Draining floor covering

Abstract: Floor covering, in particular a stable floor covering, with moisture draining, non-moisture-absorbing action, with a top layer provided with at least a substantially flat surface and a bottom layer supporting this top layer and comprising support elements. The top layer contains for instance bonded fibre material, plastic material or bonded rubber particles. The support elements comprise for example a collection of surfaces oriented substantially perpendicularly of the top layer, bounded on the top at the same height and mutually connected into a grid, or a collection of columns of equal height oriented substantially perpendicularly of the top layer, which columns are mutually connected at their tops into a grid.

Description: The invention relates to a floor covering, in particular a stable floor covering, with moisture draining action, said floor covering comprising a top layer provided with at least a substantially flat upper surface, and a bottom layer having moisture draining properties and supporting said top layer. Such a floor covering is known from e.g. DE-A-25 15 098. This prior art document discloses a stable floor covering in which, dependent upon the requirement, granulated and mixed fibre and/or grain material from textile, synthetic or other source, especially from all kinds of rubber, rubber mixtures or rubber waste, together with a suitable, substantially flexible binder are composed into an elastic, resilient floor covering with open pores. Under this floor covering a mattress having larger pores is laid, said mattress functioning as an additional draining element and being composed of three-dimensional twisted or woven synthetic fibres. This prior art floor covering may be moulded homogeneously into a stable. Relative to the prior art referred to the invention provides a floor covering of the type mentioned in the preamble, which is characterized in that said top layer and said bottom layer are separate from each other; both the top and bottom layers have non-moisture-absorbing action; and said bottom layer comprises a plurality of support members to be placed on a floor in mutually abutting relation and each being provided with an upper plate having a plurality of support columns supporting said upper plate and being formed integrally therewith, and a plurality of draining through-holes extending between said support columns. The top layer of the floor covering according to the invention offers the advantage that it can be laid easily by the stable owner himself without the help of a skilled person. Further a floor covering according to an embodiment of the invention having a top layer comprising two substantially flat mutually parallel surfaces has the economic advantage that, if after extensive use the upper surface of the top layer should display wear, the usual life of the top layer can be prolonged simply by turning it over. WO-A-86/00718 discloses a floor covering, in particular a stable floor covering, with moisture draining, non-moisture-absorbing action. This prior art floor covering comprises a top outer layer and a bottom outer layer spatially separated from each other by a non-porous fragmented filler material, wherein the filler material and the material of the outer layers are moisture permeable and non-absorbent. The known floor covering is intended for instance for laying on the solid, usually concrete floor of a horse stable, wherein the use of moisture-absorbent bedding material such as straw or organic fibres becomes unnecessary. It is the object with this stable floor covering to limit in volume the quantity of waste produced by the animal in the stable by not mixing the manure with straw or wood shavings, and in addition by separating the waste at source into a liquid and a solid component. The liquid component sinks through the moisture-permeable floor covering and is drained along the solid ground, while the solid manure constituents remain behind on the floor covering and can be removed therefrom using scrapers. There are several drawbacks associated with the use of the said prior art floor covering. In order to prevent the filler material enclosed between the top and bottom layer from shifting the floor covering is compartmentalized by mutually connecting the bottom and top layers with a number of seams at regular mutual distances. The known floor covering has as a result a curved upper surface, whereby cleaning thereof is a labour-intensive affair which moreover does not have the desired effect: contaminants will virtually always remain behind in the seams. Another drawback to known floor covering in use as stable floor covering is the poor run-off possibility for the urine passed by an animal. While the urine certainly sinks into the floor covering, it cannot run off to a sufficient degree on the underside thereof as a result of lack of drainage means. To cope with the evident problems of a hygienic nature resulting herefrom, very frequent and labour-intensive maintenance is required. The floor covering according to the invention is particularly suitable for use for example in spaces where food products are prepared, for instance kitchens of catering establishments, spaces or places where children play or stables for animals. Subject to the intended use of the floor covering the top and bottom layers are selected on the basis of for instance non-slipping, resilience and moisture draining. With the use of such a floor covering in for instance a stable, the support elements support on a solid ground, usually a concrete floor and the substantially flat surface of the top layer faces upward. Manure in solid form produced by an animal stabled on this floor covering remains lying on the flat top surface from which it can be removed in simple manner with for instance a scraper, while urine sinks through the moisture-permeable, non-moisture-absorbing top layer and falls through the bottom layer onto the (usually slightly sloping) floor and can run off along the floor between the support elements. In an embodiment of the floor covering according to the invention the top layer contains bonded fibre material. By making use of bonded fibre material a top layer is available with a particularly good moisture draining action inherent to the use of fibres, while a floor covering is also available with a stable, flat top surface. In a following embodiment the top layer contains plastic material. In yet another embodiment the top layer contains bonded rubber particles. It has been found that with a top layer containing bonded rubber particles a particularly porous, water draining, shock-damping and non-slip stable floor covering is obtained. Such a layer moreover offers the advantage that it can be laid easily by the stable owner himself without the intervention of a skilled person. The advantages of a floor covering according to the invention are utilized still further when the top layer comprises two substantially flat mutually parallel surfaces. Such a floor covering has the economic advantage that if after extensive use the upper surface of the top layer should display wear the useful life of the top layer can be prolonged simply by turning it over. A top layer with two flat surfaces moreover offers the advantage that for instance during cleaning it is easy to remove, clean and re-arrange. In yet a further embodiment the support elements comprise a collection of surfaces oriented substantially perpendicularly of the top layer, bounded on the top at the same height and mutually connected into a grid. In a floor covering according to the invention the support elements preferably comprise a collection of columns of equal height oriented substantially perpendicularly of the top layer, which columns are mutually connected at their tops into a grid. Such a floor covering is advantageously applied because the support elements, in this case the columns supporting on the floor, impose no restrictions on the orientation of the bottom layer in relation to the run-off direction of the floor. In an embodiment the support elements contain rubber in the bottom layer. A bottom layer whereof the support elements contain rubber is applied with advantage when the top layer is made up, for instance for reasons of water drainage or non-slipping, of one or more materials with poor flexibility, while the floor as a whole should on the contrary preferably possess a determined resilience. In preference the support elements contain a plastic material in the bottom layer. A bottom layer manufactured from plastic offers the advantage that it can be cleaned easily and well even after prolonged use, and that it is flexible, whereby it can also be laid on a floor with a less flat or even surface and thus forms a stable and firm ground for the top layer. It has been found that the advantageous properties of a floor covering according to the invention are utilized particularly well when the support elements contain polyethylene. A bottom layer comprising polyethylene is light, flexible, robust, durable and easy to clean. The invention will now be elucidated hereinafter on the basis of an embodiment and with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a part of a horse stable provided with a floor covering according to the invention, and figure 2 shows a detail of the stable floor covering of figure 1 in a cut away perspective view. Figure 1 shows a horse stable 1 on which rests a floor covering with bottom layer 2 and top layer 3. The floor covering is enclosed between the walls 4 and a standing edge 5 on surface 1. The figure shows clearly how a horse 6 stands on a substantially flat surface of the top layer 3. Urine from the horse falls onto the top layer 3, seeps therethrough, falls through the bottom layer 2 and runs off along the surface 1, while excreta remains lying on the upper surface of the top layer 3 and can be removed therefrom in simple manner using a scraper. Figure 2 shows the stall floor covering of figure 1 in more detail, again with a bottom layer 2 and a top layer 3. The latter consists in this example of a plane-parallel layer of bonded rubber particles (for instance re-used rubber) which rests on a polyethylene grid 14 . The grid 14 , per se known, consists of columns 7 of equal height which are connected at the top by strips 8 in transverse, longitudinal and diagonal directions, wherein a column is situated below each point of intersection of these strips 8 . The connecting strips 8 bound drainage holes 9. The bottom layer 2 is built up of segments each provided with a peripheral edge 10, along which edge the grid is cut to size. The figure further shows connecting protrusions 11 and connecting openings 12 which can co-act with connecting openings respectively protrustions of an abutting grid 14 for coupling thereto. The combination of the bottom layer 2 and the top layer 3 forms a shock-absorbing and sound-damping stall floor covering with a non-slip upper surface, whereby stamping or scraping with the hoof 13 by a horse will usually not occur.

Claims: Floor covering (2,3), in particular a stable floor covering, with moisture draining action, said floor covering comprising a top layer (3) provided with at least a substantially flat upper surface, and a bottom layer (2) having moisture draining properties and supporting said top layer (3) characterized in that said top layer (3) and said bottom layer (2) are separate from each other; both the top (3) and bottom layers (2) have non-moisture-absorbing action; and said bottom layer (2) comprises a plurality of support members (14) to be placed on a floor (1) in mutually abutting relation and each being provided with an upper plate having a plurality of support columns (7) supporting said upper plate and being formed integrally therewith, and a plurality of draining through-holes (9) extending between said support columns (7). Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper plate comprises a plurality of strips (8) in different directions, wherein a column (7) is situated below a zone of intersection of these strips (8). Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that abutting support members (14) are mutually connectable by means of corresponding pairs of protrusions (11) and openings (12). Floor covering as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the top layer (3) contains bonded fibre material. Floor covering as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the top layer (3) contains plastic material. Floor covering as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the top layer (3) contains bonded rubber particles. Floor covering as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the top layer (3) comprises two substantially flat mutually parallel surfaces. Floor covering as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the support members (14) contain rubber. Floor covering as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the support members (14) contain a plastic material. Floor covering as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the support members (14) comprise a collection of surfaces oriented substantially perpendicularly of the top layer (3), bounded on the top at the same height and mutually connected into a grid.

Inventors: HASPERHOVEN DIRK JOHAN, HASPERHOVEN, DIRK JOHAN
Applicants: STICHTING BEHEER INTELLECTUELE, STICHTING BEHEER INTELLECTUELE EIGENDOM
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: E04F15, A01K1