Patents by Inventor James Counihan

James Counihan 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: 7096631
    Abstract: A resilient flooring system in combination with an athletic court having a playing direction and a cross-direction transverse of said playing direction. The flooring system comprises a non-resilient base covered with a resilient layer, and sub-flooring comprising substantially rectangular panel members laid side-by-side and end-to-end in staggered relationship diagonally of the playing direction. The panels are slightly spaced along their ends and sides to form expansion joints. Flooring shorts are arranged over the sub-floor in end-to-end and side-to-side engagement. The shorts are arranged to extend parallel with the playing direction over the entire length of the court. The shorts are also arranged so that a section thereof between opposed ends extends over the expansion joints. Securing members secure each short with the panel members on opposing sides of the expansion slots. Finally, clips are provided to secure the panel members with the base flooring in a manner allowing limited vertical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 6164031
    Abstract: A resilient flooring formed over a base floor which includes a plurality of parallel spaced channel members secured with the base floor. Each channel member which forms a channel includes a base, spaced vertical sides and inwardly directed rims secured at upper ends of each of said sides. At least one resilient member is positioned between adjacent of the channel members and sub-floor panels are arranged between the channel members over the resilient member. Opposed ends of the sub-floor panels adjacent the channel members are formed with a recessed shoulder. Adjacent shoulders form a groove across the sub-floor panels. Flooring strips are secured with the sub-floor panels forming a flooring surface. Clips which engage the rims of the channel members and with the shoulders of the sub-flooring panels, act to secure the resilient flooring a maximum position away from the base floor while allowing movement toward the base floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 6158185
    Abstract: A resilient base flooring for assembly on a base surface having a plurality of sub-floor panels carried above the base surface in substantial side-by-side and end-to-end arrangement to form a base floor having continuous uninterrupted surfaces. A plurality of flooring boards are secured with and are arranged to extend transversely of the sub-floor panels to define an integral flooring system. Resilient members are disposed between the sub-floor panels and the base surface to provide resilient support for the integral flooring. A first limit bar is connected with the base surface and a second limit bar is supported by an inner surface of the sub-floor panels. The limit bars have overlying edges which interact beneath the lower surface of the sub-flooring panels to limit vertical movement of the integral flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 6115981
    Abstract: A sleeper system, used to attach covering flooring with a base floor. The improved arrangement comprises a metallic channel secured with the base floor. The channel comprises a horizontal base, spaced vertical and parallel sides, and an inwardly directed tab formed with the upper end of each of the sides. The tabs extending along a plane which is parallel with the plane of the base of the channel. A resilient pad is located within and extends along the channel. A wooden stud having an upper surface of a first width, a lower surface of a lesser second width and a pair of side surfaces with inwardly extending portions connecting with the lower surface is provided for placement within the channel. The stud has a plurality of attachment clips secured with each of its side walls. Each attachment clip includes a longitudinal extension having a portion spaced laterally from each side wall. An outwardly directed hook is formed at the lower end of each attachment clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 6055785
    Abstract: A resilient flooring formed over a non-resilient base floor comprising an upper surface of hardwood flooring secured with a subsurface of plywood panels and a plurality of spaced parallel sleepers arranged across the base floor for supporting the flooring and subsurface. Each sleeper is formed with an upper surface and lower surface of equal width and opposed vertical sides. The upper surface supports and is secured with the subsurface. The lower surface of each sleeper includes a pillow of resilient material secured therewith which act to separate the sleeper from the sub-floor. Parallel grooves are formed in the opposed sides of each sleeper and securing clips having upper extensions are arranged along opposite sides of each sleeper with the extensions extending to the parallel grooves. The securing clips are secured with the sub-flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 5906082
    Abstract: A resilient flooring system for assembly on a base surface to provide a resilient floor. The system includes a plurality of multi-layer planar panels having a flooring layer and a support layer. The flooring layer consist of a plurality of multi-length hardwood shorts secured with the support layer. The panels include an exposed side and end where the edge areas of the support layer are uncovered by the flooring layer. Also, there is provided a covered side and end where the flooring layer overlays the edges of a side and end of the support layer. Shoulders are formed in each end of the panel members. Securing strips having opposed flanges are arranged over the base floor to extend over the shoulder at each panel end to secure the panels in position. Resilient strips are provided between the base floor and the flooring panels to allow limited vertical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 5647183
    Abstract: A resilient base flooring for assembly on a base surface comprising a plurality of subfloor panels carried above the base surface in substantial side-by-side and end-to-end arrangement to form a base floor having a continuous uninterrupted surface. A plurality of flooring boards are arranged to extend transversely of and are received with the sub-floor panels to define integral flooring system. Resilient members are disposed between the subfloor panels and the base surface to provide resilient support for the integral flooring. A first limit bar is connected with the base surface and a second limit bar is connected with an inner surface of the subfloor panels. The limit bars have overlying edges which interact to limit vertical movement of the integral flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 5497590
    Abstract: A resilient flooring system arranged over a base floor which includes a layer of resilient pads supporting sub-floor panels in a generally side-by-side manner. Slots, in the form of an inverted L, are formed between opposed ends of the sub-floor panels and resilient pads. A limit bar, in the shape of a "Z" is arranged in the slots with its upper horizontal flanges extending in the upper horizontal leg of the slot and in engagement with a portion of one end of the sub-floor panels. Flooring boards are arranged over the slots and are secured with the sub-floor panels. Resilient strips are arranged in the slots over the lower horizontal leg of the limit bars. The resilient strips apply constant pressure to the under surface of the flooring boards in the area of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 5369927
    Abstract: A floating support system for attaching flooring to a floor base comprising a plurality of transversely spaced sleepers arranged in longitudinal lines across a base floor. Each of the sleepers consists of rectangularly shaped studs arranged end to end along the longitudinal lines. Outwardly directed shoulder members extend along opposed sides of the studs so that a plurality of longitudinally spaced floor clips which are attached to the base floor along the longitudinal lines may extend over the shoulder members to secure the sleepers to the base floor. Cushion members are arranged below the studs in longitudinally spaced relationship. This provides sleepers which are restricted from lateral motion but have limited vertical movement through compression of the cushion members. This provides a level resilient flooring attached to the floor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 5016413
    Abstract: A resilient floor (A) is disclosed assembled on a base surface (10) to provide a resilient floor (36) which comprises a plurality of sub-floor sections (B) arranged generally side-by-side. A resilient layer of material (62) is carried generally co-extending underneath the sub-floor sections. A slot (38,74) and widened groove (40) accommodate a fastening member (51,71) which includes lateral flanges (58,60) and (78,80) which limit upward movement of sub-floor sections (B). Flooring strips (D) are nailed to the sub-floor sections so that the flooring strips move integrally together in relative vertical movements relative to the fastening strips (51,71). Resilient layer (62) urges sub-floor sections (B) and integral flooring strips (D) upwardly such that downward forces produced by activity on the floor (36) are provided with a degree of resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 4599842
    Abstract: A fastening system (10) for fastening planar sections (11, 12) such as flooring boards to a base surface (14) comprising a fastening strip (13) that interlockingly engages in a set of grooves (30) cut in the ends of the boards (11, 12). The fastening strip (13) is mounted on a resilient layer of material (28) that is interposed between the fastening strip (13) and the base surface (14). The layer of resilient material (28) allows the flooring boards (11, 12) and the fastening strip (13) to move in response to loading on the flooring boards (11, 12). Fastening members (15) that accommodate the movement without becoming loosened attach the fastening strips (13) to the base surface (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Inventor: James Counihan
  • Patent number: 4170859
    Abstract: A composite structure and an assembly joint for a floor system and the like is disclosed of the type having a plurality of elongated boards arranged generally in a side-by-side and end-to-end abutting configuration wherein an assembly joint is provided for joining the ends of the boards together while the individual boards are joined in a plurality of side-by-side, integral pre-assembled sections. The ends of each board include a groove which defines a unique upper and lower end portion construction which operates with an elongated channel strip to provide a highly improved joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Inventor: James Counihan