Abstract: The invention relates to a textured surface covering having a hot melt wear layer without distortion of the visual image of the textured substrate. The wear layer substantially follows the contours of the substrate with minimum change in thickness of the wear layer over the textured surface and provides an aesthetically pleasing three dimensional appearance to the textured surface of the substrate. The wear layer exhibits significant clarity and visual depth, as well as improved maintenance (cleanability) properties. The resulting product has a visual image clarity reflecting any texture in the substrate including very light reflective (lenticular moray) embossings.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use with an electrified ceiling framework having a conductive body with a first end and second end. The first end of the conductive body is arranged and disposed to provide selective electrical contact to a first conductive surface disposed adjacent to a ceiling framework. The first end also includes a conductive, mechanically biased member capable of maintaining physical contact with the first conductive surface. The second end includes a surface arranged and disposed to provide selective electrical contact to a device selected from the group consisting of a voltage source, a second conductive surface, an electrical device and combinations thereof. The conductive body provides electrical connectivity between the conductive surface and the device.

Abstract: A lighting fixture apparatus includes a frame portion, a louver portion and a diffuser lens. The louver portion includes a baffle system for passing unobstructed at least a portion of the light impinging thereon. The diffuser lens includes a surface for diffusing light rays. At least one directional lighting apparatus comprised of LED strips is attached to and supported by the frame portion. The LED strips are disposed between the louver portion and the diffuser portion. The LED assembly includes a rigid strip having a first end and a second end opposite the first end portion, and a first surface and a second surface opposite the second surface. A first rotary support member and a second rotary support member are connected to the strip portion at respective first and second ends. A plurality of electrical lighting elements are mounted on the first surface and are configured in at least one electrical circuit.

Abstract: Surface coverings and surface covering components and methods for forming them using slot die coating are disclosed. The methods involve applying a plurality of wet layers to a substrate simultaneously or in sequence using a slot die coater, wherein a plurality of wet layers can be applied before any of the individual layers are dried, gelled, cured and/or fused. The layers remain separate and distinct before and after drying, gelling, curing and/or fusing, and can be dried, gelled, cured and/or fused together or separately after wet on wet application to the substrate. The surface coverings may be decorative surface covering, including floor coverings.

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: A plywood laminate having dimensional stability and resistance to warping and delamination is formed from a plurality of higher quality plies and a plurality of lower quality plies. The higher quality plies may be of hardwood and the lower quality plies may be of softwood or lower quality hardwoods, or the higher quality plies may have a veneer grade of better than ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2000 veneer grade C and the lower quality plies may have a veneer grade of no greater than ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2000 veneer grade C. The exposed plies are of the higher quality. In most embodiments, at least two adjacent interior plies are of the lower quality. In those embodiments having a tongue and groove or click-lock edge configuration, the tongue comprises portions of at least two plies and at least one of the plies is a higher quality ply.

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: 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: A resilient floor covering with a regenerative, dirt-repellent surface contains a matrix based on natural and/or synthetic materials and at least one substance that is capable of migrating within the matrix and the amount of the substance is in excess of its compatibility in the matrix. The resilient floor covering according to the invention preferably has an embossed surface and a matrix, into which a particulate material with greater hardness than that of the matrix is incorporated. The floor covering is characterized by improved soiling behavior and increased wear resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus and system to secure a panel to suspended ceiling system which includes a plurality of suspension elements. The apparatus is a border structure that enables attachment of the panel to the suspension element. The border structure includes a plurality of horizontal surface members and a plurality of vertical sections, with a first horizontal surface member being inserted into a hanger secured to the suspension element, and with a second horizontal surface member supporting an end of a panel. At least one vertical section joins the plurality of horizontal surface members. A spring hold down clip secures the panel from unintended displacement during a seismic event.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of joining at least two linoleum sheets. The method includes creating a seam between the linoleum sheets and forming a bead of non-epoxy adhesive on a seam edge or injecting the non-epoxy adhesive into a closed seam. The seam formed by the edges of the linoleum sheets is joined and filled with the adhesive. Excess adhesive is removed and the seam is rolled and the seam adhesive is limited to the area between the linoleum sheets and the substrate within one linoleum sheet thickness of the seam.

Abstract: A coating composition and process of applying the coating to a substrate are provided herein. The coating composition includes filler particles, binder and a liquid carrier, such as water. The filler particles have an average particle size in the range from about 100 to about 600 microns and preferably in the range from about 200 to about 450 microns. The coating composition comprises from about 15% to about 50% by weight liquid carrier and from about 35% to about 90% by dry solids weight filler particles. The coating composition preserves the acoustic performance characteristics of the substrate to which it is applied, while imparting a textured appearance to the substrate, making the substrate virtually indistinguishable from surrounding panels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.

Abstract: Waterborne coating compositions, methods of applying such compositions, and substrates coated with such compositions are described. The compositions include an aqueous dispersion of a polyurethane resin, an epoxy resin, and a polyvinyl chloride resin. The compositions can also include an aminoplast such as a melamine, and one or more curing agents. Additionally, the compositions can include flatting agents, colored metallic and/or polymeric particles, hard particles, surfactants, rheology modifiers, defoamers, and coalescing aids. The coating composition can be applied to virtually any surface and cured using conventional heat curing techniques, whether or not there is a chemically embossed layer. However, it is advantageously used in surface coverings in combination with a chemically embossed layer. In one embodiment, the surface covering includes a chemically embossed layer and a cured top layer, which are both cured in a single heating step or plurality of heating steps.

Abstract: Disclosed are both a method and composition for providing a flooring visual by agglomeration of components. The flooring visual is comprised of a jaspe or marble like finish. The agglomerated mix may be formed into welding rods or into decorative sheets. The decorative sheets may be seamed with the welding rods.

Abstract: An acoustically absorbent porous panel with a layer constructed from a substantially continuous open-celled porous material comprising a cured foamed cementitious material including a first face and a second face. The first face has a surface with a substantially planar profile and the second face has a substantially geometric pattern of depressions formed therein comprising approximately 50% to approximately 90% of the layer by volume.

Abstract: An entertainment sound panel that serves foreground music and paging applications. The entertainment sound panel of the present invention is constructed of honeycomb materials and adhesives. The driver of the entertainment sound panel is mounted and supported on a bridge structure that spans the entertainment sound panel on its back side. The driver interacts with the panel through the voice coil assembly. The driver is separated from the entertainment sound panel by a contact pad to deal with the shear problems between the sound panel and driver. Improvement in low frequency (bass) response is provided by a butt joint that lays next to an adjacent isolation pad, and can float freely. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a lower cost flat panel sound radiator for low end business applications where the performance characteristics of the radiator are less important than the cost. The low end flat panel radiator is constructed from a polypropylene or similar material.

Abstract: Surface coverings and surface covering components that include a textured transparent or translucent wear layer and a design layer, where the design layer is printed with an ink that includes collapsible microspheres, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such surface coverings and surface covering components. In one embodiment, a pattern is printed on a substrate to be coated with a wear layer. In another embodiment, a clear transparent or translucent layer underlies the design layer. The ink includes collapsible microspheres, and can also include foaming inhibitors. A number of surface covering substrates and surface coverings can be prepared using the methods described herein. The surface coverings include a substrate, for example, a foamable substrate, a design layer printed with an ink composition that includes collapsible microspheres, and a wear layer.