Device and method for structuring the surface of floor coverings which have already been laid

US6486435B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Eckhard Beyer · Alsbach, DE
• Jan Hauptmann · Dresden, DE
• Gunter Wiedemann · Ludwigsburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 13, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C04B2111/60
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for structuring the surface of floor coverings which have already been laid, comprising various floor coverings which may also consist of mineral materials such as natural or artificial stone. The object of the invention is to provide floor coverings which have already been laid with a structure on their surface, which structure makes it possible to at least increase the nonslip properties even in the presence of slippy media, e.g. water. To do this, the invention uses a device with which at least one laser beam can be moved with controlled intensity and in at least one dimension across the surface to be structured, the elements for guiding and shaping the laser beam(s) being accommodated in a mobile part of the device, so that this mobile part is guided intermittently or continuously across the floor surface which is to be structured and, in the process, the structuring can be formed by means of the laser beam.