Underlying Compressible Layer Or Pad (e.g., Floor Systems) Patents (Class 52/403.1)
  • Patent number: 11918875
    Abstract: Systems and methods for structures used in sport fencing are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, individual structure blocks, of one or more structure blocks to be associated together, have an upper layer, a shock absorption layer, and a cell-support layer; and a conductive feature of an upper layer connected with other conductive features enable fencing touches from weapons to the conductive feature results in electrical grounding or an electrical transmission through the two or more structure blocks and to a monitor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: FSCFP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Konstantin Bardakh
  • Patent number: 11519183
    Abstract: Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge locking system has a tongue made in one piece with the panel. The floor panels may have a first and a second connector at the long edges that are configured to obtain a minimum of friction facilitating a displacement, by a spring back force from the bending of a short edge locking strip, of a new panel in a horizontal direction along the long edge during the vertical snap folding action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Marcus Nilsson Ståhl
  • Patent number: 11292573
    Abstract: An example floor covering system in a passenger vehicle is described that includes a plurality of floor covering panels positioned adjacent to each other creating interfaces between respective floor covering panels of the plurality of floor covering panels, a plurality of joint panels positioned underneath one or more of the interfaces and the plurality of floor covering panels are rigidly coupled to at least one of the plurality of joint panels to prevent relative motion between the plurality of floor covering panels, and a plurality of attachment mounts attached to a structure of the passenger vehicle. Each of the plurality of floor covering panels is coupled to one or more of the plurality of attachment mounts, and the plurality of attachment mounts enable lateral movement relative to the structure of the passenger vehicle of the plurality of floor covering panels together in a joint manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Sean Richard Hesslewood
  • Patent number: 11255093
    Abstract: Floating floor (10) with at least one vibration-damping support (1) that is placed on a solid underground (5), whereby the support (1) comprises a relatively rigid support slat (3) provided with discrete vibration-damping elements (2) on one side, distributed at a regular distance from each other over the support slat (3), and whereby the support slat (3) is provided with a vibration-damping strip (4) on a second side opposite the first side extending in the longitudinal direction of the support slat (3), such that the support slat (3) is situated between the vibration-damping strip (4) and the discrete vibration-damping elements (2) that are placed between the floor (10) and the underground (5), such that the floor (10) rests on the underground (5) by means of the vibration-damping strip (4), the support slat (3) and the discrete vibration-damping elements (2), whereby no direct mutual contact is made between the support slat (3), the floor (10) and the underground (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CDM NV
    Inventor: Patrick Carels
  • Patent number: 11203864
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a plaster board having a first edge and an opposed second edge, and a third edge and an opposed fourth edge. The plaster board includes a first layer of hardened plaster material including a first surface and an opposed second surface, and a second layer of hardened plaster material including a first surface and an opposed second surface. The second layer of hardened plaster material is stacked against the first layer such that their first surfaces face one another. The first layer and the second layer together define the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the plaster board. The plaster board also includes a viscoelastic polymer disposed between the first surfaces of the first and second layers of hardened plaster material. The viscoelastic polymer does not extend substantially to the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the plaster board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CertainTeed Gypsum, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dimitrakopoulos, Gregory F. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11203186
    Abstract: A multi-layered structure (1) for the production of a floor or wall covering. The structure comprises: a first assembly (E) successively comprising at least: a transparent wear layer (E1) made of polyvinyl chloride; a decorative layer (E2) bonded to the wear layer (E1); a backing layer (E3), bonded to the decorative layer (E2), produced from plasticized and loaded polyvinyl chloride; a foam layer (2), bonded to the backing layer (E3), imparting sound-insulating properties to the structure, and having a lower side. The first assembly (E) comprises a tensile modulus for 1% elongation greater than 5 MPa, and a flexural modulus at 3.5% between 10 MPa and 20 MPa and the foam layer (2) is a cross-linked polyolefin foam layer, having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, and a density between 60 kg/m3 and 120 kg/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Gerflor
    Inventor: Nicolas Chaban
  • Patent number: 11066837
    Abstract: A floor panel for forming a floor covering wherein the floor panel is substantially realized on the basis of synthetic material. The floor panel is rectangular and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges such that both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing for mutually coupling a plurality of such floor panels to each other. The coupling parts of at least the first pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement and the coupling parts to this aim consist of a tongue and a groove as well as locking parts, which, in the coupled condition, prevent the shifting apart of the tongue and groove. The floor panel has a global thickness which is smaller than or equal to 4.5 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Mark Cappelle, Pieter Devos
  • Patent number: 11053697
    Abstract: A subfloor assembly that supports a flooring section on a substrate. The subfloor assembly includes a subfloor section and a resilient component. The subfloor section includes an offset groove in an underside of the subfloor section. The offset groove is defined by a side of the groove spaced apart from an opposing side of the groove and a ceiling spanning between the side and the opposing side and sloped relative to an upper surface of the substrate. The resilient component is positioned in the offset groove and between the ceiling and the upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Erlin A. Randjelovic
  • Patent number: 11052947
    Abstract: A structural component, in particular for a vehicle, includes a beam and at least one energy absorption device which is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the beam. The beam is profiled and has at least one inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Hofbauer, Thomas Wolff
  • Patent number: 10974806
    Abstract: An aircraft includes the aircraft component. The aircraft component includes an outer skin portion, a plurality of major stiffeners, and a plurality of minor stiffeners. The outer skin portion has an interior side and an exterior side configured to define an exterior boundary of the aircraft. The major stiffeners are integral with the outer skin portion and extend out from the interior side. The major stiffeners are configured to resist global deflection of the aircraft component in response to a bird strike on the aircraft component. The minor stiffeners are disposed between the major stiffeners, are integral with the outer skin portion, and extend out from the interior side. The minor stiffeners are configured to resist perforation of the aircraft component in response to the bird strike on the aircraft component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Chapman, Bryan Williams, Dillon Volk
  • Patent number: 10829940
    Abstract: A floor panel for forming a floor covering wherein the floor panel is substantially realized on the basis of synthetic material. The floor panel is rectangular and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges such that both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing for mutually coupling a plurality of such floor panels to each other. The coupling parts of at least the first pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement and the coupling parts to this aim consist of a tongue and a groove as well as locking parts, which, in the coupled condition, prevent the shifting apart of the tongue and groove. The floor panel has a global thickness which is smaller than or equal to 4.5 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Mark Cappelle, Pieter Devos
  • Patent number: 10633870
    Abstract: Ceramic and stone tiles are shown, which are provided with a locking system including a separate strip part connected to vertical and horizontal grooves formed in the tile edge. A set of ceramic or stone tiles including a first tile provided with a first edge and a second tile provided with a second edge wherein the tiles are provided with a locking system for locking the first edge to the second edge in a horizontal direction parallel with a tile surface and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, said locking system includes a first and a second tongue and a strip part provided with a first and a second locking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CERALOC INNOVATION AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 10482123
    Abstract: In an aspect, provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses comprising receiving a query specifying one or more materials of a floor/ceiling assembly and/or a classification or result, determining one or more media files responsive to the query, and providing the one or more media files for playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph M. Woodall, Julie B. Brumbelow, Barrett R. Morton, Alan Buttenhoff, Robert Blane Haywood, David Pearson
  • Patent number: 10471770
    Abstract: A laminate for application onto a support material having a resin-impregnated decorative layer and at least one resin-impregnated core layer. The decorative layer and the at least one core layer are adapted for being pressed together under high pressure and heat. A technical problem of improving a laminate for application onto the support material is solved in that the decorative layer and the at least one core layer can be compressed by a short-cycle press and have a width of more than 1800 mm. A method for producing the laminate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Fritz EGGER GmbH & Co. OG
    Inventor: Walter Schiegl
  • Patent number: 10464616
    Abstract: An example reinforced wood flooring for use in forming a truck trailer or container floor may include a wood member. The wood member may include a plurality of wood strips that are attached together. The wood member may also have a top surface and a bottom surface. An essentially water impermeable fiber-reinforced thermoplastic underlay may be adhered to the bottom surface of the wood member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKLAND FLOORING LLC
    Inventors: Ziqiang Lu, Marc Chorney
  • Patent number: 10378220
    Abstract: A structural element, including a base portion and a connecting central pin, has its base portion formed hallow, and having an internal reinforcement in the shape of WOW or MOM, to connect these elements with an insertable central pin so that the cross-section of the pin corresponds to the shape of the chamber between the reinforcements, when the upper surface of the structural element has longitudinal grooves, and is made from a modified polymer or elastomeric material comprising India rubber mixtures. The foundation is monomer ethylene propylene diene or natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber and/or combinations of the natural rubber/styrene-butadiene rubber, or thermoplastic elastomers, whose base is monomer ethylene-propylene-diene or polypropylene/monomer ethylene-propylene-diene or polyvinylchloride, or thermoplastic vulcanizates, whose base is monomer ethylene-propylene-diene and polyethylene or natural and/or synthetic rubber, modified by polyethylene or polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventors: Petr Paul, Pavel Chovanec
  • Patent number: 10260242
    Abstract: A floor covering comprises at least first and second floorboards. Each floorboard respectively defines opposite longitudinal ends, an exposed outer surface and an opposite underside surface for engaging a subfloor, and comprises mating structures at each lateral side thereof. The first and second floorboards are configured to be adjacently assembled in a side-to-side arrangement with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the first floorboard vertically and removably mating with the mating structure of one of the lateral sides of the second floorboard. The floor covering includes at least one clip for being fastened to the subfloor and comprises mating structures at each lateral side thereof for vertically and removably receiving the respective mating structures first and second floorboards at each lateral side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: André St-Laurent
  • Patent number: 10041245
    Abstract: An acoustic sleeper for sound suppression in a floor assembly may be formed as a solid sleeper body made entirely from a resilient acoustic isolating material. The sleeper body has a thickness, a width, a length, a generally rectangular cross-section and first and second sides. The sleeper body first side includes a first side area and a first sleeper load-bearing surface for contacting a first floor assembly structure, the first sleeper load-bearing surface having a first load-bearing surface area equal to or less than the first side area. The sleeper body second side has a pair of solid sleeper feet extending therefrom. The sleeper feet collectively provide a second sleeper load-bearing surface for contacting a second floor assembly structure. The second sleeper load-bearing surface has a second load-bearing surface area that is less than the first side area by at least a factor of three.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: STC Architectural Products, LLC
    Inventor: Paul L. Battaglia
  • Patent number: 9937960
    Abstract: A flooring system for a vehicle having a corrugated floor comprises a plurality of flooring panels supported at their undersides by two or more registration members having locating members and other features for aligning the flooring panels vertically, laterally, and longitudinally. The flooring panels each have at least one longitudinally aligned load-bearing structure, such as in integrated track or a universal channel configured to receive a flanged track, filler material, or both. The registration members may have depending support members configured to engage in the valleys of the corrugated vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Valeda Company
    Inventors: Paul Edward Slevinsky, Robert Anthony Imbrigiotta
  • Patent number: 9822527
    Abstract: A precast concrete floor panel having stems molded in a mold with stem mold cavities and a deck. The deck can be formed in the same mold that includes the stem mold cavities or the concrete for the deck can be poured and cured on-site after the stems have been removed from the mold. The mold can include mold segments made from an insulating material that can remain attached to the stems to insulate the finished floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Northeast Precast Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: John Ruga, Kenneth Baur, Peter John Gorgas
  • Patent number: 9765530
    Abstract: A set of essentially identical floorboards each including a front face and a rear face extending in the horizontal plane, a core, and a surface layer, a mechanical locking system is arranged at least at two opposite edges for connecting a floorboard with an adjacent floorboard in a horizontal and a vertical direction, said mechanical locking system being configured for connecting the floorboard with the adjacent floorboard by vertical folding, wherein one of said opposite edges is provided with a horizontally extending protrusion at an upper edge, and wherein said protrusion is configured to overlap a surface groove at an upper edge of the other of said opposite edges, such that two connected and adjacent floorboards have upper overlapping edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Marcus Bergelin, Mats Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9724932
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing decorative surfaces includes the steps of a) inkjet printing a color pattern on a paper substrate with one or more aqueous inkjet inks of an aqueous inkjet ink set; and thereafter b) impregnating the paper substrate with a thermosetting resin, wherein the aqueous inkjet ink set includes a cyan aqueous inkjet ink containing a copper phthalocyanine pigment; a red aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment C.I Pigment Red 254 or a mixed crystal thereof; a yellow aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment C.I Pigment Yellow 151 or a mixed crystal thereof; and a black aqueous inkjet ink containing a carbon black pigment; with the proviso that the aqueous inkjet inks do not include a polymer latex binder; and that the paper substrate includes one or more ink receiving layers for improving the image quality of the aqueous inkjet inks jetted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Rita Torfs, Gitte Van Baelen
  • Patent number: 9724842
    Abstract: A method of making a buffer board of a treadmill includes a sizing step, a shade drying step, a presetting step, a clamping and heat-pressing step, a cooling step, and a die opening step. The method can easily make the desired buffer board adapted to the treadmill and can only change different dies to make buffer boards with different structures when an upper die and a lower die of a die set provide protrusions, flat surfaces or depressed surfaces, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Chung-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 9631374
    Abstract: This specification describes a tray substrate for tile flooring that can be used in narrow grout line modular floating tile assemblies. The tray is preferably made of plastic and has vertical tray edges around the top of the tray substrate with upward and downward tabs protruding from the sides of the tray substrate wherein some of the tabs are at least partially recessed under the surface of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventor: Yu Lin Tang
  • Patent number: 9475085
    Abstract: Provided is a forming apparatus which forms an upper surface of adhesive substance to adhere tiles to a laying surface in a ridge-and-groove shape so as to prevent a wavy surface or unintended inclination. The forming apparatus includes tongue forming means having a plurality of tongues and a tongue securing portion; grasping means; and contact means. The tongues have gaps therebetween, and a free end protruding from a base end located on a bottom defining line in the protrusion direction perpendicular to the bottom defining line on a tongue existence plane. The base end of the tongues is attached to an edge portion. The grasping means is directly or indirectly attached to the tongue securing portion. The contact means has at least two contact points on a virtual plane perpendicular to the protrusion direction. The two contact points or legs thereof exist on a contact defining line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: OOPARTS, INC
    Inventors: Masato Komura, Nagaoka Yoshiharu
  • Patent number: 9416548
    Abstract: This specification describes a tray substrate for tile flooring that can be used in narrow grout line modular floating tile assemblies. The tray is preferably made of plastic and has vertical tray edges around the top of the tray substrate with upward and downward tabs protruding from the sides of the tray substrate wherein some of the tabs are at least partially recessed under the surface of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventor: Yu Lin Tang
  • Patent number: 9290952
    Abstract: A transition strip is used to install, replace, and repair a floor panel in a floating floor system in accordance with the invention. The transition strip may be a film or tape that may comprise plastic, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyolefin, or nylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Buckwalter, Michael T. Pham
  • Patent number: 9200461
    Abstract: This specification describes a tray substrate for tile flooring that can be used in narrow grout line modular floating tile assemblies. The tray is preferably made of plastic and has vertical tray edges around the top of the tray substrate with upward and downward tabs protruding from the sides of the tray substrate wherein some of the tabs are at least partially recessed under the surface of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventor: Yu Lin Tang
  • Patent number: 9194135
    Abstract: Floorboards for making a floating floor have a core (30) which includes at least two layers of material (L1, L2), which are arranged at different distances from the surface layer (31), and which differ in respect of material properties or material composition. Semi manufactures for making such floorboards are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 9057196
    Abstract: A subfloor component includes a hardboard panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having walls that extend into the panel from the first face toward the second face. The subfloor component also includes a film of substantially moisture-impervious material attached to the first face of the panel and that conforms to the tops and walls of the pedestals and to the bottoms of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Victor Amend
  • Patent number: 9038341
    Abstract: A flooring system for installation over a surface that provides flooring using artificial wood panels over a plastic base formed from recycled plastics for even durable support over cement or dirt surfaces. The flooring system comprises a plurality of interlocking bases and a plurality of removable clips, wherein each clip has a pair of grippers for engaging at least one board of a plurality of boards, the base and clips supporting the boards apart from the surface and the plurality of boards connected between the grippers are capable of supporting a load of at least 300 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NEWTECHWOOD, LTD.
    Inventors: Richard Chorfoam Lam, Cliff Chorsum Lam, Terry Y. Lam
  • Patent number: 9038342
    Abstract: A unitary safety surface tile is provided. The tile may interlock with at least one other tile. The tiles may be configured for disposing on a base of loose fill and for receiving a covering of loose fill. The tiles may include a plurality of hollow inverted pyramidal shaped pockets. Each of the pockets may connect to at least two other pockets along a top edge of each pocket. Each of the pockets may engage the base of loose fill and/or receive the covering of loose fill. Each of the pockets may include one or more apertures for allowing passage of fluid through each of the pockets. Each tile may further include a plurality of edges. The edges may border the plurality of pockets. Each of at least two of said plurality of edges may be adapted for engaging at least one edge of at least one other tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Playsafer Surfacing LLC a division Rubberecycle
    Inventor: Morris Hassan
  • Patent number: 9038324
    Abstract: An elevated building surface assembly including a plurality of surface tiles, a plurality of support pedestals disposed in spaced-apart relation on a fixed surface and having a support plate with a top surface operatively supporting the surface tiles in horizontally spaced-apart relation, and a plurality of elongate restraining members configured to restrict movement of the surface tile(s) in directions away from first and second adjacent support pedestals and/or relative to one or more adjacent surface tiles to advantageously limit movement or displacement of the surface tile(s) that may otherwise occur due to uplift forces (e.g., generated by winds and/or the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Construction Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Kugler, Stephen J. Knight, III
  • Publication number: 20150096250
    Abstract: A flooring system for installation over a surface that provides flooring using artificial wood panels over a plastic base formed from recycled plastics for even durable support over cement or dirt surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Chorfoam Lam, Cliff Chorsum Lam, Terry Y. Lam
  • Publication number: 20150082723
    Abstract: A flooring system may comprise a top floor layer, a subfloor, and/or an underlayment material disposed between the sub-floor and the top floor layer. The top floor layer may include a plurality of luxury vinyl tiles, configured such that respective tile joints may be formed between adjacent luxury vinyl tiles. The underlayment material may comprise a cross-linked, polyolefin foam. The composition of the underlayment material may be such that the tile joints between the adjacent luxury vinyl tiles may bend by less than about 45 degrees over a twelve hour period when 3.1 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure is applied. The underlayment material may have a compressive creep of less than fifty percent of an original thickness associated with the underlayment material at a load of 3.1 psi and/or a compressive strength of more than 15 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: CRAIG PATRICK KEANE
  • Patent number: 8984829
    Abstract: A modular flooring assembly including a flooring component adhered to a tray substrate is described. The modular flooring assembly may be interconnected with additional modular flooring assemblies to form a modular floor suitable for most flooring applications. The flooring component may be tile or wood or other materials commonly used in flooring applications. Convention fill-in grout or a snap-in grout may be used with the modular flooring assemblies. One suitable snap-in grout is a right angle grout member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan McIntosh, Nicole Sperling
  • Publication number: 20150059276
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a sports floor assembly. The shock absorber is formed of an elastomeric material and has a base with a first side and an opposing second side. The shock absorber has a plurality of teeth extending from the first side of the base. The base is connectable to a sub-flooring of the floor assembly with the second side positioned adjacent to the sub-flooring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Jim Louis Valentine
  • Patent number: 8955279
    Abstract: A resilient cantilevered athletic flooring system wherein a multiplicity of flexible rectangular panels having an anchor strip secured under the panels along the longitudinal centerline of the panels and multiple nailer strips attached to the top of the panels and to either side of the centerline and multiple resilient pads secured to the underside of the panel under the nailer strips and the panels are secured to a prepared base by passing anchors through the panels and the anchor strips. Multiple panels are secured side by side and end to end to cover the flooring venue and a wear floor is secured to the nailer strips to complete the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aacer Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A. Clairmont, Michael J. Mann, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150033643
    Abstract: Floor element for use in the gymnastics and/or fitness sector, wherein, in particular for forming a floor with a large surface area, at least one connecting means is provided on least one outer edge to connect the floor element to a further floor element, in particular of the same kind. The floor element is characterised in that the floor element is formed from an elastic, in particular permanently elastic, polyurethane integral foam. In addition the invention relates to a floor formed from a plurality of floor elements according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Frank KLEIN
  • Patent number: 8938925
    Abstract: A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventors: Alan B. Collison, Chad A. Collison
  • Publication number: 20150020469
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flooring system base unit (1), made of a resilient material, and comprising a first portion (3) having a first surface (4) which, in use, contacts the floor to cover, and a second surface (5), opposite to said first surface (4), a second portion (7) set above said first portion (3), at least one space (9) provided on said second surface (5) of said first portion (3) and provided by a side edge of said second portion (7), anchoring means provided through said first and second portions (3, 7) to anchor said base unit (1) to the floor to cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Tarkett GDL
    Inventor: William Thornton
  • Patent number: 8931226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock absorbing base flooring section comprising a primary deck comprising interconnection means to interconnect at least two base flooring sections and comprising shock absorption means attached under said primary deck, a subfloor attached under said primary deck and provided adjacent to the shock absorbing means, the subfloor having a thickness lower than the height of said shock absorption means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Tarkett GDL S.A.
    Inventor: William Thorton
  • Patent number: 8931227
    Abstract: A flooring system may comprise a top floor layer, a subfloor, and/or an underlayment material disposed between the sub-floor and the top floor layer. The top floor layer may include a plurality of luxury vinyl tiles, configured such that respective tile joints may be formed between adjacent luxury vinyl tiles. The underlayment material may comprise a cross-linked, polyolefin foam. The composition of the underlayment material may be such that the tile joints between the adjacent luxury vinyl tiles may bend by less than about 45 degrees over a twelve hour period when 3.1 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure is applied. The underlayment material may have a compressive creep of less than fifty percent of an original thickness associated with the underlayment material at a load of 3.1 psi and/or a compressive strength of more than 15 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Craig Patrick Keane
  • Patent number: 8919066
    Abstract: An apparatus including an impact surface and a plurality of spaced apart stiffening columns extending from an underside of the flooring plate. The columns remain substantially rigid up to a predetermined critical pressure and then buckle as the pressure increases. The columns are at least partially surrounded by a resilient underlayment. Deflection stops may extend from the flooring plate to prevent over-buckling and/or permanent deformation of the stiffening columns. In some examples, the deflections stops may assist the floor in providing a substantially rigid surface at very high pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventor: Timothy C. Ovaert
  • Publication number: 20140373473
    Abstract: A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Chad A. Collison
  • Publication number: 20140352246
    Abstract: A flooring system as disclosed herein may include a subfloor, a top floor layer, and an underlayment material comprising a needlepunched fiber pad. The needlepunched fiber pad may include a plurality of layers that are needlepunched together to form the fiber pad. Each of the layers may have a respective initial thickness. The fiber pad may have a thickness that is less than the sum of the initial thicknesses. A moisture vapor barrier may be disposed between the needlepunched fiber pad and the sub floor. A portion of the moisture vapor barrier may extend beyond an edge of the fiber pad. The portion of the moisture vapor barrier that extends beyond the edge of the fiber pad may have an adhesive disposed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Craig Patrick Keane, Bruce S. Castor
  • Patent number: 8898982
    Abstract: A modular floor system comprises modular floor panels and zippers that are fabricated in a manufacturing facility and subsequently installed in a facility. By virtue of being fabricated in the manufacturing facility the modular floor is subsequently installed in the sports facility with minimal labor and cost, while providing superior performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Donald E. Tucker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8898994
    Abstract: A method of applying a flooring system on a wood subfloor, including providing a sealer for direct application to the wood subfloor; applying the sealer to the wood subfloor; and allowing the sealer to dry and cure, forming a sealed and stable wood subfloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Dennis Albert Socha, Raymond A. Kaligian
  • Patent number: 8881482
    Abstract: A modular flooring system includes a plurality of floor tiles situated about a ground surface, with each floor tile having a substantially-flat top surface and a connection interface with opposing engagement surfaces. The flooring system also includes a plurality of removable bridge connectors, with each of the bridge connectors having a plurality of tile interfaces, and with each tile interface having complimentary engagement surfaces configured to engage with the opposing engagement surfaces of the connection interfaces. The tile interfaces of the bridge connectors couple to the respective connection interfaces of any adjacent floor tiles to restrain the relative vertical movement between the adjacent floor tiles while facilitating controlled relative lateral movement between the floor tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Connor Sport Court International, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald N. Cerny, Dana Hedquist, Gary L. Day
  • Publication number: 20140318061
    Abstract: Floorboards with a surface of flexible fibers for laying a mechanically joined floating floor, and methods for manufacturing and providing floorings containing such floorboards. For example, floorboards including a surface layer and a core, for making a floating flooring, which floorboards are mechanically lockable and which along their edge portions have pairs of opposing connectors for locking similar, adjoining floorboards to each other both vertically and horizontally, wherein the surface layer comprises flexible resilient fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Välinge Innovation AB
    Inventor: Darko PERVAN