Abstract: Raised access flooring utilizing panels having a thick, resilient pad bonded directly to and covering the entire surface of the panel. The pad acts like the backing layer of a conventional floor treatment by absorbing impact and attenuation sound. A reinforced face cloth module having only a face layer and a stabilizing layer covers the pad to protect the pad from wear and to provide an attractive floor treatment. The reinforced face cloth module can be detachable or bonded directly to the pad. Alternatively, hook and loop fasteners can removably affix the pad to the face cloth module.

Abstract: Flooring systems including a metal raised access flooring panel (10) that is solid or is perforated by oval or oblong openings having major axes not parallel to any panel edge. The major slot axes may, for instance, be at a 45° angle to each panel edge. The slots (28) may be arranged in “clusters” of six slots, with one pair of slots above another pair and one slot to each side of, and mid-way above and below, the stacked pairs. Alternatively, the panels (10) may be perforated by circular holes arranged in a similar pattern. Adjacent panels may be interlocked with retractable pins extending from one panel (10) to another. Pedestal heads and stringers are adapted to accommodate panels of different sizes.

Abstract: A carpet sample book is provided which is constructed from a single sheet of material, such as cardboard. Tab and slot fasteners are used to avoid the need of adhesives. The samples are supported in the facing pages of the book by slots which are cut into the cardboard surface. The slots are cut in a “C” shape which allows the samples to be held at an angle.

Abstract: A floor game including tiles which are laid on a playing surface forming a playing area, and an optical instrument. Each tile is covered by a polarized film. A path across the playing area is revealable by utilizing the optical instrument available to a game facilitator. The players see a design on the playing area. A path across the playing area is invisible to players not wearing the optical instrument. Each player traverses the path with assistance of the game facilitator and by observing steps taken by the previous players. The object of the game is for players to discover and traverse the path across the playing area from end to end through a team effort. In an alternative embodiment, the game is played with one or more teams utilizing one or more playing areas with each team trying to complete a path on their respective playing area.

Abstract: Processes for tufting substrate or primary carpet backing using conventional double needle bars but in which the needles may be shifted less than a full gauge. Processes of the present invention may employ a conventional double needle bar tufting machine to which is added means for shifting or indexing the hook bar laterally to the machine direction of the substrate being tufted. Timing of shifting of the hook bar may be coordinated with timing of shifting of the needle bar and advance of the substrate through the machine to allow piles to be tufted into the substrate at any desired lateral position with respect to previously tufted piles. The invention creates additional pile color pattern alternatives and eliminates repetitive patterns otherwise necessitated by full gauge shifting. Elimination of repeat color sequences reduces matching color sequences on adjoining edges of adjacent carpet tiles made from such substrate which otherwise accentuate or highlight the seams between carpet tiles.

Abstract: A carpet sample book is constructed from a single sheet of cardboard or other suitable material. The sheet is creased to define a number of panels. The sheet may be folded over itself to make the panels several layers thick. Cutouts are made through some or all of the layers to holding carpet samples. The creases act like hinges which allow the panels to be folded over each other so that the entire assembly can be folded into a compact book.

Abstract: A system for reclaiming carpet components such as yarn, tufting primary, binder, and secondary backing wherein the carpet is sprayed with a high velocity water spray so as to disjoint the components from one another, and thereafter, separating the secondary backing from the yarn and tufting primary. Desirably, water is removed from the disjointed carpet after spraying the carpet with high pressure water spray. This system is useful for reclaiming components of broadloom carpet and carpet tiles and cleanly and efficiently separates tie components of carpet.

Abstract: A molded fabric treatment includes an integral undercut or inturned peripheral flange for affixing the treatment to the structure to be treated. The treatments have a conventional, decorative, woven polyester fabric (of the type currently used in conventional office divider screen systems), or fabrics comprising other synthetic or natural fibers, bonded with adhesive to a relatively stiff moldable non-woven polyester fiber backing. The treatments are formed in a membrane or bladder press in which a flexible membrane presses the fabric and fiber composite against a form or mold that includes an undercut edge which, in cooperation with the press membrane, forms undercut flanges about the periphery of the treatment. The undercut or inturned flange may then be "snapped" over a corresponding mounting lip on the structure to be treated.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: Methods and system according to the present invention enable a highly streamlined and efficient fabric or textile sampling and design process particularly valuable in the design and selection of floor coverings, wall coverings and other interior design treatments. A digital library of fabric models is created, preferably including digitized full-color images and having associated a digital representation of positions that are located within and which characterize the models. Via an application implemented according to conventional software methods and running on conventional hardware having high resolution graphics processing capabilities, a user may navigate among the set of alternative models, and may modify the positions of the selected models to test out desired combinations of characteristics--such as poms or yarn ends, for models of floor coverings--and view the results in high resolution.

Abstract: A polyurethane-modified bitumen coating composition of selected surface tack and fluidity. The composition includes: bitumen; a minor modifying amount of a polyurethane prepared by the reaction of a polyisocyanate and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene; a tackifier; and a filler material.

Abstract: A stencil for use in sandblasting stone objects having a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) layer cast onto a polyester liner. The formulation of the PVC layer comprises about 120 parts phthalate plasticizer and about 30 parts filler (typically calcium carbonate) per 100 parts resin.

Abstract: A water absorptive material comprising a fibrous substrate impregnated with a water absorptive, water insoluble polymer, wherein the polymer is intertwined and interlocked with fibers of the fibrous substrate, and the use of such water absorptive material to form a water control zone to prevent water egress from the water control zone into adjacent ground or water ingress into the water control zone from adjacent ground.

Abstract: A modified bitumen sheet material and method for a protective moisture barrier, particularly for masonry surfaces. The sheet material has a bitumen layer modified by the addition of a minor amount of a long-chain polybutadiene-isocyanate urethane polymer and optionally, a modifying amount of a hydrocarbon oil to provide a stable, non-flow and selected tackified surface properties to the bitumen layer. The sheet material includes a releasable casting paper film on one surface of the bitumen layer, to be removed prior to use, and a cross-linked polyethylene film bonded to the other outer surface of the bitumen layer as a handling or moisture barrier sheet. The sheet material is prepared by casting the hot, melted bitumen as a layer onto a casting paper sheet and applying the outer film to the exposed bitumen surface to bond to the top surface.

Abstract: Mechanical fasteners having parallel barbs extending vertically from a horizontal planar member to secure layers of a floor covering. When interposed between floor covering layers the barbs penetrate and anchor into a floor covering material. When a consumer desires to separate the layers, and to replace or recycle one or all the layers of the floor covering, he can do so readily by pulling the layers apart, and then securing new layers together with the mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A carpet swatch holder in accordance with the present invention is constructed from a single sheet of extruded plastic or other suitable material. T-shaped structures or channels protrude from the faces of the sheet. Carpet swatches placed on the sheet so that at least two edges are inserted between the crossbar of the T-shaped structure and the face of the sheet. The channels are spaced at one or more predetermined intervals to allow swatches of any desired size to be inserted into the holder.

Abstract: Mechanical fasteners having parallel barbs extending vertically from a horizontal planar member to secure layers of a floor covering. When interposed between floor covering layers the barbs penetrate and anchor into a floor covering material. When a consumer desires to separate the layers, and to replace or recycle one or all the layers of the floor covering, he can do so readily by pulling the layers apart, and then securing new layers together with the mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A system for controlling tension improves carpet quality by maintaining tension along a primary backing material at a constant value. The system controls the tension by maintaining the speed of an entry pin roller slightly slower than the speed of an exit pin roller. The exit pin roller is driven with a main drive motor while the entry pin roller is independently driven by a separate vector drive motor. An encoder, coupled to the exit pin roller, is driven in synchronism with the exit pin roller and produces a pulsed output which is converted into an analog signal representative of the speed of the exit pin roller. A controller receives a user-defined desired value of tension and monitors outputs of a pair of load cells to determine the amount of tension actually on the primary backing material. Based on the difference between the actual value of tension and the desired value of tension, the controller produces a control signal which is fed to a drive circuit.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a dish-shaped cabinet skate made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which is applied to furniture feet. The skate is adapted to be affixed in a permanent or semi-permanent manner on standard office furniture feet. The skate has an inherently low coefficient of friction with respect to conventional carpeting, thus allowing easy sliding. The skate is shaped to include large radius bends at the edges and a slight crowning of the bottom surface to further reduce resistance to sliding.

Abstract: A modified bitumen sheet material and method for a protective moisture barrier, particularly for masonry surfaces. The sheet material has a bitumen layer modified by the addition of a minor amount of a long-chain polybutadiene-isocyanate urethane polymer and optionally, a modifying amount of a hydrocarbon oil to provide a stable, non-flow and selected tackified surface properties to the bitumen layer. The sheet material includes a releasable casting paper film on one surface of the bitumen layer, to be removed prior to use, and a cross-linked polyethylene film bonded to the other outer surface of the bitumen layer as a handling or moisture barrier sheet. The sheet material is prepared by casting the hot, melted bitumen as a layer onto a casting paper sheet and applying the outer film to the exposed bitumen surface to bond to the top surface.