Adhered Coplanar Veneer Tile-type Facer; E.g., Parquet Patents (Class 52/390)
  • Patent number: 7641963
    Abstract: A panel, in particular floor panel, having a support board made of glued and compressed fiber material to which a termination layer is applied in each case on a top side and an underside, and the termination layer of the top side has a structured surface, and to a process for producing such a panel or such a support board. The object of the invention is to provide a panel or a support board comprising binders and fillers and also a process for producing the same, by means of which surface-structured panels can be produced more quickly and cost-effectively. This object is achieved in that the density on the top side of the support board is lower than the density of the support board on the underside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kronotec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Grafenauer
  • Patent number: 7637067
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7637066
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7634887
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: UNILIN BEHEER B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7634886
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7624546
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular flooring system including a ramp to facilitate entry and exit from the flooring system. The ramp may be modular and interconnect with all or parts of a perimeter of the flooring system, and the ramp may also interconnect with adjacent ramp members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Jorgen J. Moller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7621094
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7617647
    Abstract: Fiber-reinforced pultruded planks serve as underlayment for tile, stone or terrazzo. In one embodiment, the planks have a thin base surface with a plurality of elongated ridges. The planks have interlocking tongue and groove edges. The elongated ridges have a narrow base and a wider distal portion wherein the areas between adjacent ridges have a trapezoidal cross sectional configuration with the thin base resting on the support. Tile can be adhered to the surface using a rigid cementitious adhesive which fills in the trapezoidal area, creating a very rigid support structure. If the planks are reversed with the ridges resting on the support, tile or stone can be adhered to the relatively smooth thin base with an epoxy adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: TileDIY, LLC
    Inventors: Brian H. Turner, Vernon Kallenborn
  • Patent number: 7617645
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7614193
    Abstract: A fiber-reinforced pultruded underlayment for ceramic tile includes a thin base with a plurality of elongated ridges. The underlayment is in the form of planks having interlocking tongue and groove edges. The elongated ridges have a narrow base and a wider distal portion wherein the areas between adjacent ridges have a trapezoidal cross sectional configuration. Tile is adhered to the surface using a rigid cementitious or epoxy adhesive which fills in the trapezoidal area creating a very rigid support structure for the ceramic tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Tilediy, LLC
    Inventors: Brian H. Turner, Vernon Kallenborn
  • Publication number: 20090260307
    Abstract: Floor panel, said floor panel (1) comprising a decor (2), as well as a top layer (8) based on synthetic material (9), and wherein the decor (2) represents a pattern with several wood parts (3) per floor panel (1), characterized in that in the upper surface (14) of the floor panel (1) one or more height differences are present in that the upper surface (14), at the location of one of more of the wood parts (3), shows an individualized global surface level (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Bernard Thiers
  • Patent number: 7603824
    Abstract: A composite panel for constructing an interior real wood finished floor comprising a rectangular planar unit having top, middle and bottom layers, the top layer being solid wood with a unidirectional grain parallel to opposite edges of the panel, the bottom layer being constructed of wood and having at least portions of its thickness with a grain running perpendicular to the unidirectional grain, the middle layer being an elastomeric material bonded to the top and bottom layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Pamasia, Inc.
    Inventor: Budi Hartanto
  • Patent number: 7549784
    Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems, and methods of installing LED (light emitting diodes) for glass tiles and glass blocks. The LEDs can be housed in flexible strips having flexible bendable transparent housing sleeves with ends that can interconnect by male and female ends to one another with various types of interconnectors. Each separate sleeve can house up to 33 LEDs in a transparent plastic sleeve. A transparent connector sleeve can be slid over the interconnected ends and heat shrunk in place. The glass tiles can be laid out to uniform joints spacings between the glass tiles of approximately 3/16 of an inch. The LED strips can be placed on a surface layer of transparent grout that has been laid in the joint spacing, followed by a top layer of transparent grout. The transparent grout can be removable grout and include clear Silicon. The LED strips can have peel and stick back layers with adhesive backing that allows mounting to the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: New Horizon Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Rachel Teeters
  • Patent number: 7536835
    Abstract: A floor construction covered with ceramic tiles, in which a film-like plastic mat having support elements disposed in a uniform area distribution, hollow towards the underside, capable of support, projecting out beyond the top of the mat, is applied on the sub-floor. Channels carrying open water are formed between the support elements, and a water-permeable or vapor-permeable covering in the manner of a non-woven fabric or woven fabric is disposed on the support elements. The plastic mat is embedded and attached, supported in a still soft, hardening thin-bed mortar layer on the sub-floor, over its full area, in the region of its lower contact surfaces. The ceramic tiles are laid and attached on the covering in the manner of a non-woven fabric, directly, with a thin-bed mortar layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Schlüter-Systems KG
    Inventor: Werner Schlüter
  • Patent number: 7476435
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a back-grooved laminate wood flooring in which a high pressure melamine laminate (HPL) is laminated on a waterproof plywood layer. The back-grooved laminate wood flooring comprises an upper HPL (20), an adhesive layer (40) and a waterproof plywood layer (10) wherein the upper HPL (20) includes a second core layer (25), a first core layer (23), a decorative paper layer (22) and a surface-protective paper layer (21) layered in this order from the bottom, the upper HPL (20) and waterproof plywood layer (10) are adhered to each other by the adhesive layer (40), and the waterproof plywood layer (10) is back grooved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kie-Sun Han, Seong-Chan Park
  • Patent number: 7476430
    Abstract: Wall and ceiling acrylic latex coating compositions having properties that prevent joints between adjacent wallboard panels from cracking during settling of new homes and during transportation of manufactured buildings, and otherwise prevents joint cracking from flexing, such as caused by extreme weather conditions or building settling. In another embodiment, the coating compositions can be applied directly over joints between adjacent square-edged wallboard panels to conceal the joint without using tape, wallboard “mud”, or other joint filling compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Roman Decorating Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Merle Houck, Gerald Russo
  • Patent number: 7473457
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a back-grooved laminate wood flooring in which a wood veneer of high pressure resin impregnation laminate (WPL) is laminated on a base selected from a vinyl chloride (PVC) resin layer, on oriented strand board (OSB), a high-density fiberboard (HDF) and a waterproof plywood. More specifically, the back-grooved laminate wood flooring comprises a WPL (20), an adhesive layer (40) and a base (10) (a polyvinyl chloride resin layer, OSB, HDF or waterproof plywood) wherein the WPL (20) includes a base-reinforcing layer (24), a natural veneer layer (23), a resin-impregnated overlay layer (22) and a surface UV coating layer (21) layered in this order from the bottom. The back-grooved laminate wood flooring further exhibits excellent soundproofing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kie-Sun Han, Byeong-Hoe Kim, Il-Hong Min, Byeong-Roh Jeong
  • Patent number: 7473455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacture method for processing bamboo timber into high strength and xylon type bamboo timber methods for rearranging bamboo timber fibers, and articles formed of the xylon type bamboo timber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Inventors: Xiongwei Wang, Xionghui Wang, Hisako Igawa
  • Patent number: 7467499
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Publication number: 20080302042
    Abstract: Parquet and strip/plank is unfinished 7/16? thick solid straight edge construction assembled with a pressure-sensitive adhesive covered transparent non-shrinkable or non-expandable plastic tape on the top. It takes at least 6.6 times less amount of timber to produces this product versus traditional ¾? thick tongue-and-grooved solid flooring. Strait edged (no tongue-and-grooved) construction is installed with rigid adhesive. The spaces between the floor and walls are filled with adhesive as well. Jobsite finish provides a product with a barrier against water, germs, bacteria and other micro organisms' penetration, creating a healthy indoor air quality conditions. Installed parquet or strip/plank flooring system is non-destructible and eliminates landfill waste. Installation over radiant heated floor provides a significant saving in energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Anatoli Efros
  • Patent number: 7449231
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a UV surface-coated laminate wood flooring for an under-floor heating system comprising a back-grooved base, an adhesive layer and a printed wood veneer layer wherein the printed wood veneer layer is produced by impregnating and coating a low-basis weight printed paper with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, integrally forming the paper layer with a low-price reinforcing layer by pressing under high pressure, treating the surface of the paper layer with an acryl based primer, and coating the primer-treated paper layer with a solvent-free type UV coating paint, and wherein the back-grooved base and the printed wood veneer layer are adhered to each other by the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seog-Goo Kang, Soo-Hwan Lee, Ill-Hong Min
  • Patent number: 7442423
    Abstract: Engineered tile panels incorporating a hard surface veneer formed from ceramic, glass, and stone layer affixed to the core or substrate which may be assembled gluelessly and which provide uniform grouting gaps upon assembly, is disclosed along with methods therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Group
    Inventor: Robert J Miller
  • Publication number: 20080213529
    Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith N. Gray, Connie D. Hensler, Chung-Hsien Zah, Susan F. Fezer, Horace Eddie Bradley
  • Patent number: 7255905
    Abstract: The modellable tile has an upper surface and a bottom surface and comprises a thin and flexible support element associated to the bottom surface, and at least one recess which involves a whole width of the tile but not the thin and flexible support element. The recess separates the tile into at least two parts which are totally separated one from another, which parts exhibit upper edges which are located side-by-side and which are destined to be brought into reciprocal contact in order to give the tile a predetermined non-flat conformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventors: Giuliano Morotti, Daniele Bassi
  • Publication number: 20070163194
    Abstract: The floor tile is a laminate of two layers of flexible plastic sheet material laminated together in offset relationship to define an offset marginal portion for each of the layers. Each of the offset marginal portions have oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces. A foam layer and/or a fiberglass sheet can also be included in the laminate structure of the floor tile. The floor tile can conform to surface contours of a floor base. The bottom layer of the floor tile, whether it is plastic sheet or foam, is conformable to surface irregularities of the floor base. A one piece releasable packaging device covers the oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces of the offset marginal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Tru Woods Limited
    Inventor: Norman Stone
  • Patent number: 7210276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wooden floor, consisting of a hardenable adhesive (12) which is painted onto a floor base (10) in a continuous layer, and covering elements (16) consisting of wood or a wood material that are joined to the adhesive in its entirety by their surface (14) to be glued. According to the invention, the adhesive layer (12) has a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm and the combined tension and shear strength of the adhesive (12), in its hardened state, is les than that of the floor base (10) and is at most 1.2 N/mm2, in order to obtain a floor covering with excellent dimensional stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sika Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Elke Kraft, Thorsten Kraus, Juergen Koessler, Ralf Heinzmann, Roland Schneider, Hans-Christoph Thielemann, Morten Muschak, Norbert Singer, Michael Geissbuehler, Josef Wolf, Beat Maerki, Dieter Geng, Ueli Pfenninger, Philippe De Vriendt, Fabio Guerrini
  • Patent number: 7189442
    Abstract: The present invention provides an edge band including a protective layer attached to a wood portion. The wood portion includes a first side and a second side. A first adhesive is disposed between the protective layer and the first side of the wood portion and a second adhesive is disposed on the second side of the wood portion and may be used to attach the edge band to an article. The protective layer can be removed from the band when desired, for example, following the application of a finishing material to the associated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David Jesse, Terry Luyk
  • Patent number: 7178299
    Abstract: A tile for lining an internal surface in a heavy wear area. The tile includes at least one locating rod embedded within said tile and an internal mechanism for laterally extending said at least one locating rod out of said tile and into a gap in an adjoining structure which may be another tile. The tiles forming the lining surface are securely held in place as a result of the selective deployment of the locating rods into a gap in the adjoining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Dean R Hyde, Robert L. Antram, Dean R Peterson
  • Patent number: 7137229
    Abstract: Floorboards consisting of a core and a surface layer with decorative joint edge portions which are formed by removing the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 7100341
    Abstract: A method for creating a laminate floor, wherein a digital image is acquired and segmented into a plurality of sections, such that each section is sized to fit on a laminate flooring plank and contains a distinct portion of the digital image. A digital layout is created using all of the sections and the digital layout is printed. The printed digital layout is secured to a sheet of base material and the sheet of base material is divided into a plurality of flooring planks. The flooring planks are then assembled in a predetermined order and alignment to reproduce the digital image on the laminate floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Bruce McIlvaine
  • Patent number: 7055290
    Abstract: Floor covering, consisting of hard panels, with a laminated structure, whereby at least at the upper surface a printed decorative layer with a wood pattern is present, with thereupon a transparent layer of synthetic material in which impressions are formed, wherein the impressions substantially follow the wood pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 6986229
    Abstract: A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventors: Alan B. Collison, Chad A. Collison
  • Patent number: 6976341
    Abstract: A lattice of support surfaces are used to support substantially the perimeter of a construction tile. The support surface is made integral with a decorative border. Linear railways attach orthogonally to other railways to form the lattice. Tiles are set into the lattice providing a warmer installation relative to installation over concrete tile foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventors: Jiri Poliacek, Jirina Jordan
  • Patent number: 6964137
    Abstract: Elements of laminar bodies (1) made of metal or other material are disclosed, so shaped as to be inserted into straight undercut notches (3) made on plates and/or tiles (2). The laminar bodies (1) have such a sufficient length to protrude from straight undercut notches (3) and so shaped as to allow to be joined to each other or with another interposed body (9) through bolts (8) or the like or by means of joints, welding and the like, so as to form a single body (21) adapted to be anchored strongly to the plate and/or tile (2) allowing said plate to be safely and simply fixed to the structures supporting the facing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Massimiliano Frascari
  • Patent number: 6944999
    Abstract: It has various layers in its structure: the lower layer (2, 2?, 2?) is a resistant base of ceramic origin or similar; the upper layer is a lamina (1) with a visible surface. The two are stuck by an adhesive defining a homogenous intermediate layer (3) without the formation of fragile zones due to the absence of air bubbles since the contact face of the ceramic base (2, 2?, 2?) is domed, the central point being higher than the rest. For preventing the surplus adhesive from flowing out and becoming stuck to other adjacent tiles, it has been provided for the ceramic base or similar (2, 2?, 2?) to include a perimetric flange (5, 5?) which will then be eliminated during the phase of machining the edges when formatting the tile. The perimetric flange (5, 5?) advantageously incorporates some lateral projections or centering stops (6) of the facing lamina (1) in order to optimise the pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: DADA 2000, S.L.
    Inventor: José Maria Abad Criado
  • Patent number: 6925764
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tile for laying in enclosed spaces, and especially but not exclusively for installation in so-called damp rooms, such as bathrooms, toilets, basements, but also entrance halls, conservatories and verandas. The tile according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of at least one decorative plate and one base plate which is fixed to it by foam or by an adhesive, and in that the base plate recedes behind the contour of the decorative plate(s) on at least one side. The invention may further provide a connecting strip for use between adjacent tiles, or a preferably flat heating element located between the decorative plate and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Josef Hrovath, Hugo Lenhard-Backhaus
  • Patent number: 6922963
    Abstract: Moisture and condensation barriers for protecting wood from damage in building structures (particularly but not necessarily in flooring systems) include a liquid rubberized coating material coated onto some of the wood or a barrier sheet having a petroleum-based tar layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Bondo Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Simonelli, Michael Simonelli
  • Patent number: 6907700
    Abstract: Flooring made up of a set of touching parallel floorboards is supported by a set of mutually parallel load-spreading plates placed on the ground via a resilient underlayer on which they rest. The flooring is remarkable by the fact that the floorboards are stuck to the plates by means of beads of elastically-deformable adhesive such as polyurethane placed on the top faces of the plates, preferably in respective longitudinal grooves formed in the top face of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Tarkett Sommer
    Inventor: Pierre Geraud
  • Patent number: 6871463
    Abstract: A mosaic tessera, particularly for outdoor and/or indoor paving, constituted by a small metallic plate which is peripherally provided with perimetric raised portions forming a recess together with the corresponding face of the plate and by a filler element which is shaped complementarily to the recess and is associated with the recess so as to form a single tessera adapted to be applied to the foundation of the paving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Maurizio Placuzzi
  • Patent number: 6837014
    Abstract: A prefabricated underlay material (1) for location between upper surface of a load-bearing floor (8) and a continuous surface material (9), which underlay material comprises a substantially flexible sheet material (2) and dampening projections (3) formed of porous resilient material on one surface of the sheet material and distributed along the surface. Dampening projections (3) comprise strips (13) of foamed polymer or polymer mixture bonded to a first surface (11) of the sheet material without deformation of the surface thereof, which strips are located continuous, or intermittently continuous, with intervals (S) and are either principally straight or substantially undulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Vircon Oy
    Inventor: Thomas Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20040226241
    Abstract: A floor tile system for placing on an ice surface includes a plurality of flexibly interconnected tiles. Each tile includes a tile body that is integrally formed of thermally insulative material, including upstanding supports having a height selected to provide a temperature gradient between the ice surface and the top surface of the tile sufficient to substantially prevent condensation on the top surface when surrounded by typical ice rink ambient conditions of temperature and humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Cheryl M. Forster, Jason D. Carling, Frank A. Jugler, Mark L. Jenkins, Brad Andes, Jeremiah Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6808777
    Abstract: An arrangement which comprises: first and second panel-shaped pieces of flooring for joining together, said pieces resting on a sub-floor and having profiles along mutually meeting edge portions which, on the first piece, consist of a groove and a projection located thereunder, and on the second piece a tongue insertible in the groove, and also a recess accommodating the projection; wherein said projection, at its outer, free edge, is of greater thickness transversely of the plane of extent of the flooring piece than at its inner edge connected with remaining parts of the piece; and wherein the underside of the projection lies flush with the remainder of the underside of the flooring piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: AB Golvabia
    Inventors: Kjell Andersson, Roger Davidsson
  • Patent number: 6799402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor with strips each defining a length and width and along the side and end edges provided with either end tongue or groove. The floor is laid in groups each including a number of tongue and groove assembled strips fastened to a subfloor by means of at least one fastener such as a screw or nail which is driven into the subfloor via at least one stepped transverse hole designed with at least one step in the respective strip and resting against the at least one step with a fastener head covered by a cover plug in the transverse hole. In mounted position, the plug is so stuck that it cannot be stepped down into the transverse hole by e.g. a spike heel which will not be able to damage or break the plug either, as the plug is made of a strong and durable metal such as e.g. bronze or steel. The length of each strip is longer than the width of the strip multiplied by the number of strips in a group. The strips engage each other in a strong and at the same time beautiful braided pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Faxe Design A/S
    Inventors: Per Faxe, Steen Mandsfelt Eriksen
  • Patent number: 6794001
    Abstract: A floor surface is described which involves a plurality of planks joined together using a 2-part adhesive system. Pre-applied adhesives on one or more floor panels are further described as well as methods of installing the floor panels to form a floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao A Chen, Yuhong Hu, Tianjian Huang, Richard Judd, Isaac Rufus
  • Publication number: 20040093819
    Abstract: The invention consists of a back liner panel with pre-formed ribs to secured to a substrate to receive properly shaped tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Donald Ritzer
  • Publication number: 20040060254
    Abstract: There is described a floor covering (6) for covering removable floor panels (1), especially of raised floors. To minimize laying costs, there is uniformly applied on the underside of the floor covering (6) a conductive fixing adhesive (2) that has been air-cured to ready-to-lay condition and that is protected externally against drying out by a backing film (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Weiss-Ausbausysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Weiss
  • Publication number: 20040035071
    Abstract: A molded grating includes at least a grating member and a grating connector. The grating member includes a plurality of grating walls, each having a predetermined height, spaced apart with each other, and a plurality of crossing walls integrally connected to the grating walls in a cross manner, wherein each of the grating walls has an enlarged end portion and an elongated grating body extended therefrom, so as to enhance a structural strength of the grating member. The grating connector includes two resilient wings each having a wing cavity shaped and sized to receive the respective enlarged end portion of the two grating walls to substantially engage the resilient wings with the two grating walls respectively, so as to detachably attach the grating connector to the grating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jim Jian Ho, Yi Feng
  • Publication number: 20040006944
    Abstract: To effectively improve the durability against polishing of a floor sheet by placing a seal part having an improved material and shape on the periphery of edges of the floor sheet bonded to a floor surface. A floor-surface covering structure, comprising: a floor of a building; a floor sheet having an outside size smaller than the size of the floor surface, bonded to the surface of the floor (floor surface); and a seal part that is placed along the edge of the floor sheet and set to the edge and the floor surface, wherein: a material of the seal part is an epoxy resin or a polyester resin, and the seal part has a width that is substantially uniform when viewed is a direction vertical to the floor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Shuji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6670019
    Abstract: In an arrangement for jointing together adjacent pieces of floor covering material, mutually facing edge portions of the pieces in a joint are profiled such that the one piece has a groove-shaped accommodation space in which a corresponding bead-shaped projection on the other piece may be accommodated. The one piece has a flocking which is disposed for holding together adjacent pieces. The profiling has, besides the accommodation space and the projection, mutually facing surfaces on both pieces, at least one of these surfaces being flocked. The flocking or flockings are located outside the defining surfaces of the accommodation space and the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: AB Golvabia
    Inventor: Kjell Andersson
  • Patent number: 6609348
    Abstract: A repeating series of tiles has at least three tiles in a series. Each tile within the series has at least two sides capable of interfacing with adjacent tiles within the series. Each of the two sides of each tile within the series has a different shape in the pile direction than the other tiles within the series such that the last tile within the series is capable of interfacing with the first tile of the next series. Further, each tile within the series has at least one side capable of interfacing with at least one tile within another series in order to have adjoining rows of series of tiles. The present invention further includes both a method for producing and assembling a repeating series of tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Mannington Carpets, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Desai