US1742855A - Method of and means for producing antislip terrazzo floorings - Google Patents

Description

P. GALASSI 1,742,855

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING ANTISLIP TERRAZZO FLOORINGS Jan. 7, 1930.

Filed Jan. 18. 1928 amaemtoz P2 s grad/e 6.: lass/Y Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PASQUALE GALASSI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING ANTISLIP TERRAZZO FLOOBINGS Application filed January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,617.

anti-slip properties may be conferred to the floors produced, at the same time achieving new and pleasing decorative effects.

Terrazzo, granolithic and similar, floors 13 usually comprise a foundation bed, or layer of concrete, cement, mortar or other suitable material, and a superposed layer usually composed of small pieces of marble, mixed 'witha suitable bonding agent, such as ce- 15 ment.

After the foundation layer has been allowed to'harden to a suflicient degree of eonsistency, it becomes possible to place in position the upper layer which is generally divided into geometrical or ornamental units in the form of panels or blocks which are obtained by outlining the desired design by means of strips placed on or inserted through the under bed, or attached thereto.

The dividing strips, which were formerly removed, haveof recent years been substituted by .thin metal strips set on edge, their upper edges constituting a leveling gauge I facilitating the laying of the terrazzo composition.

I Thesestrips are left permanently in position and constitute an integral part of the finished floor, adding to the attractiveness of the floor by producing novel effects and at the same time localizlng such cracks as may occur in the individual units of which the floor is composed. f

The strips used for this purpose are generally made of relatively soft metal such approximately the same vas those of the material'composing the floor proper.

The strips should preferably be formed with means for anchoring them 1n position in additipn to' laterally extending 'flanges or projections to be used both as a gauge and as a support for the stmps when their lower portion is inserted through the foundation layer of the floor.

Terrazzo floorings are used not only on as brass, the wearing qualities of which are account of the relative ease with which they can be laid and their moderate cost,*but also on account of their good wearing qualities and on account of the practically unlimited range of design and color combinations which may be produced.

However, the materials generally used in producing the upper layer of floorings of this character, are not of themselves suitable for producing anti-slip floors, and for this reason do not afford sufficient protection against accidents in public places, halls, etc.;

and therefore it has become customary when laying floors for public buildings and halls to mix with the composition ordinarily used, some material such as alundum; or carborundum, or emery, or other materials possessing anti-slip properties, so that the floor itself will have a good frictional surface.

This is done, of course, in order to insure the safety of the people walking upon such floors and in order to comply with building regulations afi'ecting such matters. However, floors thus produced although fairly effective in so far as their anti-slip properties are concerned, are not entirely satisfactory in practice due to various reasons.

To begin with the cost of the materials used is much greater than that of the materials used in ordinary floors, and the cost of laying and finishing the floors is also considerably higher. From the decorative standpoint these floors are also objectionable because their appearance is not as good as that obtained when only marble chips and cement are used, their texture being much darker, and also because they do-not take nearly as high a polish as terrazzo floorings of the ordinary type do.

Floors of this character are also objectionable from a sanitary standpoint because they quickly collect and produce considerable quantities of dust which can only be removed in part and with considerable difliculty.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of producin anti-slip floors of the terrazzo type,- where y the objectionable features mening strip of a new and improved type'adapted to be laid in the usual manner, .and adapted to act both as a dividing strip and as an anti-slip element, conferring anti-slip properties to the floor as a whole.

A further object is to provide a floor dividing strip of a novel and improved construction, composed of a body of anti-slip material and a holding structure therefor, adapted to fulfill the functions of a floor strip of the usual type.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims. 1

A few embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings which however, are intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

Referring to said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a floor illustrating the manner in which the strips are used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip embodying my invention;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are similar views illustrati-ng other types of strips embodying my invention in different forms; and

' Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section showing a strip embodying my invention in position and illustrating the function of the supporting and positioning means therefor.

As shown in Fig.1, a terrazzo or similar floor 10 is usually composed of a number of panels 11, 12, systematically arranged according to a predetermineddesign defined by the dividing strips 13. In floors of the ordinary type, these strips are generally made of relatively light gauge metal, such as brass for instance, and are set on edge with their lower part embedded into the foundation layers of the floor and their upper edge on a level with the upper surface of the finishing layer.

As a general rule, the strips are also provided with suitable anchoring and positioning means, said positioning means being preferably adapted to strengthen the strip in a longitudinal sense.

It has been found necessary in practice to at times impart to these floors, the anti-slip properties that they usually lack, but as stated before, themethods heretofore adopted in this respect have resulted in some changes in the characteristics of the floors treated which have proved objectionable from several standpoints.

It is desirable, as stated, to produce antislip floors without detracting from their appearance and also without excessively increasing their cost. The retention of the normal appearance and physical structure of the floor is also desirable from a sanitation standpoint, because as stated, floors of the usual type are much more easily kept clean than floors containing abrasive or anti-slip materials in their compositions.

I have therefore conceived the idea of producing nonslip floors by using dividing strips of an anti-slip nature, without alterln the character of the units or panels of whic the floor is composed. In this manner, eflective results maybe obtained in spite of the fact that the floor units or panels per se, taken separately are just as slippery as those of a floor 0f the usual type.

In fact, it will be observed that the feet of a person who slips will-travel a certain distance before the person actually falls, and that if during that distance some spot is encountered where the frictional resistance of the surface is sufficiently highthe movement will be instantly stopped.

Due to the above described nature of terrazzo and similar floors, if the dividing strips are of an anti-slip character, they will effectively check all slipping tendencies due to the panel portions of. the floor, and will do so throughout the entire'surfaco of the floor. Their action in this respect will be more or less effective, 'according to the size of the panels delimited thereby, but it will be understood, of course, thatwhen anti-slip floors have .to be produced, it will be desirable to adopt designs calling for units or panels of relatively moderate dimensions.

' I have accordingly produced a new type of strip, consisting essentially of a lower rib portion, which can be inserted in position through the foundation layer of the floor in the usual manner, and a head portion in the form. of an open top channel adapted to receive and retaina fillin of any suitable material possessing anti-s ip properties. For

instance, a filling of leadmay be used, or an aggregate of lead and carborundum, or alundum or any other composition, the surface 1flrictional resistance of which is sufiiciently igh. I

Strips embodying my invention may be produced in a great variety of sections and designs, illustrated in the drawings. The strip illustrated in Fig. 2 for instance, may be produced and a. number of sfich designs are by rolling or drawing or extrusion processes,

sl jrface flush with the upper edges of sides 1 18.

The rib portion, as usual, is preferably provided with supporting and positioning means, such as for instance, the laterally extending flange 21, the under surface of which is at a distance from the upper surface of the strip, equivalent to the thickne'ss of the upper layer of the floor. This arrangement aiiords convenient means for quickly laying the strips in position, by inserting the lower part of the rib portion through the foundation layer of the floor after it has reached the desired consistency, to a depth where flange 21 reaches and is supported by said foundation layer.

This automatically establishes the proper depth or thickness of the finishing layer which is poured in position so as to reach the level of the upper surface of the strips, and also insures correct vertical alignment of the strips. Flange 21 furthermore, in-

' creases the rigidity of the strip by strengthening it in a longitudinal direction and permits the use of a relatively light section of metal through the rib portion. if desired, the strip'may be formed with two lateral flanges instead of one, thenddit-ional flange being shown in dotted lines at 21.

Practically the same type of strip may be produced out of sheet metal, as shown in 3, where it will be noted that the structure i formed out of an originally fiat metal s strip of suiiicient width bent at the lower end 22, to form two adjoining upwardly directed sections 23, 2e, formin the lower part of the rib portion of the strip. Section 23 continues upwardly up to a point 24' where it is bent outwardly and then laterally up to a point 25 where it is bent upwardly and inwardly to form side 26 of the channeled head portion. Section 2% when reaching a point 25' at a distance from the upper surface of the strip equivalent to the thickness or depth of the finishing layer of the floor, is bent outwardly to a point 26, forming the outer edge oi the flange 27 and then once more inwardly to a point 28 adjoining the other section 23.

At this point, the section is once more bent upwardly to a point adjoining point 24 and then it is bent outwardly to a point 29 to complete the bottom portion of the channeled head and then upwardly and inwardly to form side 30 of said channeled head. The two sections of the rib portion of the strip are preferably joined together in any suitable manner, for instance, by means of spaced male and female riveted oints as shown at 31.

The resulting structure is the equivalent of the one previously described, inasmuch as ie two sides 26, 30 of its head portion form like in the previous case, a dovetailed channel or housing 31 within which the anti-slip material may be placed and retained. The dovetailed section oi the channel or housing is,

of course, desirable in order to securely hold in position the anti-slip material at all times.

In Fig. at, 1 illustrate a strip somewhat similar to that just described, which however, only comprises a channel head portion 32 retaining an anti-slip filling or core 33 and a rib portion 34: originally formed flat on both sides, without the flange previously described.

In this type of strip, the anchoring or positioning means are obtained directly from the rib portion by laterally offsetting the material composing the same at spaced intervals. .For instance, in the type illustrated, the rib portion is longitudinally slit at a suitable distance from the top of the strip at intervals as shown at 35, 36,-and the anchoring means are produced by laterally ofi'setting a certain portion of the material, extending downwardly from each slit so as to form cup like laterally extending portions 37, the outer surface of which is inclined downwardly and inwardly towards the strip from the point of maximum lateral extension.

'lhese odset portions act at the same time to bind the two sections of which the rib portion is composed to each other, and due to their design they reinforce rather than wea n en the section the strip. This type of strip is somewhat less expensive than the one previously described, due to the saving of mat rial'eiiected by omitting the laterally extending flange.

Asimilar idea also been employed in the strip shown in Fig. 5, comprising as hetore a channeled head portion 38 and a rib portion 39 where laterally extending lugs or ears 40 are formed at spaced intervals by punching out and laterally bending the ma terial from the rib portion, as shown.

A still dirl'erent construction of strip is shown in Fig. 6. In the same the strip comprises two side portions ll, 42, bent in the form of channel sections having outwardly directed web portions l3-ll, d5i6, the upper web portions 43, 45, being further bent upwardly and inwardly to form sides 47, d8, of the channeled head portion. The sectional dimensions of said two strip portions are such. that when the two sidesll, 4:8 or the head are at the proper distance from each other, the two ribs oi the strip sections are separated by a clearance through which may be inserted a fiat strip 4:2,projecting downwardly therefrom-and "forming the rib portion proper of the strip.

The three parts mentioned, composing the shell portion of the strip are joined together in any suitable manner, for instance, by means of longitudinally spaced rivets and the resulting structure is a strip having as before, a head portion adapted to receive and retain a filling or core of anti-slip H12;- terial, a-lower rib portion adapted for insertion through the foundation layer oi the ill) lid-fl floor and two laterally extending flanges 44, 46, forming the supporting, positioning and anchoring means for the strip.

A strip of this character may be produced most economically, because it permits the use of. a relativel inexpensive material for its rib portion. or ornamental and structural reasons, floor dividing strips are usually made of brass, but if a chest er metal is used for its rib portion, a consi erable saving in the cost of material ma be effected.

The way in which the strip is used is illustrated in Fig. 7, where 51 designates the lower layer of the floor space on the floor foundation 52, 53 designates the upper or finishing layer, and 54 designates the strip which is of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. It

will be observed that the lower surface of its laterally extending flange 55 rests directly on the upper surface of the lower layer of the floor, thus acting as supporting and positioning means for the strip.

It will also be observe that the upper edges of the two sides of the head ortion of the strip of the upper surface of t e core or filling 56 retained. therebetween, are flushwith the upper surface of the floor, sothat the anti-sllp properties of the core 56 are fully effective. I

A strip of the character described, provides as stated, an effective and convenient means for producing anti-slip floors and furthermore it also affords means for producing new and effective decorative designs. This is especially due to the fact that by virtue of the difierencein color between the metal out of which the strip proper is made, and

ner, or core or filling or head, associated or integral therewith, providing the desired anti-slip properties. The invention is entirely inde endent of the particular manner in which tfietwo parts of which the strip is composed are united or formed and the drawings will be understood as being intended for purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting sense.

I accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, built in unit form, comprising a relatively narrow long metal frame adapted to separate adjoining panels of a terrazzo or similar floor, said frame having an open top chamber and a filling therefor of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip.

strip, and a relatively narrow rib 2. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, built in unit form, comprising-a relatively narrow long metal frame adapted to separate adjoiningpanels of a terrazzo or similar floor, said frame having an open top.

chamber running throu hout the length thereof, and a filling there or, of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling. being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip.

3. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprisinga head portion formed with an open top chamber, running throughout the ace of said length of. the strip, a filling therefor of antislip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip, and a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said head portion.

5. A divider stri for terrazzo floors or'the like, comprising a ead portion formed with an open top chamber, running throu hout the length of the strip, ,a filling there or. of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip,=a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said head portion, and anchoring means'integral with said rib portion. a I

6; A divided strip forjerrazzo floors or the like, comprising a head portion formed with an open top chamber, running throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor 'of antislip material, the'upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip, a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said head portion, and

v anchoring means integral with andlaterally projecting from said rib portion.

7 A divider. strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a head portion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed section, running throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said portion depending from said head portion.

8. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a head portion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed section running throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip, a relatively narrow rib portion depend-' ing from said head portion, and anchoring means integral with and laterally projecting from said rib portion.

9. A divider strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a head portion, formed with an open top chamber having a dovetailed section running throughout the length of the strip, a filling therefor, of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strip, a relatively narrow rib portion depending from said head portion, and anchoring means integral with and laterally projecting from said rib portion.

10. A terrazzo or similar floor comprising a body of floor composition, and a plurality of relatively long, narrow strips dividing said floor into a plurality of units or panels in a predetermined arrangement, the upper part of said strips consisting of a metallic memher having an open top chamber, and a filling therefor of anti-slip material, the upper surface of said filling being substantially level with the upper surface of said strips.

11. A terrazzo or similar floor comprising a body of floor composition having a comparatively slippery surface and including means for reducing the slippery character of the floor comprising strips for dividing said floor surface into comparatively small sections, said strips including anti-slip material substantially flush with the surface of the floor.

PASQUALE GALASSI.

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