Patents by Inventor James C. Sweet

James C. Sweet has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5900099
    Abstract: A method of making a glue-down prefinished hardwood flooring product, which includes the steps of providing a wooden flooring component for installation with like flooring components to form a floor. The flooring component has a top surface for being exposed after installation, a bottom surface and opposed side edges. The bottom surface of the flooring component has a plurality of longitudinally-spaced scores cut therein transverse to the length of flooring component from one side edge to the other side edge and along substantially the entire length of flooring component for more closely adhering to irregularities of the subfloor. An adhesive layer is applied and permanently adhered directly to the bottom surface of the flooring component from one end edge to an opposite end edge thereof for providing an attachment interface surface for adhering the flooring component to the subfloor. Locking means are formed in the flooring component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: James C. Sweet, B. Shannon Fuller
  • Patent number: 5894700
    Abstract: A flooring product for application to a subfloor which includes a wooden flooring component for installation with like flooring components to form a floor. The flooring component has a top surface for being exposed after installation and a base surface, a pressure-sensitive adhesive carried on a foam tape applied and permanently adhered directly to the base surface of the flooring component for providing an attachment interface surface for adhering the flooring component to the subfloor, and a protective release cover applied and releasably adhered to the attachment interface surface of the adhesive to protect the adhesive until removal of the release cover when the flooring component is applied to the subfloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Sweet
  • Patent number: 5830549
    Abstract: A flooring product for application to a subfloor which includes a wooden flooring component for installation with like flooring components to form a floor. The flooring component has a top surface for being exposed after installation and a bottom surface, a layer of an adhesive applied and permanently adhered directly to the bottom surface of the flooring component for providing an attachment interface surface for adhering the flooring component to the subfloor, and a protective release cover applied and releasably adhered to the attachment interface surface of the adhesive to protect the adhesive until removal of the release cover when the flooring component is applied to the subfloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Sweet, B. Shannon Fuller
  • Patent number: 5804019
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying adhesive and a protective release paper to successive elongate wooden flooring strips having a top decorative side, and a bottom adhesive side for being adhered to a supporting subfloor. The apparatus includes an infeed conveyor for receiving successive wooden flooring strips top side-up from an upstream processing station in parallel lengthwise alignment to each other and moving the flooring strips in a direction of movement perpendicular to the length of the flooring strips. An accumulator equally spaces the flooring strips apart on the infeed conveyor. An inverter receives successive flooring strips from the infeed conveyor and inverts the flooring strips from top decorative side-up to bottom adhesive side-up. An applicator conveyor receives the inverted flooring strips from the inverter and moves the flooring strips end-to-end in a direction of movement parallel to the length of the flooring strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Sweet, Ernest E. Cline, Alan E. Cline
  • Patent number: 5736227
    Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Sweet, William S. Smith
  • Patent number: 5283102
    Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Premier Wood Floors
    Inventors: James C. Sweet, William S. Smith