Abstract: The invention relates to a panel suitable for constructing a waterproof floor or wall covering, wherein the panel has a substantially planar top surface, a substantially planar bottom surface, and at least four substantially linear side edges. The invention also relates to a process for producing a panel according to the invention. The invention further relates to a panel obtainable by said process according to the invention.

Abstract: A bumper designed to block a gap in between a couch and the floor, preventing household items, pets, and children from going into the space underneath couches, and, thus, eliminating messes, damage, injury, or loss. The bumper may be made of corrugated paper, heavy paperboard, or cardboard. The bumper may comprise a flat, rectangular body segmented into flat, rectangular sections using parallel folds, where the sections are configured to secure the bumper in between the couch and the floor. The bumper is setback from the couch frame perimeter to not be obtrusive, strong enough to resist inward pressure, and, in some embodiments, may contain cut lines and fold lines. A plurality of bumpers may, through a series of truncations, be customized to fully block access to the space underneath the couch for variety of couch lengths, widths, and heights.

Abstract: A bumper designed to block a gap in between a bed and the floor, preventing household items, pets, and children from going into the space underneath beds, and, thus, eliminating messes, damage, injury, or loss. The bumper may be made of corrugated paper, heavy paperboard, or cardboard. The bumper may comprise a flat, rectangular body segmented into flat, rectangular sections using parallel folds, where the sections are configured to secure the bumper in between the bed and the floor. The bumper is setback from the bedframe perimeter to not be obtrusive, strong enough to resist inward pressure, and, in some embodiments, may contain markings to indicate triangular truncations. A plurality of bumpers may, through a series of truncations, be customized to fully block access to the space underneath the bed for variety of bed lengths, widths, and heights.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatuses are described herein that provide a tile alternative material. The tile alternative material may be manufactured by providing a substrate that defines a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is configured to be secure, via an adhesive or otherwise, to a support surface. The method further includes coating an exterior layer on the first surface of the substrate, and forming a pattern element in the first surface of the substrate. Forming the pattern element includes removing material from the substrate and the coated exterior layer of the first surface to form one or more recessed portions.

Abstract: A wedge levelling system for aligning surface coverings includes a tab with a substantially flat base and a vertical member extending away from a central area of the top surface of the base. The base includes beveled feet portions on opposite sides for insertion under lower surfaces of adjacent surface coverings, with the vertical member extending between the tiles. The vertical member is attached to the base with frangible leg. The vertical member includes an opening spaced so as to be above two adjacent tiles. When a wedge is inserted and held in the opening and presses down, the tiles are pushed downwardly toward a surface upon which they are being laid to properly align the edges thereof until the tiles are set, the wedge removed and the vertical member broken off at the frangible leg portions.

Abstract: A floor covering, made of floor elements, which, at least at two opposite sides, include a male coupling part and a female coupling part, which allow that two of such floor elements can be interconnected at the respective sides at the respective sides by pushing one of these floor elements with the associated male coupling part, by a downward movement, home into the female coupling part of the other floor element. At least one of the coupling parts, either the male coupling part or the female coupling part, is made at least partially in a filled synthetic material composite, such as extruded wood.

Abstract: A floor covering, made of floor elements, which, at least at two opposite sides, include a male coupling part and a female coupling part, which allow that two of such floor elements can be interconnected at the respective sides at the respective sides by pushing one of these floor elements with the associated male coupling part, by a downward movement, home into the female coupling part of the other floor element. At least one of the coupling parts, either the male coupling part or the female coupling part, is made at least partially in a filled synthetic material composite, such as extruded wood.

Abstract: A tile levelling device (10) includes a base portion (12) having an upper surface (14) and an opposing lower surface (16), the lower surface (16) being substantially planar; two stems (20) each having a proximal end frangibly connected to the base portion (120) and a distal end connected to a body (32), a generally rectangular hole (34) being defined by the stems (20) the base portion upper surface (14) and the body (32), the hole (34) being adapted to receive a wedge (50); and a stiffening formation (70) located at or near the interface between each stem (20) and the body (32).

Abstract: A mat unit includes a plurality of gaps defined by a first layer that are in open communication with gaps defined by a second layer so as to permit debris to fall entirely through both gaps to pass completely through the mat unit. The mat unit is part of an omnidirectional mat cleaning system that includes a first direction of travel above the mat unit extending through a door opening defined by a building structure. A different second direction of travel is above the mat unit extending through the door opening or another door opening defined by the building structure. The mat unit is installed on a floor adjacent the door opening. The mat unit cleans shoes regardless of the direction of travel traveled above the mat unit.

Abstract: A levelling system for aligning surface coverings includes a tab with a substantially flat base and a vertical member extending away from a central area of the top surface of the base. The base includes beveled feet portions on opposite sides thereof to allow it to be more easily inserted under lower surfaces of adjacent surface coverings, with the vertical member extending between opposed edges or ends of the tiles. The vertical member is attached to the base by reduced width frangible leg portions held in rounded openings, below the top surface of the base. The vertical member includes an opening spaced so as to be above two adjacent tiles when the tiles are placed on the base on either side of the vertical member. When a wedge is inserted and held in the opening and presses down, the tiles are pushed downwardly toward a surface upon which they are being laid to properly align the edges thereof until the tiles are set, the wedge removed and the vertical member broken off at the frangible leg portions.

Abstract: A device used in the installation of a surface of ceramic parts that are levelled and aligned using a securing product. The device includes: a base, with an orthogonal cross-shaped structure formed of four arms, having an undulating surface; and at least two flexible planar attachments projecting up from the base and positioned symmetrically along the length of the base. The opposing planar surfaces of each of the flexible attachments including side ribs for slidably mounting and guiding upper bodies which, by applying pressure, contact with the upper surface of multiple covering parts (P), thereby being levelled.

Abstract: A machine for aligning items in a pattern and a method of using the machine. The machine includes a robotic assembly having four spaced apart joints. The joints including a base joint which is mounted to a stationary surface and a wrist joint onto which an effector is secured. A suction cup is mounted on the effector and is connected to a vacuum source. The suction cup is capable to picking up, positioning and releasing a new item relative to a first laid item and a second laid item. The first and second laid items each have an upper surface and each is aligned perpendicular to one another. The machine further includes three edge sensors and three height sensor.

Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap, configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile, even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Abstract: A tile alignment and leveling device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are being secured to a substrate. The device includes a flexible member, a bottom plate, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member spaces the flexible member and bottom plate a predetermined vertical distance. The flexible member has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position and a second (downward) position. In use and in its second position, the flexible member second end exerts force against the top of the tiles to help align and level the tiles as they are secured to the substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide apparatuses and methods for installing tile with a tile installation guide. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tile installation guide including a guide body having a polygonal outer surface and an opening configured to surround a non-polygonal element, wherein a thickness of the guide body is substantially equivalent to a thickness of a tile for which the guide is used.

Abstract: A kit for fixing tiles to a wall comprising: a tile having a protrusion extending from an edge thereof; and a fixing element arranged to be fastened to the wall and to accommodate the protrusion so as to secure the tile in position.

Abstract: Ceramic floors and methods of making thereof such that the ceramic tiles are quickly and easily removable from the floor substrate and replaceable at a future date. A ceramic tile floor is laid by releasably adhering a sheet to a floor substrate and bonding at least one ceramic tile to the sheet. A plurality of pre-fabricated articles each comprising a sheet and one or more ceramic tiles bonded to the sheet are laid onto the floor substrate with sheet edges abutting, and the sheets are releasably adhered to the floor substrate. The tile edges are set inwardly from the sheet edges so that a tile of one article is spaced from a tile of another article when the articles are laid. A non-Portland cement grout, preferably urethane grout, is provided between adjacent tiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floor panel, in particular a laminated floor panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled floor panels according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for mutually coupling two floor panels, in particular laminated floor panels, according to the invention.

Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base interstitial strap, which is connected to said under tile base, a shim shell cap configured to slip over the connecting tab. A bottom tile mating shim and a top shim.

Abstract: Provided is a forming device for forming an adhesive composition so that tiles can be reliably laid on a laying surface.

Abstract: A modular tile configured to interlock with multiple tiles to form a modular floor covering over a floor. The tile includes a top surface having a periphery defining side walls extending downward from the top surface, the side walls having a coupling portion configured to couple with other tiles adjacent thereto to form the modular floor covering. The tile also includes a bottom side, opposite the top surface, having a support grid including an array of downward extending polymeric post structures, at least some of the post structures including at least one resilient end portion configured to be positioned against the floor to facilitate controlled deflection of the post structures. The post structures may comprise primary and secondary post structures, with the secondary post structures limiting the deflection of the primary post structures.

Abstract: A system for mounting tile relative to a flat surface may include a plurality of tiles and support structure to be mounted to the flat surface. The support structure may have a plurality of support surfaces on which the tiles are mounted such that the tiles are at different angles and/or heights relative to the flat surface. The support surfaces may be arranged in a wide variety of patterns, and may have shapes that correspond to those of the tiles. The tiles and support surfaces may have a wide variety of shapes. The support structure may be a single piece on which all of the support surfaces are formed, or may be created through the assembly of multiple support blocks, each of which has one or more of the support surfaces thereon.

Abstract: An abutment device, in particular for laying floor elements, is proposed, comprising a first abutment element with a first abutment face and a second abutment face, which is oriented transversely to the first abutment face, and a second abutment element with a third abutment face, which is oriented transversely to the first abutment face, and which second abutment element is slidingly displaceably guided in a fixable manner on the first abutment element, a spacing between the first abutment face and the third abutment face being fixably adjustable, the first abutment element, on a side opposite to the first abutment face, having a recess, which is limited by an edge and in which the second abutment element is arranged.

Abstract: An adjustable tile spacer is described. In one example, the tile spacer includes a first support bar connected to a first spacer arm. The first spacer arm has a top face to abut a wall and support a tile. A second support bar is movably connected to the first support bar. A second spacer arm is connected the second support bar. The first spacer arm has a bottom face to abut a wall and to support the second support bar against a tile. A lock fixes the first and the second support bars in a position with respect to each other when the lock is engaged to define a distance between the top face and the bottom face corresponding to a gap between two tiles.

Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap, configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile, even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Abstract: Interconnectable panels having tongue-and-groove connections are mechanically connected to each other by first moving two panels into an intermediate position and then pivoting one panel with respect to the other. The underside of the tongue of one panel has a depression, while the groove of another panel has a protruding lower lip. The lower lip has a projection that fits in the depression when the two panels are in the intermediate position.

Abstract: A casing system for covering the edges of structural frameworks and the like. The system includes a first casing piece and a second casing piece shaped to fit together. The first casing piece has a decorative profile milled into at least one side or end edge. The second casing piece has a reverse image of the decorative profile milled into a side or end edge. The pieces fit together by abutting edges or sides having a decorative profile and the reverse image of the decorative profile.

Abstract: A tile alignment and leveling device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are being secured to a substrate. The device includes a flexible member, a bottom plate, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member spaces the flexible member and bottom plate a predetermined vertical distance. The flexible member has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position and a second (downward) position. In use and in its second position, the flexible member second end exerts force against the top of the tiles to help align and level the tiles as they are secured to the substrate.

Abstract: Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system having small local protrusions which reduce displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and locked vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide apparatuses and methods for installing tile with a tile installation guide. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tile installation guide comprising a guide body having a polygonal outer surface and an opening configured to surround a non-polygonal element.

Abstract: The ceramic tiled floor includes tiles provided along at least one edge with grooves, and tongued strips, complementary to the grooves adapted to connect adjacent tiles, so as to give the entire floor stability and planarity.

Abstract: A tile levelling device includes a base portion having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, one or more recesses being formed in the upper surface. The tile levelling device also includes a stem frangibly connected to the base portion at or near a low point of said recess, the stem including a hole adapted to receive a wedge.

Abstract: A piece for flooring which includes a wear layer, a pattern layer, a base layer, and a backing layer. The base layer may be made of a mixture including ilmenite powder. About one third of the mixture may be ilmenite powder. The mixture may also include calcium carbonate, wherein about one quarter of the mixture is calcium carbonate. The mixture may further include polyvinylchloride, wherein about one quarter of the mixture is polyvinylchloride. The backing layer may include a plurality of devices which are hexagonally shaped, wherein the plurality of devices form a honeycomb structure which contacts a top floor surface when the piece is placed on the top floor surface. The backing layer may have a bottom surface including anti-slip backing film, which may be comprised of polyurethane.

Abstract: A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Abstract: A tile system, comprising: —a mounting unit, e.g. a rail fixed to a wall; —a tile unit, e.g. a frame holding a decorative tile; —a tile unit-fastening device configured to fasten the tile unit to the mounting unit, e.g. a pin engaging recesses formed on the mounting and the tile unit, the tile unit-fastening device preferably comprising a repositioning mechanism configured to allow the tile unit to move in one or two directions parallel to the wall after the tile unit is fastened to the mounting unit, e.g. the pin having ribs on its outer surface and the recesses being elongated and having cooperating ribs on their elongated inner faces.

Abstract: A fastening system for floor panels, which has profiles on small faces of the panels. Opposite retaining profiles match so that similar panels can be interlinked. The panels have opposite first retaining profiles configured so on a panel in first line, a new panel can be locked in second line by attaching the new panel to the installed panel at an angle relative to the installed panel and then swiveling it down into the plane of the installed panel. The panel has opposite second retaining elements that have corresponding hook elements. A hook connection can be established by a hook element of the new panel and hook element of a panel already installed in second line by swiveling the new panel. Every hook connection is associated with an additional locking element that prevents the release of the hook connection in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the installed panels.

Abstract: Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system having small local protrusions which reduce displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and locked vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a tile spacer for providing spacing between adjacent tiles during installation on an installation surface includes a body portion defining a substantially planar surface, a flange portion extending outward from the body portion along the planar surface and at least one arm member extending from the flange portion substantially perpendicular to the planar surface and configured for insertion between adjacent tiles

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of floating carpet for covering any size surface, including entire rooms, by interlocking carpet covered bases on which resides a layer of carpet where each portion of the multiple tiles forming the carpet is a flat plastic base with side interlocking mechanisms made of male and mating female connectors to allow for the rapid design and installation of a modular layer of carpeting over existing surfaces, and more specifically multiple rectangular tiles each with a polymeric base on which is attached a piece of carpet for quick interlocking of side locking mechanisms on the polymeric base to secure adjacent carpet tiles into a carpet over a surface.

Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning method and system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Abstract: A tile aligning and leveling method and system that uses an under tile base re-usable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a re-usable flexible edge slotted cap, configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible, spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile, even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Abstract: An intake manifold (2) of comburent air is presented for an internal combustion engine (1) provided with a recirculating conduit (60) of exhaust gases. The intake manifold (2) includes a first inlet mouth (213) of the comburent air, a second inlet mouth (214) in communication with the recirculating conduit (60) of the exhaust gases, and a plurality of outlet mouths (201), having a wall (7) positioned in front of each of the outlet mouths (201) and configured for dividing the internal volume of the intake manifold (2) into two chambers (215, 204), the first chamber (215) being placed in communication with the first inlet mouth (213) and the second inlet mouth (214) and the second chamber (204) being placed in communication with the outlet mouths (201), the wall (7) defining an opening (70) adapted for placing the first chamber (215) and the second chamber (204) in communication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) used as a laying aid for tiling work, comprising a base element (7, 8) having a support region (12) for laying flat on a surface to be covered with tiles (16), and a tile-supporting region (2) on which tiles (16) are placed. The tile-supporting region (2) has at least two web-like spacer elements (9) which extend perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the tile-supporting region (2) and which are arranged at an angle of an integer multiple of 90° relative to one another in said plane, and which have a thickness (10) corresponding to a desired joint spacing. To avoid the disadvantages of the known laying aids and to achieve uniform joint spacing and an even surface, whereby the laying aid is intended to be especially easy to handle, the base element (7, 8) is designed as a disk-like element having a base area that is smaller than a base area of the tiles (16) to be laid.

Abstract: Provided is a method of installing a tile mosaic upon a vertical concrete surface. The method includes providing a plurality of tiles, a tile support, and a concrete form. The plurality of tiles are adhered to the tile support to define a mosaic assembly. The tiles are positioned on the tile support corresponding to the mosaic. The mosaic assembly is connected to the concrete form, and concrete is poured within the concrete form such that a portion of the tiles become embedded within the concrete. The tile support is subsequently detached from the concrete form and the concrete form is removed from the cured concrete. The tile support is additionally removed from the plurality of tiles to reveal the mosaic on vertical surface of the concrete structure.

Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning method and system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Abstract: Modular floor tiles and modular floors are described herein. A modular floor tile may include a top surface, a plurality of edge surfaces, and a plurality of interlocking member for attachment to adjacent tiles. One interlocking member may include a protrusion having a curved interlocking portion. Another interlocking member may include a recess having a curved pocket portion. An interface between the curved interlocking portion of one tile and the curved pocket portion of another tile may allow pivot movement between the tiles. A modular floor may include a plurality of interlocking tiles connected to one another. Methods of forming a modular floor that includes a plurality of modular floor tiles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Rectangular carpet modules or “planks” and installation of such planks having the continuous appearance of broadloom carpet or a wide variety of other effective, human scale designs. “Planks” sized approximately ¼ meter (25 cm) by 1 meter (100 cm) (or approximately 9 inches by 36 inches) are particularly effective.

Abstract: A tile levelling device includes a base portion having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, one or more recesses being formed in the upper surface. The tile levelling device also includes a stem frangibly connected to the base portion at or near a low point of said recess, the stem including a hole adapted to receive a wedge.

Abstract: A leveling spacer for laying wall tiles, paving tiles and the like with the interposition of gaps, which comprises a base with spacing protrusions for the abutment of the edges of corresponding tiles so as to define the width of the gaps, a threaded stem, which is fixed at right angles to the base in at least one easily breakable point, a knob for clamping and removing the threaded stem, which comprises a female threaded portion adapted to be screwed to the threaded stem.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes various brackets and systems for forming tiled transitions between surfaces. One bracket embodiment for forming a tiled transition between a first surface and a second surface forming an inside corner includes a first base portion securable to the first surface, a second base portion securable to the second surface, a receiving slot angled with respect to the first and second surfaces for receiving a tile strip to form the tiled transition, and a channel for receiving a filler material adjacent to the receiving slot.