Abstract: A floor covering has an exposed surface with substantially the same gloss level and at least two portions having different tactile surface characteristics. The difference in the tactile surface characteristics between the two portions is at least an average RPc of 4. The floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance coating overlying the substrate. The high performance coating comprises texture particles, which may be organic polymer particles. The floor covering is made by forming a high performance coating including the texture particles on a substrate, at least partially curing the high performance coating, and then while controlling the temperature of the high performance coating below the melting point temperature or softening point temperature of the texture particles and above the temperature at which the texture particles deform under the applied mechanical embossing pressure, subjecting the first and second portions to different mechanical embossing conditions.

Abstract: A coating system on a fibrous substrate, such as a fibrous ceiling panel, having a first surface and a second surface. A first coating is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and includes a first binder and a first filler material. A second coating may be disposed on the second surface of the substrate. The second coating includes a second binder and a second filler material. The first coating and the second coating expand at different rates in the presence of humidity in order to help prevent sagging of the substrate in presence of humidity. The first coating is preferably a hydrophobic coating having a large particle size, high elastic modulus filler material. The second coating is preferably a hydrophilic coating having a lower concentration of high elastic modulus material and a polymer having a hydrophilic moiety.

Abstract: An easily installed, aesthetically pleasing island ceiling system is provided. The system includes a soft fiber panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and an edge extending therebetween. The top surface includes a routed channel which does not extend to the edge of the panel. The system also includes suspension hardware which supports the panel in both the longitudinal and cross axes when suspended from an overhead ceiling or wall.

Abstract: A ceiling system which includes a plurality of grid elements which form a grid framework and a plurality of downwardly accessible ceiling panels. The ceiling panels include a substrate and at least two mounting members. Each mounting member cooperates with the substrate to provide strength and rigidity characteristics to the substrate and to form a grid receiving cavity. Each mounting member further cooperates with a grid element to accurately position the panel relative to the grid framework. When installed, the system provides no visual indications on how the ceiling panel can be removed.

Abstract: A unique, fully integrated, fully programmable, and highly flexible sound distribution system and methodology for providing masking sound, background music, and paging capabilities in up to eight zones of a building or space is provided. The methodology embodied in the system includes internal masking sounds that are uniquely pre-filtered to provide efficient and effective masking of distracting sounds within selectable zones of the space with a minimum masking sound dB sound level and with a pleasant sounding and non-annoying masking sound. The system also incorporates the capacity to be controlled from a remote or local telephone to adjust the volume level in any zone serviced by the system by issuing appropriate DTMF codes from the telephone's keypad. Unique bi-tone diagnostic functions are provided for assuring that the entire system is correctly wired and installed and for troubleshooting operational anomalies.

Abstract: The methods for making a coated thin veneer, plank or wood product in which the coated surface does not crack due to instability of the wood involve applying to a veneer, plank or wood product a composition including a hydrophilic polymer and a reactive monomer or a composition including a reactive (meth)acrylate. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer is a polyalkylene glycol, such as polyethylene glycol. The composition also advantageously includes a thermally activated free radical initiator, a photoinitiator or both. The veneer is further laminated into wood product boards that are cut down to planks. In another aspect of the current invention, several solvent based resins are roll coated onto the loose and/or tight side of the thin veneer or unfinished plank wood, dried to remove solvent, and exposed to UV radiation to cure the resinous material by radical initiation of the photoinitiator that leads to polymerization.

Abstract: Surface covering components that include a topcoat layer with different gloss levels in various regions on the top coat layer, and methods of manufacturing such surface covering components, are disclosed. The surface covering components include a coating layer that includes regions that have a relatively higher gloss, and regions with a relatively lower gloss. The differential gloss is provided by coating a substrate with a UV-curable coating composition, subjecting a first region of the surface coating to polymerization under a first set of conditions, and subjecting a second region of the surface coating to polymerization under a second set of conditions. The UV-curable coating compositions include UV-curable components and one or more flatting agents. The different polymerization conditions involve applying various photoinitiators, thermal initiators and/or cure altering agents to some regions of the coated substrate, and not applying these components to other regions of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for controlling and measuring an embossed texture on a decorative article. The embossed textured article includes both peaks and valleys that are measured and quantified to determine a profile of the textured article. Typically, the textured article comprises both chemically and mechanically embossed areas. The method uses moving average subtraction and peak/valley determinations to eliminate web flutter that often distorts the quantification of the mechanically embossed texture. The resulting profile may then be used to control a desired embossed profile.

Abstract: Methods for providing surface coverings with differential gloss, and surface coverings prepared by the method, are disclosed. The methods involve screen printing or rotogravure printing a relatively low gloss primer onto portions of a substrate surface covering. The primer-coated substrate is then coated with a relatively higher gloss coating composition, and the coating compositions are cured, advantageously in a single curing step. The result is a surface covering including a top coat having a lower gloss level overlying the primer and a higher gloss level in the regions not overlying the primer.

Abstract: A panel structure including a flexible panel, at least one edge strip and mounting hardware is provided. Also provided is a method of configuring the panel structure. The edge strip has at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon. The mounting member receiving area is dimensioned to receive the mounting hardware therein. The mounting hardware cooperates with the edge strip to suspend and mount the flexible panel. When installed, the panel structure provides a canopy-like visual element to a space in which it is suspended or mounted. The panel structure may be suspended or mounted in various configurations having different degrees of flex or curvature. The panel structure can be installed easily and reconfigured easily to suit the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is decorative surface covering that has a substantially non-aqueous absorptive layer and a water retentive layer. The decorative surface covering may be a vinyl-backed floor covering that can be adhered to a substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor with a water-based adhesive. The water retentive layer is formed from a polymer matrix and super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also include a hydrophilic additive to facilitate movement of water from the adhesive to the super absorbent water retentive particles. The water retentive layer may also be applied to the substantially non-aqueous absorptive subfloor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide a means to rapidly develop and modify prototype surface coverings for customer review and approval, and fill the commercial pipeline while more conventional production equipment is obtained, installed and tested. The present apparatus to rapid prototype and fill the commercial pipeline includes a digital printing system to print a film and a press for laminating and embossing the printed film to a substrate. The press uses an embossing plate or roll, which is made from ebonite or by three-dimensional printing equipment. These plates and rolls can be produced within two or three days or less.

Abstract: The methods for making a coated thin veneer, plank or wood product in which the coated surface does not crack due to instability of the wood involve applying to a veneer, plank or wood product a composition including a hydrophilic polymer and a reactive monomer or a composition including a reactive (meth)acrylate. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer is a polyalkylene glycol, such as polyethylene glycol. The composition also advantageously includes a thermally activated free radical initiator, a photoinitiator or both. The veneer is further laminated into wood product boards that are cut down to planks. In another aspect of the current invention, several solvent based resins are roll coated onto the loose and/or tight side of the thin veneer or unfinished plank wood, dried to remove solvent, and exposed to UV radiation to cure the resinous material by radical initiation of the photoinitiator that leads to polymerization.