JPS6224562B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: A lattice 10 for use in a deck, etc., comprising a substantially rigid metal plate 32 and a plurality of gripping members 30 extending upward from the surface of the plate 32, wherein each of the gripping members 30 and the plate Base 3 of the joint with 32
8 and at least three lobes 36 extending upwardly from the base, each lobe 36 having a parabolic, tongue-shaped shape to guide the plate 32 along a circular path in the base. each said lobe 36 tapers upwardly and inwardly to form an apex 40 such that each apex 4 of each lobe 36
0 is spaced apart from each apex 40 of the other leaf 36 to form a star-shaped opening 42 therebetween;
A continuous upward wall 41 is formed at the edge of each adjacent leaf 36, which wall 41 is spaced apart from the wall 41 of each adjacent leaf 36 to form said star-shaped opening, while at the same time providing an extension 43 between adjacent lobes. , the extension extending from the apex 40 of one leaf to the base 38 of the leaf, the extension forming a parabolic tongue shape at the base of each gripping member. A portion of the wall 41 of said star-shaped opening 42 forms said extension 43 between adjacent lobes 36 and extends from said base towards each apex 40. A grid extending in a wide range, the walls sloping inwardly and downwardly towards the center of the opening to assist in dispersing the mud scraped by the apexes 40 of the gripping members 30.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to non-slip treads, particularly non-slip treads with discontinuous, self-cleaning protrusions, and a method for manufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY Steel treads are used and, in practice, earth-moving equipment,
There are many places where steel treads are needed, such as steps on railway locomotives, bridges, and cranes, decks, and runways. Its use is dictated by its strength and its ability to be corrugated, roughened or compressed to provide a non-slip gripping surface. In practice, desirable anti-slip gripping surface properties are achieved under particularly reasonable, ideal conditions. However, under lots of muddy footwear, or under mud and water, under freezing conditions, corrugated, rough or compressed surfaces become clogged with mud and/or ice and become dangerous.

Many prior art devices have apertures that provide a cleaning function, but these are of a type that allows dirt or the like to harden within the aperture, clogging the aperture and making the tread less effective.

Some prior art devices have a continuous edge to the contact surface of the tread, which becomes icy and slippery.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome some of the above problems.

The present invention has all of the advantages of prior art devices including non-slip treads. Moreover, the present invention has a discontinuous gripping edge, which edge is obtained with a lobe protruding high enough to obtain the desired grip, where the lobe is self-sufficient without clumping or accumulating debris. Separated in a mold that provides cleaning properties. The leaf-shaped apex has a rounded wear edge for gripping the heel of footwear, the bottom of a container, etc., reducing or eliminating slippage across the face of the tread.

The improved grid or tread is easy and inexpensive to make, yet maintains all of the desirable features and advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a plan view of the gripping member of one prior art device; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with the punch and die shown in dotted lines; and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a rosette or gripping member of an improved design; FIG. FIG. 6 is an end view of the punch of FIG. 5, an enlarged view of the invading punch and backing ring; FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout, FIGS. a continuous grip projected upward from the surface of the grid 10;
It has a gripping member 12 with a clean edge 14. Each gripping member 12 has a supporting die 1 shown in dotted lines in FIG.
6 is placed toward the top surface 18 of the plate 20, so that the circular punch 22, shown in dotted lines in FIG.
A conical surface 26 is formed that extends obliquely from the plate 20.
Punch 22 enters plate 20 and punches circular opening 28 in the plate.
leaving a continuous edge 14 around. After the plurality of gripping members 12 are stamped out of the face of the plate 20, the plate is inverted so that the edges 14 project upwardly for gripping the soles of footwear walking on the grid. Opening 28 provides a cleaning opening into which dirt, dirt, ice, etc. can be scraped. The conical surface 26 is not long enough;
The continuous circular edge 14 becomes covered with ice and becomes less effective than desired. Mud and ice solidify inside the opening 28;
If this dries or freezes there, it grips the grate, reducing its cleaning ability.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an improved gripping member or rosette 30 is shown stamped from a plate 32 to form a lattice or tread 34. A plurality of gripping members or rosettes 30 project upwardly from plate 32 in a predetermined or arbitrary pattern. The pattern of rosettes 30 on plate 32 does not form part of the present invention.

Each of the gripping members or rosettes 30 is attached to the plate 3
3 or 4 leaf shapes 36 extending upward from the surface of 2
It is preferable to have Each lobe 36 has a tongue or somewhat parabolic shape, and the lobe 36 is connected to the plate 32 along a circle at the base 38. Each lobe 36 rises upwardly and inwardly to form an apex 40;
This apex is spaced apart from each apex of the other lobes 36 to provide a star-shaped opening or hole 42 between the lobes 36. The openings 42 extend around the edges of the leaf molds 36 and are defined by continuous walls 41 between adjacent leaf molds 36 .

The aperture 42 has an extension 43 between adjacent lobes 36 which extends from the apex of the lobes to its base 38;
It then extends to the apex 40 of the adjacent leaf mold 36. The portion of the wall 41 defining the extension 43 between adjacent leaves 36 is connected to the base 38, as best shown in FIG.
A flare is preferred when extending from to its respective apex 40.

The fifth
6, a punch 44 is provided having a base 45 adapted to be coupled to the moving head of a ram 47, such as a punch press, not shown. The punch 44 is a sharp guide 46
and a star-shaped cutting handle 48. The cutting handle 48 has three or four radially extending grooves 50;
Each groove corresponds to an opening 42 in the finished rosette 30.
It has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the extension 43 of. Each groove 50 has a flat end 51 and its edge 5
3 forms the cutting edge of the punch.

The punch press, not shown, has a guide 52,
An opening 54 is formed therein for receiving and guiding the punch 44. A die 56 having circular notches or openings 58 is placed in the punch press with the axis of each opening 58 aligned with the axis of the opening 54 aligned within the guide 52. Die 56 having a notch or aperture 58 aligned with punch 44 in guide 52 forms a backing ring 60 for punch 44 . In effect, the steel plate 32 is placed on the top surface 62 of the die 56 so that the guide 52 is lowered towards the top of the plate 32.
The punch press is operative to drive a punch 44 through the plate 32 so that as the material of the plate 32 is deformed by the punch 44 and struck, a gripping member or rosette 30 is activated.
form.

The inner diameter of the opening 58 of the support ring 60 is the same as that of the punch 44.
, so that the edge 53 of the flat end 51 of the groove 50 begins to cut the plate 32 at the outer circumference of the punch, which corresponds to the inner circumference of the die 56 . This causes the metal plate to be pressed against the individual extensions 43 of the lobe 36 when the groove 50 of the punch 44 pushes the metal further in front of it.
The metal of the plate is stretched when the punch passes through it. When punch 44 completes penetration of plate 32 and continues to pass through opening 42 in plate 32, punch 44
The wall of the extension 43 and the wall 41 of the leaf mold 36 are processed so as to form them along a vertical passage, or
Alternatively, wall 41 may be machined to give it a slightly inwardly sloped or oblique profile toward the underside of plate 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A typical die punch punches the board, and when the punch 44 is pulled out, the rosette 30
The leaf mold 36 is cut to leave a small protrusion or ridge 66 around the upper edge, which protrusion or ridge 66 forms an additional clean edge on the rosette 30.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION A number of rosettes or gripping members 30 are stamped out of the plate 32, and when the plate is inverted, the rosettes 30 project upwardly from the plate, resulting in an improved, more effective, less expensive tread or grid. It will be done. The individual vertices 40 of the lobe 36 engage the heel of the footwear to grip and hold the footwear in place. The mold of the leaf mold 36 creates an extension 43 in the opening therebetween, which, together with the wall 41 being sloped or slanted inwardly and downwardly, cleans mud, ice, etc. from the heel of the footwear, and the extension 43
Therefore, debris such as mud, ice, etc. does not solidify within the opening 42. The dirt and ice spread out and disperse thereby causing them to fall through the openings 42 in the grate from their own weight and the force of the cleaning stroke of the footwear across the grate. The lobes 36 are taller and sharper, providing individual contact points, which in turn
Improves anti-slip, self-cleaning properties. Leaf type 36
The edge is discontinuous in plane, thereby providing a discontinuous grip on footwear in contact therewith. Discontinuous grasping is considered somewhat preferable in recent US government safety specifications. Rosette 30 leaf type 36
The discontinuous gripping edges of will not become all ice because the pressure on the grid will cause ice to penetrate the edges of the apexes 40 of the leaves 36 and cause them to break and fall off easily.