Method of zoning grate surfaces

• US 4,296,160 A
• Filed: 01/07/1980
• Issued: 10/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mateflex/Mele Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mateflex/Mele Corporation
• Inventors: Forlenza, Nicholas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US06/110,132
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 35/27, 46/16, 273/31, 273/29 R, 428/53, 428/139, 428/187, 428/117, 428/131, 428/133, 272/3, 52/227, 52/228, 52/105, 52/181, 52/663, 404/36, 404/40, 404/41, 29/452
• US Class Current: 428/117
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/045 the prefabricated single units consisting of or including bitumen, rubber or plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/553 Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24157 Filled honeycomb cells [e.g., solid substance in cavities, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24289 Embedded or interlocked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24339 Keyed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24736 Ornamental design or indicia

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for delineating zones on the surface of thermoplastic gratings. The method comprises inserting in the grate openings a removable closure member adapted to interlock with the grating and close the opening. The removable closure member is distinguishable from the grating in color and when a plurality of closure members are so inserted in a pattern, they delineate a given zone.

Claims

1. A method of delineating a zone on a surface of a thermoplastic grating, said grating comprising a molded thermoplastic sheet of a first color having an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of support legs on the lower surface and a plurality of square openings in the sheet communicating between upper and lower surfaces, the sheet portions between said square holes being bars defining the edges of adjacent holes, which comprises;

inserting in those openings within said zone a removable closure member adapted to interlock with the grating and close the openings, said member having a second color which is visually distinguishable from the first color, said member comprising a cylinder having a first closed end and a second end, and expanded flange portions on each of said first and second ends, said flange portions flaring toward the mid-section of the cylinder shaped member, said interlocking occurring when the flanges frictionally engage the bars.

2. A thermoplastic grating having a surface with delineated zones, which comprises;

a molded thermoplastic sheet of a first color having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of square openings in the sheet communicating between the upper and lower surfaces, the sheet portions between said square holes being bars defining the edges of the adjacent holes; and

a plurality of removable closure members inserted and interlocked in those openings which are within the zone to be delineated, said members having a second color which is visually distinguishable from the first color, said member comprising a cylinder having a first closed end and a second end, and expanded flange portions on each of said first and second ends, said flange portions flaring toward the mid-section of the cylinder shaped member, said interlock being formed by frictional engagement of the flanges with the bars.

3. The grating of claim 2 wherein said sheet is supported on a plurality of support legs integrally molded on the lower side.