U.S. patent application number 12/460763 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for non-skid protective cloth or pad.
Invention is credited to Bradie Terracino, Robert Terracino.
Application Number | 20110017341 12/460763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43496252 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110017341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terracino; Bradie ; et
al. |
January 27, 2011 |
Non-skid protective cloth or pad
Abstract
A two-layer, non-skid protective cloth or pad for use as a
painter's drop cloth or as a protective pad for surfaces such as
boat decks, airplane wings or other surfaces where a non-skid pad
is essential. The pad has a woven upper member, typically of a
cotton canvas-like material, and a lower, resilient member. The two
layers are typically stitched together. The lower, resilient member
typically comprises downward-projecting dimples, often of two or
more different sizes. The dimples are joined by a grid of resilient
material. In alternate embodiments, an impervious member may be
inserted between the upper and lower members.
Inventors: |
Terracino; Bradie; (Virginia
Beach, VA) ; Terracino; Robert; (Virginia Beach,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAMS G. SYKES
3669 SEAGULL BLUFF DRIVE
VIRGINIA BEACH
VA
23455
US
|
Family ID: |
43496252 |
Appl. No.: |
12/460763 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
139/383R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 27/0206
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
139/383.R |
International
Class: |
D03D 25/00 20060101
D03D025/00 |
Claims
1. A non-skid protective cloth or pad, consisting of: a) a single,
absorbent, plain woven upper layer free from any projecting cut
pile and having an upper and a lower major surface; b) a single
lower, resilient layer having an upper and a lower major surface,
said upper major surface of said single lower resilient layer being
disposed adjacent said lower layer of said single, absorbent, woven
upper layer; and c) means for fastening said single, absorbent,
upper, woven layer to said single lower resilient layer.
2. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 1,
wherein said single, absorbent, woven, upper layer comprises a
plain woven cotton fabric.
3. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 1,
wherein said single, absorbent, woven, upper layer comprises
canvas.
4. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 1,
wherein said single lower, resilient layer comprises a network of
downward projecting dimples interconnected by a resilient grid.
5. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 4,
wherein said downward projecting dimples comprise dimples of at
least two different diameters.
6. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 4,
wherein said downward projecting dimples comprise dimples of at
least two different heights.
7. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 4,
wherein said downward projecting dimples are separated one from
another by an inter-dimple space.
8. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 1,
wherein said means for fastening comprises at least one from the
group: stitching, adhesive, hook-and-loop fasteners, and mechanical
fasteners.
9-16. (canceled)
17. A non-skid protective cloth or pad, consisting of: a) a single,
absorbent, plain woven upper layer free from any projecting cut
pile and having an upper and a lower major surface; b) a single
lower, resilient layer having an upper and a lower major surface,
said upper major surface of said single lower resilient layer being
disposed adjacent said lower layer of said single, absorbent, plain
woven upper layer; c) an impervious member interposed between said
single, absorbent, plain woven upper layer and said single lower,
resilient member; d) means for fastening said single, absorbent,
upper, woven layer to said interposed impervious member and said
single lower resilient layer.
18. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 17,
wherein said single, absorptive woven, upper layer comprises a
woven cotton fabric.
19. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 17,
wherein said woven, single, absorbent upper layer comprises
canvas.
20. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 17,
wherein said single lower, resilient layer comprises a network of
downward projecting dimples interconnected by a resilient grid.
21. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 20,
wherein said downward projecting dimples comprise dimples of at
least two different diameters.
22. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 20,
wherein said downward projecting dimples comprise dimples of at
least two different heights.
23. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 20,
wherein said downward projecting dimples are separated one from
another by an inter-dimple space.
24. The non-skid protective cloth or pad as recited in claim 17,
wherein said means for fastening comprises at least one from the
group: stitching, adhesive, hook-and-loop fasteners, and mechanical
fasteners.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention pertains to protective cloths or pads and,
more particularly, to a protective cloth or pad that has a non-skid
backing to hold the cloth or pad in position during use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Protective cloths and pads are well known and widely used.
Such items range from simple thin polyethylene sheets used to
protect surfaces during painting or similar operations to woven
fabric drop cloths to quilted protective pads used by furniture
movers and the like. For simplicity, the term drop cloth as used
herein refers to any and all such cloths and pads, regardless of
material or construction.
[0003] In a typical use, drop cloths are placed on floors to
provide protection. A common and serious problem is that frequently
the drop cloths of the prior art may slip and slide relative to the
floor upon which they are laid. Such slippage may range from a mild
annoyance to a serious safety hazard when a drop cloth is placed
upon a level floor. However, once such a drop cloth is used on a
surface other than a level floor, the consequences of such slippage
become much more serious. For example, drop cloths are commonly
used to protect stairs. If the drop cloth slips, it is not uncommon
for a person ascending or descending the stairs to slip and
potentially tumble to the bottom of the stairs. Serious injuries
frequently result from such a fall.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0004] Several attempts have been made in the prior art to provide
a non-slip surface for drop cloths and the like. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 152,451 for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-PROOF FABRICS, issued
Jun. 17, 1874 to George M. Allerton discloses a woven woolen cloth
having one surface covered with a rubber film.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 1,728,545 for LINEMAN'S BLANKET, issued Sep.
17, 1929 to Fred L. Haushalter provides a dielectric structure
formed by a rubber insulating sheet and a fabric backing sheet to
prevent stretching of the rubber.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 1,928,943 for MATTRESS PROTECTOR, issued Oct.
3, 1933 to John L. McKay teaches a waterproof sheet having eyelets
disposed near its corners. Loops attached to the eyelets are used
to secure the mattress protector, thereby preventing the slipping
pf the mattress protector on the mattress it is protecting.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,684 for FLOOR COVERING, issued Jan. 6,
1970 to John C. Wrightson shows a quilted, three-layer construction
having a non-skid bottom layer for use as decorative rug.
[0008] Published United States Patent Application No. 2001/0002615
for PROTECTIVE COVER SYSTEM, published Jun. 7, 2001 upon
application by Reginald Michael Lacross et al. discloses a covering
system in which a cover constructed of a flexible sheet material is
suitable for placement on a floor between a door frame and a
room.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,911,407 for NON-SLIP ABSORBENT ARTICLE,
issued Jun. 28, 2005 to Earle H. Sherrod et al. shows a multi-layer
absorbent article suitable for use as a bed pad, a baby changing
pad, a table cloth, etc. A non-adhesive, skid-resistant coating is
applied to the bottom layer of the article.
[0010] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,961,969, 7,069,607, and 7,137,157, each for
ABSORBENT TOWEL WITH PROJECTIONS, issued Nov. 8, 2005, Jul. 4,
2006, and Nov. 21, 2006, respectively, to Susan Nichols each
provide a towel having a base layer with raised projections to
provide a higher coefficient of static friction relative to an
external surface relative to other bottom surfaces common in the
prior art.
[0011] United States Published Patent Application No. 2006/0162073
for ABSORBENT TOWEL WITH PROJECTIONS, published Jul. 27, 2006 upon
application by Susan Nichols shows a towel having a base layer with
raised projections to provide a higher coefficient of static
friction relative to an external surface relative to other bottom
surfaces common in the prior art.
[0012] United States Published Patent Application No. 2007/0220673
for CLOTHING ARTICLE HAVING RAISED PROJECTIONS, published Sep. 27,
2007 upon application by Susan Nichols shows a towel having a base
layer with raised projections to provide a higher coefficient of
static friction than the base layer relative to an external
surface.
[0013] United States Published Patent Application No. 2007/0275209
for NON-SKID DROP CLOTH, published Nov. 29, 2007 upon application
by Anal Netravali et al. discloses a single layer plastic sheet
having raised dimples on one or both sides.
[0014] United States Published Patent Application No. 2008/0131680
for ABSORBENT NON-SKID DROP CLOTH, published Jun. 5, 2008 upon
application by Richard James Bliton et al. teaches a multi-layer
article having a lofted, non-woven layer and a non-skid barrier
layer bonded thereto.
[0015] United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0068431
for ONE-SIDED TACKY POLYOLEFIN FILM, published Mar. 12, 2009 upon
application by Martin F. Hoenigmann provides a plastic sheet with a
tacky surface designed to prevent slippage of the sheet
[0016] None of the patents and published patent applications, taken
singly, or in any combination are seen to teach or suggest the
novel non-skid protective cloth or pad of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a
two-layer, non-skid protective pad for use as a painter's drop
cloth or as a protective pad for surfaces such as boat decks,
airplane wings or other surfaces where a non-skid pad is essential.
The pad has a woven upper member, typically of a cotton canvas-like
material, and a lower, resilient member. The two layers are
typically stitched together. The lower, resilient member typically
comprises downward-projecting dimples, often of two or more
different sizes. The dimples are joined by a grid of resilient
material. In alternate embodiments, an impervious member may be
inserted between the upper and lower members.
[0018] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a
protective cloth or pad that includes a resilient, non-skid surface
to prevent movement of the cloth or pad on the surface upon which
it is placed.
[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a
protective cloth or pad which is conformable to irregular surfaces
such as stairs and remains in position once placed thereupon.
[0020] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a
protective cloth or pad that has a resilient lower member having a
grid of downward protruding, interconnected dimples.
[0021] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
protective cloth or pad having a woven fabric upper member.
[0022] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a
protective cloth or pad that, optionally, may contain an interposed
impervious member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a side, elevational, cross-sectional, schematic
view of a portion of the non-skid protective cloth or pad in
accordance with the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the resilient layer of the
non-skid protective cloth or pad of FIG. 1; and
[0026] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the resilient layer of the
non-skid protective cloth or pad of FIG. 1 but containing an
interposed impervious layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] The present invention provides non-skid protective cloth or
pad for a variety of applications.
[0028] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a side,
elevational, cross-sectional, schematic view of a portion of the
non-skid protective cloth or pad in accordance with the invention,
generally at reference number 100.
[0029] Pad 100 has two layers--a woven upper layer 102 and a lower,
resilient layer 104. Woven upper layer 102 is typically an
absorbent, woven cotton material such as canvas or another
canvas-like material. For purposes of disclosure, an 8-ounce
material has been chosen. Canvas may be treated with a
waterproofing material, if desired. Such a treatment, however,
renders the upper woven layer 102 non-absorbent which may impair
the function of upper woven layer 102 to absorb paint or other
material spilled thereupon. It will, however, be recognized by
those of skill in the art that other weight materials may be chosen
depending upon the desired application in which cloth 100 is to be
utilized. It will further be recognized that woven materials other
than cotton may be selected to meet a particular operating
circumstance or environment. Consequently, the invention is not
limited to the 8-ounce canvas chosen for purposes of disclosure.
Rather the invention covers any suitable material and weight.
[0030] A lower, resilient layer 104 is bonded to woven upper layer
102, typically by through stitching 112. It will be recognized that
methods and/or materials other than stitching may be utilized to
secure upper woven layer 102 to lower, resilient layer 104. Some
possible choices include, but are not limited to adhesive
fastening, hook-and-loop fasteners, mechanical fasteners, etc.
[0031] Referring now also to FIG. 2, Lower resilient layer 104 has
a plurality downward-projecting dimples 106a, 106b. Dimples 106a
are typically larger than dimples 106b. As shown in FIG. 1, larger
dimples 106a are shown having a greater height than smaller dimples
106b. In alternate embodiments, larger and smaller dimples 106a and
106b, respectively, may have a substantially identical height. In
still other embodiments, smaller dimples 106b may have a height
larger than larger dimples 106a.
[0032] Dimples 106a, 106b are interconnected by resilient web
segments 108. An inter-dimples space 110 remains between dimples.
As seen in FIG. 1, inter-dimple space is shown schematically to be
between a larger dimple 106a and a smaller dimple 106b. However,
inter-dimple space 110 may be between any two larger dimples 106a
or between any two smaller dimples 106b as well as between larger
dimple 106a and smaller dimple 106b as shown for purposes of
disclosure.
[0033] In operation, cloth 100 is placed on a surface to be
protected, not shown, resilient layer 104 towards the surface.
Dimples 106a, 106b grip the surface, especially when compressed by
the weight of a person, not shown, directly over a particular
portion of cloth 100.
[0034] One exemplary use of cloth 100 is to protect a surface from
paint, varnish, stain, etc. The choice of material for upper woven
layer 102 allows paint or other material to be at least partially
absorbed by the layer. Unlike impervious drop cloths (i.e., thin
plastic sheets), the partially absorbed paint is typically less
prone to tracking by a person stepping in the spilled paint than is
paint spilled on a non-absorbing cloth of the prior art. In
addition, cloth 100 may be laundered to remove soluble paint or
other materials.
[0035] Cloth 100 may also be utilized to protect a delicate surface
from being scratched or marred. One environment where cloth 100 is
particularly useful is on a set of stairs. Once positioned, cloth
100 remains in place, thereby providing a safe, stable surface on
the stairs as workmen ascend and descend the stairs. It will be
recognized that the choice of materials, weights, thicknesses, etc.
will determine the overall flexibility of cloth 100 for
applications such as stairs.
[0036] An example of the use of cloth 100 as a protective pad,
maintenance routines periodically require mechanics to walk on the
upper surface of an airplane wing. The use of cloth 100 on the wing
not only protects the delicate wing surface but provides a much
more secure surface upon which the mechanic may walk or stand. Even
though the surface of the wing is typically curved, the novel
construction of cloth 100 greatly improves the security of the
mechanic.
[0037] Another exemplary use of cloth 100 is to protect delicate
surfaces of boat decks in an environment where they frequently
become wet and slippery. Cloth 100 remains in place on the deck,
even wet, and provides a non-slip upper surface (i.e., the upper
surface of upper woven layer 102) upon which boat passengers may
walk. Because cloth 100 typically lacks an impermeable membrane,
air may flow though cloth 100, thereby allowing the cloth and the
surface therebelow to dry.
[0038] In an alternate embodiment, a third layer, typically an
impermeable layer 114 may be interposed between woven upper layer
102 and resilient layer 104. This is shown in FIG. 3.
[0039] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit
particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered
limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and
covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
[0040] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be
protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently
appended claims.
* * * * *