WO2021119738A1

WO2021119738A1 - Wet area floor covering

Info

Publication number: WO2021119738A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/051378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Greg D'Orazio; Edward Joseph Khoury; Ross Stanley Khoury
Original assignee: Doratz Investments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-17
Filing date: 2020-12-16
Publication date: 2021-06-24
Also published as: AU2020406668A1

Abstract

A floor covering (10) comprising a planar body (12) having a first portion (14) and a second portion (16). The first portion (14) includes fixings for securing the body (12) to a floor and the second portion (16) is hinged relative to the first portion (14). The second portion (16) can be moved between a raised position and a lowered position such that, in the lowered position, a person may stand on an upper surface of the second portion (16).

Description

“Wet Area Floor Covering”

Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a floor covering for use in wet areas

Background to the Invention

[002] When vehicles such as caravans or boats include a bathroom, it is common for the bathroom to be relatively small. Combined bathroom configurations including both a shower and a toilet are therefore often employed. When using the shower in this type of room, it is often necessary to spend time drying down the floor of the area so that the toilet may later be used without getting wet feet.

[003] The present invention relates to a floor covering device which may be used in such rooms which allows a dry floor area to be maintained in a particular area, such as in front of a toilet.

Summary of the Invention

[004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a floor covering comprising a planar body having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes fixings for securing the body to a floor and the second portion is hinged relative to the first portion such that the second portion can be moved between a raised position and a lowered position such that, in the lowered position, a person may stand on an upper surface of the second portion.

[005] Preferably the fixings comprise suction cups secured to a lower surface of the first portion. [006] Preferably the second portion of the body is longer than the first portion such that the first portion comprises a relatively narrow strip of the body along a first end thereof.

[007] In a preferred embodiment, a flexible strip is provided between the first and second portions to allow the second portion to pivot relative to the first portion.

[008] Preferably opposed longitudinal sides of the flexible strip each include a protruding portion extending along the length thereof and the protruding portions are received and fixed within corresponding grooves on adjacent sides of the first and second body portions.

[009] Preferably the second portion is rotatable through over 90 degrees such that the second portion is located above the first portion in the raised position.

[010] Preferably the body includes a plurality of ribs at regular intervals extending between first and second sides of the body.

[011] Preferably the ribs extend outwardly from the lower surface of the body and define channels in the upper surface of the body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[012] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[013] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a floor covering in accordance with the present invention;

[014] Figure 2 is a top view of the floor covering of Figure 1 ;

[015] Figure 3 is a bottom view of the floor covering of Figure 1 ;

[016] Figure 4 is a side view of the floor covering of Figure 1 ;

[017] Figure 5 is an end view of the floor covering of Figure 1 ;

[018] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the floor covering of Figure 1; [019] Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of the floor covering showing the second portion of the body in a raised position;

[020] Figure 8 is a lower perspective view of the floor covering showing the second portion of the body in the raised position;

[021] Figure 9 is a side view of the floor covering showing the second body portion in the raised position;

[022] Figure 10 is a close up side view of the connection between the first and second body portions of the floor covering;

[023] Figure 11 is a view showing the floor covering in a wet area with the second portion of the body in the lowered position; and [024] Figure 12 is a view showing the floor covering in the wet area with the second body portion in the raised position.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[025] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a floor covering 10 comprising a body 12 being generally planar and having upper and lower surfaces 18 and 19 such that the body 12 can be placed on a floor 11 of a wet area 13 with the lower surface 19 thereof resting on the floor 11. The body 12 in the embodiment shown is rectangular in shape and therefore includes first and second sides 20 and 21 and first and second ends 22 and 23.

[026] The body 12 is formed from a suitable material such that the body 12 is waterproof and of sufficient strength such that a person may stand on the upper surface 18 of the body 12 when the body 12 is resting on the floor 11. The body 12 may be formed from a suitable plastic based material.

[027] In the embodiment shown, the body 12 includes a plurality of ribs 24. The ribs 24 are each parallel to the first and second ends 22 and 23 and are provided at regular intervals running between the first and second sides 20 and 21. The ribs 24 extend outwardly from the lower surface 19 of the body 12 to provide sufficient strength such that the person may stand on the body 12. The ribs 24 define channels 26 in the upper surface 18 of the body 12. The upper surface 18 is also provided with a non-slip material in order to provide additional grip when standing on the upper surface 18.

[028] The body 12 comprises a first portion 14 located adjacent the first end 22 and a second portion 16 extending from the first portion 14 to the second end 23. The second portion 16 of the body 12 is significantly longer than the first portion 14 such that the first portion 14 comprises a relatively narrow strip of the body 12 along the first end 22 thereof.

[029] The second portion 16 is pivotally connected to the first portion 14. A flexible strip 30 is provided between the first and second portions 14 and 16 to allow the second portion 16 to pivot relative to the first portion 14. The flexible strip 30 is formed from a relatively flexible material such that the second portion 16 of the body 12 may pivot relative to the first body portion 14.

[030] In the embodiment shown, opposed longitudinal sides of the flexible strip 30 each include a protruding portion 32 extending along the length thereof. The protruding portions 32 are received an fixed within corresponding grooves 34 on adjacent sides of the first and second body portions 14 and 16 (as can be seen in Figure 10).

[031] The first portion 14 is provided with fixings to secure the first portion 14 to the floor 11. The fixings comprise suction cups 28 secured to the lower surface 19 of the first portion 14. The first portion 14 may therefore be secured to the floor 11 by pressing the first portion 14 downwardly to engage the suction cups 28 with the floor 11. When the first portion 14 is secured to the floor 11 , the second portion 16 is pivotable between a lowered position, in which the second portion 16 is coplanarwith the first portion 14 and rests on the floor 11 , and a raised position, in which the second portion 16 extends upwardly away from the floor 11. In the raised position, the second portion 16 is preferably rotated through over 90 degrees such that the second portion 16 is located above the first portion 14.

[032] In use, the floor covering 10 may be placed on the floor 11 of a wet area 13 as shown in Figures 11 and 12. When the wet area 13 is to be used as a shower, the second portion 16 of the body 12 is rotated to the raised position. The floor covering 10 is secured to the floor such that the first portion 14 is located adjacent the wall of the wet area 13 and the second portion 16 is located in front of a toilet 15. When the second portion 16 is in the raised position, the upper surface of the second portion 16 is therefore located adjacent the wall. The shower may then be used with the upper surface of the second portion 16 remaining dry. After use of the shower has finished, the second portion 16 may be moved to the lowered position. The upper surface and second portion 16 therefore provides a dry surface on which someone may stand when using the toilet 15.

[033] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floor covering comprising a planar body having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes fixings for securing the body to a floor and the second portion is hinged relative to the first portion such that the second portion can be moved between a raised position and a lowered position such that, in the lowered position, a person may stand on an upper surface of the second portion.

2. A floor covering in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixings comprise suction cups secured to a lower surface of the first portion.

3. A floor covering in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the second portion of the body is longer than the first portion such that the first portion comprises a relatively narrow strip of the body along a first end thereof.

4. A floor covering in accordance with claim 4, wherein a flexible strip is provided between the first and second portions to allow the second portion to pivot relative to the first portion.

5. A floor covering in accordance with clam 4, wherein opposed longitudinal sides of the flexible strip each include a protruding portion extending along the length thereof and the protruding portions are received and fixed within corresponding grooves on adjacent sides of the first and second body portions.

6. A floor covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion is rotatable through over 90 degrees such that the second portion is located above the first portion in the raised position.

7. A floor covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes a plurality of ribs at regular intervals extending between first and second sides of the body.

8. A floor covering in accordance with claim 7, wherein the ribs extend outwardly from the lower surface of the body and define channels in the upper surface of the body.