GB2207349A

GB2207349A - Surface coverings

Info

Publication number: GB2207349A
Application number: GB08816540A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stanley Webber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-31
Filing date: 1988-07-12
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Also published as: GB8816540D0; GB8718141D0

Abstract

A surface covering is formed from used vehicle tyres by making circumferential cuts and along the shoulders of the tyre and then parting the 'tread' portion transversely to produce a strip of prepared tread portion 11a. A number of strips 11a are then placed side by side, holes (12A, 13A) are punched at their ends, and the strips joined by use of e.g. a Nylon cord (14, 15) threaded through the holes thus forming a track-like section of floor covering. <IMAGE>

Description

Surface coverings This invention relates to surface coverings and to methods of producing the same.

A problem of present day society arises in the disposal of used vehicle tyres.They do not naturally decompose or disintegrate, they produce a foul smell and vast quantities of black smoke when burnt and thus cause much ecological damage. Moreover they are not useful in other industries.

A very large! umber of used vehicle tyres are scrapped every year and thf scrapped tyres often contain as much as 85 to 90% of the original material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a useful industrial product from this waste material, and to provide a process for the production of this product.

According to the present invention there is a surface covering comprising a plurality of elongate elastomeric sections aligned in substantially parallel configuration and held in place by jointing means, such as an extended flexible member passing through holes in adjacent sections at or near the ends thereof, characterised by each section being formed from portion of a used vehicle tyre.

Each such section is preferably formed from that portion of the tyre which was originally treaded, and may retain some of the tread.

The jointing means may comprise a Nylon cord which may optionally have an internal reinforcement such as a thin steel wire.

Alternatively a series of links, or chains may be used.

The parallel sections thus form an elongated covering suitable,for example to form a temporary surface for a pathway across a lawn or field, which might be used at a garden party, fairground or showground.

A series of these elongated coverings may be joined side by side to form a more extensive carpet-like covering for a larger area such as an exhibition hall or other public place where a temporary , hard wearing , surface is needed to protect an existing floor or to prevent vehicles churning up a surface or slipping on a surface.

From another aspect the invention relates to a method of producing surface covering comprising the steps of: (a) making two circumferentialcuts ,one on each side of a used tyre at or adjacent the shoulders of the tyre; (b) making a further cut transversely across the 'tread' surface of the tyre; (c) making holes at or adjacent the ends of the strip of 'tread' surface thus produced; and (d) joining a series of these strips alongside each other to produce an elongated surface covering in track-like form.

The method may also comprise the steps of joining a plurality of these elongated surface coverings together so as to produce a larger square or rectangular floor covering.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig.1 is a side elevation of a tyre; Fig.2 is a section on the line 2 -- 2 in Fig 1 showing where the cuts are made; Fig.3 shows a length of floor covering made in accordance with the invention and illustrates three different methods of joining adjacent strips; Fig.4 illustrates a fourth method of joining the strips; and Fig.5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig.3.

In Fig. 1 is shown a used tyre 10 which has a 'tread ' portion 11 and two side walls 12 and 13 (Fig.2). To create floor covering in accordance with this invention, the side walls 12 and 13 are removed from the tyre by making two continuous circumferential cuts around the shoulders of the tyre at Al and B1 respectively.

This cutting process results in two-ring like side walls which may be retained for use in weighting down plastic sheets used as covers for harvested crops by farmers.

Being flat these rings are not easily blown about, by hurricanes etc.

Other examples of the use of these rings includetemporary road signs, road cones, and any other uses where weight is required.

A further transverse cut is made at right angles across the hoop formed by the remaining tread portion of the tyre and the cut tread portion is then opened up and laid flat.

A number of these prepared tread portions Ila are then placed parallel to each other after having single holes 12A or sets of holes 13A pierced or punched through them adjacent their ends (Fig 3). The portions lia are then joined by linking them together with a steel reinforced Nylon or other cord 14 or or 15.

Alternatively the portions Ila may be joined by individual links such as metal rings 16 (Fig.4) or by attaching the portions to a continuous chain 17 by rivets 18 (Figs. 3 and 5).

There may be two such chains, one at each end of the strips or portions.

The resultant linked portions form a surface covering in the form of a track which may be easily rolled up for transpoting and the unrolled at the site where it is to be used. A number of these tracks may be joined side by side to form a 'carpet' or contiuous floor covering as described above.

Claims

1. A surface covering comprising a plurality of elongate elastomeric sections aligned in substantially parallel configuration and held in place by jointing means, such as an extended flexible member passing through holes in adjacent sections at or near the ends thereof, characterised by each section being formed from a portion of a used vehicle tyre.

2. A surface covering according to claim 1 and in which each section is formed from that portion of the tyre which was originally treaded.

3. A surface covering according to claim 1 or claim 2 and in which the jointing means is a reinforced Nylon cord.

4. A surface covering according to claim 1 and in which the jointing means comprises a series of links or chains.

5. A series of elongated surface coverins according to any preceding claim joined side by side to form a 'carpet'.

6. A method of producing a surface covering comprising the steps of : (a) making two circumferential cuts, one on each side of a used tyre at or adjacent the shoulders of the tyre; (b) making a further cut transversely across then 'tread' of the tyre; (c) making holes at or adjacent the ends of the strip of 'tread' surface thus produced; and (d) joining a series of these strips alongside each other to produce an elongated floor covering in track-like form.

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7. A method according to claim 6 and in which a plurality of said elongated floor coverings are joined side by side so as to produce a 'carpet'.

8. A method according to claim 7 and in which the 'carpet' is of square or rectangular configuration.

9. A floor covering substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of producing a floor covering substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.