Patents by Inventor John P. Bradford
John P. Bradford 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).
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Patent number: 9402496Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Patent number: 9376766Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use a low weight filler material. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, Stuart Jones, James Woods, Jr., John P. Bradford
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Patent number: 9085902Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on an underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray, Craig Cochran
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Patent number: 8739381Abstract: Methods of cutting and installing carpet tiles in, among other applications, mass transit vehicles, particularly including aircraft. In some embodiments, the tile lengths in an installation are the same and the tile widths are customized to a particular section of the aircraft or other vehicle in which they are installed.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: William N. Jones, Stuart Jones, John P. Bradford, James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, James Woods, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130232900Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A.H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Patent number: 8468772Abstract: Certain embodiments utilize carpet tiles of varying sizes and/or shapes that are connected together using connectors to form a carpet tile installation. In some instances, the carpet tiles used in the carpet tile installation have different colors, patterns, shapes, and/or styles. In some embodiments, carpet tiles of a standard size and shape, such as one-half square meter carpet tiles, are partitioned into carpet tile fractions. In certain embodiments, these carpet tile fractions are used in conjunction with larger carpet tiles in a carpet tile installation. In other embodiments, these carpet tile fractions may be connected to other carpet tile fractions to form a combination carpet tile that is then used in a carpet tile installation. Among other things, the use of different sized and/or shaped carpet tiles increases the randomness or diversity and/or improves other aspects of the appearance of the floor coverings formed by the carpet tile installations.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: David D. Oakey, Graham A. H. Scott, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Patent number: 8434282Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Patent number: 8381473Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Publication number: 20130014460Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A.H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Publication number: 20120117777Abstract: Methods of cutting and installing carpet tiles in, among other applications, mass transit vehicles, particularly including aircraft. In some embodiments, the tile lengths in an installation are the same and the tile widths are customized to a particular section of the aircraft or other vehicle in which they are installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: William N. Jones, Stuart Jones, John P. Bradford, James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, James Woods, JR.
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Publication number: 20110107720Abstract: Certain embodiments utilize carpet tiles of varying sizes and/or shapes that are connected together using connectors to form a carpet tile installation. In some instances, the carpet tiles used in the carpet tile installation have different colors, patterns, shapes, and/or styles. In some embodiments, carpet tiles of a standard size and shape, such as one-half square meter carpet tiles, are partitioned into carpet tile fractions. In certain embodiments, these carpet tile fractions are used in conjunction with larger carpet tiles in a carpet tile installation. In other embodiments, these carpet tile fractions may be connected to other carpet tile fractions to form a combination carpet tile that is then used in a carpet tile installation. Among other things, the use of different sized and/or shaped carpet tiles increases the randomness or diversity and/or improves other aspects of the appearance of the floor coverings formed by the carpet tile installations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: INTERFACE, INC.Inventors: David D. Oakey, Graham A.H. Scott, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Publication number: 20100170991Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use a low weight filler material. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: Interface, Inc.Inventors: James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, Stuart Jones, James Woods, JR., John P. Bradford
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Patent number: 7721502Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray, Craig Cochran
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Publication number: 20090094919Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Graham A.H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Patent number: 7464510Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the under lying floor surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Interface, Inc.Inventors: Graham A. H. Scott, David D. Oakey, John P. Bradford, Keith N. Gray
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Publication number: 20080249794Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods that allow tufted material designers to design within the bounds of what is possible. The invention provides a design tool that bridges the gap between the aesthetic designs or inspiration in the minds of designers and the capabilities of multiple tufting alternatives (e.g., different machines, different setups, etc.). So, for a given desired aesthetic appearance (e.g., a picture of a coconut), a designer can use the design tool to simulate what is possible through various tufting alternatives. In certain embodiments, for a given aesthetic or inspiration, the designer can test what the aesthetic would look like when implemented under the alternative potential configurations. The tool further allows the designer to limit the group of potential configurations by specifically selecting certain constraints (e.g., selecting a particular machine).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: John P. Bradford, Jeffrey R. Roman