U.S. patent application number 14/426897 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-20 for cover.
This patent application is currently assigned to GmbH & Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT. Invention is credited to Thomas Dau, Stephan Meier, Johanna Spicale, Marco Wenk.
Application Number | 20150233081 14/426897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49165727 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150233081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dau; Thomas ; et
al. |
August 20, 2015 |
COVER
Abstract
Covers for structures, for example drainage channels or the
like, which can be installed into a floor are known, said covers
comprising a surface (11) which can be accessed and driven over and
which comprises a flat structure (13) on a first lower plane and
elevations (14) with top surfaces lying above the flat structure
(13) on a second higher plane. The aim of the invention is to
improve the non-slip properties and to achieve a self-cleaning
effect This is achieved in that the top surfaces (15) have an
anti-slip surface structure which comprises a plurality of
individual elevations. The ratio of the air volume below the
individual elevations (16) to the volume of the individual
elevations (16) is Vv/Vm=(0.01 to 0.5)/(0.001 to 0.05).
Inventors: |
Dau; Thomas; (Morel, DE)
; Meier; Stephan; (Albersdorf, DE) ; Spicale;
Johanna; (Freiburg, DE) ; Wenk; Marco;
(Solingen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT |
Budelsdorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
GmbH & Co. KG
Budelsdorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
49165727 |
Appl. No.: |
14/426897 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
September 9, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/068537 |
371 Date: |
March 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 29/1436 20130101;
E04H 4/1227 20130101; E02D 29/14 20130101; E02D 29/1409 20130101;
E03F 5/06 20130101; E03F 5/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E02D 29/14 20060101
E02D029/14; E03F 5/02 20060101 E03F005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 10, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 108 392.4 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A cover of a structure that can be installed in the ground, in
particular a shaft, a point runoff, a drainage channel or a similar
drainage installation, comprising a surface (11) that can be walked
over or driven over, having a planar structure (13) in a first,
lower plane and elevations (14) having top surfaces of the
elevations (15), which lie in a second, higher plane above the
planar structure (13), wherein the top surfaces of the elevations
(15) have an anti-slip surface structure, which comprises a
plurality of individual elevations (16) and which is rougher than
the lower situated planar structure (13), characterized in that the
ratio of the air volume below the individual elevations (16) to the
volume of the individual elevations (16) is Vv/Vm=(0.01 to
0.5)/(0.001 to 0.05).
12. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
ratio of the air volume below the individual elevations (16) to the
volume of the individual elevations (16) is Vv/Vm=(0.02 to
0.2)/(0.002 to 0.01).
13. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) have different maximum heights.
14. The cover according to claim 12, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) have different maximum heights.
15. The cover according to claim 13, characterized in that the
maximum heights are provided in a distribution within a range of
Sz=150 .mu.m to 1.500 .mu.m, preferably 230 .mu.m to 1.000
.mu.m.
16. The cover according to claim 14, characterized in that the
maximum heights are provided in a distribution within a range of
Sz=150 .mu.m to 1.500 .mu.m, preferably 230 .mu.m to 1.000
.mu.m.
17. The cover according to claim 15, characterized in that the
distribution is a random distribution.
18. The cover according to claim 16, characterized in that the
distribution is a random distribution.
19. The cover according to claim 17, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) are designed having a pyramidal shape or
truncated pyramidal shape.
20. The cover according to claim 18, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) are designed having a pyramidal shape or
truncated pyramidal shape.
21. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) are designed having a pyramidal shape or
truncated pyramidal shape.
22. The cover according to claim 19, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) have a maximum depression height of
Sv=50 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, preferably 85 .mu.m to 310 .mu.m.
23. The cover according to claim 20, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) have a maximum depression height of
Sv=50 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, preferably 85 .mu.m to 310 .mu.m.
24. The cover according to claim 21, characterized in that the
individual elevations (16) have a maximum depression height of
Sv=50 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, preferably 85 .mu.m to 310 .mu.m.
25. The cover according to claim 22, characterized in that the
roughness value of the surface structure is Sa=10 .mu.m to 200
.mu.m, preferably 15 .mu.m to 90 .mu.m.
26. The cover according to claim 23, characterized in that the
roughness value of the surface structure is Sa=10 .mu.m to 200
.mu.m, preferably 15 .mu.m to 90 .mu.m.
27. The cover according to claim 24, characterized in that the
roughness value of the surface structure is Sa=10 .mu.m to 200
.mu.m, preferably 15 .mu.m to 90 .mu.m.
28. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
roughness value of the surface structure is Sa=10 .mu.m to 200
.mu.m, preferably 15 .mu.m to 90 .mu.m.
29. The cover according to claim 25, characterized in that the
elongated appearance ratio of the surface structure is Sdr 10 to
500%, preferably 20 to 300%.
30. The cover according to claim 26, characterized in that the
elongated appearance ratio of the surface structure is Sdr 10 to
500%, preferably 20 to 300%.
31. The cover according to claim 27, characterized in that the
elongated appearance ratio of the surface structure is Sdr 10 to
500%, preferably 20 to 300%.
32. The cover according to claim 28, characterized in that the
elongated appearance ratio of the surface structure is Sdr 10 to
500%, preferably 20 to 300%.
33. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
elongated appearance ratio of the surface structure is Sdr 10 to
500%, preferably 20 to 300%.
34. The cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the
surface structure has an apex density of Spd=0.5 to 20 mm.sup.-1,
preferably 1 to 10 mm.sup.-1.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a cover of a structure that can be
installed in the ground according to the preamble of Claim 1.
[0002] Channels and shafts that are covered by covers are known
structures for installation in the ground or (in particular) for
the drainage of surfaces. These covers are partially driven over by
motor vehicles; in particular, however, these are walked over by
pedestrians. There is a risk of slipping and thus a risk of injury,
in particular when it is wet or contamination has accumulated.
[0003] Covers, in particular covering grates, are known in a
plurality of embodiments. Thus, for example, DE 1 853 985 U, DE 20
2006 014 082 U1, DE 89 09 748 U1 or DE 1 876 986 U disclose
covering grates that have been provided with a surface structure in
the form of (wedge-shaped) slots or elevations having a triangular
cross-section. In addition, drainage covers according to the
preamble of Claim 1 are known, for example from the German design
patent M 9 505 847, which have elevations that are supposed to
ensure slip resistance.
[0004] The known configurations provide only limited anti-slip
effect however. In particular when the covers are manufactured out
of a plastic material, in particular injection molding,
contamination occurs easily, which contributes to an increased risk
of accident.
[0005] In addition, the known anti-slip structures provide
sufficient anti-slip in interior areas, e.g. swimming pools, in
which clean water without contamination particles wash over the
covering grate. As soon as contamination particles reach the outer
area of the covering grate however, the known macro-structures
(e.g. these known corrugations) and micro-structures (grain) become
clogged up due to the entry of a mixture of contamination particles
and water, and a sufficient anti-slip effect is no longer
possible.
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a cover of the
type mentioned above, such that an increased slip resistance is
ensured at the lowest possible expense.
[0007] This object is achieved by a cover according to Claim 1.
[0008] This object is achieved, in particular by a cover of a
structure that can be installed in the ground, in particular a
shaft, a point runoff, a drainage channel or similar drainage
installation, comprising a surface that can be walked over or
driven over, having a planar structure in a first, lower plane, and
having elevations with top surfaces of the elevations, which lie in
a second, higher plane of the planar structure, in that the top
surfaces of the elevations have an anti-slip surface structure,
which comprise a plurality of individual elevations, wherein the
ratio of the air volume below the individual elevations to the
volume of the individual elevations Vv/Vm, is preferably (0.01 to
0.5)/(0.001 to 0.05), preferably (0.02 to 0.2)/(0.002 to 0.01).
[0009] The anti-sip structures are thus displaced vertically and
upward from the actual covering later (the lower plane) so that
significantly more contamination particles are needed to fill the
space between the anti-slip structures and neutralize the anti-slip
effect.
[0010] Thus an essential aspect of the invention is that, even when
contamination particles are introduced into the anti-slip surface
structure, these can be easily washed away or displaced into the
regions between the elevations as a result of people walking on the
surface.
[0011] The individual elevations preferably have different maximum
heights. This ensures that even in the case that contamination
particles accumulate in the different height ranges of the
anti-slip structures, these contamination particles themselves have
different heights, and in this way, themselves exhibit an anti-slip
effect.
[0012] It is possible that the lower situated planar structure in
the first, lower plane has an anti-slip surface structure, which is
not as rough as the anti-slip surface structure of the top surfaces
of the elevations. The lower-lying planar structure may have a
grain, for example, in order to achieve a specific visual effect,
for example a casting effect, as well as in order to increase the
roughness, and therefore may have the anti-slip characteristics of
this planar structure.
[0013] The maximum heights are preferably provided within a
distribution within a range of Sz=150 .mu.m to 1,500 .mu.m,
preferably between 230 .mu.m to 1,000 .mu.m. This rated value (like
the rated value in the subsequent description as well as in the
claims) has been obtained from DIN EN ISO 25178. Explicit reference
is made to this standard, wherein the measurement methods that
result in the values described below are likewise described
therein.
[0014] The distribution of the individual elevations or,
respectively, the size thereof may be uniform. Preferably, however,
a distribution will be selected in a random distribution across the
surface so that higher and lower individual elevations are also
provided within smaller areas.
[0015] The individual elevations may be provided in different
shapes (when viewed as a horizontal section). The individual
elevations are preferably designed having a pyramidal shape or
truncated pyramidal shape, however.
[0016] The maximum depression height of the individual elevations
(they are also referred to as recess heights) is Sv=50 .mu.m to 500
.mu.m, preferably 85 .mu.m to 310 .mu.m. Surprisingly, this range
has proven to be especially beneficial.
[0017] The roughness value of the surface structure is preferably
Sa=10 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m, preferably 15 .mu.m to 90 .mu.m. The
elongated appearance ratio (pursuant to DIN EN ISO 25178, also
referred to as a developed transition surface ratio) of the surface
structure is preferably Sdr=20 to 300%. The surface structure
preferably has an apex density of Spd=0.5 to 20 mm.sup.-1,
preferably 1 to 10 mm.sup.-1.
[0018] Surprisingly, the above-mentioned size ranges have an effect
such that on the one hand, injuries on these apexes rarely occur,
and on the other hand, sufficient slip resistance and
"self-cleaning effect" is achieved.
[0019] The invention is described in greater detail below on the
basis of the Figures. Shown are:
[0020] FIG. 1 a top view of a covering grate for a drainage
channel,
[0021] FIG. 2 a section along the II-II line from FIG. 1 and
[0022] FIG. 3 an enlarged detail of region III from FIG. 2.
[0023] As can be seen in the Figures, the embodiment of the grate
10 shown here has a support structure, which has a surface 11 that
lies in a first, lower plane. The surface 11 is interrupted by
drainage openings 12 and forms a smooth, planar structure 13. Here,
the planar structure 13 is equipped with very little surface
roughness, for example, such as that achieved on a surface that is
created by means of plastic injection molding.
[0024] Rod-shaped elevations 14 are provided on this surface 11,
the top surfaces of the elevations 15 of which have the roughness
described above, which is obtained by corresponding shaping of the
injection mold, in particular in the case of injection molding.
Here, the top surfaces of the elevations 15 comprise individual
elevations 16, which, as indicated in FIG. 3, are created by
individual pyramids having different heights and different
apexes.
[0025] This shaping ensures that on the one hand, contamination
particles that reach the elevations 14 can be easily rinsed away,
and conveyed on the smooth, planar surface 13. The contamination
particles, on the other hand, are carried away from the smooth
planar structure 13 into the drainage openings 12, so that a kind
of "self-cleaning effect" is created by the design selected here.
Even when walking thereon, the accumulation of contamination
particles as is reduced through the forces exerted, since these
contamination particles are squeezed out over the top surfaces of
the elevations 15 and conveyed on the planar structure 13 so that
these may ultimately enter the drainage openings 12.
REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0026] 10 cover [0027] 11 surface [0028] 12 drainage opening [0029]
13 planar structure [0030] 14 elevation [0031] 15 top surface of
the elevation [0032] 16 individual elevation
* * * * *