Outdoor floor covering

• US 5,100,716 A
• Filed: 12/20/1989
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gestion Naurin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gestion Naurin Incorporated
• Inventors: Juneau, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Ellis P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US07/453,922
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 428/156, 428/158, 428/163, 428/167, 428/172, 428/318.4, 428/119, 428/120, 428/213, 428/215, 428/218, 428/304.4, 428/318.6, 428/493, 5/417
• US Class Current: 428/167
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/08 Closed cell foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2319/00 Synthetic rubber natural rubber B32B2317/22
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2471/00 Floor coverings B32B2419/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/042 of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/045 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/245 for preventing ice formation or for loosening ice, e.g. special additives to the paving material, resilient coatings E01C11/26 takes precedence; built-in sanding or sprinkling devices E01H10/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 Absolute thicknesses specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249987 With nonvoid component of specified composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249988 Of about the same composition as, and adjacent to, the void-containing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3183 Next to second layer of natural rubber

Abstract

An outdoor floor covering comprised of two laminated sheets of flexible water-resistant materials. A top one of the sheets has a low-profile ribbed outer surface and is comprised of a material capable of retaining flexible properties at low temperatures well below freezing. The other sheet is a backing sheet formed of a closed cell material having a density which is much weaker than that of the top sheet so that the backing sheet is impermeable and deforms under the force of a small load exerted on the top sheet whereby any ice formed on the top sheet can be easily broken by the deformation of the top sheet caused by a person standing on the floor covering. The backing sheet also has a thickness which is at least three times that of the top sheet.

Claims

1. An outdoor floor covering comprising two laminated sheets of flexible water-resistant material;

a top one of said sheets having a low-profile ribbed outer surface and being formed of galvanized rubber having a high density to prevent puncture under a concentrated load said top one of said sheets being a flexible sheet capable of retaining flexible properties throughout low temperatures well below freezing; and

a backing sheet formed of a closed cell material having a density which is much weaker than that of said top sheet so that said backing sheet is impermeable and deforms under the force of a small load exerted on said top sheet whereby any ice formed on said top sheet can be easily broken by a person standing on said floor covering which deforms said top and backing sheets, said top and bottom sheets reassuming its original form when said load is removed from said top sheet, said backing sheet having a thickness which is at least three times that of said top sheet.

2. A floor covering as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ribbed outer surface is comprised of spaced-apart, low-profile, elongated ribs having a flat top and defining channels therebetween for the accumulation of foreign material.

3. A floor covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein said backing material is a foam rubber which is non-liquid absorbent and which remains flexible at said low temperature.

4. A floor covering as claimed in claim 3 wherein said top sheet has a thickness of at least 3 mm., said backing sheet having a thickness higher than 10 mm.