SLIP RESISTANT DROP CLOTH

Abstract

A slip resistant drop cloth having an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end. In one embodiment of the invention, the back side of the drop cloth has a slip reducing feature comprising a plurality of parallel slip resistant ridges extending from the first end to the second end and covering the back side from the third end to the fourth end. The plurality of slip resistant ridges are bonded to the material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed, on a surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to drop cloths, and more specifically without limitation, slip resistant drop cloths.

BACKGROUND OF TITHE INVENTION

[0002] It is common in the construction and painting industry to use drop cloths to provide surface protection at a work site. By using drop cloths, a painter can prevent stray paint, splatter or other unwanted materials or chemicals from coming into contact with surfaces such as floors, walls, doors, countertops, marble, linoleur le, glass, furniture, staircases, or any other type of surface at the work site. One of the main reasons for using a drop cloth is to eliminate the need to repair and/or replace such surfaces. If there is a spill, the user will merely incur the cost and effort of deploying a drop cloth in the work zone rather than having to clean up and/or repair the affected area.

[0003] The use of drop cloths in the work zone can pose serious safety issues such as slippage to both the user and/or other individuals who need to walk on the top surface of the deployed drop cloth. For instance, a painter typically places drop cloths on the floor of a room that is to be painted so that it covers the entire room, and then proceeds to paint the walls of the room while standing on top of the drop cloths. Because the painter stands and works while standing on the drop cloths, the painter may slip when using the drop cloths on a variety of work. surfaces, including hardwood floors, vinyl, tile, and marble. Even worse, a painter's customer(s) can also slip and/or fall on a deployed drop cloth especially if the drop cloth has to remain in the work zone for an extended period of time.

[0004] A painter or user of a drop cloth can also experience other types of slippage problems. For example, a ladder that is placed on a drop cloth can easily slip or slide when a painter or a user leans side to side, or leans forward or backwards on the ladder while using a drip cloth in the work zone. This issue can be even further exacerbated when the work zone includes or encompasses a stair case made of hard wood, which increases the chances of injury do to slippage.

[0005] Some drop cloths are fabricated cheaply and in large quantities since a typical work site may require a large area to be covered. Because of this requirement, a typical drop cloth may be made of a cheap, light and flexible material that is readily available such as canvas which can be very slippery when placed on a floor or when placed on other surfaces. Essentially, walking across a conventional canvas can cause the bottom portion of the canvas to slip and slide across floors and surrounding furniture. As such, conventional canvas is difficult to use as a drop cloth since a painter and/or other individuals standing on a piece of the canvas may easily slip and fall.

[0006] Additionally, some drop cloths are formed by stitching canvas with another rubber coated fabric together, to prevent slippage. However, the stitching process may be impractical for large-scale processes, and the stitches themselves may be bulky. Further, the stitches may not be guaranteed to be leak-resistant or leak-proof.

[0007] Other slip resistant drop clothes have been developed, such as the drop cloth described by Frantellizzi in U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,619 B2. The '619 patent describes a drop cloth comprised of a non-linear contoured topographical surface having a slip reducing feature comprised of dot technology. This slip resistant drop cloth is cumbersome to manufacturer because the rubberized dots are very hard to bond in a uniform fashion to the drop cloth making it expensive to produce. In essence, it is very difficult to produce rubberized dots having a uniform center, diameter, height and spacing between them.

[0008] In light of the shortcomings in the prior art, there is clearly a need for a slip resistant drop cloth that addresses the above-identified problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a slip resistant drop cloth for use in the construction or painting industry to provide a safer work environment. Drop clothes currently used in the construction or painting industry are relatively unsafe since they slip or slide making it very dangerous for individuals to use and/or walk over them. Hence, the present invention is directed to an improved drop cloth having the advantage of increased safety by providing slip reducing features.

[0010] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a slip resistant drop cloth comprised of an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end. The back side having a slip reducing feature, wherein said slip reducing feature includes a plurality of parallel slip resistant ridges extending from the first end to the second end and covering the back side from the third end to the fourth end, wherein said plurality of ridges are bonded with said material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed on a surface.

[0011] An additional aspect of the invention is to provide a drop cloth that includes each ridge having a common height H, a common width W, and a common space S between each ridge, wherein said height H is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch, said width W is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about three-thirty-seconds ( 3/32) of an inch, and said space S is about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch to about one-fourth (1/4) of an inch.

[0012] In a further aspect of the invention, a method of making a slip resistant drop cloth is provided. The method for making the slip resistant drop cloth comprising the steps of laying down the drop cloth on a flat, solid surface, said drop cloth having an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; securing the drop cloth to the flat, solid surface; spreading a compound on the back side of the drop cloth with a first trowel having a sickled Shaped leading edge and a flat side; forming a plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges on the back side of the drop cloth with a second trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge and having a notched side used for forming said ridges, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges extending from the first end to the second end and covering the back side from the third end to the fourth end; and allowing the plurality of ridges to bond to the back side of said drop cloth.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth that emain in one place without slipping or sliding when used in a work zone.

[0014] In another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth that will prevent slip-and-fall injuries.

[0015] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth which is of a durable and reliable construction.

[0016] An even further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such drop clothes more economically available to the buying public.

[0017] Another aspect of the present. invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth that prevents splatters and spills from staining the surface to be protected.

[0018] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slip resistant drop cloth that can be set up wherever it is needed in the construction or painting industry.

[0019] Consequently, for a better understanding of the present invention, its functional al advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, claims and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the slip resistant drop cloth.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a back view of the slip resistant drop cloth of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a magnified end view showing the height of the silicone ridges.

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a magnified end view showing the width of the silicone ridges.

[0024] FIG. 5a provides a bottom perspective view of a first trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge and a smooth side.

[0025] FIG. 5b provides a bottom perspective view of a second trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge and a notched side.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the first trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge used to spread a silicone compound or any other suitable compound on a drop cloth.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the second trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge used to form a plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges on a drop cloth.

[0028] FIG. 8 represents an execution diagram for the method of making the drop cloth.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a back view of an alternate embodiment of the slip resistant drop cloth.

[0030] FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of the invention depicting different patterned shapes comprised of silicone used to achieve the intended purpose of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for at least the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0032] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 refers to one embodiment of the slip resistant drop cloth 100. The drop cloth 100 is comprised of an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight commonly used in the construction or painting industry, namely a rectangle shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body of the drop cloth 100 will include a front side 3, a back side 5, a first end 10, a second end 20, a third end 30, and a fourth end 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 includes a slip reducing feature made of a plurality of parallel slip resistant ridges 50 extending from the first end 10 to the second end 20 and covering the back side 5 from the third end 30 to the fourth end 40. Moreover, the plurality of ridges 50 are bonded to the material that comprise the drop cloth 100. When filly deployed on a surface, the ridges 50 enable the drop cloth 100 to remain continuously in one place without slipping or sliding.

[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, the slip resistant ridges 50 are made from silicone. In fact, there are many brands of silicone that can be used to make the ridges 50. For instance, DAP Products Inc. makes various sealant products such as DAP.RTM. 100% Silicone (hereafter DAP). DAP is a registered trademark, and this company is one of the leading marketers of caulks, sealants, adhesives, insulating foams, spackling, glazing, and other general patch and repair products. The DAP silicone is formulated to create a long-lasting watertight and weatherproof seal with superior flexibility and adhesion to a variety of materials. When cured, it is mold and mildew resistant and will not crack or shrink. Moreover, DAP silicone is low in odor, and has a minimum to maximum operating temperature of -65.degree. F. to .+-.400.degree. F. Similarly, the application temperature for the DAP silicone is between -35.degree. F. to 140.degree. F.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 3, each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 has a common height H 50(a), wherein said height H 50(a) is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch. The preferred height of each ridge on said drop cloth 100 is one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 4, each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 also has a common width W 50(b), wherein said width W 50(b) is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about three-thirty-seconds ( 3/32) of an inch. The preferred width of each ridge on the drop cloth 100 is one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the ridges 50 on the drop cloth 100 also have a common space S 75 between them, wherein said space S 75 is about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch to about one-fourth (1/4) of an inch. The preferred spacing between each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 being three-sixteenths 3(/16) of an inch.

[0038] In FIGS. 1-2, the present invention includes a body having a desired shape, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, or other practical shape, common sizing including but not limited to 10'.times.12', 9'.times.12' and 12'.times.15'. Nevertheless, FIGS. 1-2 depict a more common shape, namely a rectangle. The body of the drop cloth 100 is made from a material comprising canvas, linen, hemp, flax, cotton, woven cotton, polyester, or rayon taken alone, or in combination thereof, or with another material commonly known in the construction or painting industry.

[0039] FIG. 5a provides a bottom perspective view of a first trowel 500 having a sickled shaped leading edge 510 and a flat side 505 used for spreading a compound on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 such as silicone. The trowel 500 also has a handle 515.

[0040] FIG. 5b provides a bottom perspective view of a second trowel 550 having a sickled shaped leading edge 560 and a notched side 551 that is comprised of a plurality of notches used for forming the slip resistant ridges 50 on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100. The trowel 550 also has a handle 570.

[0041] In FIG. 6, a suitable first trowel 500 having a sickled shaped leading edge 510 is illustrated in use, where the flat side 505 of the trowel 500 is used for spreading a silicone compound or any other suitable compound on the back side S of the drop cloth 100.

[0042] In FIG. 7, a suitable second trowel 550 having a sickled shaped leading edge 560 is illustrated in use, where the notched side 551 of the trowel 550 is used for forming the plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges 50 on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100. The ridges 50 can be comprised of silicone or any other compound suitable for forming said ridges 50,

[0043] The unique sickled shaped leading edge of the first trowel 500 and of the second trowel 550 prevents silicone or any other type of compound used to form the ridges 50 from spilling over the outer edges of either trowel and creating a mess. Further, the width of the first trowel 500 and of the second trowel 550 is made approximately to the same width of the drop cloth. This will speed up the process of manufacturing the drop cloths 100 since the slip resistant ridges 50 can be formed in just one spread.

[0044] FIG. 8 represents an execution diagram 800 for the thod of making a slip resistant drop cloth 100. The method is comprised of the steps of 805 laying down a drop cloth 100 on a flat, solid surface; 810 securing the drop cloth 100 to the flat, solid surface; 815 spreading a silicone compound or any other suitable type of compound on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 with a first trowel 500 having a sickled shaped leading edge 510 and a flat side 505; 820 forming a plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges 50 on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 with a second trowel 550 having a sickled shaped leading edge 560 and a notched side 551 used for forming said ridges 50; and 825 allowing the plurality of ridges 50 to bond to the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in one embodiment of the invention, the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 includes an applied coating of 100% silicone 900 spread in a substantially thin and even manner over the back side 5 in order to provide a slip reducing feature without the use of ridges 50.

[0046] In another embodiment of the invention, the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 has a slip reducing feature made from silicone and comprised of one of the various patterned shapes as illustrated in FIG. 10 that includes dots, diamonds, circles, squares, ovals, blotches, triangles or any other type of patterned shape used to achieve the intended purpose, scope and spirit of the invention.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the slip reducing feature can be used on the back side of entry rugs, area rugs, area carpets, bathroom rugs, entry carpets, floor mats, space rugs, bathroom rugs or bathroom mats.

[0048] It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the present invention is not limited to the designs mentioned in this application and the equivalent designs in this description, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICBILITY

[0049] The invention pertains to a slip resistant drop cloth for use in the construction or painting industry that promotes a safer work environment by providing a drop cloth with slip reducing features that can be used on slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors, marble, glass, linoleum, staircases, and counter tops.

Claims

1. A slip resistant drop cloth comprising: an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; and the back side having a slip reducing feature, wherein said slip reducing feature includes a plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges extending from the first end to the second end and covering the back side from the third end to the fourth end, wherein said plurality of ridges are bonded with said material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed on a surface.

2. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, wherein each ridge having a common height H, a common width W, and a common space S between each ridge, wherein said height H is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch, said width W is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about three-thirty-seconds ( 3/32) of an inch, and said space S is about one-eighth (1/8) of an inch to about one-fourth (1/4) of an inch.

3. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 2, wherein the preferred height of each ridge on the drop cloth being one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

4. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 2, wherein the preferred width of each ridge on the drop cloth being one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

5. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 2, wherein the preferred spacing between each ridge on the drop cloth being one-sixteenth three-sixteenths 3(/16) of an inch.

6. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, wherein said ridges are made of silicone.

7. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, wherein the slip reducing feature provides increased sealant protection, thereby enabling the drop cloth to further protect surfaces against spills, leaks and drips in the work environment.

8. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 7, wherein the drop cloth protects against spills and drips over surfaces that includes hardwood floors, staircases, countertops, marble, linoleum, tile, and glass.

9. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, wherein said body is made from material selected from the group comprising: canvas, linen, hemp, flax, cotton, woven cotton, polyester, or rayon.

10. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridges provides resistance to slipping and sliding on hardwood floors, countertops, linoleum, glass, marble, staircases, and tile floors.

11. A method of making a slip resistant drop cloth, the method comprising the following steps: laying down the drop cloth on a flat, solid surface, said drop cloth having an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; securing the drop cloth to the flat, solid surface; spreading a compound on the back side of the drop cloth with a first trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge and a flat side; forming a plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges on the back side of the drop cloth with a second trowel having a sickled shaped leading edge and having a notched side used for forming said ridges; and allowing the plurality of ridges to bond to the back side of said drop cloth.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said compound is silicone.

13. A slip resistant drop cloth comprising: an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; and the back side having a slip reducing feature, wherein said slip reducing feature includes an applied coating of silicone for enabling the drop cloth to remain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed on a surface.

14. A slip resistant drop according to claim 13, wherein the applied coating of silicone is spread in a substantially thin and even manner over the back side to provide the slip reducing feature.

15. A slip resistant drop according to claim 13, wherein the applied coating of silicone is comprised of various patterned shapes selected from the group consisting of dots, squares, circles, diamonds, triangles, blotches, or ovals to provide the slip reducing feature,

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