US2004253410A1PendingUtilityA1

Surface covering

49
Priority: Apr 25, 2003Filed: Apr 19, 2004Published: Dec 16, 2004
Est. expiryApr 25, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kenneth B. HigginsWilliam TippettN. SellmanHeather J. HayesShulong LiThomas GodfreyRobert K. Brown
B32B 5/022D06N 2203/047D06N 2203/048Y10T428/31855Y10T428/24124Y10T428/23986D06N 2203/042B32B 5/18D06N 7/0078D06N 2207/123D06N 2203/068B32B 5/026B32B 5/26D06N 7/0073B32B 5/024D06N 2205/04B32B 5/245B32B 2471/02
49
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Claims

Abstract

A surface covering element adapted for disposition in covering relation to a support surface. The surface covering element includes a show surface adapted to project away from the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface and an underside adapted to project towards the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface. A friction enhancing coating composition is disposed in coated relation across the underside at an effective level to enhance sliding friction of the surface covering element such that the surface covering element exhibits a degree of lateral grip cross across the support surface. The friction enhancing coating composition does not permanently stick to the support surface.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A surface covering element adapted for disposition in covering relation to a support surface wherein said surface covering element comprises: 
 a show surface adapted to project away from the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface; and    an underside adapted to project towards the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface, wherein a friction enhancing coating composition is disposed in coated relation across the underside at an effective level to enhance sliding friction of the surface covering element such that the surface covering element exhibits a degree of lateral grip across the support surface which is substantially greater than the lateral grip exhibited by a surface covering element of identical construction without the friction enhancing coating and wherein the friction enhancing coating composition does not permanently stick to the support surface and provides the surface covering element with an amount of vertical stick or adhesion with little or no blocking.    
     
     
         2 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is disposed across the underside of said surface covering element at a dry add-on level of not greater than about 50 grams per square meter.  
     
     
         3 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is disposed across the underside of said surface covering element at a dry add-on level of not greater than about 30 grams per square meter.  
     
     
         4 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is disposed across the underside of said surface covering element at a dry add-on level of not greater than about 20 grams per square meter.  
     
     
         5 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is a latex composition.  
     
     
         6 . The invention as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the latex composition is an acrylic latex composition.  
     
     
         7 . The invention as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the latex composition is an EVA latex composition.  
     
     
         8 . The invention as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the latex composition is an SBR latex composition.  
     
     
         9 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is a hot melt composition.  
     
     
         10 . The invention as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the hot melt composition is an olefin composition.  
     
     
         11 . The invention as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the olefin composition is based on one of polypropylene and polyethylene.  
     
     
         12 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface is a textile selected from the group consisting of carpet fabric, woven fabric, knit fabric, nonwoven felt, flocked fabric and napped pile fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The invention as recited in  claim 2  wherein the surface covering is a cushioned carpet fabric selected from the group consisting of broadloom carpet, runners, area rugs, and modular carpet tile.  
     
     
         14 . The invention as recited in  claim 12  wherein the show surface is a carpet fabric and wherein the surface covering is selected from the group consisting of broadloom carpet, runners, area rugs, and modular carpet tile, and wherein the carpet fabric has a backing comprising at least one layer of PVC .  
     
     
         15 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a vinyl surface.  
     
     
         16 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a ceramic surface.  
     
     
         17 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a laminate surface.  
     
     
         18 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a wood surface.  
     
     
         19 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element includes at least one layer of foam cushioning.  
     
     
         20 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element is at least one of flooring, counter top, or wall covering.  
     
     
         21 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element has a vertical adhesion of at least 0.01 lbs/inch 2 .  
     
     
         22 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element has a vertical adhesion of at least 0.02 lbs/inch 2 .  
     
     
         23 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element has a vertical adhesion of at least 0.03 lbs/inch 2 .  
     
     
         24 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface covering element has a vertical adhesion of less than 0.04 lbs/inch 2 .  
     
     
         25 . A surface covering element adapted for disposition in covering relation to a support surface of any of the group consisting of concrete, wood, glass, aluminum or steel, wherein said surface covering element comprises: 
 a show surface adapted to project away from the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface; and    an underside of PVC adapted to project towards the support surface when the surface covering element is disposed across the support surface, wherein a friction enhancing coating composition is disposed in coated relation across the underside at an effective level to enhance sliding friction of the surface covering element such that the surface covering element exhibits a degree of lateral grip cross across the support surface which is substantially greater than the lateral grip exhibited by a surface covering element of identical construction without the friction enhancing coating and wherein the friction enhancing coating composition does not stick to the support surface.    
     
     
         26 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is disposed across the underside of said surface covering element at a dry add-on level of about 0.5 to about 1.5 ounces per square yard.  
     
     
         27 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is a cross linked urethane.  
     
     
         28 . The invention as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the cross linked urethane is an ultra-violet cured urethane.  
     
     
         29 . The invention as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the cross linked urethane is a heat cured urethane.  
     
     
         30 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating is an acrylate hot melt composition.  
     
     
         31 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface is a textile selected from the group consisting of carpet fabric, woven fabric, knit fabric, nonwoven felt, flocked fabric and napped pile fabric.  
     
     
         32 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the surface covering element is a cushioned carpet fabric selected from the group consisting of broadloom carpet, runners, area rugs, and modular carpet tile.  
     
     
         33 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a vinyl surface.  
     
     
         34 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a ceramic surface.  
     
     
         35 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a laminate surface.  
     
     
         36 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the show surface adapted to project away from the support surface comprises a wood surface.  
     
     
         37 . A surface covering element comprising a hardback carpet tile adapted for disposition in covering relation to a support floor of any of the group consisting of concrete, wood, glass, aluminum and steel, wherein said surface covering element comprises: 
 a show surface of outwardly projecting pile yarns adapted to project away from the support floor when the surface covering element is disposed across the support floor; and    an underside of PVC adapted to project towards the support floor when the surface covering element is disposed across the support floor, wherein a friction enhancing coating composition is disposed in coated relation across the underside of PVC at an effective level to enhance sliding friction of the surface covering element relative to the support floor such that the surface covering element exhibits a degree of lateral grip cross across the support floor which is substantially greater than the lateral grip exhibited by a surface covering element of identical construction without the friction enhancing coating and wherein the friction enhancing coating composition does not permanently stick to the support surface and wherein the friction enhancing coating composition is selected from the group consisting of cross-linked urethane and acrylate hot melt polymers.    
     
     
         38 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating composition comprises silicone rubber.  
     
     
         39 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing coating is coated in a discontinuous pattern across the underside.  
     
     
         40 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the friction enhancing coating is coated in a discontinuous pattern across the underside.  
     
     
         41 . The invention as recited in claims  37 , wherein the friction enhancing coating is coated in a discontinuous pattern across the underside.  
     
     
         42 . The invention as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the underside comprises felt.  
     
     
         43 . The invention as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the felt is a predrafted elliptically needled felt.  
     
     
         44 . The invention as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the underside comprises felt.  
     
     
         45 . The invention as recited in  claim 44 , wherein the felt is a predrafted elliptically needled felt.  
     
     
         46 . The invention as recited in claims  37 , wherein the underside comprises felt.  
     
     
         47 . The invention as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the felt is a predrafted elliptically needled felt.

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