GB2247403A

GB2247403A - Floor covering structure

Info

Publication number: GB2247403A
Application number: GB9018890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Starbuck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-30
Filing date: 1990-08-30
Publication date: 1992-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-30
Also published as: HK1007270A1; GB2247403B; GB9018890D0

Abstract

A floor covering structure 1 comprises like strips 3 each formed by an extrusion of substantially rigid material providing a platform 5 and supporting means 7 therefor. A band 9 of floor covering material is applied to the platform of each strip and connecting means for connecting the strips with their platforms coplanar serve to inhibit mutual lateral movement of the strips. The floor covering material has a stiff backing 13 and retaining means are provided for releasably securing opposite longitudinal edges of the backing of each band to the platform which it overlies. Suitably, the connecting means incorporate the means for retaining and releasably securing each band to the platform which it overlies. <IMAGE>

Description

FLOOR COVERING STRUCTURE This invention relates to floor covering structures and, more particularly, to such structures of the kind comprising a plurality of like strips each formed by an extrusion of substantially rigid material providing a platform and supporting means therefor, a band of floor covering material applied to the platform of each strip, and connecting means for connecting said strips with their platforms coplanar and so as to inhibit mutual lateral movement thereof.

The strips of such structures are cut to desired length and the number of strips chosen so that the structure closely fits a floor area, for example a door mat well, of predetermined size. Hitherto, the design of structures of the kind set forth has concentrated on the requirement of the structure to fit within a predetermined area. A problem arising in the use of such structures is that of uneven wear which generally has necessitated replacement of the structure as a whole which may be uneconomic. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide in floor covering structures of the kind set forth for ready replacement of worn areas of the floor covering material thereof.

The present invention consists in a floor covering structure of the kind set forth which is characterised in that each band of floor covering material has a stiff backing, and retaining means are provided for releasably securing opposite longitudinal edges of the backing of each band to the platform which it overlies. Accordingly the invention provides for ready replacement uniquely of any worn band or bands of floor covering material. A further advantage is that the floor covering strips can readily be removed for regular cleaning suitably by a cleaning service.

Advantageously, the connecting means of each strip are readily releasable and adapted to enable, when released, lifting of said strip out of said structure. This feature enables not only ready replacement of a particular band of floor covering material but also the strip extrusion on which it is carried so that replacement in the event of damage thereto of one or more of the strip extrusion does not require replacement of the structure as a whole.

In one form of the invention said strips are formed each along opposite sides thereof with respective open top channels having outer side walls abutting like side walls of adjoining strip channels and said connecting means are readily releasable and adapted mutually to secure said abutting side walls. Preferably, said connecting means comprise extruded strips each bridging a pair of abutting channel side walls.

Suitably, said connecting means are formed each with a cross section of inverted channel shape which fits over the tops of said abutting channel side walls. Advantageously, channel facing surfaces of said abutting channel side walls and surfaces of said connecting means which respectively engage said channel facing surfaces are formed with complementary, longitudinally extending serrations.

For ease of separation from the side channels of the strips forming the platform structure, the connecting means comprise strips of flexible material which are peelable from the abutting channel side walls with which they engage.

Advantageously, the retaining means comprise lateral flanges formed along respective opposite sides of said extruded strip connecting means which in the operatively engaged position of the connecting means, each secure a longitudinal edge of the backing of one of said bands to the platform with which said band is engaged. By this feature release of the connecting means also releases the edges of the bands of flooring material engaged on the adjoining extruded strips of the structure secured by the released connecting means so that either of those bands can be replaced.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a floor covering structure according to the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a view to a larger scale of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a floor covering structure 1 comprises a plurality of like strips 3 each formed by an extrusion of substantially rigid material, such as aluminium, providing a platform 5 and supporting means for the platform in the form of feet 7. A band 9 of floor covering material suitably comprises a pile fabric 11 formed on a stiff backing 13 which overlies the platform 5 of each adjoining strip extrusion 3.

The strip extrusions 3 are formed along opposite longitudinal edges thereof with open topped channels 15 having vertical inner and outer side walls 17 and 19 connected by floor engaging parts 21. The outer channel side walls 19 of each strip extrusion 3 engage like outer channel side walls of adjoining strip extrusions.

For securing the strip extrusions 3 of the floor covering structure, connecting means are provided which comprise strip extrusions 23 of flexible, suitably, plastics, material each having a cross-section of inverted channel-shaped form with side walls 25 connected by a head portion 27. The spacing of the side walls 25 is just sufficient to enable them closely to engage with the abutting outer channel walls 19 of the strip extrusions 3. For more effectively retaining the abutting channel walls 19 in engagement, the extrusions 23 of the connecting means are formed on the inner surfaces of the inverted channel walls 25 and the abutting channel side walls 19 are formed on their outer surfaces with complementary longitudinally extending serrations 29.These serrations notwithstanding, the flexibility of the extrusions 23 forming the connecting means enable them to be peeled off the abutting side walls 19 so that ready separation of the extrusions 3 of the floor covering structure can be effected.

The head portion 27 of each connecting means extrusion 23 provides lateral flanges 31 which respectively overlie the edges of the platforms 5 of the strip extrusions 3 secured by the connecting means. The flanges 31 trap the adjacent edges 33 and 35 of the stiff backing 13 of the bands of floor covering material engaged on the platforms 5 of the adjoining floor engaging extrusions 3. Accordingly, by peeling off one of the extrusions 23 forming the connecting means between adjacent strips 3, not only are the adjacent strips 3 disconnected but the bands overlying the platforms 5 of those strips are freed for removal and replacement.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can take other forms from that described specifically in relation to Figures 1 and 2. Thus, for example, the extruded strips 3 may be of inverted channel form and have abutting side walls whilst the connecting means may comprise extruded strips of rigid material bolted to the inverted channels where the latter abut. These inverted channel connecting strips would be provided with lateral flanges between which and the inverted channel strips the rigid backing of the floor covering bands would be retained.

It will be appreciated that the invention enables a user of the floor covering structure described to replace selectively the bands of floor covering material and, in the event of damage thereto, also the extruded strips which provide the platforms on which the respective bands of floor covering material are carried.

Claims

1. A floor covering structure comprising a plurality of like strips each formed by an extrusion of substantially rigid material providing a platform and supporting means therefor, a band of floor covering material applied to the platform of each strip, and connecting means for connecting said strips with their platforms coplanar and so as to inhibit mutual lateral movement thereof, characterised in that each band of floor covering material has a stiff backing, and retaining means are provided for releasably securing opposite longitudinal edges of the backing of each band to the platform which it overlies.

2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the connecting means of each strip are readily releasable and adapted to enable, when released, lifting of said strip out of said structure.

3. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that said strips are formed each along opposite sides thereof with respective open top channels having outer side walls abutting like side walls of adjoining strip channels and said connecting means are readily releasable and adapted mutually to secure said abutting side walls.

4. A structure as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that said connecting means comprise extruded strips each bridging a pair of abutting channel side walls.

5. A structure as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that said connecting means are formed each with a cross section of inverted channel shape which fits over the tops of said abutting channel side walls.

6. A structure as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that channel facing surfaces of said abutting channel side walls and surfaces of said connecting means which respectively engage said channel facing surfaces are formed with complementary, longitudinally extending serrations.

7. A structure as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that said connecting means comprise strips of flexible material which are peelable from the abutting channel side walls with which they engage.

8. A structure as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the retaining means comprise lateral flanges formed along respective opposite sides of said extruded strip connecting means which in the operatively engaged position of the connecting means, each secure a longitudinal edge of the backing of one of said bands to the platform with which said band is engaged.

9. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the floor covering material of each band comprises a carpet strip on said stiff backing.

10. For use in a structure as claimed in any preceding claim, a band of floor covering material having a stiff backing adapted in use to overlie and be retained on a platform of an extruded strip.

11. For use in a structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, an extruded strip of substantially rigid material providing a platform and supporting means therefor.