NZ528787A - Anti-slip buttons - Google Patents

Abstract

An anti-slip button for securing by settable adhesice to a trafficable surface, wherein: said button has an underside that includes a first surface and has an outer peripheral edge; said first surface is shaped to abut and conform to said trafficable surface when said button is secured to said trafficable surface; said outer peripheral edge is, along substantially the entire length thereof, an outer boundary of said first surface; said first surface has an inner boundary; and at least a part of said underside of said button within said inner boundary is spaced apart from said trafficable surface when said first surface conformably abuts said trafficable surface.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Patents Act 1953 Priority Details: No. 2002951970 Date: October 9,2002 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 0 9 OCT 2003 RECEIVED Anti-Slip Buttons INTELLECTUAL* PROPERTY OFFICE QF m 1 h OCTs20?l RECEIVED! CJ C o B] WE, Dahdah Pty Ltd, an Australian company of PO Box 682, Toorak, Victoria 3142, 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: 1 ANTI-SLIP BUTTONS 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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 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 attached 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 has proven to be comparatively expensive from the manufacturing and installation points of view.

This problem has been addressed by the provision of an individual anti-slip button that is suitable for securing to a surface by the use of adhesive, and that 5 has an anchor section on its underside to be received in a hole in the surface. In the preferred arrangement, the anchor is shaped to act as a mechanical key when the adhesive, which is placed in the hole, has set. This enhances the security of fastening. Such anti-slip buttons are disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 2003200368 filed 4 February 2003, and have proven successful. 10 The specification of Application No. 2003200368 is incorporated herein and is explicitly made a part of the present specification by cross reference.

However, a problem that can arise in the use of these and other adhesive-retained buttons is of adhesive being squeezed out between the button and the surface as it is secured in place. The squeezed-out adhesive has to be carefully 15 removed where appearance is important or, if it is not, can look unsightly. It can in practice be difficult to deal with the problem by using a precisely measured quantity of adhesive because of the precision required. Too much adhesive can still lead to squeezing out, and too little can lead to gaps between the button and the surface, which are undesirable from the point of view of cleaning, for example. 20 Another problem that may be encountered, including with buttons having the anchor arrangement described in Application No. 2003200368 (mentioned above), is of the adhesive not being well distributed under the button if it can too easily be squeezed outwards. This may occur for example where there is some slight unevenness in the surface to which the button is being mounted. The 25 consequence can be both squeezing out, and less secure fixing of the button to the surface due to absence of adhesive at some points.

A further problem with individual buttons of the type described in Application No. 2003200368 (mentioned above) is that they have smooth inclined edges and it is possible that a person may lose grip or traction or balance on the 30 anti-slip button itself. Thus, the inclined edges of the buttons may themselves present a slipping hazard. A good example would be a person wearing high heels of stiletto shoes. The incorrect and unpredictable placement of a person's foot on the sloped edge of a button whilst traveling along a pedestrian carriageway, access area or path could potentially cause harm of injury to that person, thus rendering potential failure in the product.

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

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides in a first aspect an anti-slip button for securing by settable adhesive to a trafficabie surface, wherein: said button has an underside that includes a first surface and has an outer peripheral edge; said first surface is shaped to abut and conform to said trafficabie surface when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface; said outer peripheral edge is, along substantially the entire length thereof, 15 an outer boundary of said first surface; said first surface has an inner boundary; and at least a part of said underside of said button within said inner boundary is spaced apart from said trafficabie surface when said first surface conformably abuts said trafficabie surface.

It has been found that the invention alleviates at least some of the problems set out above. In essence, the close conformity between the first surface and the trafficabie surface prevents or limits outward flow and squeezing out of adhesive placed below the button in a suitable quantity.

In the preferred embodiment, said first surface is planar.

It is also preferred that said first surface is in the shape of an elongate closed curve extending around said peripheral edge of said underside. That is, only a small part of the total underside area of the button is taken up by the first surface, adhesive being able to occupy the volume within the inner boundary of the first surface and between the button underside and the trafficabie surface. 30 The button may have an outer peripheral edge that is circular. It is then preferred that the first surface is annular.

Preferably, the anti-slip button includes an anchor section depending from said underside of said button said anchor section being adapted when said button 4 is secured to said trafficabie surface to be received in a recess formed in said trafficabie surface. This enhances the security against lateral movement of the button.

It is particularly preferred that said anchor section is adapted when 5 inserted into said recess to distribute said settable fluent adhesive within said recess such that said anchor section is held captive in said recess after setting of said adhesive. More particularly, said anchor section may be 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. 10 To this end, said anchor section preferably includes a surface that in use of said button on a horizontal trafficabie surface faces at least partially upwards. For example, said anchor section may include a surface of circular cross-section whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for providing an anti-15 slip button on a trafficabie surface including the steps of: providing an anti-slip button in any of the forms set out above; and securing said anti-slip button to said trafficabie surface with a predetermined quantity of a said settable adhesive, wherein said predetermined quantity of adhesive is such that when said 20 first surface of said button is in abutting and conformal contact with said trafficabie surface said adhesive is contained within said inner boundary of said first surface.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a method for providing an anti-slip button on a trafficabie surface including the steps of: providing an anti-slip button in any of the forms set out above that include the anchor section; 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 30 of said button into said recess and said first surface into conformable abutment with said trafficabie surface.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides an anti-slip button for a trafficabie surface, wherein: said button has an upper surface, an outer peripheral edge and a sloping surface extending between said upper surface and said outer peripheral edge; and said sloping surface includes an anti-skid feature in the form of at least one 5 groove therein.

In one embodiment the sloping surface includes a plurality of grooves. Preferably the plurality of grooves forms a stepped pattern on the sloping surface. The stepped pattern most preferably includes a plurality of surfaces arranged to lie parallel to the trafficabie surface when the button is secured to the trafficabie 10 surface.

The upper surface of the button, may also include an anti-skate feature in the form of at least one groove therein. Preferably a plurality of grooves are provided.

In a preferred embodiment an upper section of the button is frusto-conical 15 in shape. The upper surface and the peripheral edge are then circular in shape and the sloping surface forms a portion of a cone.

An anti-slip button in accordance with this aspect of the invention addresses the problem of a person losing grip or traction or balance on the button itself. The stepped sloping surface of the preferred embodiment provides an anti-20 skid feature which reduces the risk that the person will slip if they inadvertently step on the sloping surface of the button.

The stepped surface of the preferred embodiment also makes the button appear to be visually lower to the surface to which it is secured than it actually may be. This feature may thus help dispel a common misconception that anti-slip 25 buttons (whether as a tactile indicator for the visually impaired or as a raised slip-resistant device to aid grip on a deemed slippery surface) are themselves a trip, slip or foot rolling hazard.

Further inventive aspects will be disclosed in the description which follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 30 Preferred embodiments of 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 prior art component with a surface having an array of anti-slip or tactile buttons; 6 Figure 2 is a view from below of an anti-slip button according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the button shown in Figure 2, now secured to a surface, the cross-section being taken at station "AA" in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view from below of a further anti-slip button according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the button show in Figure 4, now secured to a surface, the cross-section being taken at station "BB" in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a still further button according to an 10 aspect of the invention secured to a surface, the cross-section being taken on a diameter; Figure 7 is a view from below of a further anti-slip button according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the button show in Figure 7, now 15 secured to a surface, the cross-section being taken at station "CC" in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a view from below of a yet further button according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the button shown in Figure 9, now secured to a surface, the cross-section being taken at station "DD" in Figure 9; 20 Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a button according to another aspect of the invention, the section being taken on a diameter; and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of still another button according to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the section being taken on a diameter.

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, 30 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 be of 35 different materials. For example, it could be desired to use polished slabs of 7 natural stone (eg granite) as a floor surface, with metal (eg stainless steel) buttons. The present invention is directed to meeting this requirement.

Figures 2 and 3 show an anti-slip or "tactile" button 104 according to an aspect of the invention. In Figure 3 button 104 is shown secured to a surface 105 5 (such as a floor) by an adhesive 106. Button 104 is of circular shape, as preferred, having an axis of symmetry 107, although this shape is by no means essential to the invention. Above surface 105, button 104 is in the shape of a frustum of a cone, although, again, this shape is not essential to the invention.

Button 104 has a first surface 108 which is annular and which when the 10 button 104 is secured to surface 105 abuts surface 105. Surface 108 has as its outer boundary outer peripheral edge 109 of button 104. Inner boundary 110 of surface 108 is also centred on axis 107. Within boundary 110 is a further downward-facing surface 111 which when button 104 abuts surface 105 is spaced apart from surface 105, so that surfaces 105 and 111 and a cylindrical 15 wall 112 together define a disk-shaped cavity 113. Adhesive 106 is contained within cavity 113, and is shown in Figure 2 as having a volume slightly less than or substantially equal to that of the cavity 113. Whether or not the adhesive 106 has some degree of flowability before setting, this arrangement ensures that when button 104 is forced against surface 105 in the securing process there is 20 minimal or no squeezing out of adhesive 106 radially beyond wall 112, and that surface 108 conformably abuts surface 105.

A predetermined volume of adhesive 106 can be measured into cavity 113, or placed on surface 105, before button 104 is brought into contact with surface 105, this being enough to partly or substantially fill cavity 113 and to be squeezed 25 outward as button 104 approaches surface 105 but not to be squeezed outward beyond wall 112.

It is possible for a button according to this aspect of the invention, such as button 104, to be supplied with the correct quantity of a suitable adhesive 106 already pre-applied to surface 111, and able to be prepared for use by heating or 30 by removal of a protective layer of plastics or the like (not shown) from the lower surface of the adhesive 106. It is also possible for button 104 to be supplied with cavity 113 almost fully occupied by a disk (not shown) of a suitable material adhered to surface 111 and with an adhesive on its exposed face, which in use 8 adheres to surface 105. Yet a further possibility is for such a disk to be supplied separately and placed in cavity 113 immediately before button 104 is to be secured in place.

Figures 4 and 5 show a further button 114 according to an aspect of the 5 invention. In Figure 5, button 114 is shown secured to a surface 117. Button 114 is circular in plan view, having a central axis 125. Button 114 is similar to button 104, and used in the same way, save that button 114 has a downwardly depending lower section 115 which is received in a cavity 116 in surface 117 to which button 114 is to be secured. Lower section 115 is provided to enhance the 10 resistance of button 114 to lateral displacement or dislodgment. Annular surface 119 is in contact with surface 117 and a cavity 120 is defined by a downwardly-facing surface 121 of button 114, surface 117 and a cylindrical wall 122. Adhesive 123 occupies cavity 120 and is prevented from being squeezed out from beneath button 114 by wall 122 and the close contact between surfaces 117 and 121. 15 Cavity 116 is shown as being partly occupied by adhesive 123 that has been squeezed downwardly into it during securing of button 114 in place, thus increasing the resistance to upward movement of button 114. The volume of adhesive 123 is chosen to be slightly less than the total space available in cavities 116 and 120 when button 114 is in pace against surface 117. 20 This is a further advantage of button 114 over button 104: provision of an internal cavity (116), reduces further the risk of squeezing out of adhesive 123 from beneath button 114. Button 104 can also optionally be given this advantage by providing a cavity 124 (shown in phantom outline in Figures 2 and 3) in surface 111, the volume of adhesive 106 then ideally being enough to fully fill cavity 113 25 and additionally to partly fill cavity 124.

Figure 6 shows a further anti-slip button 4 according to an aspect of the invention. Button 4 is circular in plan view (having a central axis 5) and is shown in cross-section on a diameter. This embodiment also incorporates the concept set out in Application No. 2003200368, mentioned above. Button 4 has an upper 30 section 6 and an anchor section 7. Figure 6 shows the button 4 secured to a component 8 having a surface 9 in a manner according to an aspect of the invention.

When button 4 is secured in place on surface 9, upper section 6 lies above and in contact with surface 9 with an annular surface 200 conformably abutting surface 9. Surface 200 is analogous to surfaces 108 and 119 of buttons 104 and 114. Anchor section 7 is received in a recess 10 formed (for example by drilling) 5 in component 8. The recess 10 is partly or substantially filled with 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. Wall 202 defines the inner boundary of surface 200 and prevents or limits squeezing out of adhesive 11 from beneath button 4.

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 solidified (set), button 4 is held mechanically captive in recess 10 without reliance only 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 20 achieving satisfactory adhesion between the material 11 and the walls of recess 10.

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 25 containing costs. Manufacture of buttons according to the invention may also be 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 30 where applicable, for example by drilling into surface 9. Next, a suitable quantity of a suitable adhesive in fluent form is placed in recess 10 (or if provided already secured to button 4, prepared for use as required). Finally, button 4 is moved downward so that anchor section 7 enters recess 10. Movement stops when annular surface 200 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 key to hold button 4 in place. The close contact between 5 surface 200 and surface 9, and the wall 202, prevent or limit squeezing out of adhesive 11, and help ensure that adhesive 11 is so distributed within recess 10 as to provide the mechanical key when adhesive 11 sets.

Suitable adhesives for use with button 4 are of the type which are provided in fluent (liquid or paste) form but which solidify after a time. Many single part and 10 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 generally cylindrical 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 15 retained mechanically with no need for actual adhesion.

The installation method for buttons 104 and 114 is similar, although for button 104 no recess is required, of course.

Figures 7 and 8 show a button 150 that is a modified version of button 114. Features and items in Figures 7 and 8 that correspond to the same features in 20 Figures 4 and 5 have been given the same numbers with postscript "a". An annular rib 151, centred on axis 125a, is formed on button 150, and lies at a radius less than that of wall 122a. Bottom surface 152 of rib 151 is slightly above the plane of surface 119a when the button 150 is secured in place on surface 117a. The quantity of adhesive 123a is such that some squeezing out of adhesive 25 123a under rib 151 and into gap 153 between rib 151 and wall 122a occurs. Such squeezed-out adhesive 154 is very unlikely to be squeezed out under surface 119a as well, giving a reduced chance of adhesive escaping from beneath button 150. Although gap 153 is shown as of significant radial extent, the same or a similar effect may be obtained by providing a circular groove (or one of several 30 grooves) (not shown) centred on axis 125a, in surface 119a.

Figures 9 and 10 show a yet further tactile button 200 according to an aspect of the invention, secured by adhesive 201 to a surface 202. Button 200 is similar to button 104, shown in Figures 2 and 3, being intended for installation on 11 a surface with no recesses. Surface 205 extends peripherally and continuously around button 200 and has the same purpose as surface 108 of button 104, and the same way of functioning. Surface 205 surrounds a surface 204 and there is a wall 206 between surfaces 205 and 204. Instead of the comparatively small cavity 5 124 shown in Figure 3, provided for absorbing excess adhesive 201, button 200 has a larger cavity 203 extending upwardly from surface 204. Cavity 203 has an upper surface 209 and a peripheral surface 207 that faces partially upwards. In installation of button 200, enough of adhesive 201 is provided to ensure that some will enter cavity 203 and, on solidification of adhesive 201, button 200 is 10 secured to adhesive 201 both by direct adhesion and mechanically by abutting of the part of solidified adhesive 201 that is within cavity 203 against surface 207.

Thus button 200 is more secure than button 104 against dislodgement due to any failure of adhesion between the adhesive 201 and the material of button 200. This of course requires that adhesive 201 have, when solidified, a significant internal 15 tensile strength. The ideal quantity of adhesive 201 for use with button 200 is enough for cavity 203 to be filled sufficiently for solidified adhesive 201 to abut surface 207, but not so much that squeezing of adhesive from below button 200 necessarily occurs. A small void 208 will then be left.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, tactile buttons in any of 20 the forms disclosed herein (including in the specification of Australian Application ^ No. 2003200368 incorporated herein by cross-reference) can be provided with { features on those surfaces that remain exposed after installation to enhance their anti-skid performance. Figure 11 shows, for example, a button 300 that is the same as button 4 as far as its securing arrangements and mode of use are 25 concerned, but which has circumferential grooves or indentations 301 in both upper surface 302 and sloping surface 303 of its frusto-conical upper section 305.

Button 300 has a rotational axis of symmetry 304, and the grooves 301 are circular and centred on axis 304. It is possible for grooves 301 to be provided on either or (as shown) both of surfaces 302 and 303. In this way, a friction surface 30 may be provided on the upper surface and the sloping side surface of the button so as to minimize the risk that a person's shoe will slip if placed partly upon a button.

Figure 12 shows a further button 350, similar to button 300, but with an anti-slip upper surface 354 provided in a different way. An insert disc 355 is secured within a recess 356 in upper section 353 so that outer peripheral edge 357 of disc 355 is not exposed. Disc 355 has anti-slip upper surface 354.

Where tactile buttons with grooves such as groove 301 or a recess such as recess 356 are made by machining, their grooves or recess can be machined also. Where buttons are made by moulding, casting or die-casting, the grooves can be formed in the pattern or die. Grooves 301 in Figure 11 are shown as having a "step" pattern on sloping surface 303 and a part-circular pattern on upper surface 302. Virtually any groove shape can be provided, but the "step" pattern is particularly preferred on sloping surfaces however, having a good combination of anti-slip performance and cleanability. It also lends itself particularly well to manufacture by casting and moulding.

Buttons of the types disclosed herein are generally intended to be supplied in comparatively large sizes (compared with for example buttons moulded integrally in rubber mats) and the provision of anti-slip features on their exposed surfaces is a useful improvement.

Many other variations may be made without exceeding the spirit or scope of this invention. The following claims include some aspects of the invention.

Claims (31)

WHAT WE CLAIM: 13

1. An anti-slip button for securing by settable adhesive to a trafficabie surface, wherein: said button has an underside that includes a first surface and has an outer peripheral edge; said first surface is shaped to abut and conform to said trafficabie surface when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface; said outer peripheral edge is, along substantially the entire length thereof, an outer boundary of said first surface; said first surface has an inner boundary; and at least a part of said underside of said button within said inner boundary is spaced apart from said trafficabie surface when said first surface conformably abuts said trafficabie surface.

2. An anti-slip button according to claim 1 wherein said first surface is planar.

3. An anti-slip button according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first surface is in the shape of an elongate closed curve extending around said peripheral edge of said underside.

4. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said outer peripheral edge is circular.

5. An anti-slip button according to claim 4 wherein said first surface is an annular surface.

6. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 5 including an anchor section depending from said underside of said button, said anchor section being adapted when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface to be received in a recess formed in said trafficabie surface. 14

7. An anti-slip button according to claim 6 wherein said anchor section is adapted when inserted into said recess to distribute a flowable and settable fluent adhesive within said recess such that said anchor section is held captive in said recess after setting of said adhesive.

8. An anti-slip button according to claim 7 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.

9. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said anchor section includes a surface that in use of said button, with said upper ^ sectiorxabutting a horizontal trafficabie surface, faces at least partially upwards. '/c

10. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein said anchor section includes a surface of circular cross-section whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section. ^

11. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 10 having on at least one surface that is exposed after securing of said button to said trafficabie surface, one or more grooves or indentations.

12. A method for providing an anti-slip button on a trafficabie surface including the steps of: providing an anti-slip button according to any one of claims 6 to 10; 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 and said first surface into conformable abutment with said trafficabie surface. 15

13. A method for providing an anti-slip button on a trafficabie surface including the steps of: providing an anti-slip button according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and securing said anti-slip button to said trafficabie surface with a predetermined quantity of a said settable adhesive, wherein said predetermined quantity of adhesive is such that when said first surface of said button is in abutting and conformal contact with said trafficabie surface said adhesive is contained within said inner boundary of said first surface.

14. An anti-slip button for a trafficabie surface, wherein: said button has an upper surface, an outer peripheral edge and a sloping surface extending between said upper surface and said outer peripheral edge; and said sloping surface includes an anti-skid feature in the form of at least one groove therein.

15. An anti-slip button according to claim 14 wherein said sloping surface includes a plurality of grooves therein.

16. An anti-slip button according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of grooves forms a stepped pattern on the sloping surface.

17. An anti-slip button according to claim 16 wherein said stepped pattern includes a plurality of surfaces arranged to lie parallel to the trafficabie surface when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface.

18. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein said upper surface also includes an anti-skate feature in the form of at least one groove therein.

19. An anti-slip button according to claim 18 wherein said upper surface includes a plurality of grooves therein. 16

20. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims14 to 19 wherein an upper section of said button is frusto-conical in shape.

21. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 14 to 20 wherein: said button has an underside that includes a first surface; said first surface is shaped to abut and conform to said trafficabie surface when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface; said outer peripheral edge is, along substantially the entire length thereof, an outer boundary of said first surface; said first surface has an inner boundary; and at least a part of said underside of said button within said inner boundary is spaced apart from said trafficabie surface when said first surface conformably abuts said trafficabie surface.

22. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 14 to 21 wherein said firstsurface is planar.

23. An anti-slip button according to claim 21 or 22 wherein said first surface is in the shape of an elongate closed curve extending around said peripheral edge of said underside.

24. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 14 to 23 wherein said outer peripheral edge is circular.

25. An anti-slip button according to claim 24 wherein said first surface is an annular surface. " ^

26. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 21 to 25, when appended to claim 21, including an anchor section depending from said underside of said button, said anchor section being adapted when said button is secured to said trafficabie surface to be received in a recess formed in said trafficabie surface. / A £ \ Ler 17

27. An anti-slip button according to claim 26 wherein said anchor section is adapted when inserted into said recess to distribute a flowable and settable fluent adhesive within said recess such that said anchor section is held captive in said recess after setting of said adhesive.

28. An anti-slip button according to claim 27 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.

29. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein said anchor section includes a surface that in use of said button, with said upper section abutting a horizontal trafficabie surface, faces at least partially upwards.

30. An anti-slip button according to any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein said anchor section includes a surface of circular cross-section whose diameter decreases with decreasing distance from said upper section.

31. An anti-slip button substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 2 to 12 of the accompanying drawings. DAHDAH PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS One aspect of the invention provides an anti-slip button for a trafficabie surface. The button has an upper surface, an outer peripheral edge and a sloping surface extending between the upper surface and the outer peripheral edge. The sloping surface includes an anti-skid feature in the form of at least one groove therein. Preferably a plurality of grooves is provided in the sloping surface and these grooves form a stepped pattern on the sloping surface. The upper surface may also be provided with an anti-skid feature in the form of a plurality of grooves. Another aspect of the invention provides anti-slip button for securing by settable adhesive to a trafficabie surface. The button has an underside that includes a first surface and has an outer peripheral edge. The first surface is shaped to abut and conform to the trafficabie surface when the button is secured to the trafficabie surface. The outer peripheral edge is, along substantially the entire length thereof, an outer boundary of the first surface. The first surface has an inner boundary and at least a part of the underside of the button within the inner boundary is spaced apart from the trafficabie surface when the first surface conformably abuts the trafficabie surface. The close conformity between the first surface and the trafficabie surface prevents or limits outward flow and squeezing out of adhesive placed below the button in a suitable quantity.