Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Combined
Patent
1988-09-12
1990-06-19
Scherbel, David A.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Combined
52385, E04H 1400
Patent
active
049341162
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a floor covering of electric conducting type for use in premises where it is desired to avoid static electricity by grounding. Such coverings have been developed in several types, e.g. so-called carbon mats, but a common feature for all coverings is that focus is on the grounding ability to such an extent that other qualities in a floor covering have not been particularly considered. It is presumed that the crucial point is the grounding ability in such a special floor covering as the appearance of major static charges, let alone even very small sparks, can have dire consequences and it is considered of secondary importance whether the floor covering is reasonably appropriate in all other respects, e.g. with regard to walking and standing comfort, cleanability, wear resistance etc., even to a certain degree price.
The present invention breaks with this concept and its purpose is to provide a floor covering which, while fully allowing for grounding ability, at the same time widely provides for all other requirements for floor covering in working premises.
The invention is based on the recognition that exceedingly appropriate floor coverings have already been developed which, true enough, have not been provided with grounding qualities, but which may be easily modified to also show this capacity without such modification in any way harming the other good qualities as adapted to the purpose.
Reference is here made to floor coverings of plastic tiles of the type having principal dimensions of the magnitude 25.times.25.times.2 cm and being designed with an unbroken or perforated top plate which is supported at a number of integral rib or stud parts protruding downwards therefrom, with the rib or stud parts being mutually spaced and supporting the top plate on an underlying firm floor surface. Additionally the tiles are designed so that they can be laid closely against one another in a mutually interlocking fashion. It has been ascertained that floor coverings of this type have a multitude of advantages for a variety of reasons, regarding as well usability as maintenance and mounting. By the invention it is recognized that none of these good qualities will be sacrificed by the simple measure of manufacturing the tiles of a plastic material of the special kind having good electrical grounding abilities. Contradictory to the above view it could be said that such an intended ideal floor covering so far has been developed without consideration for the special quality that for certain uses it is desirable that the covering is electrically groundable.
It is not immediately particularly conspicuous that a covering built of relatively small, die-cast tile members can qualify as a groundable flooring, which in principle ought to be spread over a large area, but it is realized by the invention that often only relatively restricted areas having grounding qualitites are required, e.g. at permanent seats or standing room at existing worktables, and even though the tile elements in an electrically conducting version will be more expensive to produce than corresponding non-conducting elements, the corresponding increase in cost can, however, be limited to the partial areas concerned, while the flooring as a whole can appear in a uniform way. Especially as die-cast, comparatively small covering elements are used, the employment of the more expensive, electrically conducting elements can easily be limited to precisely the actual walking or standing areas.
In the light of this the covering according to the invention is characteristic in that it includes modular elements of intercoupled plastic tiles of the type being designed with an optionally perforated resilient stepping plate which at its bottom side has a number of mutually separated downward projecting supports and along the edges is provided with coupling means enabling the tile to be interlocked with an adjacent tile, with the entire floor covering is divided into two or more partial areas, that is one or more
REFERENCES:
patent: 3962504 (1976-06-01), Sherwin
patent: 4453365 (1984-06-01), Gladden
patent: 4546024 (1985-10-01), Brown
patent: 4745715 (1988-05-01), Hardwicke et al.
patent: 4790110 (1988-12-01), Bard
Scherbel David A.
Smith Creighton
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