Floor Covering Apparatus

Abstract

A floor covering apparatus is provided to enable the easy laying, relaying and rearranging of a protective floor covering while providing for improved customization. The apparatus comprises a rigid, substantially planar base having an upper face, a lower face, and a perimeter defining a two-dimensional shape; a rigid edge portion extending from the upper face of the base and defining a depth, wherein the depth is a distance between the upper face of the base and an uppermost surface of the edge portion; wherein the floor covering apparatus is arranged to tessellate with at least one other such floor covering apparatus. The apparatus aims to provide a modular floor covering apparatus with improved structural and functional properties compared with currently available solutions.

Claims

1. A floor covering apparatus, the apparatus comprising, a rigid, substantially planar base having an upper face, a lower face, and a perimeter defining a two-dimensional shape; a rigid edge portion extending from the upper face of the base and defining a depth, wherein the depth is a distance between the upper face of the base and an uppermost surface of the edge portion; wherein the floor covering apparatus is arranged to tessellate with at least one other such floor covering apparatus.

2. The floor covering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the edge portion is located about the perimeter, defining a well having a well depth equal to said depth.

3. The floor covering apparatus of claim 2, wherein the floor covering apparatus further comprises a mat adjacent the upper face of the base and the edge portion, the mat comprising a cleaning material.

4. The floor covering apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cleaning material comprises one selected from the group: a fibrous material; a woven material.

5. The floor covering apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mat is affixed to the base and/or the edge portion.

6. The floor covering apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mat is detachable from the base.

7. The floor covering apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mat comprises a height, wherein the height is substantially the same as the depth.

8. The floor covering apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mat is located within said well.

9. The floor covering apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mat comprises a plurality of layers.

10. The floor covering apparatus of claim 9, wherein the floor covering apparatus further comprises a support member, the support member positioned adjacent the lower face of the base.

11. The floor covering apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support member comprises a compressive material.

12. The floor covering apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compressive material comprises one selected from the group: foam; rubber; a fibrous material.

13. The floor covering apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base and the edge portion each comprise a metal.

14. The floor covering apparatus of claim 13, wherein the base comprises a metal composite.

15. The floor covering apparatus of claim 14, wherein the metal is aluminium.

16. The floor covering apparatus of claim 15, wherein the edge portion is affixed to the base.

17. The floor covering apparatus of claim 16, wherein the two-dimensional shape is a regular polygon selected from the group: rectangle; triangle; hexagon; rhombus; kite; diamond; parallelogram; trapezoid.

18. The floor covering apparatus of claim 16, wherein the two-dimensional shape is an irregular polygon.

19. The floor covering apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one other such floor covering apparatus comprises a base having a perimeter defining a different two-dimensional shape.

20. A modular floor covering kit, the kit comprising a plurality of floor covering apparatuses, each apparatus comprising, a rigid, substantially planar base having an upper face, a lower face, and a perimeter defining a two-dimensional shape; a rigid edge portion extending from the upper face of the base and defining a depth, wherein the depth is a distance between the upper face of the base and an uppermost surface of the edge portion; wherein each floor covering apparatus is arranged to tessellate with at least one other such floor covering apparatus.

21. The modular floor covering kit of claim 20, the kit arranged to form a two-dimensional array of floor covering apparatuses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Specific embodiments will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an example embodiment of a floor covering apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the example embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of a floor covering kit according to the second aspect of the present invention comprising the floor covering apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a second example embodiment of a floor covering kit according to the second aspect of the present invention; and

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a third example embodiment of a floor covering kit according to the second aspect of the present invention comprising floor covering apparatuses from the example embodiment of FIG. 1 in combination with floor covering apparatuses from the example embodiment of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, an example embodiment 10 of a floor covering apparatus is shown according to the first aspect of the present invention. The floor covering apparatus 10 comprises a planar aluminium-composite base 12 having an upper face 14, a lower face 16, and a first edge 18 and a second edge 20. The floor covering apparatus 10 further comprises a planar, first aluminium edge portion 22 affixed to the first edge 18 of the base 12, and a second aluminium edge portion 24 affixed to the second edge 20 of the base 12. Each of the first edge portion 22 and the second edge portion 24 extends perpendicular to the base 12, and defines a well 26 having a depth D. Shown elevated above the well 26, but arranged to be positioned in the well 26, and adjacent to the upper face 14 of the base 12, and the first and second edge portions 22, 24 is a fibrous mat 28, comprising a woven fibrous material 28 affixed to a fabric mat bed 29, the mat 28, 29 having a height H which is 2 mm greater than the depth D. Affixed to the lower face 16 of the base 12, and extending across the width W of the base 12, is a EPDM neofoam support member 30.

[0045] The embodiment 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in the isometric view of FIG. 2, wherein a third aluminium edge portion 32 and a fourth aluminium edge portion 34 are shown, conjoining the first and second edge portions 22, 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the base 12 is diamond-shaped.

[0046] In use, the first, second, third and fourth edge portions 22, 24, 32, 34 are each arranged to abut an edge portion of an additional such floor covering apparatus such that said floor covering apparatuses tessellate to form a tessellating array of floor covering apparatuses.

[0047] The floor covering apparatus 10 of the first aspect of the present invention does not require any considerable preparation of an underlying floor prior to laying the apparatus onto said floor, and can also be removed from said floor, replaced and rearranged on said floor without considerable effort.

[0048] In use, the rigid raised edge portions provide a durable, continuous, and gap-free interface between individual floor covering apparatuses when arranged in a modular fashion. Some current solutions require connective elements permanently affixed to the floor covering apparatus. Other solutions provide a separate connecting piece, arranged to connect two modular apparatuses together. These solutions invariably suffer from wear and tear following extended use. The rigid edge portions of the present invention provide a relatively frictionless interface which does not suffer from wear and tear from repeated detachment and reattachment, and also allows for minimal effort in removing, replacing and rearranging individual apparatuses. The rigid nature of the edge portions also allows the edge portions to withstand continued use without causing the material of the mat, which in the embodiments shown is a woven material, to fray at the edges.

[0049] In the embodiment shown, the bed 29 of the mat 28 is permanently affixed to the base 12 of the apparatus 10 using an adhesive, but embodiments will be appreciated wherein the mat 28, 29 is temporarily affixed to the base, and may instead be detached and replaced. In such embodiments, a suitable temporary or detachable fixing means would be required to affix the mat to the base. An example of such a fixing means would include a hook and loop system. A hook and loop system would be particularly useful in embodiments wherein the mat is a fibrous material. Embodiments will be appreciated wherein any suitable fixing means is provided and is tailored to the material used for the mat. The mat for use with the present invention preferably comprises a compressive cleaning material. Certain such compressive cleaning materials may have a finite lifespan due to prolonged cyclic compression and therefore it may be advantageous for the mat to be temporarily fixable to the base. A temporary fixing means is preferably also useful for quick and easy redecoration, if for instance a different coloured mat material is required.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 3, a modular floor covering kit 36 is shown according to the second aspect of the present invention, comprising a plurality of floor covering apparatuses 10 according to the first aspect of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. As can be seen, the plurality of floor covering apparatuses 10 of the kit 36 have been arranged to form a larger floor covering apparatus arranged in a pattern. The edge portions of the floor covering apparatuses 10 are arranged to abut an edge portion of one other floor covering apparatus 10 such that a continuous, robust interface is created between the floor covering apparatuses. This robust interface permits robustness against continued use.

[0051] In the embodiment shown, the aluminium edge portions 22, 24, 32, 34 are bonded to the aluminium composite base 12, and the fibre matting insert 28 and EPDM neofoam backing 30 are adhered to the base 12 to form the completed apparatus. When installed as shown in FIG. 3, the apparatuses tessellate together, and in the embodiment shown, are fitted to a floor using a tackifier adhesive.

[0052] Alternative methods of manufacturing the present invention could include the step of folding an aluminium plate, or cast aluminium tiles, into the various tessellating shapes, including the required edge portions. Alternative methods may include a step of cutting a single piece of a rigid material to a desired shape, and preceded or followed by a step of routing said well out of said single piece of desired rigid material. Such routing of the well would therefore leave the required base and the required edge portions in-tact. Said single piece of desired rigid material may for example comprise metal; stone; porcelain; ceramic; wood; rubber; linoleum; any combination thereof, or any other suitable rigid material. material. Said apparatuses could further be affixed together using jointing strips, clips, and/or adhesive.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate floor covering kit 38 is shown according to the second aspect of the present invention, comprising a plurality of floor covering apparatuses 40 according to the first aspect of the present invention. As can be seen from the embodiment of FIG. 4, the plurality of floor covering apparatuses 40 comprise a base having a perimeter defining a hexagonal shape.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 5, a further alternate floor covering kit 42 is shown according to the second aspect of the present invention, comprising a plurality of floor covering apparatuses 10 as shown in FIG. 2 and floor covering apparatuses 40 as shown in FIG. 4, tessellating to form a larger, continuous floor covering apparatus.

[0055] In the embodiments shown, the base is a regular polygon. Embodiments will be appreciated wherein the base takes the form of any suitable regular polygon capable of tessellating with another regular polygon, or an irregular polygon. Embodiments will also be appreciated wherein the shape is an irregular polygon arranged to tessellate with another irregular polygon or a regular polygon. In the embodiment shown, aluminium is used for the edge portions, and an aluminium composite is used for the base, each for rigidity and strength. Embodiments will be appreciated wherein any suitable rigid material is used, for example metal; stone; porcelain; ceramic; wood; rubber; linoleum; any combination thereof, or any other suitable rigid material.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus forms a diamond-shape having dimensions 115 mm690 mm (245 angle; and 2135 angle). Other examples of possible shapes/dimensions suitable for the present invention (but not limited to) are:

[0057] small square230 mm230 mm;

[0058] large square460 mm460 mm;

[0059] small triangle230 mm230 mm;

[0060] large triangle460 mm460 mm;

[0061] extra-small rectangle115 mm345 mm;

[0062] small rectangle230 mm460 mm;

[0063] medium rectangle230 mm690 mm;

[0064] medium, slim rectangle115 mm690 mm;

[0065] large rectangle460 mm690 mm;

[0066] small diamond230 mm230 mm;

[0067] medium, slim diamond115 mm690 mm (245 angle; and 2135 angle);

[0068] large diamond460 mm460 mm (260 angle; and 2120 angle); and

[0069] small hexagon230 mm230 mm.

[0070] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are given by way of example only and that various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.