Deformable Substrate Traction Element for Carpeted Stair Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carpeted stair treads tend to wear down, resulting in low friction surfaces that cause slipping and injuries, with existing solutions being expensive, complex, time-consuming, aesthetically unappealing, or ineffective in providing sufficient traction.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising long, narrow deformable metal or plastic support substrates with screw-receiving apertures and friction tape strips coated with adhesive and abrasive material, designed for easy installation on stair treads, providing enhanced traction without protruding screw heads to interfere with foot traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If carpeted stair treads are used, then aesthetic appearance and comfort are improved, but friction is reduced leading to slipping and injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines two different materials: a carpet substrate providing aesthetic appearance and comfort, and a friction tape layer providing high friction coefficient. This composite structure allows each material to fulfill its specific function - the carpet maintains visual appeal while the tape ensures safe traction, resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and friction reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stair tread is divided into distinct functional layers: the carpet substrate layer for aesthetics and the friction tape layer for traction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's properties without compromising the other, enabling the carpet to provide visual appeal while the separate tape layer ensures adequate friction.
2Reliability
If friction elements are added to carpeted stair treads, then friction is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The friction element is extracted as a separate, self-contained friction tape that can be independently applied to the carpeted stair tread. This extraction allows the friction function to be added without redesigning the entire stair tread structure, simplifying installation while maintaining high friction performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction tape is designed as a flexible, thin-film element that can be easily applied to the carpet surface. This thin-film approach avoids the need for complex rigid structures or extensive installation procedures, reducing device complexity while providing effective friction enhancement.
3Strength
If screw heads are used to secure substrates, then secure attachment is improved, but protruding screw heads create tripping hazards and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding screw heads are extracted from the visible surface by embedding them within recesses in the substrate. This extraction maintains the secure attachment function of the screws while removing the harmful protruding elements that cause tripping hazards and discomfort, achieving both strong attachment and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw heads are nested within recesses in the substrate, creating a hierarchical structure where the fastening element is contained within a recess cavity. This nesting allows the screw to provide secure attachment while the recessed position eliminates the tripping hazard, as the screw head does not protrude from the surface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively increases friction on carpeted stair treads, preventing slipping while being inexpensive, easy to install, and aesthetically adaptable, ensuring reliable traction and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a bottom surface coated with an adhesive material capable of adhering and conforming to the support substrates
Implementation Method 2
a top surface comprising an abrasive substance having a much higher coefficient of friction than that of the support substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A traction element for carpeted stair treads or other flooring includes a deformable substrate secured by screws to the tread that is vertically aligned with the top edge of a riser and slightly rearward of the tread leading edge. The substrate is covered with adhesive backed friction tape. The screws extend through respective apertures centered in respective concave tapered annular recesses defined in the substrate. The apertures are in a linear array defining a bend axis along the substrate length and the tread width and about which the substrate deforms as it is being threadedly attached to the tread. When thusly bent the substrate top surface becomes concave such that its forward edge is higher than its rearward edge, thereby establishing a slight forwardly extending incline. The tape strip conforms to the bent substrate and its exposed top surface comprises a high friction or abrasive substance.