WO2002077387A1

WO2002077387A1 - A floor surface and a method of treatment thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002077387A1
Application number: PCT/SG2001/000073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Voon Kwong Tien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-23
Filing date: 2001-03-23
Publication date: 2002-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2003-09-23

Abstract

A floor surface element (10) such as a highly polished stone tile includes a region (14) of non-slip treated surface. The remainder of the element's surface (12) is untreated. The treatment causes a dulling of the treated polished surface allowing the treated and untreated regions to be visually distinguishable, to provide an indication that the polished surface, in situ, has been subjected to a non-slip treatment.

Description

A FLOOR SURFACE AND A METHOD OF TREATMENT THEREOF

Background and Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a floor surface, an element forming such a surface and a method of treatment to render the surface non-slip.

There are many kinds of floor surface elements such as natural stone tiles, ceramic tiles, porcelain and other mineral and cementitious surfaces, which become slippery when wet, particularly when highly polished.

One technique used to alleviate this problem is use mechanical machinery to roughen the floor surface element to create an abrasive surface. This can be done either before or after the floor surface element has been laid in place. Only a proportion of the total floor surface is roughened, for example in a striped pattern, This has the advantage that the roughened surface portions are visible and can be confidently felt when walked on. Such surfaces, however, have the disadvantage that they are potentially unsafe due to the exposed abrasive surfaces, are not aesthetically pleasing since the treated surfaces are rough and dull and the abrasive surfaces furthermore required increased maintenance.

It has also been proposed to treat a floor surface element to create micro-pores by etching the element using an etching solution for example as disclosed in US patents: US5,885,339, US5,698,021 , US3,847,688 and US5.423.910, or with an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid and a wetting agent, to create micro-pores on the treated surfaces. The solution is applied for a predetermined period and then washed off.

This technique has the advantage that the coefficient of friction of the surface element is substantially increased. Furthermore, since the change in the element surface is not as drastic as for the mechanical technique, the result is aesthetically more pleasant and close to the original look of the element. The treated element is also safer since there is no abrasive surface.

However, this technique also has disadvantages in that the surface treatment is practically invisible and thus those walking across for treated surface will still have psychological doubts as to whether or not the surface is slippery. In this respect, psychologically , high reflective floor surfaces are often thought to be slippery, even if not so.

It is an object of the invention to overcome at least one aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention in the first aspect, there is provided a method of treating a floor surface to reduce slip when wet comprising applying a micro- pore forming treatment to part of the surface to form at least one region of treated surface and at least one region of untreated surface, the treated and untreated regions being visually distinguishable.

According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a floor surface element having at least one region of non-slip treated floor surface and at least one region of untreated floor surface, the treated and untreated regions being visually distinguishable and the treated region being non-abrasive.

In the described embodiment, in which the invention is applied to highly polished tiles, a jig is provided in which the tile and an overlying mask are placed. The mask has a cut-out pattern which exposes a corresponding portion of the polished surface of the tile. The tile and mask are clamped together and etching solution is sprayed over the mask to create micro-pores on the surface.

After a suitable treatment period, this is washed off, resulting in a tile having an etched region as corresponding only to the pattern. Since the etching solution does dull the polished surface to a certain degree, the etching region and the remainder of the tile are visually distinguishable.

The method, therefore, provides a significant increase in the overall co-efficient of friction of the tile as compared to an untreated tile, provides a visible anti-slip pattern or design that re-assures those who are not confident of walking on such a highly polished surface and does not pose any safety hazard since there are no exposed abrasive surfaces. Furthermore, such treated surfaces are aesthetically pleasant, bearing a pattern or design resulting from the contrast of the different reflectance of the treated and untreated regions. Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a floor surface element being the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of apparatus used in forming the element of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 which comprises a floor surface element, in this case a tile 10 having a highly polished floor surface 12. A region 14 of the surface 12 has been subjected to an micro-pore forming process to render that portion of the surface non-slip. The tile 10 may be of any form which responds to the micro-pore forming process, for example formed of, or having a surface formed of natural stone, ceramics, porcelain, or other minerals or cement.

The region 14 is formed over only part of the surface 12. The treated region 14 has a lower reflectance than the polished surface 12 due to the micro-pore forming treatment, so that the regions are visually distinguishable, providing a visual indication that the surface has been subject to a non-slip treatment. An apparatus for forming the tile of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2 which comprises an acrylic box-like jig 20 adapted to receive the tile 10 and a synthetic rubber mask 22. The mask 22 includes a cut-out portion 24 of a desired pattern to form the treated region 14. An acrylic cover 26 fits in the jig 20 on top of the tile 10 and mask 22. The cover 26 includes a plurality of slots 28.

In use, the components 20, 10, 22, 26 are assembled in the order shown in Figure 2 and pressure is applied to cover 26 for example at corner points 30. To form micro-pores on the surface of the tile 10, an etching solution, of the type mentioned in the prior art, is then sprayed or poured through slots 28 to cover the portion of tile 10 exposed by cut-out portion 24 of mask 22. After a pre-determined period of time, depending upon the degree of etching required, the etching solution is rinsed off with a neutral cleaning solution or with clean water and the tile removed and dried.

The treated region 14 can be of any shape, for example a unitary design such as shown in Figure 1, which can be either in positive form, with the treated surface bearing the pattern or in negative form, with the non-treated surface being region 14 with the remainder of the surface of the tile being treated. Such a pattern may be of any form. For example, this may be regular, such as stripes or spots, may be of an abstract figure or design or may be readily recognisable, such as logo of a company, a cartoon character or other stylised representation. This may for example be associated with the building in which the flooring is placed such as a bird or aircraft at an airline terminal or an anchor at a harbour terminal.

Although the technique has been shown applied to an individual tile, this is not to be construed as limitative. For example, the flooring surface element may comprise an entire floor in-situ comprised of a plurality of sub-elements, with the treatment then being applied to the whole surface at one time by application, for example, of a single adhesive mask over the whole surface.

The process, furthermore, lends itself to mass production in which one tile after another may be treated on a production line basis for each of the steps described.

The method of application of the treatment liquid is, furthermore, not to be construed as limitative. For example, the liquid could be applied by a printing or absorbent pad stamping technique or could be sprayed directly onto the surface using, for example, a computer-controlled jet, spray or air brush technique, with or without the use of a mask.

The method as described is also applicable for use with other non-slip treatments other than etching. For example, a laser technique for forming the micro-pores, such as that offered by Steintechnik GmbH under the trade name "Safe Step" may be used, with the laser forming the treated region 14 by selective application of the laser under computer control to the surface of the element or by application of the laser to the surface of the element via a laser- proof mask similar to mask 22.

Claims

δCLAIMS

1. A method of treating a floor surface or floor surface element to reduce slip when wet comprising applying a micro-pore forming treatment to part of the surface to form at least one region of treated surface and at least one region of untreated surface, the treated and untreated regions being visually distinguishable.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a mask is placed on the surface and a liquid applied to the mask.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liquid is applied by spraying or pouring.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liquid is applied by printing or stamping.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the treated region is in a form of a regular pattern.

6. A method is claimed in claim 5 wherein the treated region is in the form of spots or stripes.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the treated region is in the form of a unitary representation.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the representation is a company logo.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the treatment is by etching.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the treatment comprises the steps of applying an etchant to said part and rinsing the surface at a pre- determined time after applying the etchant.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the treatment is by use of a laser.

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the element is a tile.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the surface is formed from a plurality of sub-elements.

14. A floor surface or floor surface element treated by the method of any one of the preceding claims.

15. A floor surface element having at least one region of non-slip treated floor surface and at least one region of untreated floor surface, the treated and untreated regions being visually distinguishable and the treated region being non-abrasive.

16. A floor surface element as claimed in claim 15 wherein the treated region includes a plurality of micro-pores.

17. A floor surface element as claimed in claim 16 wherein the micro-pores are formed by an etching or a laser technique.

18. A floor surface element as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the element is a tile.

19. An element as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the

untreated floor surface of the element is polished.

20. An element as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the element

or the floor surface thereof is formed from stone, ceramics, porcelain,

other minerals or cement.