WO2003037154A1

WO2003037154A1 - Floor covering

Info

Publication number: WO2003037154A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/004854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Sill
Original assignee: Wedge Wire Screens Limited
Priority date: 2001-10-27
Filing date: 2002-10-25
Publication date: 2003-05-08
Also published as: GB0125819D0; GB2396555A; GB0409414D0; GB2396555B

Abstract

A floor covering (2, 14) is provided which includes support members (34), elongate arms (8) and a support surface (4). The elongate arms are connected to the support members at spaced locations and substantially perpendicular thereto. The support surface is provided for the support thereon of a carpet or similar textile material and is typically defined between the elongate arms.

Description

Floor Covering

This invention relates to a floor covering and particularly to a floor covering which incorporates portions of textile, such as carpet, and another material, typically a hard wearing material.

The following description refers almost exclusively to a floor covering of the type which can withstand relatively heavy wear and/or exposure to liquids, which need to be drained from the covering. For example, such floor coverings are used in entranceways of offices and homes and heavily used areas of flooring, such as for example, in foyers, public areas and/or the like. However, the invention can also be used to provide architectural benefit and/or be aesthetically appealing to the eye.

Conventionally, in floor areas which are susceptible to heavy usage, there are two options available for providing floor covering. The first option is to utilise carpet and/or carpet tiling of a particular hardwearing nature. However, such forms of carpet can become dirty relatively quickly, is difficult to clean, prevents the passage of water or other liquids therethrough and still be susceptible to wear relatively quickly. As such, this form of floor covering is generally unsatisfactory. The second alternative option is to provide a metal or other robust floor covering but such floor covering tends to be relatively stark in appearance and is generally not aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a floor covering which is hardwearing and yet still be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a floor covering, said floor covering including one or more support members, one or more elongate arms and at least one support surface, said elongate arms connected to said support members at spaced locations and characterised in that said support surface is provided for the support thereon of a carpet or similar textile material.

Preferably the support surface is provided between the one or more elongate arms.

Preferably the elongate arms are arranged in such a manner so as to form elongate spaces therebetween.

Further preferably the elongate arms are arranged in groups, elongate spaces being formed between elongate arms within each group. The groups are in turn typically spaced apart to define the size of the support surfaces therebetween.

In one embodiment the carpet or textile material is provided in elongate lengths or strips for location on the support surface.

The support surface is typically mounted so as to lie below the top surface of the elongate arms of the floor covering so as to allow the carpet or textile material to be located thereon. Preferably the top surface of the carpet or textile material lies substantially at, or close to, the top surface of the elongate arms, thereby providing a substantially uniform top surface of the floor covering. This prevents, or at least reduces, the risk of people tripping up over the floor covering or the floor covering hindering the movement of objects moving across the floor covering. The support surface can be formed of any suitable configuration of members and/or sheet material. In a preferred embodiment, the support surface is formed from perforated sheet material. The perforations typically allow the passage of water or other liquid through the carpet or textile material and in turn through the perforations /holes in the support surface to drainage.

Thus, the combination of the spaces provided between the elongate arms and the perforations in the support surface, allows adequate drainage of any liquid falling onto the floor covering.

Preferably the support members are substantially perpendicular to said elongate arms, thereby providing a rigid structure. The support members can be provided to support and traverse both the elongate arms and the support surface.

In one embodiment the support members are provided to support the elongate arms and have a first end fixed to a first support surface and a second end fixed to a second support surface. The first and second support surfaces are typically adjacent to each other, separated only by a group of elongate arms.

In an alternative embodiment, the support members can be provided in lengths and a single support member supports a plurality of support surfaces and elongate arms.

It is preferred that any or any combination of the elongate arms, support members and support surface(s), are formed from metal. However, this is not strictly necessary and any other form of suitable hard wearing and robust material can be used. In one embodiment, the elongate arms are wedge shaped in cross section.

In a preferred embodiment, an edge of the elongate arms adjacent a support surface is located and/or formed such that the edge depends inwardly of the support surface. Thus, the edge surface tapers outwardly from the bottom surface of the elongate arm to the top surface. This forms an overhang or protrusion effect which, when the carpet lengths are provided of sufficient width to be a relatively tight fit between the elongate arm edges, provides a gripping force on the carpet when the carpet is located in position on the support surface. This gripping force maintains the position of the carpet on the support surface without the requirement for further attachment means.

Preferably the carpet or textile material is detachably attached to the floor covering (i.e. moved into, or removed from the support surfaces) by sliding the carpet or textile material between the edges of the elongate arms. This allows the carpet lengths to be easily removed for cleaning and/or replacement, thereby allowing colour schemes, worn out carpet and/or the like to be changed without the need to remove the entire floor covering.

In an alternative embodiment engagement means are provided to engage the lengths or carpet or textile material to the floor covering on the support surfaces.

Preferably the support surfaces, elongate arms and/or support members are provided with securing means for securing the floor covering to a required surface or base. For example, the securing means allow the floor covering to be secured to a concrete or wooden floor.

In a preferred embodiment, the support surface is provided with one or more apertures for the reception of securing means therein.

When the securing means are positioned to secure the floor covering to a required surface, the carpet lengths can be moved into position onto the support surface as required, thereby hiding the securing means from view.

In one embodiment, the floor covering is provided as a single unit of the required shape and dimensions for the surface on or in which it is to be located.

In an alternative embodiment the floor covering can be formed from a number of floor covering panels, each of said panels having the characteristics as defined with regard to the floor covering or any combination of said characteristics, and said floor covering panels including mutually locating engaging means to engage the said panels together and hence form the floor covering to the required dimensions via a combination of panels.

Preferably, the engaging means are formed so as to engage under the support surfaces and/or elongate members so as not to be visible and to allow the external pattern of elongate members and carpet lengths of the floor covering to be continued as if the engaging means had not been used and to give the floor covering the appearance of a single unit. It will be appreciated that the number of support surfaces, support members and elongate arms can be varied according to the requirements of the floor surface which is to be covered by the floor covering.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides an improved floor covering combining the benefits of carpet or other textile material with the rigidity and hard wearing of, for example, a metal frame floor covering.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a floor covering according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of a portion of the floor covering of Figure 1 with the carpet lengths removed;

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional elevation along line A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section elevation along line B-B of Figure 2;

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates a yet further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 , there is illustrated a floor covering 2 in accordance with the invention. The floor covering, in this case, is shown as a single unit forming part of a floor surface 4 and is for use typically as a floor mat for the entrance of a building.

The floor covering 2 comprises a series of elongate arms or members 8 provided in groups 10 as shown. In each group, in this embodiment, there are provided two or more elongate members with elongate slots formed therebetween.

Intermediate the groups of elongate members are provided lengths of carpet 14 which are arranged so that the top surface of the floor covering 2 has alternating portions of carpet and elongate members as shown. This provides a hardwearing surface which allows drainage of water between the slots of the elongate members and yet still has an attractive quality due to the combined appearance of the elongate members and the carpet lengths.

The above described floor covering is shown in more detail in Figure 2 without the carpet strips 14. The elongate members 8 are again provided in groups 10 with slots 12 being formed within and between the groups. The support surfaces 18 for supporting the carpet lengths thereon comprise perforated sheet material, with the perforations 20 acting to allow the drainage of moisture and other liquids which pass through the carpet, to pass through the support surface to drainage means typically provided underneath the floor covering. The support surface can also include recessed apertures 22 for the reception of securing means, not shown, to allow the floor covering to be secured to a base such as a wooden or concrete floor. When the carpet lengths are placed on the support surfaces, the carpet lengths serve to hide the securing means from view. The securing means can include any conventional fastening, such as nuts and bolts, screws, clips and/or the like.

Figure 3 illustrates the same floor covering portion as Figure 2 in cross section along line A-A with the carpet lengths in position. The elongate members 8 are wedge shaped in cross section in this embodiment and are used such that the edges 24, 26 of the elongate members adjacent the support surface are shaped to depend inwardly of the support surface as the same moves away from the support surface in the vertical direction. This allows the edges to exert a gripping action on the carpet length and hence locate the carpet lengths in position on the support surfaces. Figure 3 also illustrates each support surface 18 being positioned below the level of the elongate members such that the top surface 30 of the carpet, when positioned on the support surfaces, is substantially in line or substantially planar with the top surface 32 of the elongate members, thereby providing a top surface of the floor covering which is relatively uniform and planar.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the elongate members and support surfaces being mounted on elongate support members 34 which typically run perpendicular to the other elongate members and adjacent the lower surface of the elongate members and support surfaces. It will therefore be seen that as the support members, elongate members and support surfaces are typically formed of metal, providing the floor covering of the present invention with a relatively rigid structure that is hardwearing and yet still allows the provision of carpet lengths at spaced intervals to render the floor covering more attractive.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention where the carpet for the floor covering comprises a number of carpet segments. Each carpet segment can be composed of a different texture, colour, pattern and/or the like, thereby allowing logos and/or different designs of floor coverings to be created. Thus in figure 5a, support surface 18 has four carpet segments 14, each carpet segment 14 provided with a different design thereon. The carpet segments are slid between adjacent elongate members 8 in turn. On support surface 18', carpet segment 14' is slid between elongate members 8 and located in a required position. Carpet segment 14" is then slid between members 8 in a similar manner as shown by arrow 40 until it is in a position adjacent carpet segment 14', as shown in figure 5b. A further carpet segment 14"'is then slid between members 8 until it is adjacent carpet segment 14" and so on so that all the carpet segments are provided on the support surface in end to end relationship. Thus, it can be seen that a large number of possible designs for the floor covering can be built up in this manner.

Referring to figure 6, there is illustrated a further embodiment in which a plurality of floor coverings 100, 100' are joined together to form a larger floor covering. Each floor covering unit or panel engages with an adjacent floor panel via complementary engagement means 102. The engagement means, in this embodiment comprises a protrusion portion 104, 104' on one panel which locates in a recess portion 106, 106' of an adjacent panel. Each panel typically has a downwardly protruding portion at or along a first end or edge and an upwardly protruding portion at or along a second end or edge. The protrusion or protruding portion provides a shoulder which defines the recess portion. In this manner, a floor covering can be provided of any required size using individual floor covering panels joined together. Carpet 14 can be provided over the engagement means to hide the same from view. Thus an upper surface of the engagement means acts as a support surface for the carpet.

Claims

Claims:

1. A floor covering, said floor covering including one or more support members, one or more elongate arms and a support surface, said elongate arms connected to said support members at spaced locations and characterised in that said support surface is provided for the support thereon of a carpet or similar textile material.

2. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the one or more elongate arms are arranged in such a manner so as to form elongate spaces therebetween.

3. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the elongate arms are arranged in groups, with elongate spaced between elongate arms within the group, and elongate spaces formed between said groups.

4. A floor covering according to claim 3 characterised in that the elongate spaces between the groups define the size of the support surface therebetween.

5. A floor covering according to claim 4 characterised in that the support surface is provided below the top surface of the elongate arms.

6. A floor covering according to claim 5 characterised in that the top surface of the carpet or textile material provided on the support surface lies substantially at the top surface of the elongate arms.

7. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the carpet or textile material is provided in elongate lengths or strips.

8. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the support surface is formed from perforated sheet material.

9. A floor covering according to claim 8 characterised in that the perforations of the sheet material are sufficient to allow the passage of liquid therethrough.

10. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the elongate arms are substantially wedge shaped in cross section.

11. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that one or more of the elongate arms have an edge adjacent a support surface and said edge depends inwardly of the support surface.

12. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that edges of the elongate arms are formed so as to exert a gripping force on the carpet or textile material located on the support surface.

13. A floor covering according to claim 12 characterised in that the carpet or textile material is detachably attached between the edges of adjacent elongate arms by sliding said carpet or textile material therebetween.

14. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that securing means are provided on the support surface and /or elongate arms for securing the floor covering to a required surface.

15. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the elongate arms, support surface and support members are formed as a single unit.

16. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the support members are provided substantially perpendicular to said elongate arms.

17. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that any or any combination of the support surface, elongate arms or support members are formed from metal.

18. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that the carpet or textile material comprises a plurality of carpet or textile segments which are positioned in end to end relationship .

19. A floor covering according to claim 18 characterised in that one or more of the carpet or textile segments are composed of any or any combination of a different texture, pattern or colour.

20. A floor covering according to claim 1 characterised in that two or more of the floor coverings are joined together via complementary engagement means to form a larger floor covering.

21. A floor covering according to claim 20 characterised in that the complementary engagement means comprise a protrusion portion on an edge of one of the floor coverings which engages with a complementary recess portion on an edge of an adjacent floor covering.