GB2264121A

GB2264121A - Floor covering assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2264121A
Application number: GB9202816A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul David France
Original assignee: BTR PLC
Current assignee: BTR PLC
Priority date: 1992-02-11
Filing date: 1992-02-11
Publication date: 1993-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-11
Also published as: GB9202816D0; GB2264121B

Abstract

A floor covering for providing a non-slip fire-resistant surface comprises two pluralities of strips (11, 12) of non- combustible material arranged in a mutually parallel side-by-side relationship with the strips being secured together against transverse separation by retention wires (17) extending through the assembly of strips, strips (11) of one plurality being of a shape and/or dimension different from strips (12) of the other plurality. The strips (11, 12) may be of aluminium. <IMAGE>

Description

FLOOR COVERING The present invention relates to a floor covering of a modular type construction which may comprise exclusively, but not necessarily, component parts of non-combustible temperature resistant material.

It relates also to a floor covering comprising component parts which define a strongly textured surface suitable, in use, for example to define the boundary of a hazard area.

By temperature resistant material is meant herein a material which does not combust, deform or otherwise degrade when exposed to temperatures up to 3000C for up to 30 minutes In accordance with one of its aspects the present invention provides a floor covering comprising a strip assembly of a plurality of strips of non-combustible temperature resistant material as herein defined arranged in a mutually parallel side-by-side relationship, said strips being secured together against transverse separation by retention wires arranged to extend transversely from one edge of the strip assembly to another edge thereof through aligned apertures provided in successive strips of the assembly.

The present invention envisages that not all of said strips of the assembly need be identical.

Two pluralities of strips may be provided with the strips of at least one plurality all being substantially identical and of a shape and/or dimension different from strips of the other plurality Where two pluralities of strips are provided, it is preferred generally that the strips of one plurality alternate with those of the other plurality thereby to provide a uniform surface texture and visual appearance. The present invention envisages, however, that strips of two pluralities may be provided in a non-uniform manner. For example, in one zone the floor covering may comprise substantially all of one type of strip material and in another zone it may comprise substantially all of the other type or a combination of the two types whereby a user becomes physically and visually aware of a difference of surface texture when moving from one zone to the other.

The strips of one or each plurality may be of a solid shape in cross-section. For example they may be of a rectangular cross-sectional shape and it is envisaged that preferably said strips of rectangular shape will be arranged with a longer cross-sectional dimension extending perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering.

The strips of the or at least one plurality may be of a hollow type construction whereby the strip material defines for example an edge channel or a tubular internal passage. A strip of hollow form preferably comprises a section of material which, in use, in the assembled floor covering extends vertically, i e perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering.

Examples of suitable cross-sectional shapes for a hollow type strip are strips of an H or a C section in which a portion of material interconnecting the verticals of the H or the end portions of the C is disposed to lie substantially perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering.

Preferably contacting edges of successive strips are of a different height dimension as considered relative to the plane of the floor covering thereby to provide discontinuities that create a surface texture effect.

Alternatively or additionally at least one exposed surface of each or some strips of the strip assembly may be textured, for example by provision of a riblike profile.

The wires extending through the assembly of strips may each be U shaped. The base portion of the U shape may lie adjacent one edge of the floor covering and the free ends may lie, in a deformed condition, against an opposite edge of the floor covering.

The wires may locate against edge strips which are of a type used to form said strip assembly or they may contact specially provided edge strips. The specially provided edge strips may be of for example a C shape in cross-section with an opening facing outwards to facilitate insertion of the wires on assembly and deformation of free ends to lie against a portion of a C shape edge strip, within the channel space defined by that edge strip.

Alternatively the floor covering may be provided with edge strips of a kind which substantially fully conceal the transverse wires and which are independently secured, for example by retention screws, to at least some of the intervening strips of said strip assembly.

An edge strip, and particularly one which conceals a transverse retention wire, may be provided with a profiled surface, for example a bevel surface, such that the floor covering has a substantially smooth edge. Alternatively, the profile may be selected to co-operate with an edge strip of another section of floor covering and provide a surface continuity or discontinuity therebetween.

Preferably the floor covering comprises a first plurality of strips of solid cross-section arranged to alternate with strips of a second plurality of substantially hollow construction, each strip of a second plurality being substantially of an H shape in cross-section and provided with a surface rib extending longitudinally of the strip in alignment with the web of material which interconnects the verticals of the H. Preferably said rib extends from a median plane of the floor covering for a distance further than the upper edges of the solid strips of the first plurality.

The plurality of strips may be symmetrical about the median plane of the strip assembly whereby the floor covering may be reversed for example in the event of damage or surface marking of one surface.

Suitable materials for forming the strips include aluminium, steel and temperature resistant plastics, Whilst the invention is described as relating to a floor covering and generally will be supported by a solid base layer such as a layer of concrete, it is to be understood that the term floor covering embraces a structure which acts as a covering for a space thereby to provide a floor. Thus the floor covering may be designed to have sufficient strength to act also as a support structure for the surface layer defined by the floor covering of the invention.

The floor covering may be supported and located only at localised regions, for example at edge regions defined by ends of the strips of the strip assembly.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of part of a floor covering in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one type of strip in the covering of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of another type of strip in the covering of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 show details of respective edges of the floor covering, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the part of a floor covering shown in Figure 1.

A floor covering 10 for use as a mat comprises a first plurality of rectangular section aluminium strips 11 arranged to alternate with a second plurality of hollow type aluminium strips 12.

The strips 11 (see Figure 2) are of a rectangular shape in cross-section and in the mat assembly as shown in Figure 1 are arranged to lie with their longer crosssectional edges 9 extending perpendicular to the plane of the mat.

The hollow type strips 12 (see Figure 3) are of an H shape as viewed in cross-section and are orientated such that the cross member web 13 of each H extends perpendicular relative to the plane of the mat. Each H section strip is provided on its oppositely outwardly facing surfaces 14,15 with a rib 16 which extends longitudinally relative to the length of the strip at a position aligned with the web 13.

The strips 11,12 are each provided with apertures 19 at regular intervals along their length, each H section strip being provided with apertures in its web section 13. The apertures are provided at regular intervals and at the same spacing in each strip such that the assembly of strips 11,12 when arranged to lie mutually parallel in a side-by-side relationship as shown in Figure 1 may be held against transverse separation by means of transversely extending wires 17 of high tensile steel.

Each wire 17 is substantially U shaped. That is, it has a central base part 18 which can lie adjacent an edge strip 11" (see Figure 4) to extend between two successive holes 19 in that strip and the free ends of the wire 17 are bent towards one another to lie against an edge strip 11' (see Figure 5) at the other edge of the assembly of strips.

The mat assembly 10 is completed by provision of edge cover strips 25 which are of a channel-type construction thereby to encompass the base portions 18 and end portions 20 of the retention wires 17.

The edge strips 25 are held in place by screws 21 provided at intervals along the length of each strip and which secure screw-threadedly with openings in the edge strips (see right-hand portion of Figure 1) at positions longitudinally aligned with one another and displaced from the positions at which those strips are apertured for the transverse retention wires.

Each hollow strip 12 has a spacing of the side surfaces 14,15 which is less than the cross-sectional length of the longer side 9 of each solid rectangular strip 11 such that a surface discontinuity arises at the position where the two types of strip abut one another in an arrangement, as illustrated, in which the strips are all disposed symmetrically about a median plane of the mat. Surface discontinuities are achieved also by the aforedescribed ribs 16.

The ribs 16 are dimensioned such that each strip 12 has a greater thickness in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the mat than the dimension of each strip 11 in that direction. Thus when supported by a flat sub-structure the mat will rest on the lower ribs 16 and load applied to the intervening strips 11 will be transmitted via the wires 17 and webs 13 to the lower, downwardly facing ribs 16.

In the aforedescribed construction the wires 17 and retention screws are of steel and the edge strips 25, in common with the main strips 11 and 12, are of aluminium. There is thus provided a mat structure which is able to resist prolonged exposure to high temperatures but which nevertheless has a textured surface able to provide both a cleaning action and physical and visual indication to the user that he may be approaching a potential hazard.

A floor covering in accordance with the present invention is particularly suitable for use in a potential hazard area such as the approach to an escalator and more particularly but not exclusively an underground escalator installation in respect of which it is particularly important to provide fire resistance and avoid generation of toxic fumes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A floor covering comprising a strip assembly of a plurality of strips of non-combustible temperature resistant material as hereinbefore defined arranged in a mutually parallel side-by-side relationship, said strips being secured together against transverse separation by retention wires arranged to extend transversely from one edge of the strip assembly to another edge thereof through aligned apertures provided in successive strips of the assembly.

2. A floor covering according to claim 1 wherein said strip assembly comprises two pluralities of strips and the strips of at least one plurality are all substantially identical to one another.

3. A floor covering according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the strip assembly comprises two pluralities of strips with the strips of one plurality being of a shape and/or dimension different from strips of the other plurality.

4. A floor covering according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the strips of one plurality alternate with those of the other plurality.

5. A floor covering according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and having a first zone which comprises substantially all of one type of strip material and another zone which comprises substantially all of the other type or a combination of the two types of strip.

6. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising strips of a solid shape in cross-section.

7. A floor covering according to claim 6 wherein said strips of a solid shape are of a rectangular crosssectional shape and arranged with a longer cross-sectional dimension extending perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering.

8. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising strips of a hollow type construction.

9. A floor covering according to claim 8 wherein a strip comprises in cross-section a section of material which extends perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering.

10. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein contacting edges of successive strips are of a different height dimension as considered relative to the plane of the floor covering thereby to provide surface discontinuities.

11. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an exposed surface of at least some strips of the strip assembly is textured.

12. A floor covering according to claim 11 wherein said texture is defined by a rib-like profile.

13. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising at least one edge strip of a kind having an elongate opening to accommodate parts of said retention wires.

14. A floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the strip assembly comprises exclusively strips of aluminium.

15. A floor covering constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A floor covering comprising a strip assembly of two pluralities of strips of non-combustible temperature resistant material as hereinbefore defined arranged with said strips in a mutually parallel side-by-side relationship, said strips being secured together against transverse separation by retention wires arranged to extend transversely from one edge of the strip assembly to another edge thereof through aligned apertures provided in successive strips of the assembly, and the strips of one plurality being of a shape and/or dimension different from strips of the other plurality.

2. A floor covering according to claim 1 wherein the strips of at least one plurality are all substantially identical to one another.

3. A floor covering according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each strip is in continuous contact with the or each adjacent strip along the whole of its length, with the floor covering being of an imperforate form.