The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1994
Gary W Smith, Columbus, WI (US);
Garrick D Smith, Columbus, WI (US);
Simuwear Corporation, Columbus, WI (US);
Abstract
A system and method for testing floor coverings provides test data that not only permit meaningful comparisons of various types of floor coverings relative to each other but also permit accurate prediction of how the floor covering samples will perform in actual use. Floor covering testing is provided by repeatedly subjecting a floor covering sample to simulated footfall impacts. The simulated footfall impacts include normal and shear components that are selected based on actual physiological studies of the human gait. The floor covering testing is performed based on the expected pedestrian traffic to be encountered by the floor covering in use. In certain tests, the type of soil expected at the installation site is taken into consideration. The amount of soil retained by particular floor covering samples is measured. Additional tests measure pile retention, in the case of carpets, to predict changes in appearance through usage over time. Other tests measure the ability of a floor covering sample to maintain tension and to provide coefficients of friction consistent with acceptable performance.