NZ524014A - Anti-slip button for insertion in flooring - Google Patents

Abstract

An anti-slip button (4) for fixing against a surface (9) and which can act as an anti-slip device and as a guide or marker. The button includes an upper section (6) which, in use, abuts the surface, and an anchor section (7) to be received in a recess (10) formed in the surface. The anchor section is adapted, when inserted into the recess, to distribute a settable fluent adhesive (11) within the recess such that the anchor section is held captive after setting of the adhesive.

Description

4- 2 — 03:12:48 ;WAT E RMA R K PATENT ▲ ; 61 3 98196010 # 6/ SI 3 981 96010 52 4 0 I 4 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Patents Act 1953 AU No. PS0311 Date: 4 February 2002 Intellectual Property Office of NZ - 4 FEB 2003 RECEIVED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ANTI-SLIP BUTTON WE, DAHDAH PTYLTD, an Australian Company, of PO Box 17, Elwood, Victoria 3184, Australia, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement 4- £ — 0 3 : 1 2:4 8 ;WAT E RMA R K PATENT A. ;6 1 3 9 81 9 60 1 0 61 3 98196010 1 ANTI-SLIP BUTTON FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with methods for providing anti-skid and anti-slip surfaces and to items usable in the provision of such surfaces.

INTRODUCTION A common requirement in architecture, building and engineering is to provide walking surfaces with a degree of resistance to slipping or skidding, in the interests of safety. In one of many known approaches to this problem, a walking surface is provided which has thereon an array of raised buttons. Such a surface 10 is shown in Figure 1, and may be obtained in several ways.

One is to secure to a substrate a sheet of flexible rubber, rubber-like, plastics or similar material on which the buttons are integrally formed, for example by moulding. Another way is to secure to a substrate multiple tiles (for example ceramic tiles, or tiles formed from rubber, rubber-like, plastics or similar material) 15 on which tiles the buttons are integrally formed. Typically surfaces provided in these ways have a rectangular array of buttons, but any type of array and spacing may be used.

In some situations, however, buttons which are individual items are secured to a surface which is to be given an anti-skid or anti-slip property. This 20 approach may be used, for example, where the surface to be treated is to be of a material that cannot readily be provided with buttons. Floors consisting of polished slabs of granite or other naturally occurring material are often specified by architects and to such surfaces individual buttons may be secured in suitable locations and numbers. Individually secured buttons are of course able to be 25 made of a material different from the surface to which they are attached for aesthetic reasons or because the surface material is unsuitable for buttons.

A difficulty with the individual-button approach is that both the manufacture and the installation of the buttons may be costly. Also, it is important that each button be securely fixed in place to avoid loss, tripping hazards, inadequate anti-30 skid or anti-slip functionality and poor appearance. One approach that has been used in practice is to provide buttons having a screw-threaded extension which is screwed into a threaded hole in either the surface itself (where this is suitable and practicable) or into a suitable fitting itself secured in the surface. This approach - 2-03:1 2:48 :WATE RMAR K PATENT A ; 61 3 9 81 9 60 1 0 61 3 98196010 2 has proven to be comparatively expensive from the manufacturing and installations points of view.

The present invention is directed to providing anti-slip buttons and methods for their installation on surfaces which at least alleviate these problems 5 and therefore increase the options available to architects, engineers and builders.

The invention may also find application to surfaces to be traversed by vehicles. Such surfaces may be required to have an anti-skid or anti-slip surface or simply to be apparent to the driver of a vehicle passing over them due to the sound or sensation generated by wheels upon them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an anti-slip button for fixing against a surface including: an upper section adapted in use of said button to abut said surface; and an anchor section adapted in use of said button to be received in a recess 15 formed in said surface, wherein said anchor section is adapted when inserted into said recess to distribute a settable fluent adhesive within said recess such that said anchor section is held captive in said recess after setting of said adhesive.

Preferably, said anchor section is so shaped that upon setting of said adhesive and adhesion of said adhesive to an internal surface of said recess, said anchor section is held mechanically captive in said recess.

Also preferably, said anchor section includes a surface that in use of said button with said upper section abutting a horizontal surface faces at least partially upwards.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, said anchor section includes a surface of circular cross-section whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section. Where the tactile button is to be made by machining from solid, a circular cross-section is particularly convenient.

Said anchor section may include a frusto-conical surface whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section.

The invention also provides in a further aspect a method for providing an anti-slip button on a surface including the steps of: - 2-03:12:48 ;WAT E RMAR K PATENT A ;6 1 3 9 81 9 60 1 0 61 3 98196010 3 providing an anti-slip button according to any one of the forms disclosed herein; forming a recess in said surface adapted to receive said anchor section; placing in said recess a quantity of a settable fluent adhesive; and 5 before completion of setting of said adhesive moving said anchor section of said button into said recess until said upper section abuts said surface.

Preferably, said quantity of said settable fluent adhesive is sufficient to at least substantially fill a space left within said recess after insertion of said anchor section.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the attached figures, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a component with a surface having an array of anti-slip or tactile buttons; Figure 2 is a side elevation of an anti-slip button according to the invention; 15 Figure 3 is a view from below of the anti-slip button shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of the anti-slip button shown in Figure 2, installed in a component (the component being shown in section); Figure 5 is a side view of a modified anti-slip button according to the invention, shown in section on a diameter, installed in a component (the component also being shown in section); Figure 6 is a side view of a further modified anti-slip button according to the invention, shown in section on a diameter, installed in a component (the component also being shown in section); DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a component 1 having a surface 2 provided with an array of anti-slip or tactile buttons 3. Such an array of buttons 3 provides a degree of protection for pedestrians against slipping, even when wet or slippery. Component 1 could be for example a ceramic tile or alternatively a rubber, rubber-like or plastics sheet, intended for securing by adhesive to a substrate (not shown), the buttons 3 being integrally formed with the component 1.

There is sometimes a requirement to achieve the same effect by securing individual buttons to a surface in suitable numbers and patterns. This requirement can arise where for aesthetic reasons the surface material and the buttons are to 4- 2-03:12:48 :WAT E R MA R K PATENT A ; 6 1 3 9 81 9 60 1 0 # 10/ 19 61 3 98196010 be of different materials. For example, it could be desired to use polished slabs of natural stone (eg granite) as a floor surface, with metal (eg stainless steel) buttons. The present invention is directed to meeting this requirement in a way that is comparatively inexpensive.

Figures 2 and 3 show an anti-slip button 4 according to the invention.

Button 4 is a solid of revolution having an axis of symmetry 5, an upper section 6 and an anchor section 7. Figure 4 shows the button 4 secured to a component 8 having a surface 9 in a manner according to the invention.

When button 4 is secured in place on surface 9, upper section 6 lies above 10 and in contact with surface 9 and forms the tactile button seen by a pedestrian | walking on surface 9. Anchor section 7 is received in a recess 10 formed (for example by drilling) in component 8. The recess 10 is filled with a solidified adhesive material 11, which adheres to inner surfaces of recess 10 and to the anchor section 7 of button 4, thus retaining button 4 securely in place. 15 Anchor section 7 has the form of a frustum of a cone, with a radius (from axis 5) that decreases with decreasing distance from surface 9. This feature means that when adhesive material 11 is in solid form, button 4 is held captive in recess 10 without reliance on adhesion between the anchor section 7 and the adhesive material 11.

The taper of anchor section 7 is shown as being substantial, but a lesser degree of taper may be used if required. This can provide the advantage that an | upward force on button 4 develops larger radially outward compressive stresses in material 11 which would be resisted by walls of the recess 10. That is, the anchor section 7 acts as a wedge. This is desirable particularly if there is difficulty 25 achieving satisfactory adhesion between the material 11 and the walls of recess 10. Figure 6 shows a modified button 19 with a lower degree of taper in anchor section 24.

The degree of taper of anchor section 7 may in fact be zero, or other shapes of the anchor section 7 may be used, such that retention of button 4 in 30 recess 10 depends on adhesion between the material 11 and anchor section 7, but the preferred arrangement is to have an anchor section 7 so shaped as to provide mechanical retention of button 4 in the solidified material 11 even in the absence of adhesion between material 11 and button 4. 4 — 2-03:1 2:48 ; WAT E RMA R K PATENT A ;61 3 9 8 1 9 6 0 1 0 # 11/ 19 61 3 98196010 Where a button is to be made by machining from metal bar stock, the shape of button 4 shown in the Figures is advantageous in that it permits manufacture in a machining centre (not shown) with a single setting, thus containing costs. Manufacture of buttons according to the invention may also be 5 by moulding or casting or other means appropriate to the material to be used. For example, plastics buttons may be manufactured by injection moulding.

Installation of button 4 is comparatively simple, compared for example to buttons with screw-threaded anchor sections. First, the recess 10 is formed, for example by drilling from surface 9. Next, a suitable quantity of a suitable adhesive 10 in fluent form is placed in recess 10. Finally, button 4 is moved downward so that I anchor section 7 enters recess 10. Movement stops when lower surface 12 of upper section 6 contacts surface 9. As anchor section 7 moves into recess 10, adhesive material 11 flows around it, so that a portion is located above bottom surface 13 of anchor section 7 to provide, when adhesive 11 sets, a mechanical 15 key to hold button 4 in place.

Suitable adhesives are of the type which are provided in fluent (liquid or paste) form but which solidify after a time. Many single part and two-part adhesives meeting this requirement are available. Adhesives which do not require air for solidification are preferred. Recess 10 is shown as having a cylindrical 20 shape, so that retention of button 4 requires adhesion of solidified material 11 to the walls of the recess 10. However, if a recess (not shown) is made that has | some degree of undercutting, material 11 will be retained mechanically with no need for actual adhesion.

Preferably, for optimal distribution of material 11 in recess 10, that part of 25 recess 10 not occupied by anchor section 7 is filled or substantially filled adhesive material 11 after button 4 is placed in its final position. A user may provide more adhesive material 11 than this, so that some is squeezed out between surface 9 and surface 12, any excess that is squeezed out from below surface 12 being able to be wiped away before it solidifies.

Variations to button 4 may be made. For example, Figure 5 shows in use a modified button 14, having upper section 15 and anchor section 16, in which upper section 15 has a projection 17 which fits into an upper part of recess 18 to enable accurate centering of button 14 in recess 18. Figure 6 shows, in use, a 2-03:1 2:48 :WAT E RMA R K PATENT A ; 6 1 3 9 81 9 60 1 0 61 3 98196010 6 modified button 19 with an annular recess 20 in upper section 21 which is adapted to receive excess adhesive 22 squeezed from recess 23 into which button 19 is fixed. This arrangement can avoid or limit squeezing outwards of excess adhesive 22 if too much is used.

A still further variation (not shown) is to provide an anchor section 7 (using button 4 as an example) which is non-circular in cross-section, so that even if the material 11 does not adhere to the anchor section, the button is still prevented from rotating once the material 11 solidifies. Button 4 could be modified by the provision of one or more flat lands on anchor section 7.

Many other variations may be made without exceeding the spirit or scope of this invention. The following claims include the main aspects of the invention and some said quantity of said settable fluent adhesive is sufficient to at least substantially fill a space left within said recess after insertion of said anchor section of the preferred features. 2 — 03:12:48 :WAT E RMA R K PATENT A ; 6 1 3 9 8 1 9 60 1 0 61 3 98196010 7

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An anti-slip button for fixing against a surface including: an upper section adapted in use of said button to abut said surface; and an anchor section adapted in use of said button to be received in a recess formed in said surface, wherein said anchor section is adapted when inserted into said recess to distribute a settable fluent adhesive within said recess such that said anchor section is held captive in said recess after setting of said adhesive.

2. An anti-slip button according to claim 1 wherein said anchor section is so shaped that upon setting of said adhesive and adhesion of said adhesive to an internal surface of said recess, said anchor section is held mechanically captive in said recess.

3. An anti-slip button according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said anchor section includes a surface that in use of said button with said upper section abutting a horizontal surface faces at least partially upwards.

4. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said anchor section includes a surface of circular cross-section whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section.

5. A method for providing an anti-slip button on a surface including the steps of: providing an anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 4; forming a recess in said surface adapted to receive said anchor section; placing in said recess a quantity of a settable fluent adhesive; and before completion of setting of said adhesive moving said anchor section of said button into said recess until said upper section abuts said surface. 2 — 0 3 ; 12:4 8 ;WAT E RMA R K PATENT ▲ 61 3 98196010 61 3 98196010 52 4 0 8

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said quantity of said settable fluent adhesive is sufficient to at least substantially fill a space left within said recess after insertion of said anchor section. DAHDAH PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys Watermark Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys P20777NZAU RLT:DHS:pcp 4- 2—03;12:48 rWATERMARK PATENT A ;61 3 98196010 61 3 98196010 ABSTRACT The invention provides an anti-slip button (4) for fixing against a surface (9), and which can function both as an anti-slip device, and as a guide or marker (including for vision impaired people). The button includes an upper section (6) which in use abuts the surface and an anchor section (7) to be received in a recess (10) formed in the surface. The anchor section is adapted, when inserted into the recess, to distribute a settable fluent adhesive (11) within the recess such that the anchor section is held captive in the recess after setting of the adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor section is so shaped (for example by being tapered to increase in diameter with increasing depth) that upon setting of said adhesive and adhesion of the adhesive to an internal surface of the recess, ^he anchor section is held mechanically captive in the recess. The button is mounted on a surface by forming a recess in the surface to receive the anchor section; placing in the recess a quantity of a settable fluent adhesive; and before completion of setting of the adhesive moving the anchor section into the recess until the upper section abuts the surface. # 15/ 19