Bathing floor

Abstract

Methods and floor covering products which provide an existing surface of a floor of a bathing environment having a poor coefficient of friction properties with an increased coefficient of friction. Methods and floor covering products provide increased static friction between the bottom of a bather's foot or feet and the floor of a bathing environment which reduces the likelihood of slippage of the bather's foot or feet thereby reducing the possibility of a fall by the bather during a bathing event.

Description

[0001] Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0002] Title Of The Invention: BATHING FLOOR

[0003] International Application For

[0004] LETTERS PATENT

[0005] According To The Patent Cooperation Treaty

[0006] Of

[0007] John T. Pitre

[0008] For

[0009] BATHING FLOOR

[0010] FILED: 04 September 2025 04 September 2025 (04.09.2025) Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0011] TITLE OF THE INVENTION

[0012]

[0001] Bathing Floor

[0013] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0014]

[0002] The present invention relates to a floor of a bathing environment.

[0015] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0016]

[0003] This PCT application is a continuation-in-part (“CIP”) PCT of PCT application PCT / US2025 / 022615 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025) which is a nonprovisional and PCT application of US provisional patent application 63 / 574,750 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 04 April 2024 (04.04.2024; April 4, 2024), to each of which benefit of priority is claimed.

[0004] This PCT application is a CIP PCT of PCT application PCT / US2025 / 022615 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025) which is also a nonprovisional and PCT application of US provisional patent application 63 / 692,049 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024), to each of which benefit of priority is claimed.

[0017]

[0005] This PCT application is also a nonprovisional and PCT application of US provisional patent application of 63 / 692,049 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024), tow which benefit of priority is claimed.

[0018]

[0006] This PCT application claims benefit of priority to each of the following: PCT / US2025 / 022615 filed 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025); 63 / 574,750 filed 04 April 2024 (04.04.2024; April 4, 2024); and 63 / 692,049 filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024).

[0019]

[0007] Herein, the European date numeric format recites DD.MM.YY, where YY is the last two digits of the year, i. e. 20YY. Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0020] INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0021]

[0008] This patent application incorporates by reference in its entirety copending PCT application PCT / US2025 / 022615 titled “Bathing Floor” fded 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025).

[0022]

[0009] This patent application incorporates by reference in its entirety copending U S provisional patent application number 63 / 692,049 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024).

[0023]

[0010] This patent application also incorporates by reference in its entirety copending US provisional patent application number 63 / 574,750 titled “Bathing Floor” filed 04 April 2024 (04.04.24; April 4, 2024).

[0024]

[0011] This PCT application incorporates by reference PCT / US2025 / 022615 filed 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025) which incorporates each of 63 / 574,750 filed 04 April 2024 (04.04.2024; April 4, 2024) and 63 / 692,049 filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024), each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entiretly.

[0025]

[0012] This PCT application incorporates by references each of the following in its entirety: PCT / US2025 / 022615 filed 01 April 2025 (01.04.25; April 1, 2025); 63 / 574,750 filed 04 April 2024 (04.04.2024; April 4, 2024); and 63 / 692,049 filed 07 September 2024 (07.09.24; September 7, 2024).

[0026] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0027]

[0013] Bathing environments, such as a bathtub or a shower, include a floor upon which a bather will enter, step upon, stand, move about, turnaround, step off and / or exit from during a bathing event. When entering a bathing environment, a bather will step into the bathing environment with one foot and will stand and balance upon that one foot while bringing the other foot into the bathing environment and onto the floor of the bathing environment. The floor of a typical bathtub or the floor of a typical shower is generally flat, smooth and slightly angled, z.e., slightly not horizontal, to facilitate movement of water, or water composition, toward a drain area where a majority of the water, or water composition, exits the bathtub or Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT shower. Prior to a bather entering a bathing area, such as a bathtub or shower, it is a common practice to start the flow of the water, or water composition, into the bathtub or shower to regulate the temperature of the water, or water composition, to the bather’s preference. While regulating the water, or water composition, the water, or water composition, flows from a shower head positioned above the floor of the bathtub or the floor of the shower and onto the floor of the bathtub or the floor of the shower thereby creating a wet floor environment for the bather to step into and bathe. This wet floor environment creates a wet bathing floor surface that will increase the possibility of one or both of the bather’s feet to slip while entering, standing, moving about and exiting this wet bathing floor environment. The possibility of a bather slipping and falling on a wet bathing floor environment is a daily threat for everyone who showers, but there is an increased threat of slipping and falling by elderly people who often become unstable while walking and standing. The threat of slipping and falling is also an increased threat to all people who have developed an abnormal gait as the result of an ongoing or previous medical injury, for example. For at least these reasons, the floor of conventional bathtubs and the floor of conventional showers, during a bathing event are dangerous and pose an increased risk of slipping and falling, which, or course, can well cause injury or death to the bather. There is a need for providing a safer bathing environment for reducing the possibility of slips and falls while a bather showers in a bathtub or shower.

[0028]

[0014] In additional to bathtubs and shower floors, the bathing floor disclosed herein, can be applied to any floor in any location where such any floor can be exposed to water and / or become wet and / or otherwise slippery when encountered and / or traversed by person and / or animal. Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0029] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0030]

[0015] In an embodiment, the floor covering achieves a safer bathing environment for a bather by converting a floor of a bathing environment having a low coefficient of friction into a floor of a bathing environment with a high coefficient of friction. In an embodiment the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a bathtub. In an embodiment the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a shower. This disclosure is not limited only to a floor where the actual bathing event takes place, but can be a floor near the bathing event or in an area where water, or a water combination, can accumulate.

[0031]

[0016] In addition, the floor covering can be utilized at any location and on or around any floor where the floor can be exposed to water and / or become wet and / or otherwise slippery when encountered and / or traversed by a person and / or animal. The bathing floor can be utilized on any potentially slippery floor, especially a floor that has the potential of becoming wet, periodically wet, or otherwise. Such potentially slippery floors, include all types of floors, shower floors and bathtub floors that are installed, for example, but not limited to, houses, in or about office building, public spaces, mobile homes, trailers, campers, motor homes, other recreational vehicles, portable showers, hotels, motels, service stations, boats, ships of all kinds, aircraft, swimming pools, children’s portable swimming pools, wading pools, spas, hot tubs, seating surfaces, fountains, animal bathing locations and facilities, and / or any other place and / or locations where a floor can become wet and / or slippery. The bathing floor can also be applied to a connecting, or adjoining, floor leading to and / or away from and / or surrounding a wet and / or potentially wet floor when such connecting, or adjoining, floor can potentially become wet and / or hazardous / slippery itself due to the transmission of water from a wet environment and onto an adjacent and / or connecting floor in any manner, such as, for example, but not limited to, overspray, water sprinkling system, splashing, spills, wet feet, rain water wetting a floor near a door when the door is opened and / or by an entering person tracking in Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT water, or by some other water transmitting event, such as, rain water and / or water from a water sprinkler system, or other water transmitting event. The floor can be made of any material utilized to make a floor, such as, for example, concrete, wood, tile, polymer, or other flooring material. The bather, or other person, standing on and / or translating upon the disclosed floor covering, is not limited to bare feet. The bather, or other person, can be wearing foot apparel, such as, for example, but not limited to, shoes of all types including boots, slippers, socks, and / or other foot apparel, where the soles of the bare feet and / or the soles of foot apparel come into contact with the disclosed floor covering.

[0032]

[0017] In an embodiment, a floor covering can be configured for use in a bathing environment and from a polymeric substrate, such as, for example, but not limited to, polyester, having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; the top surface having a plurality of spaced apart protrusions extending from the top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between the plurality of spaced apart protrusions; each of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top; the protrusion base being attached to the top surface; the protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminates at the distal protrusion top; the protrusion height being in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns, such as, for example, but not limited to 50 microns, 75 microns, 100 microns, etc. , the plurality of channels between the plurality of spaced apart protrusions have a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions that form the plurality of channels; the channel depth being in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns, such as, for example, but not limited to 50 microns, 75 microns, 100 microns, etc. The plurality of spaced apart protrusions and the plurality of channels, like the polymeric substrate, can be, such as, for example polyester, but is not limited to, polyester. The opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein when the opposing Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT bottom surface of the polymeric substrate is applied to a floor of a bathing area, the adhesive secures the polymeric substrate to the floor of the bathing area to cover at least a portion of the floor of the bathing area in an area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the textured surface. When the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a bathing event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in the floor of the bathing area; when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface. The downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather upward toward the bather and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels. A combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0033]

[0018] In an embodiment, the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a bathtub.

[0034]

[0019] In an embodiment, the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a shower.

[0035]

[0020] In an embodiment, the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

[0036]

[0021] In an embodiment, the floor is any floor upon which the floor covering can be applied.

[0037]

[0022] In an embodiment, the floor is any floor that has the potential of becoming wet and / or slippery.

[0038]

[0023] In an embodiment, the floor is any floor at least partially adjacent to and / or connecting to any floor that has the potential of becoming wet and / or slippery.

[0039]

[0024] In an embodiment, the floor of the bathing environment, the polymeric substrate includes a length of at least 60% of a length of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%; the width of at least 60% of a width of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%.

[0040]

[0025] In an embodiment, the floor covering can include indicia applied to the floor covering and / or incorporated into the floor and / or as a part of the floor cover, or of and / or as a portion of the floor covering. Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0041]

[0026] In an embodiment, a method comprising the steps of: providing a floor of a bathing environment, the floor having a floor top surface with a floor top surface area, the floor top surface area having at least a top floor surface area length and at least a top floor surface area width; providing a polymeric substrate having a polymeric substrate top surface and an opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface; texturing the polymeric substrate top surface with a plurality of spaced protrusions throughout the polymeric substrate top surface forming a plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions thereby forming a textured surface; providing each of the plurality of spaced protrusions with a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the polymeric substrate top surface; each protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminating at the distal protrusion top; the plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions having a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of spaced protrusions forming the plurality of spaced channels; providing the opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface of the polymeric substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive, shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate thereby forming a shaped and dimensioned polymeric sheet; positioning the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate upon the floor top surface of the floor of a bathing environment, thereby placing the pressure sensitive adhesive on the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate into intimate contact with the top surface of the floor of a bathing environment; applying a force upon the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate thereby pressing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate forming a secure removable bond between the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate and the top surface of the floor of a bathing environment; the pressure sensitive adhesive securing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to the floor of a bathing environment, thereby covering a bathing area of the floor with the textured surface, at least a portion of a bottom of Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT at least one foot of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the textured surface, when the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a bathing event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in the floor of the bathing environment, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather upward toward the bather and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water composition out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels; and a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0042]

[0027] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment and wherein the step of shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate includes providing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to have a length at least 60% of the top floor surface area length, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%, and providing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to have a width of least 60% of the top floor surface area width, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%.

[0043]

[0028] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment, wherein the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a bathtub.

[0044]

[0029] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment, wherein the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a shower.

[0045]

[0030] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment, wherein the floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

[0046]

[0031] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment, wherein the protrusion height being in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns, such as, for example, but not limited to 50 microns, Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0047] 75 microns, 100 microns, etc.

[0048]

[0032] In an embodiment, the method further comprising the step of: providing a floor covering to a floor of a bathing environment as recited in claim 8, wherein the channel depth is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns, such as, for example, but not limited to 50 microns, 75 microns, 100 microns, etc.

[0049]

[0033] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: providing the floor on any floor location on or around any floor where the floor can be exposed to water and / or become wet and / or otherwise slippery when encountered and / or traversed by a person and / or animal.

[0050]

[0034] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: providing the floor covering to a floor connecting, or adjoining, leading to and / or away from and / or surrounding a wet and / or potentially wet floor.

[0051]

[0035] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: printing designs, or other indicia, onto the floor covering.

[0052]

[0036] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: obtaining an image of the outward appearance of a floor surface; replicating the obtained image of the outward appearance of the floor onto the floor covering thereby maintaining the overall original appearance, or visual appearance, of the floor with the floor covering in place.

[0053]

[0037] In an embodiment, a bathing floor for a bathing environment can be configured to have at least one of a floor and a sub-floor having a sub-floor bathing area configured for one or more of a bather; the at least one of a floor includes a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; the top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from the top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions. Each of the plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the top surface; the protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminates at Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT the distal protrusion top; the plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of protrusions that form the plurality of channels. The opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein when the opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate is applied to a the sub-floor within the sub-floor bathing area, the adhesive secures the polymeric substrate to the sub-floor to cover at least a portion of the sub-floor in the sub-floor bathing area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of at least one of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the textured surface. When the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a bathing event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in the subfloor. When the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the at least one of a bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface. The downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first subportion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather upward toward the at least one of a bather and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least oner of bather to pillow into the corresponding Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels. A combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0054]

[0038] In an embodiment, the sub-floor is a floor of a bathtub.

[0055]

[0039] In an embodiment, the sub-floor is a floor of a shower.

[0056]

[0040] In an embodiment, the floor of a shower is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

[0057]

[0041] In an embodiment, the floor, or sub-floor, of a shower is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

[0058]

[0042] In an embodiment, the floor, or sub-floor, is a floor upon which a foot, or feet, of a person or animal will stand and / or traverse.

[0059]

[0043] In an embodiment, the sub-floor is any floor upon which the floor covering is applied.

[0060]

[0044] In an embodiment, the sub-floor is any floor that has the potential of becoming wet.

[0061]

[0045] In an embodiment, the sub-floor is any floor at least partially adjacent or connecting to Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT any floor that has the potential of becoming wet.

[0062]

[0046] In an embodiment, the protrusion height is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0063]

[0047] In an embodiment, the channel depth is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0064]

[0048] In an embodiment, the polymeric substrate includes a length of at least 60% of a length of the sub-floor bathing area and a width of at least 60% of a width of the sub-floor bathing area.

[0065]

[0049] In an embodiment, the floor covering can include indicia applied thereon.

[0066]

[0050] In an embodiment, a method comprising the steps of: providing at least one of a floor and sub-floor of a bathing environment, the sub-floor having a sub-floor top surface with a subfloor top surface area, the sub-floor top surface area having at least a top floor surface area length and at least a top floor surface area width; providing a polymeric substrate having a polymeric substrate top surface and an opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface; texturing the polymeric substrate top surface with a plurality of spaced protrusions throughout the polymeric substrate top surface forming a plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions thereby forming a textured surface; providing each of the plurality of spaced protrusions with a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the polymeric substrate top surface, each protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminating at the distal protrusion top; the plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions having a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of spaced protrusions forming the plurality of spaced channels; providing the opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface of the polymeric substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive; shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate thereby forming a shaped and dimensioned polymeric sheet; positioning Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate upon the subfloor top surface of the sub-floor, thereby placing the pressure sensitive adhesive on the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate into intimate contact with at least a portion of the sub-floor top surface of the sub-floor; applying a force upon the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate thereby pressing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate forming a secure removable bond between the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate and the sub-floor top surface of the; the pressure sensitive adhesive securing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to the sub-floor top surface, thereby covering a bathing area of the sub-floor top surface with the textured surface thereby forming a bathing area of the bathing floor; at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of at least one of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the textured surface; when the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a bathing event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in the sub-floor of the bathing environment, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the at least one of a bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least the one of a bather upward toward the bather and the downward force will cause a second subportion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels; and a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0067]

[0051] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of the step of shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate includes providing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to have a length at least 60% of the sub-floor top surface area length and providing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to have a width of least 60% of the sub-floor top surface area width.

[0068]

[0052] In an embodiment, the method further comprises: wherein the sub-floor of the bathing environment is a floor of a bathtub.

[0069]

[0053] In an embodiment, the method further comprises: wherein the sub-floor of the bathing Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT environment is a floor of a shower.

[0070]

[0054] In an embodiment, the method further comprises: wherein the floor of shower is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

[0071]

[0055] In an embodiment, the method further comprises: wherein the protrusion height is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0072]

[0056] In an embodiment, the method further comprises: wherein the channel depth is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0073]

[0057] In another embodiment, the floor covering can be configured for use in a wet environment and from a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; the top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from said top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between said plurality of spaced apart protrusions; each of the plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the top surface, the protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminates at the distal protrusion top, the plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of said plurality of protrusions that form the plurality of channels; the opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein when the opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate is applied to a floor, the adhesive secures the polymeric substrate to the floor to cover at least a portion of the floor in an area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a persons will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of said bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the textured surface; when the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a wet event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels, when the at least a portion of the bottom of Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the person applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least said portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of said person and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person upward toward the person and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of said corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the said corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels; and a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the person that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the person in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person will slip on the textured surface during a wet event. Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0074]

[0058] In an embodiment, the polymeric substrate of the floor covering includes indicia applied thereon.

[0075]

[0059] In an embodiment, the polymeric substrate of the floor covering includes indicia applied to the floor covering and / or incorporated into the floor and / or as a part of the floor cover, or of and / or as a portion of the floor covering, and in which the indicia that has an image of a visual appearance of the floor upon which the polymeric substrate is applied.

[0076]

[0060] In an embodiment, a method comprising the steps of: providing a floor of a wet environment, the floor having a floor top surface with a floor top surface area, the floor top surface area having at least a top floor surface area length and at least a top floor surface area width; providing a polymeric substrate having a polymeric substrate top surface and an opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface; texturing the polymeric substrate top surface with a plurality of spaced protrusions throughout the polymeric substrate top surface forming a plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions thereby forming a textured surface; providing each of the plurality of spaced protrusions with a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to said polymeric substrate top surface; each protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from said protrusion base and terminating at said distal protrusion top; the plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions having a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of spaced protrusions forming the plurality of spaced channels; applying the polymeric substrate with indicia; providing the opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface of the polymeric substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive; shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate thereby forming a shaped and dimensioned polymeric sheet; positioning the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate upon the floor top surface of the floor of a wet environment, thereby placing the pressure sensitive adhesive on the opposing bottom surface of the shaped Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT and dimensioned polymeric substrate into intimate contact with the top surface of the floor of a wet environment; applying a force upon the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate thereby pressing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate forming a secure removable bond between the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate and the top surface of said floor of a wet environment; the pressure sensitive adhesive securing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to the floor of a wet environment, thereby covering a wet area of the floor with the textured surface; at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a person will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the textured surface, when the textured surface becomes wet with a water composition during a wet event the water composition will enter the plurality of channels, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the person applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first subportion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person upward toward the person and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels; a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the person that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum, creating the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the person in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person on textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of said bottom of the at least one foot of the person will slip on the textured surface during a wet event.

[0077]

[0061] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of obtaining an image of the floor. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of obtaining an image of the floor and in the step of applying the polymeric substrate with indicia, the indicia can be the image of the floor.

[0078]

[0062] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of obtaining an image of the floor surface onto which the floor covering will be placed and / or affixed. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of obtaining an image of the floor surface and in the step of: applying the polymeric substrate with indicia, the indicia can be the image of the floor surface, resulting in the use on an indicia that visually looks like the floor surface onto which it will be affixed.

[0079]

[0063] For example, a floor surface has a visual appearance. This visual appearance can include, but is not limited to, any perceptive or visual detail of the top surface of the floor and / or floor surface of the floor, such as, for example, but not limited to, floor 400, as shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B. Such perceptive or visual appearance of the floor 400 surface can include, for example, but not limited to, a matrix of geometric tiles surrounded by a grout, a graphic design, a text, and / or an appearance of any surface roughness and / or surface smoothness of the top of the floor 400 surface. An image of the Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT perceptive or visual appearance of the floor surface 400 is captured, i.e., a captured image, via a camera or other imaging device 500, or other process. The captured image of the surface of floor 400 can be transferred on to the floor surface of the floor covering 300, 303, i. e. , a transferred image, thereby transferring the captured image onto the floor surface covering 300, 303. When the floor covering 300, 303 having the indicia of the floor surface image is placed upon the floor surface of the floor 400, or placed to visually match, compliment or be otherwise configured upon the floor surface 400. This step can be applied to any one or more of the other floors disclosed herein, such as, floor 110 and 210, or other floor or surface to which the floor covering can be affixed and / or placed as a covering.

[0080]

[0064] In an embodiment, a bathing floor for a bathing environment, can have: A first material and a second material; the first material includes a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; the top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from the top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions; each of the plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the top surface, the protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminates at the distal protrusion top, the plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of protrusions that form the plurality of channels, the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of channels form a textured surface of the top surface of the first material; the opposing bottom surface of the first material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, in which when the opposing bottom surface of the first material is applied to a the second material, the adhesive secures the first material to the second material to cover at least a portion of the second material where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of at least one of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the textured surface, in which when the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT water composition, the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in the second material, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the at least one of a bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather upward toward the at least one of a bather and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least oner of bather to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels, and in which, a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0081]

[0065] In an embodiment, the second material is a floor of a bathtub. In an embodiment, the second material is a floor of a shower. In an embodiment, the floor of a shower is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan. In an embodiment, the protrusion height is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns. In an embodiment, the channel depth is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns. In an embodiment, the first material substrate includes a length of at least 60% of a length of the second material and a width of at least 60% of a width of the second material bathing area.

[0082]

[0066] In an embodiment, a floor covering configured for use in a wet environment, can have: a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; the top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from the top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between the plurality of spaced apart protrusions; each of the plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the top surface, the protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminates at the distal protrusion top, the plurality of channels between the plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of protrusions that form the plurality of channels; the opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, in which when the opposing bottom surface of the polymeric substrate is applied to a floor, the adhesive secures the polymeric substrate to the floor to cover at least a portion of the floor in an area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a persons will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the textured surface, in which when the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a wet event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the person applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person upward toward the person and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels, and in which a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the person that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the person in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person will slip on the textured surface during a wet event.

[0083]

[0067] In an embodiment, the polymeric substrate can include indicia applied thereon. In an embodiment, the indicia can be an image of a visual appearance of the floor upon which the polymeric substrate is applied.

[0084]

[0068] In an embodiment, a method of providing a floor covering to a floor of a wet environment, can have the steps of: providing a floor of a wet environment, the floor having a floor top surface with a floor top surface area, the floor top surface area having at least a top floor surface area length and at least a top floor surface area width; providing a polymeric substrate having a polymeric substrate top surface and an opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface; texturing the polymeric substrate top surface with a plurality of spaced protrusions throughout the polymeric substrate top surface forming a plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions thereby forming a textured surface; providing each of the plurality of spaced protrusions with a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, the protrusion base being attached to the polymeric substrate top surface, in which each protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from the protrusion base and terminating at the distal protrusion top, in which the plurality of spaced channels between the plurality of spaced protrusions having a channel depth proportional to the protrusion height of each of the plurality of spaced protrusions forming the plurality of spaced channels; applying the polymeric substrate with indicia; providing the opposing polymeric substrate bottom surface of the polymeric substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive; shaping and dimensioning the polymeric substrate thereby forming a shaped and dimensioned polymeric sheet; positioning the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate upon the floor top surface of the floor of a wet environment, thereby placing the pressure sensitive adhesive Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT on the opposing bottom surface of the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate into intimate contact with the top surface of the floor of a wet environment; applying a force upon the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate thereby pressing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate forming a secure removable bond between the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate and the top surface of the floor of a wet environment, in which the pressure sensitive adhesive securing the shaped and dimensioned polymeric substrate to the floor of a wet environment, thereby covering a wet area of the floor with the textured surface, in which at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a person will contact and interact with the textured surface by applying a downward force to the textured surface to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the textured surface, in which when the textured surface becomes wet with a water composition during a wet event the water composition will enter the plurality of channels, when the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the person applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person onto the textured surface at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person contacts and interacts with the textured surface, the downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person upward toward the person and the downward force will cause a second sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels, and in which a combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person and the second portion of the bottom of the foot of the person that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels to form the at least the suction, or partial vacuum create the static friction between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the person in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the person will slip on the textured surface during a wet event.

[0085]

[0069] In an embodiment, the method of providing a floor covering to a floor of a wet environment can further have the step of: obtaining an image of the floor and / or floor surface, in which in the step of applying the polymeric substrate with indicia, the indicia is the image of the floor and / or floor surface and / or the image which is to be viewed.

[0086] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087]

[0070] The present invention in it several aspects and embodiments solves the problems discussed above and significantly advances safety and stability of a bather during a bathing event in a bathtub or shower by reducing the possibility of a slip or fall by the bather. The present invention can become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanied drawings, wherein:

[0088]

[0071] FIG. 1 A is an elevated view of a bathtub for use with an embodiment of the invention.

[0089]

[0072] FIG. IB is a perspective view of the bathtub of FIG. 1 A

[0090]

[0073] FIG. 2A is an elevated view of a shower base for use with an embodiment of the present Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT invention.

[0091]

[0074] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the shower base of 2A.

[0092]

[0075] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0093]

[0076] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0094]

[0077] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0095]

[0078] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention along line

[0096] AA or line BB of FIGS. 3, 4 A and 4B.

[0097]

[0079] FIG. 6A is an elevated view of a bathtub utilizing an embodiment of the present invention.

[0098]

[0080] FIG 6B is an elevated view of a shower base, utilizing an embodiment of the present invention.

[0099]

[0081] FIG 6C is an elevated view of a multi -bather shower base, utilizing an embodiment of the present invention.

[0100]

[0082] FIG. 7A is a view of the bottom of a normal human foot.

[0101]

[0083] FIG. 7B is a represents an ink-type foot print of the bottom of a normal human foot.

[0102]

[0084] FIG. 8A shows a perspective side view of a human foot in contact with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0103]

[0085] FIG 8B is a magnified cross-sectional view along either dotted line segment AA or dotted line segment BB, as shown in FIG. 3, 4A and 4B of an embodiment of the invention with a portion of the bottom of a human foot thereon.

[0104]

[0086] FIG. 9A, shows a perspective view of the present invention in a bathtub shower combination of a recreational vehicle.

[0105]

[0087] FIG. 9B, shows a perspective view of the present invention in a shower of a recreational vehicle.

[0106]

[0088] FIG. 10, shows a side view relationship of camera positioned to obtain an image of the Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT appearance of a floor.

[0107]

[0089] Throughout this specification and figures like reference numbers identify like elements.

[0108] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0109]

[0090] Numeric values and ranges herein, unless otherwise stated, also are intended to have associated with them a tolerance and to account for variances of design and manufacturing. Thus, a number can include values “about” that number. For example, a value X is also intended to be understood as “about X”. Likewise, a range of Y-Z, is also intended to be understood as within a range of from “about Y-about Z”. Unless otherwise stated, significant digits disclosed for a number are not intended to make the number an exact limiting value. Variance and tolerance are inherent in mechanical design and the numbers disclosed herein are intended to be construed to allow for such factors (in non-limiting e.g., ± 10 percent of a given value). Likewise, the claims are to be broadly construed in their recitations of numbers and ranges.

[0110]

[0091] The floor covering material and its applications disclosed herein solve the problems which exist by providing a safer bathing area, such as a wet floor of a bathtub or a wet floor of a shower upon which a bather’s wet feet will interact during a bathing event, in particular, a bathing event that is a shower. During a bathing event the floor of a bathing area will become wet with water, or a water composition. Water, or water composition, used herein is intended to refer to water exiting the shower head of a shower in which the bather is bathing as well as the water mixed with soap, shampoo, bathing oils and other bathing products being used by and rinsed off of the bather and onto the floor of the bathing area where the bather’s feet with interact. The disclosure herein provides solutions which will result in a safer floor of a bathing area, which can be a floor of a bathtub or the floor of a shower, by increasing the amount of static friction, or traction, that will be generated due to the interaction of the bottom of the feet Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT of the bather when the floor covering material, as disclosed herein, has been installed on the floor of the bathing area, such as, a floor of a bathtub or a floor of a shower base, or pan, as opposed to the floor of a bathing environment prior to the installation of the floor covering shower of the present invention. The floor covering of the present invention can be installed and utilized upon any bathing surface and, in particular, any bathing surface that presents a slipping and falling hazard to a bather during a bathing event and, specifically, a bathing event that is a shower. It should be understood that the floor covering material disclosed herein can be installed and utilized upon the floor surface of any bathing area.

[0111]

[0092] The floor covering, as disclosed herein, can also be installed and utilized, in addition to the floor of a bathtub or shower, on the floor of a bathroom adjacent to the bathtub, shower and / or bathroom sink, as well as the floor of a kitchen adjacent to the kitchen sink or in a utility room adjacent a sink or a washing machine. The floor covering disclosed herein, can also be installed and utilized on the top surface of pool decks, stairs of a pool, the bottom surface of a pool for children, entryways of homes and other buildings, and on any other surface where people might walk and / or stand. The floor covering material can also include printed designs, or other printed indicia.

[0112]

[0093] Printed designs, or other indicia, include, for example, but not limited to, replicating the appearance, or visual appearance, of a floor, or sub-floor, surface onto the floor covering so that when the floor covering with the replicated appearance, or visual appearance, has been applied to the floor, or sub-floor, the overall original appearance, or visual appearance, of the floor can be maintained with the floor covering in place. To replicate the appearance, or visual appearance, of a floor, or sub-floor, an image of the original floor, e.g., a tile floor, wood floor, and / or painted floor, etc., is obtained and replicated onto the floor covering by any manner suitable for adding the image to the floor covering, such as, for example, by any known form of printing, such as, for example, but not limited to, inkjet-type printing, transfer printing, Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT screen printing, offset printing, letterpress printing, and / or rotogravure, etc. Other printed designs, or indicia, can include, for example, but not limited to, sports teams, college names, logos, letters, words, animals, plants, planets, and / or any combination thereof, just to name a few. Designs, or other indicia, are unlimited.

[0113]

[0094] Static friction is a force between two non-moving objects in contact with one another that resists movement between the two non-moving bodies. Static friction is defined by the following equation:

[0114] Fs= psFn; where,

[0115] Fs is the force of static friction;

[0116] Fnis the normal force exerted by each surface on the other and directed perpendicular, or normal, to the surface; and ps is the coefficient of static friction, which is a dimensionless empirical property, z.e., ps= Fs / Fn.

[0117]

[0095] Kinetic friction occurs when the two objects in contact with one another are moving and rubbing relative to each other. Kinetic friction is defined by the following equation:

[0118] Fk = pkFn; where,

[0119] Fk is the kinetic friction; Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0120] Fn is the normal force exerted by each surface on the other and directed perpendicular, or normal, to the surface; and pi is the coefficient of kinetic friction and is a dimensionless empirical property, z.e., pi = Fk / Fn.

[0121]

[0096] Before the obj ects in contact can move relative to one another, the force of static friction must be overcome by an applied force. The maximum possible friction between two surfaces before slipping, or sliding, relative to one another can is defined by the following equation:

[0122] Fmax=flsFn where,

[0123] Fmax is the maximum possible friction force;

[0124] Fnis the normal force exerted by each surface on the other and directed perpendicular, or normal to the surface; and psis the coefficient of static friction, which is a dimensionless empirical property, z.e., fii = Fmax / Fn.

[0125]

[0097] Any applied force that is less than or equal to Fmax will be opposed by a force of static friction of equal magnitude and no slipping, or sliding will occur. Any force larger than Fmax will overcome the opposing force of static friction and cause slipping, or sliding to occur. Once slipping, or sliding, occurs the friction between the two surfaces in contact is kinetic, or dynamic, friction and static friction becomes inapplicable.

[0126]

[0098] FIG. 1 A is an elevated view of the structure of a bathtub 100. Bathtub 100 includes a smooth substantially horizontal bathtub floor 110 upon which a bather will enter into, or onto, stand, move about, turnaround and exit from, or exit off of, during a bathing event, in particular, Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT a showering event. It is the substantially horizontal bathtub floor 110 that is of particular interest, as this is the bathing area where the bottom of the bather’s feet will interact with the surface of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 during a bathing event. It should be understood that the terminology “substantially horizontal” is intended to mean horizontal or slightly not horizontal so as not to be exactly horizontal to allow water, or a water composition, to flow toward a drain area, or drain zone, 125, depicted in FIG. lA by a dotted circle surrounding a drain flange 120. Drain flange 120 is, for example, a circular opening in the bathtub floor 110 where the drain assembly, not shown, is secured to the bathtub 100. Bathtub 100 also includes bathtub walls 130 that extend around the periphery of the bathtub floor 110 and extend vertically upward away from the bathtub floor 110 from a lower edge 132 and terminates at an upper bathtub edge, or bathtub rim, 140 that extends about the periphery of bathtub 100 providing stability and support for the bathtub walls 130. The upper bathtub edge, or rim, 140 also provides for a place for setting bath and shower accessories, such as soap, shampoo, bathing oils and other various bathing products the bather can use. Extending about the periphery of the bathtub floor 110 connecting the bathtub floor 110 to the lower end 134 of the bathtub walls 130 is a curved apron, or tub apron, 150. The floor 110 of the bathtub 100 has a length LB and a width WB that will vary according to the size and style of the bathtub 100. The floor 110 of bathtub 100 defines the bathing area.

[0127]

[0099] FIG. IB is a perspective view of the bathtub 100 that provides a different view of its structure and the relationship between its various parts. Bathtub floor 110, which includes drain flange 120, is connected around its periphery to the periphery of the lower end 132 of the bathtub walls 130 via the curved apron, or tub apron 150. A bathtub overflow 160 is a hole in the bathtub wall 130, typically located near the drain flange 120, for preventing water, or a water composition, from spilling over the bathtub rim 140. The upper bathtub edge, or bathtub Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT rim 140 is connected about its inner periphery to the upper edge 134 of the bathtub walls 130 and provide stability and support to the bathtub walls 130.

[0128]

[0100] When a bather steps onto the smooth substantially horizontal floor 110 of bathtub 100, as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB, for commencing a bathing event, the bather can turn on and adjust the temperature of the bathing water, or water composition, before stepping onto a now wet floor 110 of the bathtub 100 to begin a bathing event. Alternatively, a bather can instead step onto a dry smooth substantially horizontal floor 110 of bathtub 100 and then commence a bathing event by turning on and adjusting the temperature of the water, or water composition. Either way, the bather places themself standing with wet bare feet on a wet smooth substantially horizontal floor 110 of bathtub 100. Water, or a water composition, acts as a lubricant and when introduced onto the smooth substantially horizontal floor 110 of bathtub 100, the presents of the water, or water composition, reduces the coefficient of static friction psof the floor 110 from the coefficient of static friction psit possessed when it was dry, or before the water, or water composition, was introduced onto the floor 110.

[0129]

[0101] As the bather stands or moves about the wet smooth floor 110 of the bathtub 100, both the applied force for the bather’s weight upon the floor 110 by one or both feet will vary, as well as the angle such force is applied, which can lead to an increase of kinetic, or dynamic, friction. When and if the amount of kinetic, or dynamic, friction produced becomes greater than the amount of opposing static friction, or traction, the bottom of the bather’s feet will slip on the wet surface of the smooth floor 110 of the bathtub 100, thereby causing the bather to become unstable, slip and possibly fall. A fall in a bathing area, or bathing environment, often result in injury or worse, especially for the elderly.

[0130]

[0102] It should be understood that bathtubs are made in a large variety of differing shapes, sizes and / or drain flange locations, which can include multiple drain flange locations, as well as differing sizes, z.e., lengths LB and widths WB, as shown in FIG. 1 A, and shapes of bathing Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT areas. The specific structure of the bathtub depicted and discussed herein are for illustration purposes only and do not limit the use of the present invention with bathtubs of other shapes and / or sizes and / or drain flange locations. The present invention can be utilized with any bathtub where a bathing event takes place, and in particular, a bathing event that is a shower.

[0131]

[0103] FIG. 2A is an elevated view of the structure of a shower base, or pan, 200. Shower base, or pan, 200 includes a smooth substantially horizontal shower floor 210 upon which a bather will enter onto, stand, move about, turnaround and exit from or exit off of during a bathing event. It is the smooth substantially horizontal shower floor 210 that is of particular interest, as this is the bathing area where the bottom of the bather’s feet will interact with the smooth floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 during a bathing event. It should likewise be understood that the terminology “substantially horizontal” is intended to mean horizontal or slightly not horizontal so as not to be exactly horizontal to allow water, or a water composition, to flow toward a drain area, or drain zone, 225, depicted in FIG. 2A by a dotted circle, that includes a drain flange 220. Drain flange 220 is, for example, a circular opening in the shower base, or pan, where a drain assembly, not shown is secured to the shower base, or pan, 200. Shower base, or pan, 200 also includes shower base, or pan, walls 230 that extend around the periphery of the shower base, or pan, floor 210 and extend vertically upward away from the shower base, or pan, floor 210 and terminate at an upper shower base or pan, edge, or rim, 240 that extends about the periphery of shower base, or pan, floor 210 providing stability and support for the shower base, or pan, walls 230. Unlike the bathtub walls 130, as shown in FIG. 1 A and FIG. IB, the shower base, or pan, walls 230 are relatively short and can be utilized to also provide support for walls of a shower or in combination with the shower base, or pan, rim 240. Extending about the periphery of the shower base, or pan floor 210 connecting the shower base, or pan, floor 210 to the lower end of the bathtub walls 230 is an apron, or shower base, or pan apron, 250, as shown in FIG. 2B, which can be curved or not curved Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0132]

[0104] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in FIG 2A, and provides a different view of its structure and the relationship between its various parts. Like reference numbers, as shown in FIG. 2B, represent like features, as depicted in FIG. 2A. Shower base, or pan, floor 210 is connected around its periphery to the periphery of the lower end of the shower base, or pan, walls 230 via the apron 250. Upper shower base or pan, edge, or shower base, or pan, rim, 240 is connected about its inner periphery to the upper edge of the shower base, or pan, walls 230 and provide stability and support to the shower base, or pan, walls 230. and can be utilized to also provide support for walls of a shower or in combination with the shower base, or pan, rim 240.

[0133]

[0105] When a bather steps onto the smooth substantially horizontal floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B, for commencing a bathing event, the bather can turn on and adjust the temperature of the bathing water, or water composition, before stepping onto a now wet floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 to begin a bathing event. Alternatively, a bather can instead step onto a dry smooth substantially horizontal floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200 and then commence a bathing event by turning on and adjusting the temperature of the water, or water composition. Either way, the bather places themself standing bare-foot on a wet smooth substantially horizontal floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 100. Water, or a water composition, acts as a lubricant and when introduced onto the smooth substantially horizontal floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200, the presents of the water, or water composition, reduces the coefficient of static friction psof the floor 210 from the coefficient of static friction psit possessed when it was dry, or before the water, or water composition, was introduced onto the floor 210.

[0134]

[0106] As the bather stands or moves about the wet smooth floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200, both the applied force for the bather’s weight upon the floor 210 by one or both feet will vary, as well as the angle such force is applied, which can lead to an increase of kinetic, or Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT dynamic, friction. When and if the amount of kinetic, or dynamic, friction produced becomes greater than the amount of opposing static friction, or traction, the bottom of the bather’s feet will slip on the wet surface of the smooth floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200, thereby causing the bather to become unstable, slip and possibly fall. Fall in a bathing area, or bathing environment, often result in injury or worse, especially for the elderly.

[0135]

[0107] It should be understood that shower bases, or pans, are made in a large variety of differing shapes, sizes and / or drain flange locations, which can include a plurality of drain flanges at various locations, as well as differing sizes, .i.e. lengths Ls and widths Ws, as shown in FIG. 2A, and shapes of bathing areas for carrying out bathing events. The specific structure of the shower base or pan, depicted and discussed herein are for illustration purposes only and do not limit the use of the present invention with shower bases, or pans, of other shapes and / or sizes and / or drain flange locations. The present invention can be utilized with any shower base or pan, where a bathing event takes place that is a shower.

[0136]

[0108] FIG. 3 shows an elevated perspective view of an embodiments of a floor covering material 300. The floor covering material 300, as shown in FIG. 3, depicts a polymeric stock sheet, or polymeric substrate 305, prior to shaping and dimensioning, such as, for example, by measuring and cutting the polymeric stock substrate 305 to the dimensions necessary for being installed or laid out and secured onto the floor of a bathtub, such as, for example, the floor 110 of the bathtub 100, as shown in FIG. 1 A and FIG. IB, or, laid out and secured onto the floor of a shower, such as, for example, floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The floor covering 300 has a width W, length L and a thickness T. The overall width W, which is shown along the bisecting line AA, and length L, which is shown along the bisecting line BB, of the floor covering 300. The thickness T is in the range of about 300 microns to about 400 microns plus (+) or minus (-) 10 microns, such as, for example, 322 microns, 350 microns, 375 micron and / or 400 microns. The total weight of the floor covering Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT material is in the range of about 400 g / m2plus (+) or minus (-) 10 g / m2to about 430 g / m2plus (+) or minus (-) 10 g / m2, such as, for example, 410 g / m2, 415 g / m2, 420 g / m2and 425 g / m2.

[0137]

[0109] As shown in FIG. 3, throughout the top surface 310 of the floor covering 300, as shown in FIG. 3, projecting upward and away from the top surface 310 are a plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330 that also form a plurality of spaced channels 340 therebetween throughout the top surface 310 of the floor covering 300. The spacing of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330 can be random or a systematic pattern, although random spacing is preferred. The spacing of the plurality of channels 340 are dependent upon the spacing of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330, as interconnecting spaces between the plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330 define the plurality of channels 340. There are thousands of these spaced protrusions 330 throughout the top surface 310 that increase the surface area of the top surface 310 creating thousands of contact points for a person’s foot or feet to interact with while standing or walking upon the top surface 310. These thousands of contact points provide for an increase of the coefficient of static friction rating of the floor covering 300 either dry or wet. In a preferred embodiment, when wet the top surface 310 has a coefficient of friction rating ANSI / NFSI 101.3 of 0.48, which exceeds the minimum ANSI / NFSI 101.3 wet coefficient of friction rating of 0.42. ANSI being the American National Standards Institute. NFSI being the National Floor safety Institute. And, 101.3 being the test method for measuring wet dynamic coefficient of friction of common hard surface floor materials. The floor covering material 300 has a classification rating of Rll via the German Institute for Normalization (DIN) standard DIN 51130. The polymer of the polymeric stock sheet, or polymeric substrate 305, the plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330 and the plurality of channels 340, such as, for example, can be polyester, but is not limited to, polyester.

[0138]

[0110] A strong pressure sensitive adhesive 350 is applied to a bottom surface 320 opposing the top surface 310 that will be utilized for securing a properly shaped and dimensioned floor Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT covering 303, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, onto the floor of a bathtub or the floor of a shower base, or pan, to be used during a shower event. The strong pressure sensitive adhesive 350 is also a removeable adhesive. A protective sheet 360 is placed against the pressure sensitive adhesive 350 during manufacture for protecting the pressure sensitive adhesive from the outside environment by keeping the adhesive 350 clean to ensure the adhesive 350 will retain its strength and properly adhere to the floor of the bathtub or the floor of a shower base, or pan, in accordance with its intended use and purpose.

[0139]

[0111] FIG. 4 A shows an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of a shaped and dimensioned floor covering material 303 fabricated from the floor covering 300, which has been shaped and dimensioned, for example only, to be installed onto the floor of a bathtub which defines the bathing area, such as, for example, the floor 110 of bathtub 100, as shown in FIG. 1 A and IB. For purposes of illustration only, FIG. 4B shows an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of a shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 fabricated, or cut, from the floor covering 300, which has been shaped and dimensioned, for example only, to be installed onto the floor of a shower base, or pan, which defines the bathing area, such as, for example, the floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B. It should be understood that the floor covering 300 and the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303, are structurally identical, except that the overall shape and size of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 will vary depending on the overall shape, size and / or location of the drain flange of the floor of the bathtub or the floor of the shower base, or pan, onto which the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 will be installed.

[0140]

[0112] In the example shown in FIG. 4 A, for purposes of illustration only, each of the corners of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 are rounded so as to resist pealing from the floor 110 of the bathtub 100. With rounded corners the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303, after it has been adhered to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100, will resist peeling away from Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 after it has been adhered to the floor 110 and will remain resistant to pealing during its natural lifetime of repeated bathing events. The length Lc of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 and the width Wc of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 represent the length and width of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303, which are proportional to the length LB of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 and the width Wb of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100, as illustrated by example in FIG. 1 A. In addition to the rounding of the corners, as shown in FIG. 4A, a cutout 370 is made completely through the thickness of the shaped and dimensioned floor cover 303 so as to provide an opening in the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 in the drain area, or drain zone, 125, as illustrated by example in FIG. 1 A, thereby allowing water, or water composition, during a bathing event to run into, through and out of the plurality of spaced channels 340 into the drain area, or drain zone, 125 and then into the drain 120, shown in FIG. 4 A by the phantom dotted oval positioned adjacent to and within the cutout 370. For bathtubs having multiple drain areas, or drain zones, 125, a cutout 370 for each one of the multiple drain areas, or drain zones, 125 is provided. Regardless of the shape, style, and location of the drain 120 the floor covering material is shaped and dimensioned to a length of at least 60% of a length of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%; the width of at least 60% of a width of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%.

[0141]

[0113] In the example shown in FIG. 4B, for purposes of illustration only, each of the corners of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 300 are rounded so as to resist pealing from the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. With rounded corners the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 300, after it has been adhered to the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200, will resist peeling away from the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 after it has been adhered to the floor 210 and will remain resistant to pealing during its natural lifetime of Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT repeated bathing events. The length Lcand the width Wcrepresent the length and width of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303, which are proportional to the length Lsand the width Wsof the shower base, or pan, 200 as illustrated by example in FIG. 2 A and FIG. 2B. In addition to the rounding of the comers, as shown in FIG. 4B, a cutout 370, a circular cut out 370, is made completely through the thickness of the shaped and dimensioned floor cover 303 so as to provide an opening in the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 in the drain area, or drain zone, 225, as illustrated by example in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, thereby allowing water, or water composition, during the bathing event to run in, through and out of the plurality of randomly spaced channels 340 into the drain area, or drain zone, 225 and then into the drain 220, shown in FIG. 4B by the phantom oval shape positioned within the cutout 370. For shower bases, or pans, 200 having multiple drain areas, or drain zones, 225, a cutout 370 for each one of the multiple drain areas, or drain zones, 225 is provided. Regardless of the shape, style, and location of the drain 220 the floor covering material is shaped and dimensioned to a length of at least 60% of a length of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%; the width of at least 60% of a width of the floor of the bathing area, such as, for example, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%.

[0142]

[0114] FIG. 5 shows a magnified cross-sectional view along either dotted line segment AA and / or dotted line segment BB, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and / or 4B, of an embodiment of a floor covering 300 / 303. Since the floor covering 300 and the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 are structurally identical, to the exception of their overall shape and size, any reference to floor covering 300 is likewise a reference to shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 and vice versa. Shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is configured for use in a bathing environment. Floor covering 300 and / or 303 is configured from a sheet of polymeric substrate 305, shows the top surface 310 and an opposing bottom surface 320. The top surface 310 has, or includes, a plurality of spaced generally cone-shaped protrusions 330 Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT extending throughout the vast majority of the surface area of the top surface 310. The plurality of spaced protrusions can be randomly spaced or systematically spaced in a repeating manner. The plurality of spaced protrusions 330 are configured to form a plurality of spaced channels 340 therebetween. The channels can also be randomly spaced or systematically spaced in a repeating manner. Each of the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 are configured to have a protrusion base 332, a protrusion wall 334 and a distal protrusion top 336. Each protrusion base 332 being attached to the top surface 310 of the polymeric substrate 305, or floor covering 300. Each protrusion side 334 extends upwardly from its protrusion base 332 to a protrusion height 338 where it terminates at the distal protrusion top 336. The protrusion heights 338 are in the range of about 50 microns to about 200 microns. The plurality of spaced channels 340 between the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 have a channel depth 345 that is proportional to the protrusion heights 338 of the plurality of spaced apart protrusions 330 form the plurality of spaced channels 340. As such, the depth of the plurality of spaced channels are in the range of about 50 microns to about 200 microns. The opposing bottom surface 320 of the polymeric substrate 305 of floor covering 300 / 303 includes the pressure sensitive adhesive 350, which is shown edgewise in FIGS. 3, 4Aand 4B, along with protective sheet 360 which is placed against the pressure sensitive adhesive 350 during manufacture for protecting the pressure sensitive adhesive from the outside environment and for keeping the adhesive 350 clean and damage free to ensure strong adhesion of the adhesive 350 to the floor of a bathtub 110 or the floor of a shower base, or pan, 210 when installed thereon.

[0143]

[0115] Example 1, as shown in FIG. 6A, is an elevated view of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 in position and pressure adhered to the floor 110 of bathtub 100 by the pressure sensitive adhesive 350. Example 2, as shown in FIG. 6B, is an elevated view of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 in position and pressure adhered to the floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200 by the pressure sensitive adhesive 350. Example 3, as shown in Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0144] FIG. 6C, is an elevated view of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 in position and pressure adhered to the floor 210 of shower base 200, which is a multi-bather shower, by the pressure sensitive adhesive 350. The shower base, or pan, 200, as in Example 3, as shown in FIG. 6C, includes a plurality of drain flanges 220 to allow for the drainage of water, or water composition, from multiple bathers showering at multiple locations within the bathing environment. To apply the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 and / or to the floor 210 to the shower base, or pan, 200, an installer will partially peel off, or remove, a segment of the protective sheet 360 along the width Wc from an end portion of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303. Once the pressure sensitive adhesive has been partially exposed, the installer will adjust the position of the end of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 with the exposed pressure sensitive adhesive and when the end of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is properly placed, the installer presses the exposed pressure sensitive adhesive into place on the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or on the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. Using an elongated pressing or roller tool, not shown, the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is worked with a force pressing, or rolling, the elongated pressing tool back and forth and left to right until that end of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 becomes properly adhered to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. Once properly secured, an additional segment of the protective sheet 360 is removed in the same manner exposing an additional segment of the pressure sensitive adhesive 350 which is then placed against the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. Once again, the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is worked with the elongated pressing or roller tool to ensure its proper adhesion to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. The procedure of removing the protective sheet 360 to expose additional segments of the pressure sensitive adhesive 350 and pressed or rolled with the elongated pressing or Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT roller tool to ensure proper adhesion is repeated until the entire length and width of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is properly positioned and properly adhered to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor of the shower base, or pan, 200. The shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is applied to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 to cover a portion of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 in an area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface, i.e., the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 and the plurality of randomly placed channels 340 formed between the plurality of spaced protrusions 330.

[0145]

[0116] When a bather steps into take a shower during a bathing event, the bather will place at least the bottom of at least one foot onto the installed shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 which will cause at least a portion of the bather’s weight to be applied downward and onto the textured surface 310, thereby creating static friction, or traction, between the bottom of the foot of the bather and the textured surface 310. This static friction, or traction, will be greater than the static friction, or traction, that would otherwise be present if the bather was stepping onto the smooth surface of floor 110 of bathtub 100, as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB, or the smooth surface 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in FIGs 2A and 2B. As such, when the bather steps onto the textured surface 310 of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303, the risk of the bather’s foot slipping along the surface of the textured surface and, perhaps, causing the bather to fall is greatly reduced due to the interaction between the bottom of the bather’s foot and the textured surface 310 of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303. With one foot securely positioned upon the textured surface 310 the bather will bring the bottom of their other foot into contact with the textured surface 310 to complete their entry for the bathing event. During the bathing event, the bather will move their feet so as to walk forward, backward and / or turn around plural times throughout the bathing event. During Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT the movements of the bather throughout the bathing event, the amount of the bather’s weight that is applied by each foot varies along with the amount of static friction, or traction, created by the interaction of the bottom of the feet of the bather and the textured surface 310. Throughout the bathing event, the bather is less likely to slip and / fall while bathing on the textured surface 310, as opposed to bathing on the smooth surface of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the smooth floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200. Each time the bather lifts one foot off of the textured surface 310, the amount of static friction, or traction, and its distribution changes between the bottom of the foot in contact with the textured surface 310 due to an increase in the weight, or force, being applied by the bather to the textured surface 310 via the foot in contact with the textured surface 310. When the lifted foot is once again back in contact with the textured surface 310, i.e. , both of the bather’s feet are back in contact with the textured surface 310, the amount of static friction, or traction, and its distribution changes, as the static friction, or traction, is created by the interaction of the textured surface 310 and the bottom of both feet of the bather. The amount of static friction, or traction, will be constantly changing from one moment to another throughout the entire bathing event. Likewise, the static friction, or traction, during a bathing event on the smooth floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or the smooth floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 will also change from one moment to another. However, the amount of static friction, or traction, created by the bottom of the bather’s feet and the smooth surface of the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 or floor 210 of the shower base or pan, 200 is far less than the static friction, or traction, created by bathing on the textured surface 310 of the shaped and dimensioned floor cover 303. In addition, throughout the bathing event the bather will introduce and use various items during the bathing event, such as, for example, but not limited to and including, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc., that will be rinsed from the bather and onto the textured surface 310 that will cause temporary changes in the conditions between the bottom of the bather’s feet and the textured surface 310. These temporary changes Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT will be sporadic and momentary until the bathing water rinses the various items from the textured surface 310 and, in particularly, the plurality of channels 340, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0146]

[0117] Since a bathtub, such as bathtub 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 A and IB, can be used for a bathing event other than a shower, typically referred to as a bath, the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 adhered to the floor 110 of the bathtub 100 will also provide for increased safety, through an increase in static friction, or traction, between the bottom of at least one foot of the bather and the top surface 310 of the shaped, dimensioned floor covering 303. As a result of the increased static friction, or traction, when a bather steps into a tub of water, or water composition, sits down, stands up and steps out of the bathtub 100 the possibility of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather slipping on the top surface 310 of the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is minimized in the same fashion as during a bathing event that is a shower.

[0147]

[0118] With the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 adhered to the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 200 will likewise provide for increased safety, through an increase in static friction, or traction, between the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the top surface 310 of the shaped, dimensioned floor covering 303. As a result of the increased static friction, or traction, when a bather steps onto a shower base, or pan, 310, steps and moves around the bathing area and ultimately steps off of the shower base, or pan, 310 at the conclusion of a bathing event the possibility of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather slipping on the top surface 310 of the floor covering 300 is minimized during the bathing event.

[0148]

[0119] FIG. 7A shows a view of the bottom 400 of a normal human foot. The bottom 400 of the foot will be the area of the foot that will interact with the textured surface 310 of the installed floor covering 303 during a bathing event of a bather. The bottom 400 of the foot includes toe pads 410, 411, 412, 413 and 414 located at a distal end of the foot. The toe pad 410 is the pad of the Hallux, sometimes referred to as the great toe or the big toe, which is the largest toe of a Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT normal human foot. The toe pad 414 is the pad of the little toe, or pinky toe, which is the littlest toe of a normal human foot. The bottom of the foot 400 to which the toes 410-414 are connected is known as the ball 420 of the foot 400 that includes a ball pad 420 that is comprised by a ball pad of the Hallux 421 and a ball of the little toe 422. The heal pad 430 of the bottom of the foot 400 is located at a proximal end of the foot 400. The bottom of the foot 400 located between the ball pad 420 and the heal pad 430 are the lateral arch pad 440 and the medial arch pad 450. With a normal human foot, the toe pads 410-414, the ball pad 420, the lateral arch pad 440 and the heal pad 430, primarily and collectively make up the bottom of the foot 400 that will come in contact and interact with the textured surface 310 of the installed shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303. It should be understood, however, that a portion of the medial arch pad 450 can also contact and interact with the installed shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 depending on the upward curve of the arch of the foot to which the medial arch pad 450 covers. FIG. 7B is a represents an ink-type foot print 460 of the bottom of a normal human foot 400 to provide a general visualization of the extent the bottom of a normal foot 400 will contact and interact with a surface upon which the foot is placed while a person is standing.

[0120] As a person, for example, executes a walking step forward, one foot, i.e., a fore foot, is extended out in front of the person and the heal pad 430 will first make contact with the surface. As the step continues, the foot will be rotated forward downward towards the surface thereby adding the lateral arch pad 440 into contact with the surface. To complete the step forward, the foot is rotated further downward adding the ball pad 420 and toe pads 410-414 into contact with the heel pad 430 and lateral arch pad 440 into contact and interaction with the surface. Thus, at the completion of the step the entire bottom of the foot 400, from heal pad 430 to toe pads 410-414 that is capable of contacting the surface, is in contact with the surface upon which the person is walking. It should be understood that as the person extends the fore foot forward and executes the step, the other foot, i.e., the aft foot, rotates in an opposite directions as the Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT fore foot, thereby rotating upwardly and lifting its heel pad to its toe pads off of the surface in a reverse order. As the aft foot has been raised off of the surface and moved forward and becomes the fore foot for the next step, the person walking will be supported by only by the foot now becoming the aft foot. In a bathing environment, a bather will make similar walking motions while entering the bathing area to start a bathing event, move around in the bathing area during a bathing event, and exiting the bathing area at the completion on a bathing event. From time to time, the bather can also be briefly standing and / or balancing on only one foot. The installed shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 provides a textured surface 310 upon which the interactions thereof with the bottom 400 of the bather’s foot, or feet, will increase the amount of static friction, or traction, well and about the amount of statis friction, or traction, that would be present if the bather was bathing on the smooth surface of the floor of the 110 of the bathtub or the floor 210 of the shower base, or pan, 210.

[0149]

[0121] FIG. 8A shows a perspective side view of a bather’s foot in contact with the sized and dimensioned floor covering 303. As the bottom 400 of the foot of a bather is placed upon the textured surface 300 of the sized and dimensioned floor cover 303 installed on a floor of a bathtub, or floor of a shower base, or pan, and pressure is applied due to the weight of the bather, a portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusion 330 push up into a corresponding first portions of the bottom of the bather’s foot 400. At the same time, second portions of the bather’s foot will push down upon and pillow onto the plurality of spaced channels 340 formed by the portion of the plurality of spaced apart protrusion 330. The combined interaction of the portion of the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 pushing upward into the first portion of the bather’s foot and the interaction of the second portion of the bottom of the bather’s foot pushing down and pillowing into the second portion of the plurality of spaced apart channels that causes the increased static friction, or traction, that reduced the possibility that the bottom of the bather’s foot 400 will slip laterally on the textured surface 310 on the installed sized and Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT dimensioned floor covering 303 during a bathing, thereby reducing the possibility of a fall by the bather.

[0150]

[0122] FIG. 8B shows a magnified cross-sectional view along either dotted line segment AA and / or dotted line segment BB, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and / or 4B, of an embodiment of installed shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303. Here, the shaped and dimensioned floor covering 303 is shown as installed and secured via the pressure sensitive adhesive 350 to either one of the floor 110 of bathtub 100 or the floor 210 of shower base, or pan, 200, which is identified in FIG. 8B by reference number 110 / 210. During a bathing event when the textured surface 310 becomes wet with water, or a water composition, during a bathing event, the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of placed channels and flow toward a drain flange in the floor of the bathtub or the floor of the shower base, or pan. As shown in FIG. 8B, for example and for non-limiting illustration only, the water, or water composition, composition used during the bathing event, which is either clean flowing water or water mixed with soap, shampoo, conditioner and / or other products being used by the bather, falls onto the textured surface 310’, z.e., onto the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 and into the plurality of spaced channels 340. Prior to the bottom of any one or both of the bather’s feet contacting the textured surface 310, the water, or water composition, will pool into and flow through the plurality of spaced channels 340 at a water level generally shown by the dotted line WLI. When at least a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface 310 the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot 400 for the bather, as shown in FIG. 7, applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather onto the textured surface 310 at a first sub-portion Pi of the portion of the at least one foot of the bather at the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 and a second corresponding sub-portion P2 of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather at the plurality of spaced channels 340 between the first portion of the plurality of spaced Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT protrusions 330 at least the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface 310. The downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of spaced protrusions 330 to interact with a first sub-portion of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of randomly spaced protrusions 330 to displace the first sub-portion Pi of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather upward toward the bather. The downward force will also cause the second sub-portion P2 of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather to pillow into the corresponding second corresponding portion of the plurality of spaced channels 340 and force at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding portion of the plurality of spaced channels by the several arrows F, as shown in FIG. 7, depicting the water, or water composition, flow from the corresponding portion of the plurality of spaced channels 340 from a general water, or water composition, level, as shown by the dotted line WLI to a level WLI, to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom of the at least one foot 400 of the bather and the corresponding first portion of the channels.

[0151]

[0123] The combination of the first portion of said plurality of spaced apart protrusions upwardly displacing the first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather and the second portion of the foot of the bather that pillows into the corresponding portion of the corresponding first plurality of channels to form at least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction, or traction, between the textured surface and the at least a portion of the bottom of the foot of the bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather on the textured surface to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT causing the bather to become unstable which can perhaps cause the bater to experience a fall during a shower event, which can cause injury or death to the bather.

[0152]

[0124] A bathing floor for a bathing environment can also be configured to have at least one of a floor, 303, as shown in at least FIGS.6A, 6B, and 8B, and a sub-floor 110 and 210, as shown in at least FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 8B, having a sub-floor bathing area, as defined by the top surface area of textured surface 310’, configured for one or more of a bather. The at least one of a floor 303 includes a polymeric substrate 300 / 303 having a top surface 310 and an opposing bottom surface 320. The top surface 310 having a plurality of protrusions 330 extending from the top surface 310 and configured to form a plurality of channels 340 between the plurality of protrusions 330. Each of the plurality of protrusions 330 are configured to have a protrusion base 332, a protrusion wall 334 and a distal protrusion top 336. The protrusion base 332 being attached to the top surface 310. The protrusion wall 334 extending to a protrusion height 338 from the protrusion base 332 and terminates at the distal protrusion top 336. The plurality of channels 340 between the plurality of protrusions 330 have a channel depth 345 proportional to the protrusion height 338 of each of the plurality of protrusions 330 that form the plurality of channels 340.

[0153]

[0125] The opposing bottom surface 320 of the polymeric substrate 300 includes a pressure sensitive adhesive 350. When the opposing bottom surface 320 of the polymeric substrate 300 is applied to the sub-floor 110 and / or 210 within the sub-floor bathing area, z.e., the area of the sub-floor 110 and / or 210 upon which the polymeric substrate 300 is applied, the adhesive 350 secures the polymeric substrate to the sub-floor 110 and / or 210 to cover at least a portion of the sub-floor 110 and / or 210 in the sub-floor bathing area where at least a portion of a bottom 400 of at least one foot of at least one of a bather will contact and interact with the textured surface 310 by applying a downward force to the textured surface 310 to produce a static friction between the at least a portion of the bottom 400 of the at least one foot of the at least Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT one of a bather and the textured surface 310. When the textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a bathing event the water, or water composition, will enter the plurality of channels 340 and flow toward a drain zone 125 and / or 225 in the subfloor 110 and / or 210. As at least shown in FIG. 8B, when the at least a portion of the bottom 400 of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface the at least a portion of the at least a portion of the foot of the at least one of a bather applies the downward force with the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather onto the textured surface 310 at a first portion of the plurality of protrusions 330 and a first corresponding portion of the plurality of channels 340 between the first portion of the plurality of protrusions 330 the at least the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with the textured surface 310. The downward force will cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions 330 to interact with a first portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and cause the first portion of the plurality of protrusions 330 to displace a first sub-portion Pl of the portion of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather upward toward the at least one of a bather. The downward force will also cause a second sub-portion P2 of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather to pillow into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels 340 and push at least a portion of the water, or water composition, out of the corresponding second portion of the plurality of channels 340 to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between the second portion of the bottom 400 of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels 340. A combination of the first sub-portion of the first portion of the plurality of protrusions 330 upwardly displacing the first portion Pl of the bottom of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather and the second portion P2 of the bottom of the foot of the at least one of a bather that pillows into the corresponding first portion of the plurality of channels 340 to form the at Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT least the suction, or partial vacuum, create the static friction between the textured surface 310 and the at least a portion of the bottom 400 of the foot of the at least one of a bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between the at least a portion of the bottom 400 of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather on the textured surface 310 to minimize a possibility that the at least a portion of the bottom 400 of the at least one foot of the at least one of a bather will slip on the textured surface during a bathing event.

[0154]

[0126] In an embodiment, the sub-floor 110 is a floor of a bathtub, such as, for example, the bathtub 100, as shown in at least FIGS. 1 A, 2A, 6A and 8B.

[0155]

[0127] In an embodiment, the sub-floor 210 is a floor of a shower, and can be a floor of a shower is a floor 210 of a shower base, or pan, 200, as shown in at least FIGS. 2A, 2B, 6B, 6C and 8B.

[0156]

[0128] In an embodiment, the protrusion height 338 is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0157]

[0129] In an embodiment, the channel depth 345 is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

[0158]

[0130] In an embodiment, the polymeric substrate 300 / 303 includes a length Lc or Ls of at least 60% of a length LB or Ls of the sub-floor 110 or 210 bathing area and a width Wc of at least 60% of a width WB or Ws of the sub-floor bathing area.

[0159]

[0131] FIG. 9A shows a view of a bathtub 100 of a recreational vehicle with floor covering 303 installed on the floor 110 of the bathtub 100. Bathtub 100 can be used as both a bathtub and a shower. FIG. 9A also shows a floor covering 303 installed on floor 400 adjacent to bathtub 100 that can become wet and / or slippery as a result of at least water, or water composition, splashing, over-spraying, wet feet, or dripping from a wet bather during or after a bathing event. The floor covering 303 can be applied to floor 400 of a size that would cover Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT most of the floor 400 and can be applied to other connecting floors for added safety. The floor 400, as shown in FIG. 9A, depicts, for example, the appearance of a tile-like floor. The lines 410, which crisscross one another, represent the grout lines typically accompanying a tile floor, in this example floor 400. The portion of the lines 410 shown within the metes and bounds of floor covering 303 represent an image of the underlying tile-like floor 400 applied to the floor covering 303. FIG. 10, shows, for example, an arrangement of camera 500 oriented and positioned above floor 400 for obtaining an image of floor 400 along axis A 90° (ninety degrees) relative to the horizontal plane of floor 400 to be applied to the floor covering 303. The portion of the lines 410 outside of the metes and bounds of the floor covering 303 represent the tile-like pattern of the floor 400. When the floor covering 303 with the applied image of the tile-like floor 400 thereon is applied to the tile-like floor 400 the pattern of the tile-like floor 400 aligns with pattern of the underlying and / or surrounding tile-like floor 400 so as too maintain the appearance of the floor 400 when the floor covering 303 is adhered to the tile-like floor 400. The bathtub 100, as shown in FIG. 9A, is not limited to a recreational vehicle and can be a bathtub installed at any location.

[0160]

[0132] FIG. 9B shows a view of a shower 200 of a recreational vehicle with floor covering 303 installed on the floor 210 of the shower 200. FIG. 9B also shows a floor covering 303 installed on floor 400 adjacent to shower 200 that can become wet and / or slippery as a result of at least water, or water composition, splashing, over-spraying, wet feet, or dripping from a wet bather during or after a bathing event. The floor covering 303 can be applied to floor 400 of a size that would cover most of the floor 400 and can be applied to other connecting floors for added safety. The lines 410, which crisscross one another, represent the grout lines typically accompanying a tile floor, in this example floor 400. The portion of the lines 410 shown within the metes and bounds of floor covering 303 represent an image of the underlying tile-like floor 400 applied to the floor covering 303. FIG. 10, shows, for example, an arrangement of camera Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT

[0161] 500 oriented and positioned above floor 400 for obtaining an image of floor 400 along axis A 90° (ninety degrees) relative to the horizontal plane of floor 400 to be applied to the floor covering 303. The portion of the lines 410 outside of the metes and bounds of the floor covering 303 represent the tile-like pattern of the floor 400. When the floor covering 303 with the applied image of the tile-like floor 400 thereon is applied to the tile-like floor 400 the pattern of the tile-like floor 400 aligns with pattern of the underlying and / or surrounding tile-like floor 400 so as too maintain the appearance of the floor 400 when the floor covering 303 is adhered to the tile-like floor 400. The shower 200, as shown in FIG. 9B, is not limited to a recreational vehicle and can be a shower installed at any location.

[0162]

[0133] The scope of this disclosure is to be broadly construed. The embodiments herein can be used together, separately, mixed ort combined. It is intended that this disclosure disclose equivalents, means, systems and methods to achieve the designs, operations, control systems, controls, activities, mechanical actions, dynamics and results disclosed herein. It is intended that this disclosure also encompasses within the scope of its disclosure and teaches equivalents, means, system and methods for practicing the many aspects processes, mechanisms and devices disclosed herein. The claims of this application are likewise to be broadly construed.

[0163]

[0134] The description of the technology therein in its many and varied embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the claims and the disclosure herein. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the sprit and scope of the disclosed technologies.

[0164]

[0135] It will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made to the abovedescribed embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the sprit and the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCTCLAIMSI claim:

1. A bathing floor for a bathing environment, comprising:A first material and a second material; said first material includes a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; said top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from said top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between said plurality of protrusions; each of said plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, said protrusion base being attached to said top surface, said protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from said protrusion base and terminates at said distal protrusion top, said plurality of channels between said plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to said protrusion height of each of said plurality of protrusions that form said plurality of channels, said plurality of protrusions and said plurality of channels form a textured surface of the top surface of said first material; said opposing bottom surface of said first material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein when said opposing bottom surface of said first material is applied to a said second material, said adhesive secures said first material to said second material to cover at least a portion of said second material where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of at least one of a bather will contact and interact with said textured surface by applying a downward force to said textured surface to produce a static friction between said at least aAttorney Docket No. : 7704PCT portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather and said textured surface, wherein when said textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, said water, or water composition, will enter said plurality of channels and flow toward a drain zone in said second material, when said at least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with said textured surface said at least a portion of said at least a portion of said foot of said at least one of a bather applies said downward force with said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather onto said textured surface at a first portion of said plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of said plurality of channels between said first portion of said plurality of protrusions said at least said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather contacts and interacts with said textured surface, said downward force will cause said first portion of said plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather and cause said first portion of said plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather upward toward said at least one of a bather and said downward force will cause a second sub-portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least oner of bather to pillow into said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels and push at least a portion of said water, or water composition, out of said corresponding second portion of said plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between said second portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather and said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels, and wherein, a combination of said first sub-portion of said first portion of said plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing said first portion of said bottom of said at least one foot ofAttorney Docket No. : 7704PCT said at least one of a bather and said second portion of said bottom of said foot of said at least one of a bather that pillows into said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels to form said at least said suction, or partial vacuum, create said static friction between said textured surface and said at least a portion of said bottom of said foot of said at least one of a bather in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between said at least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather on said textured surface to minimize a possibility that said at least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said at least one of a bather will slip on said textured surface during a bathing event.

2. The bathing floor of claim 1, wherein said second material is a floor of a bathtub.

3. The bathing floor of claim 1, wherein said second material is a floor of a shower.

4. The bathing floor of claim 3, wherein said floor of a shower is a floor of a shower base or floor of a shower pan.

5. The bathing floor of claim 1, wherein said protrusion height is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.

6. The bathing floor of claim 1, wherein said channel depth is in the range of about 25 microns to about 300 microns.Attorney Docket No. : 7704PCT7. The bathing floor of claim 1, wherein said first material substrate includes a length of at least 60% of a length of said second material and a width of at least 60% of a width of said second material bathing area.

8. A floor covering configured for use in a wet environment, comprising: a polymeric substrate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; said top surface having a plurality of protrusions extending from said top surface and configured to form a plurality of channels between said plurality of spaced apart protrusions; each of said plurality of protrusions are configured to have a protrusion base, a protrusion wall and a distal protrusion top, said protrusion base being attached to said top surface, said protrusion wall extending to a protrusion height from said protrusion base and terminates at said distal protrusion top, said plurality of channels between said plurality of protrusions have a channel depth proportional to said protrusion height of each of said plurality of protrusions that form said plurality of channels; said opposing bottom surface of said polymeric substrate includes a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein when said opposing bottom surface of said polymeric substrate is applied to a floor, said adhesive secures said polymeric substrate to said floor to cover at least a portion of said floor in an area where at least a portion of a bottom of at least one foot of a persons will contact and interact with said textured surface by applying a downward force to said textured surface to produce a static friction between said at least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person and said textured surface, wherein when said textured surface becomes wet with a water, or water composition, during a wet event said water, or water composition, will enter said plurality of channels, when said atAttorney Docket No. : 7704PCT least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person contacts and interacts with said textured surface said at least a portion of said at least a portion of said foot of said person applies said downward force with said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person onto said textured surface at a first portion of said plurality of protrusions and a first corresponding portion of said plurality of channels between said first portion of said plurality of protrusions said at least said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person contacts and interacts with said textured surface, said downward force will cause said first portion of said plurality of protrusions to interact with a first portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person and cause said first portion of said plurality of protrusions to displace a first sub-portion of said portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person upward toward said person and said downward force will cause a second sub-portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person to pillow into said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels and push at least a portion of said water, or water composition, out of said corresponding second portion of said plurality of channels to form at least a suction, or partial vacuum, between said second portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person and said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels, and wherein, a combination of said first sub-portion of said first portion of said plurality of protrusions upwardly displacing said first portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person and said second portion of said bottom of said foot of said person that pillows into said corresponding first portion of said plurality of channels to form said at least said suction, or partial vacuum, create said static friction between said textured surface and said at least a portion of said bottom of said foot of said person in an amount greater than a kinetic friction in a lateral direction created by movement between said at least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person on said textured surface to minimize a possibility that said atAttorney Docket No. : 7704PCT least a portion of said bottom of said at least one foot of said person will slip on said textured surface during a wet event.

9. The floor covering of claim 8, wherein, said polymeric substrate includes indicia applied thereon.

10. The floor covering of claim 8, wherein, said indicia is an image of a visual appearance of said floor upon which said polymeric substrate is applied.

Images