Nancy J Verdick

US Patent:

20020018908, Feb 14, 2002

Filed:

Nov 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/443831

Inventors:

Troy Smith - Bettendorf IA, US
Terrence Thom - Bettendorf IA, US
Nancy Verdick - Geneseo IL, US
Michael Maloney - Bettendorf IA, US

International Classification:

E04F011/16
E04F011/112

US Classification:

428/600000, 428/687000, 052/177000

Abstract:

A structure and associated methods are provided having enhanced slip-resistant surfaces formed on the projections, recesses or other surfaces of the structure to promote safe and stable movement of people and/or objects on the structure. These structures can include, for example, those materials commonly installed on vehicles such as emergency vehicles. The methods associated with the structure include roughening at least one smooth surface of the structure to provide an enhanced slip-resistant surface. In separate aspects of the method, for example, mechanical roughening processes are disclosed which employ a set of two rollers, a single roller or a punch die arrangement to roughen a smooth surface of a structure. The enhanced slip-resistant structure can then be installed on a vehicle or employed in a variety of other applications where safe and stable movement of people and/or objects is desirable.