GB2125289A - Improvements in or relating to mats - Google Patents

Abstract

A mat comprises a plurality of elongate first members (10) which extend generally parallel to one another, and a plurality of elongate second members (11) which extend generally parallel to one another interposed alternately between the first members (10) in side-by-side relation, the first and second members each having first (12) and second (21) walls connected by a web part (30), which walls (12, 21), in use, lie generally horizontally, the first walls (12) of the first and second members each having secured thereto at least one strip of material (17) having a pile, the web parts (30) of the first (10) and second (11) members lying generally parallel to one another, the first walls (12) of the first members (10) and the second walls (21) of the second members (11) providing one side of the mat, and the second walls (21) of the first members (10) and the first walls (12) of the second members (11) providing the other side of the mat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to mats This invention relates to a mat of the kind comprising a plurality of elongate first members which extend generally parallel to one another, and a plurality of elongate second members which extend generally parallel to one another interposed alternately between the first members in side-by-side relation, and the first and second members being connected together in said sideby-side relation. Such a mat will hereinafter be referred to as a mat of the kind specified.

Mats are known which comprise a plurality of first strips of aluminium or the like interposed alternately between a plurality of second strips of natural or synthetic rubber which together provide a wiping and scraping mat surface.

However, it is difficult to colour the rubber strips which are rather drab in appearance, and accordingly a mat of the kind specified has been proposed which comprises a plurality of strips of aluminium or the like to which are secured on the upper side thereof, strips of carpet material. The advantage of this is that carpet material can be readily produced already coloured, or subsequently dyed and the resulting mat is visually more attactive.

A disadvantage of such mats is that they are less hard wearing than the previous mats and accordingly the carpet strips require regular replacement.

Furthermore, such mats are commonly used as entrance mats where they are received in a well in a floor so that the upper surface of the mat lies flush with the surface of the floor. Known mats of the type having carpet strips secured to aluminium members have been found to rattle in the well producing an undesirable noise.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved mat.

According to the invention, we provide a mat of the kind specified, the first members each having first and second walls connected by a web part, which walls, in use, lie generally horizontally, the first walls of the first members each having secured thereto at least one strip of material having a pile, the second members each having first and second walls connected by a web part, which walls, in use, lie generally horizontally, the first walls of the second members each having secured thereto at least one strip of material having a pile, the web parts of the first and second members lying generally parallel to one another, the first walls of the first members and the second walls of the second members providing one side of the mat, and the second walls of the first members and the first walls of the second members providing the other side of the mat.

It will be appreciated that the mat may be used with either side uppermost and thus the mat is double-sided, thereby increasing the durability of the mat, whilst providing the particular advantage of improved visual appearance, associated with mats of the kind specified utilising carpet strips instead of rubber strips.

Preferably, the first and second members are of identical configuration, connected together in side-by-side relationship with the first members orientated inversely relative to the second members.

However, if required, the first and second members may be of different configuration.

The first walls of the first and second members may each provide a channel formation in which the pile material is secured, for example by adhesion. To provide further resistance to the pile material coming adrift, if desired the ends of the limbs of the channel may be inwardly directed to provide lips which engage the material. Further, if required, rivets may be provided which pass through the strips of pile material and the first walls of the first and second members respectively, to provide further security.

Preferably, the pile material comprises carpet in which case the lips may engage the backing sheet of the carpet whilst permitting the pile to extend outwardly beyond the channel.

Thus the first walls and pile material provide a wiping surface of the mat, and because the pile extends outwardly of the channels, when the mat is received in a well in the entrance to a building for example, the mat rests on the pile material of the downwardly facing side of the mat thereby reducing any tendency of the mat to rattle in the well.

The second walls of the first and second members may have at least one protruberance which may extend along the length of the member, to provide a scraping formation. Thus together, the first and second walls provide a wiping and scraping surface.

Conveniently, the first and second members are made as extrusions in aluminium although they may be made in any other manner and in any other material as required, although preferably having substantial rigidity although the members may have a degree of flexibility.

The first and second members are preferably connected together by connecting wires which pass through apertures in the web parts thereof, and such wires may be of U-shape, both limbs of the 'U' passing through the web parts of the members, the base of the U lying adjacent a web part of an end member, and the free ends of the limbs extending from an opposite end member and being bent over to draw the first and second members together in abutting or closely adjacent relationship.

If desired, shims may be inserted between the first and second members to achieve a mat of the exact desired width and/or edge members may be connected to one or both of the end members to increase the width of the mat and/or to improve the appearance thereof.

The invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mat in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is an end view of a first end member and a second member of the mat of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a mat in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of first elongate rigid members 10, only three of which are shown, which extend parallel to and are alternately interposed between a plurality of second elongate rigid members 11. The members 10, 1 1 in the embodiment described are of identical configuration, but the first members 10 are orientated inversely relative to the second members 11 whereby the mat is double-sided as will hereinafter be described.

If desired, the first and second members 10, 1 1 could be of different configuration but still provide a double-sided mat.

Each member 10, 1 1 comprises a first wall 12 which has edge formations 13 to provide a channel, the ends 14 of the edge formations being inwardly directed to provide lips.

The bottom 1 5 of the channel is serrated or otherwise roughened if necessary, to provide a key for a layer of adhesive 16.

In each channel, strips of nylon carpet 17 are secured, the backing sheet 1 8 of the strips 17 being retained in the channel both by the lips 14 and the adhesive 16. To provide extra support at the end of the members 10, 1 a rivet 19 may be inserted through the carpet strip 17 and aperture in the first wall 12 adjacent the end of the member 10, 11.

The pile of the carpet strips 1 7, indicated at 20, extends outwardly beyond the channels to provide a wiping surface of the mat.

The members 10, 11 also each have a second wall 21 which is of double "U" configuration on its upper surface 22, providing three protuberances 23, the tip 24 of the central protuberance extending outwardly further than the outer two.

The protuberances 23 thus provide scraping formations.

The first and second walls 12, 21 are connected together by web parts 30 which extend parallel to one another. It will be noted that the inside surface of the first and second walls 12, 21 each have a pair of receiving formations 31 for a reason hereinafter described.

The numbers 10, 11 are each made as an extrusion in aluminium, although if required may be made in any other way and in any other material, such as polypropylene or the like which is preferably rigid, although the members 10, 1 1 may have a degree of flexibility.

In place of the carpet strips 17, any other material having a pile 20 may be alternatively provided, to provide a wiping surface.

Furthermore, where a material having a pile but which does not have a backing sheet 18 is provided, the configuration of the first wall 12, need not be of channel configuration having inwardly directed lips 14 as described but may be, for example, planar whereby the material is merely secured to the wall 12 by adhesive 1 6 or the wall 12 may be of any other configuration.

Although the surface 22 of the second wall 21 has been described as comprising a double "U" configuration, many other configurations are of course possible although it has been found that the configuration described is easily produced by extrusion, in aluminium and provides an efficient scraping surface.

The strips 10, 11 are connected together by connecting elements 35 which comprise U-shaped wires, which wires 35 pass through apertures 36 in the web parts 30 of each of the members 10, 11. The base of each of the U-shaped connecting elements 35 are received in the space bounded by the inside surfaces of the first and second walls 12,21 and the web parts 30 of the left-most strip 11 shown in Figure 1, the limbs of the U passing through the apertures 36 in the web parts 30 and being bent over at the ends 37 thereof in the space bounded by the inside surfaces of the first and second walls 12. 21 and the web part 30 of the right-most strip 11 shown in Figure 1.

The connecting elements 35 may be of any convenient size to connect any number of members 10, 11 to provide a mat having an overall width of a desired dimension.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that when the members 1 0, 11 are assembled as shown, that the outermost protuberances 23 of each member 10, 11 lie adjacent the edge formations 1 3 of the adjacent member 11, 10 respectively thereby adding rigidity to the mat.

To enable the mat to be received, for example, in a well in the floor in an entrance to a building, the number of members 10. 1 1 are selected to achieve the required width, whilst the members 10, 11 are cut to length to achieve the required length.

If necessary, shims S may be inserted between the protuberances 23 and the edge formations 13 of the members 10,11 and 11, to increase the overall width of the mat should the width of the wall not be divisable by the width of the members 10, 11.

If required, an edge member, also made of extruded aluminium or any other material and having lugs to engage in the receiving formations 31 in the first and second walls 12, 21, may be provided at one or both edges of the mat. The edge member or members may have a width equal to half of the width of the members 10, 11 and where only one edge member is used may be used to increase the width of the mat to accommodate a particular well. Further, one or two may be used to make the mat more visually attractive.

The carpet strips 17, or other material having a pile, may be produced ready coloured or dyed after production prior to securing in the channels. Each of the carpet strips 1 7 of the mat may be of identical colour or may be of different colours, or the carpet strips on one side of the mat may be of one colour whilst the carpet strips 1 7 on the reverse side of the mat are of another colour.

It will be appreciated that the mat is doublesided i.e. may be inverted thus increasing the durability of the mat and reducing the necessity to replace the carpet strips 17 when they become worn.

One particular type of carpet material suitable for the carpet strips 17 has been found to be (insert type of carpeting used) which is very hard wearing and increases the durability of the mat further.

Many other modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of connecting the members 10, 11 in side-by-side relation as shown using connecting wires, any other connecting means may be provided such as screws, rivets or the like, although the connecting wires 35 described have been found to be economically the most desirable.

Claims (17)

1. A mat of the kind specified, the first members each having first and second walls connected by a web part, which walls, in use, lie generally horizontally, the first walls of the first members each having secured thereto at least one strip of material having a pile, the second members each having first and second walls connected by a web part, which walls, in use, lie generally horizontally, the first walls of the second members each having secured thereto at least one strip of material having a pile, the web parts of the first and second members lying generally parallel to one another, the first walls of the first members and the second walls of the second members providing one side of the mat, and the second walls of the first members and the first walls of the second members providing the other side of the mat.

2. A mat according to Claim 1 wherein the first and second members are of identical configuration, connected together in side-by-side relationship with the first members orientated inversely relative to the second members.

3. A mat according to Claim 1 wherein the first and second members are of different configuration.

4. A mat according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the first walls of the first and second members each provide a channel formation in which the pile material is secured.

5. A mat according to Claim 4 wherein the pile material is adhered in said channels.

6. A mat according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the ends of the limbs of the channel are inwardly directed to provide lips which engage the material.

7. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein rivets are provided which pass through the strips of pile material and the first walls of the first and second members respectively.

8. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pile material comprises carpet.

9. A mat according to Claim 8 where appendant to Claim 6 wherein the lips engage the backing sheet of the carpet whilst permitting the pile to extend outwardly beyond the channel.

10. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second walls of the first and second members have at least one protuberance which may extend along the length of the member, to provide a scraping formation.

11. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members are made as extrusions in aluminium.

12. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members are connected together by connecting wires which pass through apertures in the web parts thereof.

13. A mat according to Claim 12 wherein said wires are of U-shape, both limbs of the 'U' passing through the web part of the members, the base of the U lying adjacent a web part of an end member, and the free ends of the limbs extending from an opposite end member and being bent over to draw the first and second members together in abutting or closely adjacent relationship.

14. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein shims are inserted between the first and second members to achieve a mat of the exact desired width.

1 5. A mat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein edge members are connected to one or both of the end members to increase the width of the mat and/or to improve the appearance thereof.

16. A mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.