Abstract: A stop member for an operator chain in a chain operator, wherein the operator chain has a width, rivet holes and rivets, constitutes a pin arranged in a rivet hole not occupied by a rivet in the operator chain, wherein the pin has a length exceeding the width of the operator chain. The pin can be cylindrical with a diameter corresponding essentially to that of the rivet hole, and the diameter of the pin can be slightly smaller than that of the rivet hole, so as to be loosely held in the rivet hole.

Abstract: A flexible floor board with a pad attached to the bottom side of the floor board. The pad covers partially the bottom side of the floor board and extends beyond the floor board. The bottom side of the pad is covered with a restickable glue layer and the floor board has a male lock on one end and a female lock on the other end. A floor board is engages to an adjacent floor board by pressing down the female lock of the first floor board onto the male lock of the second floor board. The bottom side of first floor board that is not covered by the pad is placed into contact with the pad of the second floor board that extends beyond the second floor board.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for manufacturing plates bonded to resilient layers, wherein the plate is made of a polypropylene and the resilient layer is made of a polyethylene. Ultrasonic welding used to bond the resilient layer to the plate. In some embodiments, a thin film is applied to a layer of the resilient layer before ultrasonic welding. While the film layer may be located adjacent the plate when welding, the film layer may also be advantageously located on the opposite of the resilient layer from the plate when welding. The film may also be applied to both sides of the resilient layer.

Abstract: The present invention is an anchoring biscuit device for joining three boards. It includes, (a) an at least partially flat horizontal top element having an imaginary center line, having opposite side walls, and having a top view footprint adapted to be inserted into grooves of adjacent boards; (b) at least one substantially vertical support member attached to the underside of the top element and extending downwardly therefrom for a predetermined length for joinder of two adjacent boards which contain said grooves for receiving portions of said top into said grooves; and, (c) at least one compressive element located on aid device, with at least a portion of said at least one compressive element, from a top view footprint, being located away from said imaginary center line and way from said vertical support member, wherein said compressive element is adapted to at least partially collapse under predetermined compressive force.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floor panel that affords a seismic isolation effect against large-magnitude quakes. A floor panel comprises a sliding unit that comprises a floor unit member having a lower portion that can come into contact with a base member and an upper portion supported on the lower portion; and a panel member having a structure fixing face that can be fixed to an upper structure, and an abutting face that abuts an upper face of the upper portion of the floor unit member, such that the abutting face is provided so as to be slidable on the upper face. The floor panel also comprises an elastic insert member provided between a wall and a side face of the panel member of the sliding unit.

Abstract: A base structure for a ball court, and in particular a squash court, with a supporting structure resting on a base and a floor forming a playing surface resting on the supporting structure. The floor comprises a plurality of safety glass panes laid adjacent each other and which are freely vertically movable relative to one another and whose surface forming the playing surface is provided with a plurality of rough areas. The supporting structure has an elastic layer beneath the safety glass panes.

Abstract: A method for making a sound-insulating load-bearing floor, includes the following steps: providing a load-bearing floor; applying a sound-insulating material onto the load-bearing floor so as to form a substantially continuous coating layer; allowing the substantially continuous coating layer to dry; wherein the sound-insulating material includes: 40% by weight to 95% by weight, preferably 60% by weight to 90% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the sound-insulating material, of at least one rubber in a subdivided form; 5% by weight to 60% by weight, preferably 10% by weight to 40% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the sound-insulating material, of at least one binding agent including at least one water-dispersible polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?50° C. to +50° C., preferably of ?40° C. to +10° C.

Abstract: A ballast system for roof membranes includes connected modules filled with loose-fill ballast and adapted to hold a predetermined volume of water for at least a predetermined period of time on the roof to control runoff.

Abstract: A vinyl floor panel for a flooring system prepared from a blend of a polymer and cork granules. The floor panel includes top and bottom surfaces with a first layer between both surfaces. A printed pattern is located on the top surface. The first layer is prepared from a blend of a polymer polyvinyl chloride and cork granules, where the cork granules are evenly distributed with the polyvinyl chloride throughout the length, width, and thickness of the first layer.

Abstract: This specification describes a tray substrate for tile flooring that can be used in modular floating tile assemblies. The tray is made of plastic and has vertical tray edges recessed under the surface.

Abstract: A gymnastic floor structure includes an elastic collective floor substrate 30 having a given area formed by arranging a plurality of plywood unit floor panels 3 equipped with a plurality of elastically supporting leg members 2 provided on a bottom surface thereof on a floor surface of a building, and an elastic layer including a flat cushioning air mat 4 and a fiber mat 5 as essential structural elements provided on the floor substrate 30. The air mat 4 includes a linking body 41 in which a pair of textile inner sheets 41a and 41b are linked by a plurality of linking threads 43 and airtight external sheets 42 and 42a entirely covering the linking body 41, and has an airtight space 44 therein.

Abstract: A locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards includes horizontal joining of a first and a second joint edge portion of a first and a second floorboard respectively at a vertical joint plane; vertical joining of the first and second joint edge portions; wherein the tongue, the tongue groove, the locking element and the locking groove have a configuration that allows insertion of the locking element into the locking groove by inward angling of the second floorboard towards the first floorboard while maintaining contact between the joint edge portions, and wherein the tongue, the tongue grove, the locking element and the locking groove have a configuration that allows insertion of the locking element into the locking groove by a substantially vertical snap action.

Abstract: One embodiment of a safety surfacing tile comprises a top surface; a plurality of series of first members supporting the top surface and extending continuously across a transverse length of the safety surfacing tile; a plurality of series of second members supporting the top surface and extending continuously across a length of the safety surfacing tile perpendicular to the transverse length; and a grid of voids formed by the intersecting first and second members on an underside of the top surface, wherein the grid of voids absorbs impact energy from an object impacting the top surface.

Abstract: A sound and/or moisture barrier underlayment suited for use on a roof or floor surface to provide a substantially flat and level surface, comprises at least first and second strips of insulation membranes (10) laid down one next to the other in a coplanar relationship. The first and second strips (24, 26) have a thickness W1. An overlap joint (28) is provided between the first and second strips (24, 26). The overlap joint (28) has a thickness W2 substantially equal to or less than W1 to provide a free-bump transition between the first and second strips (24, 26) while preventing straight-through infiltration.

Abstract: A removable covering for surfaces includes, in principle, tiles consisting of bases made of a plastic material and top plaques joined to the bases, the bases incorporating male and female anchoring elements along their edges which fit together for attaching one tile to another. The anchoring elements are located in the joints between tiles and the anchoring elements are arranged alternatingly along the entire outer edge of the bases, at least by pairs of anchoring elements, one male and the other female, on each side of the edge of the plastic base. The anchoring elements are separated by a distance which is twice the distance between each end anchoring element and the nearest adjacent vertex of the corresponding base. It will thus be possible to place and anchor one tile assembly in relation to another in as many positions as the number of sides of the tiles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are demountable or removable floor coverings. The floor coverings have independent floor pieces that comprise a lower shock-absorbing layer and a resistant covering upper layer. The lower layer generally has equal recesses from its edges, where the recesses have a choked outlet. The independent floor pieces are joined together by means of intermediate joining elements which are tightly coupled in opposite recesses of adjacent independent floor pieces.

Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a base or film and one or more attachment members. As an exemplary use of a connector to install tiles, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that an attachment member faces upward and attaches to the first tile. One or more other tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that the same or other attachment members of the connector attach to the adjacent tiles. In certain embodiments, an attachment member comprises projections that form a mechanical connection with the undersides of the tiles. For example, a connector may comprise a plastic unit with raised ridges that interact with corresponding indentations on the undersides of the tiles. A connector can also or alternatively form a connection with tiles and/or the underlying floor surface by having a high coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A modular tile configured to interlock with multiple tiles to form a modular floor covering over a floor. The tile includes a top surface having a periphery defining side walls extending downward from the top surface, the side walls having a coupling portion configured to couple with other tiles adjacent thereto to form the modular floor covering. The tile also includes a bottom side, opposite the top surface, having a support grid including an array of downward extending polymeric post structures, at least some of the post structures including at least one resilient end portion with a radial end surface configured to be positioned against the floor to facilitate controlled deflection of the post structures. The post structures may comprise primary and secondary post structures, with the secondary post structures limiting the deflection of the primary post structures.

Abstract: A noise control flooring system is presented herein for reducing noise transmission in a building structure that contains the system. The system comprises a solid substrate layer, a compressible layer overlying at least a portion of the substrate layer, and an entangled net layer that overlies at least a portion of the compressible layer, wherein the net layer is comprised of multiple polymer filaments and air, together forming a void space. A separation layer overlies at least a portion of the entangled net layer. The separation layer carries a floating solid substrate layer thereupon. This solid substrate layer provides loading for causing the compressible layer to compress into the overlying entangled net layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes that include tiles having an extending member that is disposed within a concavity on the bottom side of the tile and that extends a distance therefrom. The extending member may additionally be coupled to an anchor member disposed within the concavity on the bottom side of the tile. The extending member is set within a substrate such that it is held fast, thereby improving the bonding of the tile to the substrate.

Abstract: A subfloor assembly for supporting a floor on a substrate includes a plurality of lower subfloor panels and a plurality of upper subfloor panels. The lower subfloor panels are resiliently disposed over the substrate while the upper subfloor panels are disposed over the lower subfloor panels. Each of the upper subfloor panels has at least one pocket and the pocket is disposed over a void that is provided between adjacent lower subfloor panels. An anchor is positioned in each pocket and is attached to the substrate. The anchor also engages a surface of a shoulder of at least one of the lower subfloor panels that is exposed under the pocket to thereby limit resilient upward movement of the subfloor assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for laying and mechanically joining building panels, especially thin, hard, floating floors. Adjacent joint edges (3, 4) of two panels (1, 2) engage each other to provide a first mechanical connection locking the joint edges (3, 4) in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the principal plane of the panels. In each joint, there is further provided a strip (6) which is integrated with one joint edge (3) and which projects behind the other joint edge (4). The strip (6) has an upwardly protruding locking element (8) engaging in a locking groove (14) in the rear side (16) of the other joint edge (4) to form a second mechanical connection locking the panels (1, 2) in a second direction (D2) parallel to the principal plane of the panels and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and the second mechanical connection allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.

Abstract: A wall and/or ceiling polymer-based composite structural sheathing board has a polymer material or predominantly polymer material core layer with a density between 1.6 lbs/ft3 and 25 lbs/ft3. A facer overlays at least one of the major surfaces of the core layer. The facer is generally coextensive with and bonded to the overlaid major surface of the core layer and enhances the integrity and fastener pull through strength of the polymer-based composite structural sheathing board as well as other desired physical and performance characteristics of the polymer based composite structural sheathing board. A wall and/or ceiling system of a building structure includes a plurality of the polymer-based composite structural sheathing boards overlaying and secured to a structural wall and/or ceiling frame and forming a wall and/or ceiling sheathing layer over the structural frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a flooring system for covering a surface, the system comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being substantially rectangular in cross section and comprising a gripping material, wherein at least one channel is provided in the flooring system and the first portion is located in said channel.

Abstract: A sub-floor assembly for a sports flooring system includes a plurality of sub-floor panel components each formed of a plastic material and each having a formed channel wherein the formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components are linearly aligned. A first strip of anchoring material is disposed within the linearly aligned formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components and is used to attach a plurality of flooring strips to the sub-floor panel components.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes that include a detectable warning tile having a top side with a plurality of protuberances forming a pattern or array and a second tile member disposed perpendicular to an edge of the detectable warning tile. The bottom side of both the detectable warning tile and the second tile member have at least one anchoring member embedded within a concavity in the bottom side, making the tile and tile member especially durable on platform edges.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a sports floor assembly. The shock absorber has a base portion and a truncated pyramid portion. The base portion is formed of an elastomeric material and is connectable to a sub-flooring of the floor assembly with the second side positioned adjacent to the sub-flooring. The pyramid portion extends from the first side of the base portion. The pyramid portion is formed of an elastomeric material and has stepped sides.

Abstract: A building flooring system includes a plurality of polymer-based composite structural underlayment boards overlaying and secured to a building subfloor to form an underlayment layer over the building subfloor and a nonstructural finish-flooring layer overlaying and bonded to the underlayment layer. The polymer-based composite structural underlayment boards each have a polymer material core layer or a predominantly polymer material core layer that typically contains from 1% to 40% by weight filler(s) and a density between 1.6 lbs/ft3 and 25 lbs/ft3. At least the top or bottom major surface of each of the polymer-based composite structural underlayment boards is overlaid by a facer that reinforces and strengthens the polymer-based composite structural underlayment board and that is generally coextensive with and bonded to the overlaid major surface of the polymer-based composite structural underlayment board.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a floor system for efficiently absorbing an impact applied to a floor. The floor system includes a first impact-absorbing material, and a second impact-absorbing material installed at an upper side of the first impact-absorbing material and having a higher density than that of the first impact-absorbing material.

Abstract: A flooring system configured to accommodate sports play and other activities, wherein the flooring system comprises a support base having a synthetic component, such as a synthetic support structure, wherein the support base is configured to provide a support surface for receiving and supporting a flooring configuration. The support base may further comprise a filler material operable with the synthetic support component, wherein the synthetic support component is integrated into the filler material.

Abstract: A sub-floor assembly for a sports flooring system includes a plurality of sub-floor panel components each formed of a plastic material and each having a formed channel wherein the formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components are linearly aligned. A first strip of anchoring material is disposed within the linearly aligned formed channels of the plurality of sub-floor panel components and is used to attach a plurality of flooring strips to the sub-floor panel components.

Abstract: A removable surface covering comprises a combination of lower supports with plastic support legs and upper ceramic parts which are joined to the supports by contact faces and with the aid of an adhesive material, such as to form covering modules which are interconnected using tongue-and-groove anchoring elements. The plastic supports and the ceramic parts are joined using a thick layer of adhesive which covers almost all of the contact surfaces thereof. In addition, the ceramic parts are equipped with channels and a peripheral notch which house respectively ribs and a frame belonging to the plastic support. The thickness of the adhesive extends over at least part of the thickness of the ribs and the frame of the plastic support. In another embodiment of the invention, the parts are joined at strategic points with a chemical-mechanical connection.

Abstract: An athletic floor uses a panel-type subfloor to secure directly to a concrete base. The panel-type sections include upper and lower rigid layers which sandwich a resilient layer. The rigidity of the lower layer spans most uneven spots in the floor, while the resilient layer provides some degree of a compressibility and/or conformability, as needed, to provide a flat horizontal surface for supporting a layer of floorboards thereabove. The panel sections can be secured directly to the base, via anchors which secure the lower rigid layers to the base, the anchors residing in access openings formed along the perimeter of the upper rigid layer and in the resilient layer. This anchoring arrangement enables each anchor to hold at least two adjacently located panel sections, and it also eliminates precompression of the resilient layer. The subfloor panel sections are prefabricated, at the factory, and then shipped to the installation site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular flooring system including a ramp to facilitate entry and exit from the flooring system. The ramp may be modular and interconnect with all or parts of a perimeter of the flooring system, and the ramp may also interconnect with adjacent ramp members.

Abstract: An acoustic isolation mat for placement between a subfloor and a finished floor with a poured underlayment includes a bottom layer of entangled fibers contacting the subfloor; and a top layer attached to the bottom layer and being a water resistant nonwoven polymeric fabric over which the underlayment is poured.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flooring comprising a surface layer made of a synthetic resin, and a wood-based board as a base. Preferably, the surface layer includes a printed layer formed by general gravure, transfer, heat-sublimation, silk screen or digital printing using a printer, a protective made of a synthetic resin, and a UV-curable or heat-curable surface treatment layer. The wood-based board is selected from plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard (HDF), particle board, and resin-wood flour composite board. The flooring may further comprise a bottom layer laminated under the wood-based board for protecting the flooring against moisture from the bottom. The flooring is cut into pieces having an appropriate size, and the pieces are processed into a finished product in a tongue and groove (T & G) shape.

Abstract: A hardwood floor system with press down locking mechanism. Each floor board is equipped with both male and female locking mechanisms. The male locking mechanism of a floor bard can be locked into the female locking mechanism of an adjacent floor board by simply exerting downward force on the floor board. The female locking mechanism is equipped with a spring slot that enables easy engagement of male and female locking mechanisms. The invention may be applied not only floor boards, but also to wall tiles and roof tiles.

Abstract: 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. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. 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.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a floor underlayment material comprising a film sheet having an inner surface attached to a foam sheet and an outer surface including a plurality of recesses formed therein. The plurality of recesses define one or more fluid pathways through which a fluid may migrate across the outer surface of the film layer. The underlayment material may be used in a flooring system to help prevent or limit the accumulation of a fluid between the floor and the subfloor. In one embodiment, the underlayment material may be disposed between a subfloor and floor with the outer surface of the film layer being disposed adjacent to the underside of the floor. The one or more fluid pathways provide channels through which a fluid such as moisture vapor may escape from within a flooring system and thereby reduce the accumulation of moisture in the flooring system.

Abstract: The invention herein pertains to pavement marking patterns and the application thereof to roads, streets, walkways and the like. Various pattern designs for the markings are available to replicate layers of bricks, cobblestones, horizontal signage, logos and other components. The marking patterns are composed of two or more independent sections, the first section is a grid representing for example, the mortar joints in a brick wall. The second sections or inserts, for example represent bricks which are contained within the grid. As the first and second sections are generally formed from different colored, preferably thermoplastic materials, a hot melt adhesive spray is utilized on the bottom surface of the marking pattern to bridge the intersections between the first and second sections to maintain the integrity of the marking pattern for convenience during handling and application to a substrate.

Abstract: A multi-layer floor panel unit, which can be assembled with a plurality of similar units to form a floor which is capable of repeatedly being disassembled and reassembled at different times and/or in different locations, includes a pressure-resistant and wear-resistant upper layer; a pressure-resistant lower layer, attached to the upper layer, and having grooves at vertical edges of the lower layer; and connecting strips in the grooves, for connecting adjacent multi-layer floor panel units, the connecting strips having horizontal legs with thickened portions thereon, the thickened portions being for clamping the connecting strips in the grooves.

Abstract: A floor system (20) includes a plurality of cushioning devices (22) attached to a lower side (40) of a wood floor (32). Each cushioning device (22) includes a spring (46) that may be attached at each of its ends to first and second caps (48, 50). The spring (46) includes longitudinally aligned regions (58, 60) interposed between the caps (48, 50). The region (58) exhibits a lower spring rate (64) than a spring rate (66) of the other region 60. In response to an imposed force, the first region (58) of spring (46) first compresses. When the imposed force is great enough, due to a user's weight, the second region (60) of spring (46) will then compress.

Abstract: A decking/flooring system includes a substrate, a layer of sealing material applied over and in contact with a surface of the substrate, a texture layer applied over and in contact with the sealing material layer, an adhesive layer applied over and in contact with the texture layer, and a finish layer. A method for installing the decking/flooring system is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns hard panels for floor coverings, which are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling parts made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling parts provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling parts comprise a tongue and a groove. A lip which is situated on the bottom side of the groove is longer than a lip located on the top side of the groove. The edge which is provided with the tongue is made elastically flexible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular flooring system including a ramp to facilitate entry and exit from the flooring system. The ramp may be modular and interconnect with all or parts of a perimeter of the flooring system, and the ramp may also interconnect with adjacent ramp members.

Abstract: A modular prefabricated deck system which includes a plurality of rectangular flooring modules. Each module may include a plurality of laminations, such as a decorative upper element, and a lower support element for supporting the module upon the underlying joist structure of the deck. Additionally, the system includes spline and support portions for attaching the modules upon an underlying structure, such as a wood deck structure, upon installation.

Abstract: The present invention provides floor tiles and modular floors. The floor tiles may include a locking system that allows adjacent tiles to interlock, while also permitting a predetermined amount of lateral sliding relative to one another. The modular tiles may be injection molded, and a minor change in the mold facilitates variation to the amount of lateral slide allowed between interlocked tiles. The floor tiles may also provide three layers of traction, providing more sure footing than previous flooring systems. In addition, the floor tiles may comprise a two-tier suspension system that yields a flex or spring-like effect.

Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.

Abstract: A large-area protective covering system for installation in a staggered or grid configuration is provided comprised of a plurality of essentially identical large-area panels with honeycomb internal structures which have locking systems on the sides and ends for locking the panels in place. The panels, once locked together, have little movement along their x, y or z axis.

Abstract: A substrate for use in a flooring system which has a subfloor and a decorative upper layer. The substrate is made in a continuous sheet which has a bottom surface, a top surface, side surfaces and end surfaces. The top surface and the oppositely facing bottom surface are essentially parallel to each other and are spaced apart by the thickness of the substrate. Voids are provided in the substrate, the voids are provided between particles of rubber or other similar material. When the substrate is positioned between the subfloor and the decorative top layer, the particles of rubber provide the strength required to prevent deformation of the substrate in the direction of the thickness and the voids contribute to the sound dampening characteristics required to provide decibel reduction across the thickness of the substrate.