the floor carpet. Some carpets are also designed for permanent advertising.

There are floor carpets with permanent signs and with removable signs. The floor carpet as such serves among other things for cleaning the shoes of people and as a carrier of said sign. The floor carpets are also subjected to transportation to a laundry, then being re-used at the entrances. The invention also relates to carpets which are used at other places in a building than entrances or outdoors.

Today removable signs with advertising are applied to floor carpets by means of various types of constructions. In the document WO 99/33043 is shown a frame structure with a carpet, where a transparent sheet by means of various fastening devices can be applied to a recess of the carpet, such as self-adhering tape, hooks, magnetism etc.

Known constructions comprise a plurality of removable parts, which may involve functional disorder which in turn means, when applying the advertisement to the carpet, great effort for mounting personnel, such as a shopkeeper. This leads in turn to unnecessary great costs. The construction also involves that soil and water from shoes find its way into the slits of the construction. This means that the life of the advertising sheet is reduced. Additionally, the cleaning cost will become unnecessary great. A subject to be solved by the present invention is to set aside said disadvantages of known floor carpets arranged for information means, such as advertising signs etc.

The subject of the present invention is also to achieve a floor carpet, which is simple to handle and which is not causing the information means damage when using the carpet.

A further object of the invention is to achieve a floor carpet, which is easy to transport while the carpet proves a good strength.

A further object of the invention is to make the entire carpet washable, wherein the floor carpet for this purpose proves a sufficient strength.

For these objects the floor carpet according to the present invention is characterised by that stated in the characterising portion of claim 1.

This means that the floor carpet can be used for elements similar to sheets in a cost- effective manner, at the same time as the handling of the floor carpet is made easy. A person collecting carpets for cleaning does thus not need to perform a time-consuming work for transportation and stacking of the carpets, since the carpets according to the invention to a great degree resist outer influence. In the event that an area of the recess of the carpet is projected outwards when the carpet being wound up, the carpet can resist outer influence, such as impacts and onto the carpet pressing objects.

Suitably is the application surface raised above the upper plane of the base for producing a surface of said element, free from water, dust or other soiling material by that the eventually on the element lying fouling and the water, by means of the law of gravitation, effort from the higher situated application surface towards the upper plane of the base. In this way the application surface can be kept clean from water and soil, which means longer life of such advertising sheet. This means savings in costs regarding the production of the advertising sheets and means an aesthetic impression within an entrance where the floor carpet can be placed, since the advertisement of the floor carpet is kept clean from water and soil. The reinforcement also means that the plane of the base not will be exposed for harmful sunlight, which will yield a longer life of the floor carpet according to the invention.

Preferably has the application surface its extension essentially in the same plane as the upper plane of the base and with a slight inclination in relation to the lower plane of the base. In this way water and soil can drain off, and the advertising sheet maintain clean.

Advantageously, the reinforcing portion constitutes the warp of the floor carpet. Accordingly, the production of a floor carpet comprising a warp can be simplified, since the warp does not have to be removed within the area of the recess. The warp contributes to an increased strength within the area of the recess.

Suitably has the application surface its extension essentially in the same plane as an upper plane of the wearing course. In this way the life of the advertising sheet is lengthened since the edges of the advertising sheet effective are protected from kicks. The achieved framing of the advertising sheet will also be aesthetic pleasing.

Preferably, the reinforcing portion constitutes a flexible support layer permanent fixed to the upper plane of the base, wherein an upper plane of said flexible support layer represents said application surface. In this way the floor carpet can be wind-up, wherein the transport of the floor carpet will be cost-effective, at the same time as the strength is satisfactory within the area of the recess of the floor carpet.

Suitably, the floor carpet and the reinforcing portion are in the state of the support layer made of rubber being fastened to each other by means of vulcanization. By means of this characterising feature, a floor carpet is achieved with a heavy mass within the area of the recess, which means that the floor carpet will be stable in its unrolled state on the floor and thus will not have the tendency to fold if a person kicks the floor carpet. The vulcanization implies a cost-efficient method to permanent fasten the reinforcing portion, or the support layer, wherein also eventual pile of nylon can be covered by the support layer. Suitably, the reinforcing portion is so stiff that the floor carpet within the area of the recess can be kept flat when the floor carpet is placed on the floor, but at the same time so flexible that it permits an up-winding of the floor carpet by hand.

Advantageously, the reinforcing portion, in the state of the support layer, presents with at least a portion of the application surface, a slight inclined plane, which plane in relation to a horizontal plane presents an angle with its end adjacent to the side edge of the support layer, wherein said support layer obtains a slight arched application surface. In this way water and soil can drain off the application surface at the area of the side edge of the support layer in a efficient manner, wherein otherwise a flat surface of the application surface can be drained more effectively.

Preferably, the wearing course comprises a pile, wherein the pile is adjacent to the side edge of the support layer. By that the ends of the pile lie close to the area of the side edge of the support layer, which makes the drainage of water and soil downwards to the upper plane of the base further easier. At the same time the floor carpet with a mounted advertising sheet an aesthetic pleasing appearance, since the advertising sheet achieves a framing by means of the pile. The pile within the area around the advertising sheet can thus receive water and soil in all directions in direction from the advertising sheet. A thickness of the support layer corresponding to the height of the pile, within the area of the recess, means that a heavy mass is obtained within this area. This means that the floor carpet lies steadily on the floor in the state unrolled, and thus will be kept in position together with the advertising sheet if a person kicks the floor carpet.

Suitably, at least one groove is arranged at the upper plane of the base and adjacent to the side edge of the support layer. In this way water and soil can be collected within the upper plane of the base in an efficient manner, by that the distribution of water take place in an effective way along the whole length of the groove, which means that further water can be led away from the application surface and from that thereto applied advertising sheet.

Advantageously, at least one shoulder is formed at the application surface within the area of the side edge of the support layer, wherein the shoulder is higher than the thickness of the element similar to sheets. By this shoulder is achieved an obstacle for example for a tip of the toe, which otherwise would take hold of the edge of the advertising sheet, leading to for example ugly dog's ears of the sheet. This effect is also achieved by letting the pile to extend higher than the height of the application surface. For making water and soil to pass the shoulder channels are suitably arranged between the lowest point of the application surface and the base.

The invention will now be explained with reference with the drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 schematically in a perspective view shows a floor carpet according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 1A schematically shows the floor carpet along a cross section A- A in fig. 1,

Fig. IB schematically shows a cross section of a floor caφet according to a second embodiment, Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the floor caφet in fig. IB in an enlarged view,

Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross section of a floor caφet according to a third embodiment,

Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross section of the floor caφet in fig. 2, but with entirely retained pile,

Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross section of a floor caφet according to a fourth embodiment, and

Fig. 6 schematically shows a cross section of a floor caφet according to a fifth embodiment. A first embodiment will now be explained in greater detail by means of fig. 1 and fig. 1 A. Fig. 1 shows in perspective a floor caφet 1 according to the invention. Fig. 1 A shows a cross section of the floor caφet 1 according to the indicated section A- A in fig. 1. The floor caφet 1 is designed as an information carrier for removable elements 3 similar to sheets, such as advertising sheets 4. Onto the upper side of the advertising sheet 4 is an advertising print 5 made. The floor caφet 1 comprises a base 7 and a wearing course 9. The floor caφet 1 is made of rubber and the wearing course 9 is represented by a pile 11 (see also fig. 2). The pile 11 is made of nylon.

The floor caφet 1 according to the invention comprises a recess 13. The recess 13 has been achieved by way of removing the pile 11 within the area of the recess 13. The recess 13 can also be produced by that the pile 11, during the application of the pile 11 to a waφ 15 (see fig. 2), is not arranged to said waφ 15 within the area of the recess 13. The advertising sheet 4 can be placed into the recess 13 and attached by means of self-adhesive tape (not shown) and so removable from the with pile uncovered base 7 of the floor caφet 1, which base according to this embodiment constitutes an application surface 19 with an essentially horizontal extension principally along the same plane as the upper plane 21 of the base 7 (see fig. 2). The advertising sheet 4 can also comprise a ready-pasted bonding surface (not shown), a so called adhesive reverse. The waφ 15 makes a reinforcement of the floor caφet 1 within the area of the recess 13 and thus constitutes a reinforcing portion of the floor caφet 1 according to the invention.

In fig. IB and fig. 2 are shown a second embodiment of the invention. A flexible support layer 17 at the base 7 arranged for the advertising sheet 4 constitutes in this embodiment a reinforcing portion within the area of the recess 13. The support layer 17 comprises an essentially plane application surface 19, which onto the advertising sheet 4 can be applied by self-adhesive tape. Of course, also further methods of fastening can be used for the advertising sheet 4, as glueing, which is possible to break up, joint by Velcro © fastening, staples etc. When, for example, service personnel shall collect the floor caφet 1 for cleaning, it is possible for them to remove the advertising sheet 4 and wind-up the floor caφet 1 for a facility in the transportation. The reinforcing portion arranged within the area of the recess 13 according to the invention results in that the floor caφet 1 in an up-wounded state within the area of the recess 13 can maintain its form and that the recess 13 achieves sufficient strength to resist shocks and bumps. The service personnel can also wind-up the floor caφet 1 together with the flexible advertising sheet 4, and the advertising sheet 4 is removed from the floor caφet 1 afterwards at the laundry. The invention thus involves that the advertising sheet 4 is protected from damage during the transport.

The support layer 17 and the base 7 of the floor caφet 1 are made of rubber. The base 7 and the support layer 17 are fastened to each other by means of vulcanization. The support layer 17 is so stiff that the floor caφet 1 within the area of the recess 13 can be kept flat when the floor caφet is placed on a floor (not shown), but at the same time so flexible that it permits an up-winding of the floor caφet by hand.

The support layer 17 shown in fig. IB and fig. 2 has a thickness, which implies that the application surface 19 of the support layer 17 will be placed at a distance above the upper plane 21 of the base 7. In this way, by means of the law of gravitation, the advertising sheet 4 will be free from water, soil and dust. This means that objects, such as loose particles, due to the laws of nature, effort from a higher position to a lower position. When the water or the soil drain off the application surface 19 with at this surface applied advertising sheet 4, the water and soil particles will be collected onto the upper plane 21 of the base 7 in the pile 11. Since the advertising sheet 4 of the floor caφet 1 can be kept clean from water and dust, this will imply savings in costs regarding the production of the advertising sheets 4 and gives an aesthetic pleasing appearance at an entrance (not shown) where the floor caφet 1 can be placed. In fig. 2 is shown how the support layer 17 has a thickness such that its application layer 19 will have an extension after a plane essentially corresponding to an upper plane 10 of said wearing course 9. This accomplish a protection for the advertising sheet 4. The support layer 17 is permanently fastened at the base 7. The distinction between the support layer 17 and the base 7 is shown with a dashed and dotted line L. A thickness of the support layer corresponding to the height of the pile, within the area of the recess, permits that a heavy mass is reached within this area. This means that the floor caφet lies stable in its unrolled state on the floor and thus, together with the advertising sheet, will be in place if a person kicks the floor caφet.

Fig. 3 shows schematically a cross-section of a portion of a floor caφet 1 according to a third embodiment. The reinforcing potion is according to this embodiment designed as a support layer 17 with a portion of the application surface 19 with an inclined plane 23. The extension of the plane 23 has, relatively to a horizontal plane h, an angle α. The inclined plane 23 is ended at the side edge 25 of the support layer 17, wherein the application surface 19 will have its lowest point at this area. The application surface 19 is thus slight arched, which facilitates the draining of soil and water from the advertising sheet 4. The arch is such that the draining is facilitated at the same time the application of advertising sheets 4 will be more easy and this will be free from soil particles and water. The pile 11 of the wearing course 9 is adjacent to the side edge 25 of the support layer 17. The part of the pile which is positioned nearest the side edge 25 is marked with 12. In this way the advertising sheet 4 will achieve an aesthetic pleasing framing, where the pile 12 at the same time will bring about an additionally draining of water from the application surface 19. That is, a draining occurs when the end of the pile 12 will come into contact with the corner 14. This contact between pile and application surface 14 is shown in fig. 3 and the pile 12' as a dotted line.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a portion of a floor caφet 1 according to the second embodiment. During the production of this floor caφet 1 has the support layer 17 been mounted by means of vulcanization directly onto the upper side plane 21 of the base 7 with the pile intact, as is shown with the reference sign 11'. The vulcanization leads to that the pile 11 ' of nylon melt at the distinction between the support layer 17 and the base 7 of rubber.

Fig. 5 shows schematically a portion of a floor caφet 1 according to a fourth embodiment. A groove 26 is achieved by that the wearing course 9, in form of winded pile 27, starts with a distance from the side edge 25 of the support layer 17. The groove 26 is arranged at the upper plane 21 of the base and adjacent to the side edge 25 of the support layer 17 and extends around the support layer 17, which means that the water can be evenly distributed onto the upper plane 21 of the base 7 in cavities 20 of the wearing course 9. The width X of the groove 26 is approximately 0,25 - 1,5 cm, preferably 0,5 - 1,0 cm.

A shoulder 31 is formed at the application surface 19 within the area of the side edge 25 of the support layer 17. The shoulder 31 is formed for protecting the edge of the advertising sheet 4 and has a height, which extends above the thickness of the advertising sheet 4. In this way the shoulder 31 protects the advertising sheet 4 from getting damaged by for example the tip of a toe (not shown). Channels 35 are formed with an upper opening 37 arranged at a lowest point of the application surface 19 and with a lower outlet 39 ending at the side edge 25. In such way water also can be removed from the total area of the application surface 19.

In fig. 6 is shown a fifth embodiment of the invention. The application surface 19 of a support layer 17' has its extension essentially along the same plane as the upper side plane 21 of the base 7, but with a, relatively to a lower plane N of the base 7, slight inclined plane S. In such way water and soil can drain off from the advertising sheet 4 and this remains clean. This is obvious when the floor caφet 1 according to the invention is placed onto a horizontal and level floor (not shown). The wearing course 9 comprises in this embodiment a so called not cut pile 32, where the waφ is omitted and the reinforcing portion constitutes said support layer 17'.

Operation

The floor caφet 1 according to the invention is formed as an information carrier for removable element 3 similar to sheets, such as advertising sheet 4, which floor caφet 1 comprises a base 7 and a wearing course 9. The floor caφet 1 is preferably made of nitrile rubber or the like. The wearing course 9, which for example constitutes a so called twisted cut pile, is preferably made of nylon or other synthetic materials. Of course, also cotton or other natural material can be used. The waφ 15 is preferably made of a synthetic material and holds the pile 11. Of course, also natural material can be used.

When the reinforcing portion is formed as a flexible support layer 17 of rubber and with a thickness approximately corresponding to the height of the pile 11, a mass is achieved within the area of the recess 13, which will give the floor caφet 1 a stable position on a floor. The base 7 is preferably made of rubber and is vulcanized with the support layer 17. In such manner a high strength within the area of the recess 13 is achieved. Of course, the support layer 17 can be joined with the base 7 by means of other fixing methods, such as gluing.

The removable element, similar to sheets, such as the advertising sheet 4, is flexible and can be made of plastic. The fastening of the advertising sheet 4 can be done by means of tape, adhesive on both sides, Velcro © fastening, an adhesive reverse side of the advertising sheet 4 etc.

When personnel shall transport the floor caφet 1 from for example a shop to a laundry, they wind up the floor caφet 1 together with the advertising sheet and stow in the caφet in a lorry. At the laundry the advertising sheet 4 is removed in one simple operation, whereupon the floor caφet 1 being cleaned. When the floor caφet 1 has been cleaned in the laundry, the advertising sheet once again is mounted in the recess, and the floor caφet again will be transported to a shop.

Claims

1. A floor caφet designed as information carrier for removable elements (3) similar to sheets, such as advertising sheet (4), which floor caφet (1) comprises a base (7) and a wearing course (9), characterised by that the caφet (1) comprises at least one in the wearing course (9) formed recess (13) comprising an essentially horizontal application surface (19) , provided for the element (3), wherein the floor caφet (1), within the area of the recess (13), comprises a reinforcing portion (15, 17).

2. A floor caφet according to claim 1, characterised by that the application surface (19) is raised above the upper plane (21) of the base (7) for producing a surface of said element (3) free from water, dust or other soiling material by that the eventually on the element (3) lying soil particles and the water by means of the law of gravitation effort from the higher situated application surface (19) towards the upper plane (21) of the base (7).

3. A floor caφet according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by that the application surface (19) has its extension essentially in the same plane as the upper plane (21) of the base (7) and with a slight inclination (S) relatively to the lower plane (N) of the base, wherein the reinforcing portion constitutes the waφ (15) of the floor caφet.

4. A floor caφet according to any one of the claims 1-3, characterised by that the application surface (19) has its extension essentially in the same plane as an upper plane (10) of the wearing course (9).

5. A floor caφet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by that the reinforcing portion constitutes a flexible support layer (17) fixed to the upper plane (21) of the base (7), wherein an upper plane of said flexible support layer (17) represents said application surface (19).

6. A floor caφet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by that the floor caφet (1) and the reinforcing portion in the state of the support layer (17) are made of rubber and that these are fastened to each other by means of vulcanization.

7. A floor caφet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by that the reinforcing portion in the state of the support layer (17) presents with at least a portion of the application surface a slight inclined plane (23), which plane (23) relatively to a horizontal plane (h) presents an angle (α) with its end adjacent to the side edge (25) of the support layer (17), wherein said support layer (17) obtains a slight arched application surface (19).

8. A floor caφet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by that the wearing course (9) comprises a pile (11), wherein the pile (11) is adjacent to the side edge (25) of the support layer (17).

9. A floor caφet according to any of the preceding claims, characterising by that at least one groove (26) is arranged at the upper plane (21) of the base (7) and adjacent to the side edge (25) of the support layer (17).

10. A floor caφet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by that at least one shoulder (31) is formed at the application surface (19) within the area of the side edge (25) of the support layer (17), wherein the shoulder (31) is higher than the thickness of the element (3) similar to sheets.