GB2262437A

GB2262437A - An anti-slip mat

Info

Publication number: GB2262437A
Application number: GB9127197A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Pardy
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1991-12-21
Filing date: 1991-12-21
Publication date: 1993-06-23
Also published as: GB9127197D0

Abstract

An anti-slip mat comprises a matrix 20 of a relatively rigid material interspersed on at least one face of the matrix with pockets of a soft, high friction material 24. The anti-slip mat provides a high level of friction to prevent relative movement between two surfaces and is tolerant of a variation in relative spacing between the surfaces. The pockets may appear on both sides of the matrix and form a frictional bond with the surfaces to be secured against slipping or the mat may be bonded to one of the surfaces to be secured (eg by bolts) and have high friction material exposed on only one surface of the mat. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ANTI-SLIP MAT This invention relates to an anti-slip mat to be placed between two surfaces to prevent the surfaces slipping over one another.

A particular application for this invention lies in preventing slipping between the undersurface of a vehicle body and a fuel tank located beneath the undersurface. It is conventional to suspend a fuel tank in straps beneath the undersurface, but when the tank is full and therefore heavy, and when the vehicle suffers a lateral acceleration as occurs when cornering, then there is a tendency for the tank to slip relative to the undersurface of the vehicle body, and this causes fretting and other undesirable movements.

Where the fuel tank is of plastics, the position of the upper surface of the tank relative to the undersurface of the body can also vary, from tank to tank and also, within each vehicle, as a result of changes in ambient temperature which may cause the tank walls to expand.

The invention is not however limited to this application, and can find use in other applications. The object of the invention however is to provide an anti-slip mat which is tolerant of a variation in relative spacing between two surfaces, and yet provides a high level of friction to prevent relative movement between the surfaces.

According to the invention there is provided an anti-slip mat to be placed between two surfaces to prevent slip between the surfaces, the mat comprising a matrix of a relatively rigid material with a plurality of recesses in at least one face of the matrix and a high friction material contained in at least some of the recesses and being exposed at said at least one face of the mat.

The relatively rigid material is preferably a plastics material such as a polyamide or a polypropylene. The high friction material is preferably a material which is relatively soft but which has a high degree of friction or stiction. A suitable material is a mastic.

In a preferred embodiment, the mat has recesses in both its faces, and the recesses in one face are offset relative to the recesses in the other face.

Preferably the relatively rigid material has sufficient flexibility to yield when placed in compression between the two surfaces.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view through a vehicle floor with a fuel tank suspended beneath the floor; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively plan and cross sectional views through a first form of anti-slip mat in accordance with the invention; Figures 4 and 5 are respectively plan and cross sectional views through a second form of anti-slip mat in accordance with the invention; and Figure 6 shows a detail of part of the mat of Figures 4 and 5, after it has been compressed.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle floor 10 and a fuel tank 12 suspended beneath the floor by means of a strap 14 secured to the floor at its ends by means of bolts 16. The tank 12 can conveniently be a blow-moulded plastics fuel tank. When the tank is assembled to the vehicle, the bolts 16 will normally be tightened to pull the tank right up against the underside of the floor 10 of the vehicle, but where the tank is of plastics and the floor of the vehicle is of painted metal, there will be very little friction between the two.

When the vehicle is subjected to a lateral acceleration, the whole tank will tend to move to one side, because the lateral constraint afforded by the strap 14 is very limited.

In order to prevent this lateral movement, it is proposed to place an anti-slip mat 30 between the top surface of the tank 12 and the undersurface of the floor 10 to prevent sliding movement.

Figures 2 and 3 show an anti-slip mat which comprises a matrix 20 with saucer-shaped depressions 22 in each surface.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the depressions 22a in the undersurface of the mat are offset from the depressions 22 in the top surface. Figure 2 shows the depressions 22a in the bottom surface by dotted lines.

The depressions are all filled with a mastic compound 24.

Initially the mastic will be filled into the depressions until it lies at least level and possibly slightly proud of the surface of the matrix 20.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative construction where the matrix 120 is in the form of a square grid with depressions 122, 122a, 126 and 126a. The depressions 122 and 122a are filled with mastic 124, while the depressions 126 and 126a are left empty. As shown, the mastic initially projects slightly proud of the matrix 120.

When the mat is placed in the position indicated at 30 in Figure 1, the mastic 24 comes into frictional contact on one side with the vehicle floor 10 and on the other side with the top surface of the tank 12. Because these two bodies of mastic are connected to one another through the matrix 20, if there is any tendency for the tank to slip sideways relative to the vehicle, then the friction exerted by the mastic on the respective surface will resist such movement.

When the tank 12 is pushed up firmly against the floor 10, the matrix 20, 120 may distort to a certain extent, and Figure 6 shows how the matrix 120 of Figures 4 and 5 can distort under such conditions. This distortion will enhance the friction between the surfaces 10 and 12 when a compressive force is exerted as indicated by the arrows 32, 34. The surfaces of the bodies of mastic 124 will then be firmly pressed against the surfaces 10 and 12.

The anti-slip mat described here can be used in other applications also. Instead of mastic in the depressions or pockets 22, 22a, a sponge-like material could be used.

Under certain circumstances, the mat may be actually joined by bolts or by some other form of bonding to one of the surfaces with the high friction material exposed on one face only.

Claims

1. An anti-slip mat to be placed between two surfaces to prevent slip between the surfaces, the mat comprising a matrix of a relatively rigid material with a plurality of recesses in at least one face of the matrix and a high friction material contained in at least some of the recesses and being exposed at said at least one face of the mat.

2. A mat as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the relatively rigid material is a plastics material.

3. A mat as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the high friction material is a material which is relatively soft but which has a high degree of friction or stiction.

4. A mat as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the high friction material is a mastic.

5. A mat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mat has recesses in both its faces, and the recesses in one face are offset relative to the recesses in the other face.

6. A mat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the relatively rigid material has sufficient flexibility to yield when placed in compression between the two surfaces.

7. An anti-slip mat substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 or Figures 4,5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.