Walkway Cover

Walkways have been made of different types of materials exposing different types of surfaces on which users can walk. Some walkways, such as flat deck surfaces and stairs for decks that have been made of wood materials or composite wood-like materials have been exposed to outdoor weather, including temperature differences, sunlight, and precipitation.

This disclosure relates to covers for walkways. In one general aspect, a walkway cover system may include a walkway cover which may include the following: a main layer including foam material; an upper layer (i.e., a layer that that is designed to be an upper layer above the main layer when the cover is in use on a walkway, and in some implementations the upper layer may be designed to be a top-most layer with no other layers of the cover above the top-most layer when the cover is in use on a walkway) including foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer; and an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer (i.e., below the main layer when the cover is in use on a walkway, and in some implementations the adhesive layer may be designed to be a bottom-most layer with no other layers of the cover below the bottom-most layer when the cover is in use on a walkway), the adhesive layer facilitating removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface.

In another general aspect, a method may include forming a deck cover, the deck cover may include the following: a main layer including resilient foam material; an upper layer including foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer; and an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer, the adhesive layer enabling removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface. The forming of the deck cover can include forming one or more apertures in the upper layer, with the one or more apertures extending through the upper layer to expose the main layer.

In another general aspect, a walkway cover may include a main layer. The walkway cover may also include an upper layer having a foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer, the upper layer forming one or more apertures between areas of the upper layer, the one or more apertures extending through the upper layer to expose one or more portions of the main layer. The walkway cover may further include an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer, the adhesive layer facilitating removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. The concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Similarly, the invention is not limited to implementations that address the particular techniques, tools, environments, disadvantages, or advantages discussed in the Background, the Detailed Description, or the attached drawings.

The description and drawings may refer to the same or similar features in different drawings with the same reference numbers.

This disclosure relates to a walkway cover for covering walking surfaces such as surfaces of outdoor patios or decks, such as back yard decks. For example, the cover can be applied to the flat surfaces of decks and/or stairways for decks. The cover can be padded and can be walked on without burning bare feet as decks sometimes do, especially in the summer if the deck is made of composite deck materials (such as deck materials sold under the name of Trex). The cover can also be padded and less slippery than deck materials when it is wet.

The cover can include a main layer such as a layer of EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam that is a first color. On top of that the main layer can be a second layer that includes areas (e.g., strips) of EVA foam that are a second color, so there are apertures such as channels or grooves between these areas. The grooves can be in various different patterns and can provide a stylish look, and they can also function to provide added traction and disperse water so that the deck can be less slippery. And on the bottom of the main layer can be a layer of adhesive so users can stick sheets of the cover to a walkway surface, such as to stairs of the deck. For stairs, each sheet can have a dimension that is a little less than a typical stair (such as a little less than 36 inches wide and 11 inches deep (such as 35.5 inches by 11 inches)).

The two EVA foam layers can be bonded together such as with heat and/or an adhesive material. The adhesive backing on the bottom of the main layer may be a layer such as a double coated tape (for example, the tape sold by 3M as 99786+ with acrylic adhesive). This self-adhesive backing can allow the cover sheets to be removed from a deck without leaving residue on the deck (i.e., without leaving noticeable residue on the deck).

The cover sheets can be made by applying the upper layer as strips that are separated from each other to form grooves in the upper layer. Alternatively, a manufacturer may secure two foam sheets together and then have a mill such as a CNC mill to mill the grooves into the upper layer, which may allow different patterns such as customized patterns of grooves to be milled through the upper layer to expose the main layer in those areas (for example, a mill can mill in grooves that form patterns such as grids of repeating geometric shapes, logos, etc.).

This disclosure can describe the use of EVA foam sheets applied to a walkway, where the sheets have multiple layers of EVA foam and/or where the sheets include grooves formed in the sheets. For example, this can include grooves that are formed into a top EVA sheet having a first visual appearance (such as a first color) to reveal a bottom EVA sheet under the grooves, where the bottom EVA sheet can have a second visual appearance (such as a different color from the top EVA sheet). Grooves may be formed by securing (such as by heat and/or an adhesive) strips of the top material onto a sheet of the bottom material. As another example, grooves may be formed by milling. The sheets can have an adhesive backing to stick them to the walkway, and the adhesive backing can stick to the sheets when the sheets are removed from the walkway, so that noticeable adhesive residue is not left behind on the walkway.

illustrate a perspective view of a covered walkway system. The covered walkway systemincludes a walkway, which can be a stair or a series of stairs. The walkwayhas a walkway surfacethat can be all or partly covered by a walkway cover, which can include one or more walkway cover sheets (two sheets are shown in, with one sheet on each of two stairs). The walkway covermay be used for other types of walkway surfaces besides stairs, such as flat surfaces of decks or patios (for example, one or multiple walkway cover sheets can be used to cover all or part of such walkway surfaces).

The walkway covercan be a multi-layer structure designed to provide enhanced traction, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The walkway covercan include an adhesive layer, a main layer, and an upper layer.

The adhesive layercan be an adhesive layer that enables removable attachment of the walkway coverto the walkway surface. This adhesive layer can allow the walkway coverto be applied to the walkway surfaceand then removed without leaving a noticeable amount of residue.

The main layercan be positioned above the adhesive layerand can include resilient foam material, such as EVA foam material. This main layercan provide cushioning and comfort for users walking on the walkway.

The upper layercan be secured to the main layerand positioned above it. The upper layercan also include resilient foam material, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material. The upper layercan form one or more areas, which can be separate from each other. These areascan be shaped and otherwise designed to enhance the visual appeal and/or functionality of the walkway cover.

The upper layercan also form one or more aperturesbetween the areas. These aperturescan extend down through the upper layerto expose a portion of the main layer. The aperturescan promote the dispersion of water away from the walkway cover, thereby increasing traction and reducing the risk of slipping. For example, such dispersion may be assisted by the apertures extending to an outside perimeter of a sheet of the walkway cover. The areasand the aperturesbetween them can also increase traction when the walkway coveris dry. Additionally, the aperturescan enhance the aesthetic appeal of the walkway coverby exposing portions of the main layerat the bottom of the apertures, which can have a different appearance (e.g., a different color) from the visible portions of the upper layer.

The walkway covercan be configured to withstand outdoor weather conditions, including temperature differences, sunlight, and precipitation. This durability can make the walkway coversuitable for use in various environments, such as residential, commercial, or public spaces.

In summary, the covered walkway system, as illustrated in, may provide a durable, aesthetically pleasing, and/or functional solution for cover walkways, including stairs. The multi-layer structure of the walkway cover, with its adhesive layer, main layer, and upper layerwith apertures, may offer enhanced traction, comfort, and/or water dispersion capabilities.

The walkway systemcan include one or more sheets of the walkway cover. The sheets may be different sizes. In one example, a sheet of the walkway covercan be about 28 cm wide by about 90 cm long (such as 28 cm wide by 90 cm long), which can be a size that fits an upper surface of a standard size of stair, as illustrated in FIG.. Also, in an example, the upper layercan be 3 mm thick, and the main layercan also be 3 mm thick, for a total of 6 mm thick. The adhesive layercan be much thinner than the main layeror the upper layer. For example, the adhesive layermay be a double-sided tape that is less than a millimeter thick (such as about 0.14 mm thick). Also, the corners of each sheet can be rounded, such as with 1 cm radius rounds. However, the sheets may be different dimensions, such as different sized sheets for different stair sizes or for different sizes of flat deck surfaces.

Referring to, a method of making a covered walkway system such as the system illustrated incan include layer preparation, upper layer application, aperture formation, adhesive layer application, and walkway surface application. These activities can be performed in this order or in some other order. For example, the upper layer may be applied after the adhesive layer is applied. As another example, the apertures may be formed during application of the upper layer, such as where the upper layer is applied in areas that are separated by the apertures (i.e., where the apertures are gaps between the applied areas of the upper layer).

The layer preparationcan include preparing the main layerthat includes resilient foam material and preparing the upper layerthat also includes resilient foam material.

The upper layer applicationcan include applying the upper layer to the top of the main layer. This can be done by bonding the upper layer to the main layer using an appropriate adhesive or other bonding technique, such as a heat bonding technique.

The aperture formationcan include one or more techniques, such as leaving gaps between applied areasof the upper layerduring the application process, and/or milling the apertures into the upper layerafter it has been applied to the main layer. During aperture formation, the apertures can be formed so that the aperturesextend through the upper layerto expose portions of the main layer. The apertures can enhance the functionality of the walkway cover by promoting water dispersion and increasing traction, and they may also improve the aesthetic appearance of the walkway cover.

The adhesive layer applicationcan include applying an adhesive layerto the bottom of the main layer. This adhesive layer can enable the removable attachment of the walkway coverto a walkway surface. The adhesive layer application can include applying the adhesive layer with a backing material on the adhesive layer. The backing material can be peeled off just before the walkway surface application.

The walkway surface applicationcan include applying the resulting walkway coverto a walkway surfaceto form the covered walkway system. Also, multiple sheets of the walkway covercan be formed and applied to the walkway surface, such as where such sheets are placed on multiple stairs and/or where multiple sheets are applied along a surface so that the multiple sheets are substantially coplanar with each other.

This method may allow for the creation of a multi-layer walkway cover that can be easily attached and removed from a walkway surface, possibly providing both aesthetic and functional benefits.

The subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the benefits described herein. A particular implementation of the invention may provide all, some, or none of the benefits described herein. Although operations for the various techniques are described herein in a particular, sequential order for the sake of presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangements in the order of operations, unless a particular ordering is required. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Techniques described herein with reference to flowcharts may be used with one or more of the systems described herein and/or with one or more other systems. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, flowcharts may not show the various ways in which particular techniques can be used in conjunction with other techniques.

Features discussed in each of the aspects below may be combined with each other in any combination not precluded by the discussion herein. Also, a system may include means for performing each of the acts discussed in the context of these aspects discussed below, in different combinations.

In one general aspect, a walkway cover system may include a walkway cover having: a main layer including foam material; an upper layer including foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer; and an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer, the adhesive layer facilitating removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features: a walkway cover system where the main layer is a sheet of foam material, and where the upper layer includes one or more areas of foam material; a walkway cover system where the foam material of the main layer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material, and where the foam material of the upper layer is an EVA foam material; a walkway cover system where the upper layer forms one or more apertures between areas of the upper layer; a walkway cover system where the one or more apertures extend through the upper layer to expose a portion of the main layer; a walkway cover system where the portion of the main layer has a different appearance from a visible portion of the upper layer; a walkway cover system where the portion of the main layer has a different color from the visible portion of the upper layer; a walkway cover system where the one or more apertures promote dispersion of water away from the walkway cover; a walkway cover system where the one or more apertures provide increased traction of the walkway cover; a walkway cover system where the areas of the upper layer are separate from each other; a walkway cover system may include a deck surface, where the adhesive layer is removably secured to the deck surface to secure the walkway cover to the deck surface; a walkway cover system where the walkway cover transfers less heat to a human foot than would an adjacent exposed area of the deck surface; a walkway cover system where the upper layer and the main layer are bonded together; a walkway cover system where the walkway cover may include a sheet that is sized to fit a stair; a walkway cover system where the walkway cover is configured to be applied to a deck surface and then pulled up from the deck surface without leaving a noticeable amount of residue on the deck surface; a walkway cover system where the walkway cover is configured to withstand walkway use in outdoor weather conditions having temperature differences, sunlight, and precipitation; and/or a walkway cover system where the main layer is a sheet of foam material, where the areas of the upper layer are areas of foam material, and where the upper layer has a visually distinct look from the main layer.

In one general aspect, a method may include forming a deck cover, the deck cover having: a main layer including resilient foam material; an upper layer including foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer; and an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer, the adhesive layer enabling removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface. The forming of the deck cover can include forming one or more apertures in the upper layer, with the one or more apertures extending through the upper layer to expose the main layer.

The forming of the one or more apertures may include milling the one or more apertures into the upper layer.

In one general aspect, a walkway cover may include a main layer. The walkway cover may also include an upper layer having a foam material, the upper layer being secured to the main layer and positioned above the main layer, the upper layer forming one or more apertures between areas of the upper layer, the one or more apertures extending through the upper layer to expose one or more portions of the main layer. The walkway cover may further include an adhesive layer secured to the main layer and positioned below the main layer, the adhesive layer facilitating removable attachment of the cover to a walkway surface.

While particular embodiments are discussed above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, one or more of the layers of the walkway cover may be made of a non-foam material such as another type of polymeric material such as a non-foam elastomeric material (such as a rubber-like material).