TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to decorative coverings and, in particular decorative coverings which comprise optical fibres.

BACKGROUND ART

Fibre optic cables have been used to create illuminated and animated effects in carpeting. The optical cables are introduced into a carpet and are supported by the carpet fibres. This leaves the optical cable where it enters the carpet with subsequent loss of transmission.

Optical cables have also been introduced into a rubber or vinyl track as an emergency-indicating path system. There are difficulties involved in producing this track and introducing the optical cables into it.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A decorative covering having an obverse side and a reverse side and having on the obverse side a plurality

SUBSTITUTESHEET

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of flexible fibres and a number of support elements, the reverse side having located thereon a plurality of optical fibres, such that when a force of expected magnitude is applied to the support elements from the obverse side of the covering substantially all the force is borne by the support members, and wherein end portions of the optical fibres pass at intervals from the reverse side to the obverse side such that when optical radiation is passed into the opposite end portions of the optical fibres the optical radiation is emitted from the obverse side of the covering.

The provision of a number of support members to support and protect the optical fibres and the flexible fibres reduces the likelihood of the optical fibres being fractured when a force is applied to the obverse side of the covering.

In the preferred embodiment the support members comprise side walls of a channelled track. Typically this is formed by manufacturing the support members in the form of a "U" of "H" type cross-section.

Preferably, the support members are of extruded aluminium or another suitable metal. However, they may be manufactured from a plastics material, such as vinyl _r or from a hard rubber.

In one example the flexible fibres are of carpet type material. However, they may also comprise alternate layers of woven nylon and vulcanised rubber with an end of the layers on the obverse side. Preferably the ends of the nylon layers are then frayed to give a tufted appearance to the obverse side such as by brushing the obverse side.

Typically, the optical radiation is in the visible part of the spectrum. However, ultra-violet or infra-red radiation could be used.

Preferably, the support members have flanges attached to them to enable the support members to be fixed to the surface to be covered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Two examples of a decorative covering according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a support member with a first example of decorative covering; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A shown in Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but with a second example of a decorative covering.

Fig. 1 shows a support member 1 formed from an extruded aluminium strip with an "H" type cross-section. The support member 1 comprises two side walls 10, 11 and a cross-member 12 connecting.the side walls 10, 11 so as to define two channels 30, 31. Carpet tufts 2 are located between the side walls 10, 11 of the support member and on the cross member 12 of the support member in the channel 30 so that the ends 13 of the tufts 2 are visible as the obverse side of the covering.

On the reverse side of the covering, ^* on the other side of the cross-member 12 from the tufts 2, are located a

bundle of optical fibres 4 between the side walls 10, 11 in the channel 31. One end of each optical fibre is coupled to a source of optical radiation (not shown). The other ends 15 of the optical fibres 4 are inserted through holes 3 in the cross-member 12, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the ends 15 of the optical fibres 4 are also on the obverse side of the covering. The ends 15 of the optical fibres 4 are adjacent to the ends 13 of the tufts 2 so that optical radiation coupled into the fibres 4 from the source is emitted from the obverse side of the covering to cause illumination 5.

Fig. 3 shows a second example of the invention in which the support member 1 also comprises two flanges 16, 17 connected to the side walls 10, 11 respectively of the support member 1. The two flanges 16, 17 are situated so that they are on the reverse side of the covering. The flanges enable the covering to be fixed to the article to be covered, such as a wall or floor surface. The covering may be fixed by means of screws or bolts passing through holes (not shown) in the flanges 16, 17.

In Fig. 3 the carpet tufts 2 are formed from alternative layers of vulcanised rubber 18 and woven nylon 19 with the edges of the layers on the obverse side of the cross-member 12. The edges 20 of the layers 18, 19 create the obverse surface of the covering. The edges 20 of the nylon layers 19 are then brushed to create a tufted effect on the obverse side of the covering which hides the vulcanised rubber layers 18.

As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 example the optical fibres 4 pass on the reverse side of the cross-member 12

between the side walls 10, 11 of the support member in the channel 31 and the ends 15 of the optical fibres 4 pass through the holes 3 between the layers 18, 19 so that optical radiation is emitted from the obverse side of the covering.

By constructing a decorative covering in the manner described forces applied to the obverse side of the covering, such as people walking on it if it is a floor covering, prevents the optical fibres from being damaged as the support member 1 bears the forces and transmits them to the surface on which the covering is attached.

The ends 15 of the optical fibres 4 may be distributed throughout the covering in any desired pattern. For example, they may be clustered in groups to form direction indicating arrows or other information signs.