Surface covering

• US 5,587,218 A
• Filed: 05/18/1994
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard T. Betz
• Original Assignee: Richard T. Betz
• Inventors: Betz, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US08/245,445
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 428/67, 428/156, 428/167, 428/172, 428/908.8, 428/95, 428/120, 428/192, 404/19, 404/21, 404/44, 404/32, 52/179-188, 15/215-217
• US Class Current: 428/67
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/0293 Mat modules for interlocking engagement
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 23/24 Rigid cleaning-gratings; Tread plates or scrapers for cleaning the soles of footwear floor mats in general A47G27/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/16 Surfaces thereof; Protecting means for edges or corners thereof loosely laid coverings, floor fabrics, fastenings therefor A47G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/22 Nonparticulate element embedded or inlaid in substrate and visible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23979 Particular backing structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• 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 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

An improved surface covering includes a base having a plurality of receiving grooves on one side and a plurality of working grooves on the other side. Each receiving groove includes gripping projections and is constructed to receive and grip a filler material. To assemble the surface material, the base material is flexed so that the size of the receiving grooves is enlarged thereby making insertion of the filler material easy. The base material is then returned to its original planar configuration so that the size of the receiving grooves is retracted thereby causing the gripping projection to grip and hold the filler material,

Claims

1. A surface covering comprising:

a base constructed from a substantially planar and rigid material, said base having first, second, third, and fourth edges and first and second opposing sides, said first and second edges being positioned in opposing relationship and said third and fourth edges being positioned in opposing relationship, said first side of said base including a plurality of working grooves extending from said first edge to said second edge of said base, said plurality of working grooves being spaced apart from one another along said first side of said base from said third edge to said fourth edge, said second side of said base including a plurality of receiving grooves extending from said first edge to said second edge of said base, said plurality of receiving grooves being spaced apart from one another along said second side of said base from said third edge to said fourth edge, each of said plurality of receiving grooves being a substantially linear groove having first and second opposing walls extending from said first edge to said second edge, each said first and second wall having a gripping projection projecting into said corresponding receiving groove and extending from said first edge to said second edge, said first side of said base including a plurality of receiving slots;

a plurality of fasteners each having a head portion and a stem portion, said plurality of fasteners being positioned in said plurality of receiving slots so that said head portion is movably secured within said slot and so that said stem portion extends outward from said slot; and

a plurality of filler strips each being a substantially compliant material positioned in respective ones of said plurality of receiving grooves and being gripped by said gripping projections of said first and second walls of said receiving grooves, each of said plurality of filler strips extending outward from said receiving grooves to provide a textured surface for said surface covering.

2. The surface covering as recited in claim 1 wherein said filler strips further comprise first and second filler strips constructed from first and second substantially compliant material and wherein a portion of said receiving grooves having said first and second filler strips positioned therein.

3. A surface covering comprising:

a base constructed from a rigid material, said base having first and second opposing sides, said first side of said base including a plurality of spaced apart working grooves and said second side of said base including a plurality of spaced apart receiving grooves, each of said plurality of receiving grooves being a substantially linear groove having first and second opposing walls wherein said first and second opposing walls include a gripping projection projecting into said corresponding receiving groove; and

a plurality of filler strips positioned in respective ones of said plurality of receiving grooves and being gripped by said gripping projections of said first and second walls.

4. The surface covering as recited in claim 3 wherein said plurality of filler strips further comprise members that extend outward of said receiving grooves to provide a textured surface for the surface covering.

5. The surface covering as recited in claim 3 wherein said filler strips further comprise first and second filler strips wherein a portion of said receiving grooves have said first and second filler strips positioned therein.

6. The surface covering as recited in claim 3 wherein said base includes first and second edges positioned at opposing ends of said base and wherein said working grooves and said receiving grooves extend from said first edge to said second edge.

7. The surface covering as recited in claim 3 wherein said first side of said base further comprises a plurality of receiving slots and a plurality of fasteners wherein said plurality of fasteners each includes a head portion and a stem portion, said head portions of said plurality of fasteners being slidably received in said plurality of receiving slots so that said stem portions of said plurality of fasteners extend outward from said base.

8. A surface covering comprising:

a base constructed from a substantially flexible material, said base having first and second opposing sides, said first side of said base including a plurality of spaced apart receiving grooves wherein each of said plurality of receiving grooves is a substantially linear groove having first and second opposing walls wherein said first and second opposing walls include a gripping projection projecting into said corresponding receiving grooves;

a plurality of filler strips positioned in respective ones of said plurality of receiving grooves and being gripped by said gripping projections of said first and second walls; and

a base support constructed from a rigid material, said base being fixed to said base support in a manner to prevent said base from flexing thereby to retain and grip said filler material in said receiving grooves of said base.

9. The surface covering as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of filler strips further comprise members that extend outward of said receiving grooves to provide a textured surface for the surface covering.

10. The surface covering as recited in claim 8 wherein said filler strips further comprise first and second filler strips wherein a portion of said receiving grooves have said first and second filler strips positioned therein.

11. A surface covering comprising:

plurality of filler means for providing a textured surface to said surface covering; and

base means having a plurality of spaced apart receiving grooves and gripping means for receiving and gripping said filler means to fix the position of said filler means with respect to said base means, said base means including bending means for varying the size of said receiving grooves so that the size of said receiving grooves can be expanded when receiving said filler means and so that the size of said receiving grooves can be retracted to grip said filler means, wherein said plurality of filler means are positioned in said plurality of spaced apart receiving grooves.

12. The surface covering as recited in claim 11 wherein said bending means comprises a plurality of spaced apart working grooves that permit said base means to be bent thereby to expand the size of said receiving grooves to receive said filler means and which permit said base means to be returned to its original configuration thereby to retract the size of said receiving grooves to grip said filler means.

13. The surface covering as recited in claim 11 wherein said bending means comprises a flexible material.

14. The surface covering as recited in claim 11 wherein said base means comprises a flexible material having said receiving grooves in a first side thereof fixed to a rigid material.

15. The surface covering as recited in claim 11, further comprising fastening means for fastening the surface material to a surface.

16. A surface covering comprising:

a plurality of filler means for providing a textured surface to said surface covering; and

base means having a plurality of spaced apart working grooves for permitting said base means to be bent, said base means including a plurality of spaced apart receiving grooves and gripping means projecting into said receiving grooves for receiving and gripping said filler means to fix the position of said filler means with respect to said base means, said gripping means being responsive to bending of said base means for receiving said filler means and being responsive to said base means being returned to its original configuration for gripping said filler means, wherein said plurality of filler means are positioned in said plurality of said receiving grooves.

17. The surface covering as recited in claim 16 wherein said base means comprises a flexible material capable of being bent for gripping said filler material, said flexible material being fixed to a rigid material.

18. The surface covering as recited in claim 16, further comprising fastening means for fastening the surface material to a surface.