How to Make Durable Non-Slip Surfaces Using Electron Beam Curing
A method for creating flexible, non-slip materials by bonding mineral grit to plastic sheets using a special radiation-cured glue that stays strong even when stretched.
Original patent title: “Polymer backed material with non-slip surface using E-beam cured urethane binder”
A method for creating flexible, non-slip materials by bonding mineral grit to plastic sheets using a special radiation-cured glue that stays strong even when stretched. Granted to Norton Co in 1995 with 9 claims and 25 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to create a non-slip material by gluing abrasive mineral particles onto a flexible plastic backing. The key is using a specific type of polyurethane adhesive that is cured—or hardened—using an electron beam. Because the adhesive is radiation-cured, it forms a strong, flexible bond that allows the entire sheet to be stretched or thermoformed into complex shapes without the grit falling off or the layers separating. This is useful for things like safety flooring or grip pads that need to wrap around curved surfaces.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover non-slip materials that use heat-cured or air-dried adhesives instead of radiation-cured binders.
- Does not cover materials where the abrasive particles are embedded into the plastic rather than bonded to the surface.
- Does not cover adhesives that lack the specific blend of polyester urethane acrylate resin and the defined monomers.
- Does not cover applications where the material cannot maintain at least 125% elongation before tearing.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific chemical formulation of the binder that allows the finished product to remain 'thermoformable'—meaning it can be heated and stretched into a new shape without the grit layer cracking or peeling away from the plastic base.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Industrial safety floor treads
Non-slip grip pads for automotive interiors
Flexible safety tapes for stairs and ramps
Molded plastic components requiring high-friction surfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Before this technology, non-slip coatings often cracked or delaminated when applied to complex, curved surfaces. By using electron beam curing, manufacturers could create high-performance grip materials that were thin, flexible, and durable enough to be molded into shapes like vehicle interiors or industrial safety components.
Filed
May 17, 1993
Granted
March 28, 1995
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in industrial abrasives and surface coatings, such as 3M and Saint-Gobain (which acquired Norton Co.), continue to refine high-performance adhesive technologies that rely on radiation-curing to achieve durability in flexible substrates.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the use of radiation-curable coatings in the manufacturing of flexible safety materials. It enabled the production of high-friction surfaces that could be mass-produced and applied to complex geometries, reducing the need for mechanical fasteners or rigid, pre-molded non-slip inserts.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to create a non-slip material by gluing abrasive mineral particles onto a flexible plastic backing. The key is using a specific type of polyurethane adhesive that is cured—or hardened—using an electron beam. Because the adhesive is radiation-cured, it forms a strong, flexible bond that allows the entire sheet to be stretched or thermoformed into complex shapes without the grit falling off or the layers separating. This is useful for things like safety flooring or grip pads that need to wrap around curved surfaces.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific chemical formulation of the binder that allows the finished product to remain 'thermoformable'—meaning it can be heated and stretched into a new shape without the grit layer cracking or peeling away from the plastic base.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover non-slip materials that use heat-cured or air-dried adhesives instead of radiation-cured binders.
- Does not cover materials where the abrasive particles are embedded into the plastic rather than bonded to the surface.
- Does not cover adhesives that lack the specific blend of polyester urethane acrylate resin and the defined monomers.
- Does not cover applications where the material cannot maintain at least 125% elongation before tearing.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
6/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$22K – $69K
Midpoint $43K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
9 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Williams, D. E. (1995). How to Make Durable Non-Slip Surfaces Using Electron Beam Curing (U.S. Patent No. 5,401,560). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5401560/polymer-backed-material-with-non-slip-surface-using-e-beam-cured-urethane-binder
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Durable Non-Slip Surfaces Using Electron Beam Curing cover?
A method for creating flexible, non-slip materials by bonding mineral grit to plastic sheets using a special radiation-cured glue that stays strong even when stretched.
Who owns patent US 5401560?
Norton Co owns this patent, granted in 1995.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5401560 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Before this technology, non-slip coatings often cracked or delaminated when applied to complex, curved surfaces. By using electron beam curing, manufacturers could create high-performance grip materials that were thin, flexible, and durable enough to be molded into shapes like vehicle interiors or industrial safety components.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover non-slip materials that use heat-cured or air-dried adhesives instead of radiation-cured binders.
Patent monitoring