Anti-slip device intended to equip a planar structure, tread plate provided with such a device, bearing and staircase including such tread plates

Abstract

This anti-slip device is intended to be fitted to a flat structure, and in particular the treads of a staircase. It comprises: ▪ a female profile (5), intended to be fixed in said flat structure; ▪ at least one male profile (6), having two principal faces, said male profile being intended to be reversibly attached within the female profile (5), and being provided with means (11) capable of cooperating with antagonistic means (10) provided within the female profile to define two configurations distinct from each other when the male profile is attached within the female profile: - a first configuration called the working or construction site configuration, in which one (13) of said two principal faces of the male profile (6) is coplanar with the flat structure fitted with the device of the invention, - a second configuration called the operational configuration, in which the other principal face of the male profile is projecting from said flat structure.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an anti-slip device intended to be fitted to flat surfaces in order to limit, or even avoid, any risk of slipping by users.

[0002] It is aimed more specifically at such a device suitable for equipping the step platforms of a staircase, especially one made of concrete.

[0003] The invention also relates to stair treads incorporating such a device, as well as stairs incorporating such stair treads. PRIOR STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

[0004] The problem of slipping on stairs, especially concrete ones, and even more so when they are located outside a sheltered structure and therefore exposed to the elements, is a recurring one. In fact, it is well known to equip stair treads with anti-slip features to reduce such slip risks. These anti-slip features most often consist of linear grooves cut directly into the concrete on the upper surface of the tread, typically using a grooving machine.

[0005] Besides the significant dust generated during the creation of these grooves, and in addition to their lack of straightness, it is quite common for these grooves to become clogged with construction dust during the building or housing project. This dust is brought in by workers or other personnel on the site. Once clogged, the grooves no longer perform their anti-slip function.

[0006] It is also known to implement the use of inserts attached to the stair treads, which are then permanently fixed to them. Whether these stairs with such inserts are located inside or outside a building, the durability of their anti-slip function is compromised quite quickly. Indeed, even when these stairs are located inside a building, they are installed during the structural phase of construction and are therefore subject to the movement of various construction workers. When these stairs are outside the building, they are exposed to the elements, which again affects their anti-slip function.

[0007] Moreover, their fixing requires an additional step during the construction of the staircase itself, and may also lead to an alteration of the anti-slip function during construction operations.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these various drawbacks by offering an alternative solution that is both simple to implement, provides increased effectiveness of the anti-slip function, and, in addition, allows for a certain modularity in the anti-slip device implemented and, consequently, their replacement in case of wear. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention therefore aims at an anti-slip device intended to equip a flat structure, and in particular the step platforms of a staircase.

[0010] According to the invention, this device comprises: ▪ a female profile, intended to be fixed, and for example embedded, in said flat structure; ▪ at least one male profile, having two principal faces, said male profile being intended to be reversibly brought into the female profile, and being provided with means capable of cooperating with antagonistic means provided within the female profile to define two configurations distinct from each other when the male profile is brought into the female profile: a first configuration called working or construction site, in which one of said two principal faces of the male profile is coplanar with the flat structure equipped with the device of the invention, a second configuration called operational, in which the other principal face of the male profile is projecting out from said flat structure.

[0011] In other words, the invention essentially consists of proposing two profiles that are distinct from each other but cooperate with each other: one, the female profile, intended to be permanently fixed within the flat structure and typically within the tread of a stair, particularly in the vicinity and parallel to the nose of said tread, said female profile being typically sealed in concrete during the construction of the tread, or even during the construction of the staircase incorporating said treads, and the other, the male profile, intended both to allow the construction of the structure and in particular of the staircase itself during the construction operation, without affecting the functions of the anti-slip device and, after reversing its placement within the female profile, or putting in place a second male profile with a single operational function, to precisely define the anti-slip function sought.

[0012] Advantageously, during so-called work or construction site operations, in which the anti-slip device of the invention does not protrude from the upper surface of the structure in which the device is installed, the upper part of the device is protected by any means, typically by an adhesive, which is intended to be removed once the work is completed, thus protecting the device. This adhesive can also be used to secure the male / female assembly at the bottom of the mold in the context of manufacturing stairs by inverted molding, as described, for example, in document EP3910129.

[0013] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the bottom of the female profile is provided with bosses defining projections relative to the plane of said bottom, these bosses being able to cooperate with complementary bosses, provided on one of the two main faces of the male profile, and thus induce, after reversible fixing of the male profile within the female profile, the operational configuration of the device of the invention, that is to say, the definition of projections of said device relative to the plane in which the upper surface of the flat structure is inscribed, and in particular of the step platform in which the device of the invention is intended to be integrated.

[0014] In the same spirit, the other main face of the male profile is provided with recesses or means suitable for defining such recesses, said recesses being intended to cover the bosses made in the bottom of the female profile, so as to induce, after reversible fixing of the male profile within the female profile, the working or construction site configuration, that is to say the absence of any protrusion of the anti-slip device of the invention in relation to the upper surface of the flat structure, and in particular of the step platform in which the anti-slip device of the invention is intended to be integrated.

[0015] According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the inner wall of the lateral faces of the female profile is each provided with a shoulder, suitable for cooperating with a reversible fastening element emanating from the vicinity of the two opposite lateral edges of the male profile.

[0016] In doing so, this cooperation allows for the reversible attachment of the male profile within the female profile and its interchangeability.

[0017] Advantageously, the device includes a tool access area, typically for a screwdriver, to allow the male profile to be retracted from the female profile, thus facilitating the transition from the working configuration to the operational configuration. This access area is defined by a free space extending along one of the device's lateral edges, between the upper edge of the female profile and the reversible fastening element of the male profile.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the various constituent elements of the device of the invention are made of plastic material, and in particular of PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

[0019] Ideally, rigid PVC is chosen for the female part. The male part is made of rigid PVC, particularly in the work area, or of flexible PVC, particularly in the operational area with an anti-slip function; this flexible PVC enhances the anti-slip function intended for it.

[0020] By flexible or plasticized PVC, we classically mean a material with a hardness in a range of 50 to 90 ShA.

[0021] Rigid PVC has a hardness exceeding 100 ShA.

[0022] The flexible PVC allows the profile to be quite soft and malleable when cold, non-brittle and to accept elastic deformations.

[0023] The invention also relates to a stair tread incorporating, in the vicinity of the stair nosing and therefore parallel to it, the anti-slip device of the invention. Similarly, the invention also relates to a landing incorporating the aforementioned anti-slip device.

[0024] Finally, the invention also relates to a staircase, in particular made of concrete, whose step platforms incorporate the anti-slip device of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following example of implementation, given by way of illustration and not limitation, in support of the attached figures. There figure 1 is a schematic representation of a staircase, in this case made of concrete, equipped with the anti-slip device of the invention. figure 2is a schematic cross-sectional view of the anti-slip device according to a first embodiment of the invention in the work / construction site configuration. figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the anti-slip device of the first embodiment of the invention in its operational position, i.e., with its anti-slip function. figure 4 is a schematic exploded section representation of a second embodiment of the anti-slip device of the invention. figure 5 is a more detailed schematic representation of how the figure 4 . There figure 6 is a schematic view of an alternative detail of the anti-slip area of ​​the male profile. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] There figure 1illustrates a staircase (1), typically made of concrete, in this case a single block. This staircase (1) has a number of steps and risers (2), having near the nosing of the step (3) an anti-slip device (4) extending substantially over the entire length of said step (2).

[0027] THE figures 2 and 3 illustrate schematically a first embodiment of the anti-slip device (4) of the invention.

[0028] More specifically, this anti-slip device is fundamentally made up of two profiles, respectively a female profile (5) intended to be sealed in the concrete, and a male profile (6), intended in the example described, to be clipped into the female profile (5).

[0029] According to this embodiment, the female profile (5) is made of rigid PVC and comprises a base (7) and two side walls (8) and (9). As can be seen, the base (7) of the female profile (5) is provided with bosses (10), projecting from the base (7) and intended, as can be seen within the figure 3 , to cooperate with complementary bosses (11) with which the male profile (6) is provided at the level of one of its two main faces, and obviously positioned opposite said bosses (10) when the male profile (6) is clipped into the female profile (5).

[0030] The male profile (6) is also made of rigid PVC. Advantageously, it has on one (14) of its two main faces (13, 14) studs (15), made of flexible PVC with improved anti-slip properties, which are intended, as illustrated by the figure 3 to be positioned protruding from the plane P in which is inscribed the upper end of the lateral faces (8) and (9) of the female profile (5) or corresponding to the upper face of the step platform within which the anti-slip device (4) is integrated, that is to say within the framework of the operational configuration of the anti-slip device of the invention.

[0031] Consequently, these studs (15) are intended to bear against the upper face of the bottom (7) of the female profile (5), in the working / construction position ( figure 2 ), on either side of the bosses (10) of said bottom (7), and thus generate the so-called working or construction site configuration of the figure 2 , in which it can be observed that the general plane in which the other principal face (13) of the male profile (6) is inscribed is coplanar with the plane P in which are inscribed the ends of the lateral faces (8) and (9) of the female profile (5).

[0032] Obviously, the respective heights of the lateral faces (8) and (9) and of the male profile (6) are substantially identical in order to allow this coplanarity in the working / construction site position, and this is only due to the presence of bosses (10) and their cooperation with the bosses (11) ( figure 3 ) that we move out of this coplanarity in order to arrive at the operational configuration of the figure 3 that is to say, with the studs (15) projecting from said plane P .

[0033] Furthermore, and in order to allow this reversible attachment of the male profile (6) within the female profile (5), said male profile (6) is provided near its lateral edges with elastic fins (17), in this case wave-shaped, the free end of which is adapted to cooperate with a shoulder (16) formed on the inner wall of the lateral faces (8) and (9) of the female profile (5), regardless of the configuration (construction site or operational) of the anti-slip device of the invention as can be observed within the figures 2 and 3 .

[0034] In order to facilitate the separation of the male profile (6) from the female profile (5), and thus transition from the construction site configuration of the figure 2 to the operational configuration of the figure 3An access zone (18), extending parallel to the lateral edges (8) and (9) of the female profile (5), is defined between the fins (17) and the lateral walls (8) and (9) of the female profile (5). This zone is adapted to allow the insertion of a tool, typically a screwdriver, to force one of the tabs (15) and thus unclip the male profile (6) from the female profile (5), allowing the male profile (6) to be reversed and re-clipped according to the figure 3 , or even the replacement of the male profile (6), for example when the anti-slip function wears out.

[0035] As can be seen on the figures 2 and 3, obtaining coplanarity between one of the main faces (13) of the male profile (6) with the upper end of the lateral faces (8) and (9) of the female profile (5) results from the bands or studs (15) added or co-extruded from the male profile (6), and whose positioning is such that in working position, said bands or studs (15) are located on either side of the bosses (10).

[0036] In another variant, such as illustrated for example within the figures 4 to 6 , the male profile (6) is monobloc and monomaterial, and this coplanarity is made possible by the definition of recesses (21) at the level of one (14) of the two main faces of the male profile (6), and whose dimensions and positioning are adapted to allow, in working / construction site position, to achieve this result.

[0037] These figures 4 - 6They further illustrate other possible forms of cooperation between the male profile (6) and the female profile (5), in this case by means of toothed grooves (22) formed on the inner wall of the lateral faces (8) and (9) of the female profile (5) and complementary teeth (23) formed on the lateral faces opposite the male profile (6).

[0038] Advantageously, an adhesive (20) can be positioned on the anti-slip device in working or construction site configuration, in order to prevent the penetration of dust or concrete or any other material into one of the two main faces (13) of the male profile (6), and thus to allow the possibility of switching from a construction site configuration which may therefore be soiled, to an operational configuration, by removing said adhesive film (20).

[0039] Furthermore, although in the example described, PVC was chosen as the constituent material of the male and female profiles, due to the ease of obtaining them, particularly by co-extrusion in the case of bi-material, other materials can be considered, in particular metallic ones, including aluminum and stainless steel or others, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0040] According to the invention, two types of male profiles can be implemented: a single male profile, of the type previously described, and which is therefore intended to be reversed to switch from construction site configuration to operational configuration; two male profiles, one intended to be used only during construction, and therefore to be removed when construction is finished, and the second intended to be used only in operational configuration, and consequently, to be changed when worn, in order to preserve the anti-slip functions.

[0041] The advantages of the present invention are clear: it provides a simple and effective way to incorporate an anti-slip function without compromising it during the construction of the structure, particularly the staircase or stair treads. Ideally, in its operational position, the area providing the anti-slip function protrudes at least 0.5 millimeters above the surface. P of the flat structure, and in particular of the stair tread into which said device is integrated.

[0042] Furthermore, due to the nature of the selected material, it may be possible to consider dyeing at least the male profile throughout.

[0043] Moreover, the invention makes it possible to reduce waste on site and to select the material constituting said male profile, going from PVC to, for example, stainless steel, while implementing the same clipping system.

Claims

1. Anti-slip device intended to equip a flat structure, and in particular the treads of a staircase, comprising: ▪ a female profile (5), intended to be fixed in said flat structure; ▪ at least one male profile (6), having two principal faces (13, 14), said male profile being intended to be reversibly attached within the female profile (5), and being provided with means (11) capable of cooperating with antagonistic means (10) provided within the female profile to define two configurations distinct from each other when the male profile is attached within the female profile: - a first configuration called working or construction site, in which one (13) of said two principal faces of the male profile (6) is coplanar with the flat structure equipped with the device of the invention, - a second configuration called operational, in which the other principal face (14) of the male profile is projecting from said flat structure.

2. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to claim 1, characterized in that in a work or construction site configuration, in which the anti-slip device does not protrude from the upper surface of the structure in which the device is installed, the upper part of said device is protected by any means, and in particular by an adhesive (20), which is intended to be removed once the construction site is finished.

3. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that The base (7) of the female profile (5) is provided with bosses (10) defining projections relative to the plane of said base (7), these bosses (10) being adapted to cooperate with complementary bosses (11) formed on one (13) of the two main faces of the male profile (6), and thus induce, after reversible fixing of the male profile (6) within the female profile (7), the operational configuration of the device of the invention, that is to say, the definition of projections of said device relative to the plane P in which is inscribed the upper surface of the flat structure, and in particular the step platform within which the device of the invention is intended to be integrated.

4. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the other main face (14) of the male profile (6) is provided with recesses (21) or means (15) suitable for defining such recesses, said recesses being intended to cover the bosses (10) provided on the bottom (7) of the female profile (5), so as to induce, after reversible fixing of the male profile within the female profile, the working or site configuration, that is to say the absence of any protrusion of the anti-slip device in relation to the upper surface of the flat structure, and in particular of the walking platform.

5. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the internal wall of the lateral faces (8, 9) of the female profile (5) are each provided with a shoulder (16) able to cooperate with a reversible fixing organ (17) with elastic property emanating from the vicinity of the two opposite lateral edges of the male profile (6).

6. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes an access zone (18) for a tool, typically a screwdriver, to allow the male profile (6) to be retracted out of the female profile (5), and thus facilitate the transition from the working / site configuration to the operational configuration.

7. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the access zone (18) is defined by a free space extending along one of the lateral edges of the device, between the upper edge of the female profile and the reversible fixing organ (17) of the male profile.

8. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The various constituent elements of the device are made of plastic, and in particular of PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

9. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to claim 8, characterized in that The female profile and the working area (11, 13) of the male profile (6) are made of rigid PVC, and in that the operational area (15) of the male profile (6) is made of flexible PVC.

10. Anti-slip device intended to be fitted to a flat structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The male (6) and female (5) profiles are made of metal, in particular aluminum or stainless steel.

11. Step platform (2) of a staircase integrating in the vicinity of the step nose (3) and parallel to the latter an anti-slip device according to one of claims 1 to 10 of the invention.

12. Stair landing incorporating an anti-slip device according to one of claims 1 to 10.

13. Staircase, in particular made of concrete, the treads of which (2) incorporate an anti-slip device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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