Abstract: A pressure/force sensor comprises a diaphragm structure including a sensing element and a lead structure extending from the diaphragm structure and including first and second traces electrically coupled to the sensing element. The diaphragm structure and the lead structure include a circuit assembly comprising a common insulating layer and a common conductor layer on the insulating layer. The conductor layer includes at least a portion of the sensing element and at least the first trace.

Abstract: Wood flooring is described, which provides resistance to surface liquids by reducing or eliminating checking on the surface of the wood and transmission liquid through the seams in an installed wood floor. This is achieved by combining a surface coating, a wood veneer and core or solid wood, a tongue and groove profile, and application of a sealer along the tongue and groove or locking profile.

Abstract: Wood flooring is described, which provides resistance to surface liquids by reducing or eliminating checking on the surface of the wood and transmission liquid through the seams in an installed wood floor. This is achieved by combining a surface coating, a wood veneer and core or solid wood, a tongue and groove profile, and application of a sealer along the tongue and groove or locking profile.

Abstract: Wood flooring is described, which provides resistance to surface liquids by reducing or eliminating checking on the surface of the wood and transmission liquid through the seams in an installed wood floor. This is achieved by combining a surface coating, a wood veneer and core or solid wood, a tongue and groove profile, and application of a sealer along the tongue and groove or locking profile.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distressing material, such as a board. The apparatus may include a cutter head supporting a blade, a guide member, and a flattening device. The flattening device and the guide member are positioned proximate the cutter head and on opposite sides thereof. In response to the cutter head and the surface of the material being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the surface of the material is distressed. The flattening device maintains the proper vertical position of the cutter head and blade relative to the material and a material support as the material is being brought into cutting contact with the cutter head. The guide member levels warped material boards thereby bringing the board into proper elevation and engagement with the blade for cutting or scraping a top surface of the board. The material may be wood.

Abstract: An apparatus including a support for supporting a material having at least one edge, an edge cutter head, and an edge cutter head support for supporting the edge cutter head. In response to the edge cutter head and the at least one edge of the material being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the at least one edge of the material is distressed.

Abstract: A system and related methods are disclosed for distressing a workpiece, which may be a building surfacing material. The system may include a material support defining a material support plane for supporting the workpiece and a distressing apparatus mounted adjacent the material support. The distressing apparatus includes a cutting blade and is configured to translate the blade back-and-forth along an impact axis between: (1) an extended or projected state in which the blade edge is a first distance from the material support plane; and (2) a retracted state in which the blade edge is a second distance from the material support plane greater than the first distance. A drive subsystem generates relative movement between the workpiece and distressing apparatus. A controller repetitively reciprocates the blade back-and forth to repetitively impact the workpiece, thereby forming a chatter mark on the workpiece surface comprised of substantially parallel seriatim angled grooves or cuts.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for unidirectional installation of a surface covering comprising: providing a plurality of floor tiles, each tile comprising: a linoleum core; a top major surface; a bottom major surface; a machine direction edge extending between the top major surface and the bottom major surface running parallel to the machine direction of the tile and; an across machine direction edge extending between the top major surface and the bottom major surface running parallel to the across machine direction of the tile; wherein the machine direction of the tile has a first dimensional stability; and the across machine direction of the tile has a second dimensional stability; placing a first tile on a support base; placing a second tile on the support base adjacent the first tile; and abutting the machine direction edge of the second tile with the machine direction edge of the first tile.

Abstract: A linoleum composition comprising Bedford cement as a binder, wood flour as a filler, and wax in an amount effective to provide the wood flour filler with hydrophobic properties.

Abstract: A method of distressing a board is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a) supporting the board on a material support, the board having a substantially planar surface; b) providing a blade having a front surface and a curved back cutting surface, the front surface and the curved back cutting surface intersecting to form a curved tip; c) directing the blade and the substantially planar surface into cutting contact; and d) generating relative movement between the blade and the board to distress a portion of the substantially planar surface; and wherein during step d), the blade is maintained in a fixed orientation relative to the substantially planar surface of the board so that an obtuse mount angle is maintained.

Abstract: A blade including a body has a front surface and a curved back cutting surface. The front surface has a mount angle relative to a material surface of a material facing the back cutting surface. The back cutting surface has a substrate clearance angle relative to the material surface. In response to at least one of the blade and the material surface being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the material surface has a distressed appearance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distressing material, such as a board. The apparatus may include a cutter head supporting a blade, a guide member, and a flattening device. The flattening device and the guide member are positioned proximate the cutter head and on opposite sides thereof. In response to the cutter head and the surface of the material being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the surface of the material is distressed. The flattening device maintains the proper vertical position of the cutter head and blade relative to the material and a material support as the material is being brought into cutting contact with the cutter head. The guide member levels warped material boards thereby bringing the board into proper elevation and engagement with the blade for cutting or scraping a top surface of the board. The material may be wood.

Abstract: A distressed board. The distressed board may include grooves randomly positioned on a surface of the distressed board, the grooves having a radius greater than about 5 inches. The ratio of the surface scraped area of the distressed board that has been scraped compared to a surface board area that is available to be scraped may be greater than 1:1. The grooves may be randomly positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distressed board, the grooves being applied at an angle of greater than about +/?5 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the distressed board.

Abstract: A blade including a body has a front surface and a curved back cutting surface. The front surface has a mount angle relative to a material surface of a material facing the back cutting surface. The back cutting surface has a substrate clearance angle relative to the material surface. In response to at least one of the blade and the material surface being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the material surface has a distressed appearance.

Abstract: An apparatus including a support for supporting a material having at least one edge, an edge cutter head, and an edge cutter head support for supporting the edge cutter head. In response to the edge cutter head and the at least one edge of the material being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the at least one edge of the material is distressed.

Abstract: A blade including a body has a front surface and a curved back cutting surface. The front surface has a mount angle relative to a material surface of a material facing the back cutting surface. The back cutting surface and the front surface define a blade angle. In response to at least one of the blade and the material surface being brought into cutting contact and moved relative to each other, a resulting portion of the material surface has a distressed appearance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide a means to rapidly develop and modify prototype surface coverings for customer review and approval, and fill the commercial pipeline while more conventional production equipment is obtained, installed and tested. The present apparatus to rapid prototype and fill the commercial pipeline includes a digital printing system to print a film and a press for laminating and embossing the printed film to a substrate. The press uses an embossing plate or roll, which is made from ebonite or by three-dimensional printing equipment. These plates and rolls can be produced within two or three days or less.