Abstract: A floor system composed of a finished flooring preferably secured to a subfloor, a plurality of shock absorber members are fixed to the bottom surface of the floor surface at spaced intervals and in which each of the shock absorber members includes an elastomeric base member provided with a cavity which accommodates an insert member for adjusting the cushioning ability of the base member.

Abstract: A flooring system with at least a first and a second flooring panel is disclosed. The first flooring panel has a first top surface and a first engagement portion. The second flooring panel has a second top surface which is essentially parallel to the first top surface, and a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion can be an elongated tongue with a locking projection extending therefrom. The locking projection has a first inclined surface which is inclined at a first angle relative to the first top surface. The second engagement portion can be in the form of an elongated recess with a locking cavity extending therefrom. The locking cavity has a second inclined surface which is inclined at a second angle relative to the first top surface. The second angle is larger than the first angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a joint cover comprising a base section to be fixed onto a support; a covering section; and one or more intermediate parts designed to receive the covering section by clipping, the intermediate part or parts defining a cavity for receiving a head of a longitudinal tab that the covering section comprises, and comprising on each side of a plane passing through an opening for access to the cavity, at least one external rib able to co-operate, by clipping of opposite shapes, with means of a longitudinal gully of the base section, and at least one internal tab for retaining said head in the intermediate part

Abstract: A resilient floor includes a plurality of parallel spaced rows of sleeper assemblies, or substructure members, supported by pads over a base, with a wear layer of floorboards secured to the rows of substructure members. The substructure members include an elongated lower panel with a pair of spaced rows of pads secured along the bottom surface of the panel, and corresponding rows of nailing strips secured to the top surface of the panel, to which the wear layer is secured. The panel may also include an middle row of designations, such as holes, for locating anchors to anchor the panel to the base, if it is desired to anchor the floor. Compared to other resilient floors the substructure members of this invention simplify and reduce installation and handling time, resulting in reduced labor costs. The structure itself also provides high strength and durability, but with reduced quantity and cost of material.

Abstract: An anchored resilient ventilated athletic flooring structure having vertical restraints secured to a base in parallel relationship to each other and the restraints have outwardly directed flanges, parallel spaced apart struts positioned under the flanges and transverse to the vertical restraints, a resilient upward biasing means secured under the struts so that the struts are resiliently engaged with the outward directed flanges of two adjacent vertical restraints, parallel spaced apart nailers secured transversely to the top surface of the struts and parallel to the vertical restraints, and a wood flooring secured transversely to the nailers. The spaced apart relationships or the struts and nailers provides a ventilated subfloor. The spaced apart relationships of the vertical restraints, struts and nailers permits the “tuning” of the subfloor by modifying the size and spacing of the subfloor components to effect changes in the measurable properties of the floor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a linoleum-based planar structure, a process for the preparation of such a planar structure as well as the use of the planar structure, for example, as a floor covering. The linoleum-based planar structure according to the present invention is particularly characterized by containing over the whole cross section flakes comprising an organic polymeric material, the flakes being compatible with the linoleum base composition and having a particle size in the range of 0.5 to 30 mm and a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 400 &mgr;m. Such a planar structure according to the present invention displays a smooth plain surface without the need of any grinding step. Moreover, the incorporation of such flakes enables a broad variety of designing and patterning, particularly the development of a distinctively, coarsely patterned “spotting structure”.

Abstract: The invention concerns a floor covering formed of hard panels (2) which are provided, at least on two opposite edges (3-4, 5-6), with coupling devices (7) made in one piece with the panels (2), whereby these coupling devices (7) provide for an interlocking in a direction (R1) perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering (1), as well as in a direction (R2) perpendicular to the edges (3-4, 5-6) concerned and parallel to the plane of the floor covering (1). These coupling devices (7) comprise a tongue (8) and a groove (9). The lip (11) which is situated on the bottom side of the groove (9) is longer than the lip (10) on the top side. The edge (5) which is provided with the tongue (8) is made elastically flexible.

Abstract: A laminated protective wrap having a single-faced or double-faced hard outer layer and a shock absorbing inner layer adhered thereto, for protecting goods shipped on spools or coils. The absorbing inner layer may be rigidly adhered to or removably adhered to the hard outer layer. The laminated protective wrap can include transverse cuts through the hard outer layer to permit bending of the laminated protective wrap in order to facilitate wrapping large objects. The degree of shock absorption is easily adjusted by varying the thickness and/or material of the hard outer layer or the shock absorbing inner layer.

Abstract: Moisture and condensation barriers for protecting wood from damage in building structures (particularly but not necessarily in flooring systems) include a liquid rubberized coating material coated onto some of the wood or a barrier sheet having a petroleum-based tar layer.

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 (1, 2). 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 (1, 2) and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and second mechanical connections allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.

Abstract: A floor, wall and ceiling construction for a magnetically shielded room which provides a stable and homogeneous magnetically shielded space or environment having an extremely high attenuation value while absorbing exterior as well as interior vibrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aerated flooring system for use in athletic arenas or gymnasiums. The flooring system includes a top layer that provides a surface for the activities to be conducted on the floor. The system also includes at least one ventilation device. The ventilation device covers an air flow shaft within the flooring system, helping to prevent debris from falling in the air flow shaft, but allowing air to flow through the ventilation device. The ventilation device allows air to ventilate out of the flooring system. A support layer below the top layer provides support to the flooring system. A ventilation layer below the flooring is sized to allow air movement through the layer. The air flow shafts allow air to travel from the ventilation layer to the ventilation device. A base is below the ventilation layer and provides support for the flooring system above. A blowing device is controlled by a computer system that monitors the system using sensors.

Abstract: On a bamboo plate 32 made by developing a round bamboo cane flat, a wide groove 33A is formed, and on both sides of the wide groove, narrow grooves 33 are formed. The inside of the wide groove is insulated, and an electrode 38 is embedded to make a heating plate 37. The narrow grooves on the sides are arranged parallel to each other so that the cross section of the bamboo plate looks like a comb. A foam plastic sheet is placed on the surface on which the grooves are provided to form hollows 36, 36A. To connect this bamboo floor plate 31 to another bamboo floor plate 31, a pin 39 is inserted in between the electrodes of the bamboo floor plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a concrete building panel comprising a slab having top and bottom flanges and side flanges generally defining a box, and a plurality of ribs extending between the top and bottom flanges and being parallel to the side flanges. The panels of the invention can be used to form the walls, floor or roof of a building.

Abstract: A floor joist system including at least one girder having an upper surface, a plurality of joists interconnected with the girder, each joist having an upper surface, the upper surfaces of the girder and the joist being substantially coplanar, a plurality of individual flooring attachment elements attached to the upper surfaces of the girder and joists, the flooring attachment elements having a hardness which is less than the hardness of both the girder and joists, and flooring supported by the upper surfaces of the girder and joists through their respective flooring attachment elements, the flooring attached to the flooring attachment elements.

Abstract: A resilient flooring system including a number of laterally spaced, shock absorbers for positioning upon a fixed subfloor. Each shock absorber includes a sole plate and a top plate retained in a spaced-apart relationship by a number of rubber spheres. The sole plate and the top plate have vertically aligned and cup-shaped sockets therein for retaining the spheres. A vertically movable decking is positioned atop the shock absorbers.

Abstract: A covering plate (5), for flooring in conveyances such as a railway car, is provided with a securing track (11) for securing seats, etc. The covering plate (5) is formed by a sandwich structure having a central core (24) arranged between an outer plate (25), which extends across the entire size of the covering plate, and second outer plates (26). The securing track (11) is formed in a profile (27) embedded in the sandwich structure so that a securing track (11) extends at a right angle to lateral edges (14) of the covering plate (5). As either end of the profile is provided with tracks (29) for receiving tight-fitting pins (30), a floor structure can be mounted easily and rapidly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floor material and a flooring method which satisfy the various functions required of a floor while reducing the building costs and construction term. The floor material consists of a surface decorative member 2 formed from a material to have a high density and constituting a floor surface layer; an intermediate cork member 3 formed from a cork material to have a slightly lower density than the surface decorative member 2 and constituting a floor intermediate layer; and a substrate cork member 4 made from a carbonated cork material to have a slightly lower density than the intermediate cork member 3 and constituting a floor substrate layer. The substrate cork member 4 is bonded on a backing material 10 of a building, onto which the intermediate cork member 3 and the surface decorative member 2 are successively bonded so as to obtain a three-layered floor mainly consisting of a cork material.

Abstract: A floating floor system for installation over a subfloor. The underlay has a polymer film with a relatively low coefficient of friction between itself and a floating floor cast to a relatively thin and dense open-celled foam with a relatively high coefficient of friction between itself and the subfloor. Also contemplated is a method for installing the underlay between the subfloor and the floating floor, wherein the foam surface of the underlay is placed against the subfloor and the floating floor is positioned onto the film layer of the underlay.

Abstract: A horizontal support structure for a building area divided into sub-areas. The structure comprises a primary support system of girders arranged spaced apart and parallel to each other. A secondary support system of joists is arranged essentially cross-wise on top of the primary support system. The joists are selectively supported on the girders such that joists under different sub-areas are supported by different girders.

Abstract: A wooden floorboard assembly has a foamed plastic layer, a carpet layer disposed on the foamed plastic layer, at least a first and a second wooden floorboards. The first wooden floorboard has a first wooden plate, a first hook-and-loop-type fastener pad adhered on a bottom of the first wooden plate, and the first wooden plate having a first protruded portion and a first recessed portion. The second wooden floorboard has a second wooden plate, a second hook-and-loop-type fastener pad adhered on a bottom of the second wooden plate, and the second wooden plate having a second protruded portion and a second recessed portion. The first recessed portion of the first wooden plate engages with the second protruded portion of the second wooden plate.

Abstract: An edge lock is provided for use in a flooring system having a plurality of floor panels. The edge lock mechanically and releasably locks together adjacent edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels during assembly of the flooring system, and when said adjacent floor panels are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent edges being mutually spaced apart, the edge lock includes a lock for forming a first mechanical connection for locking the adjacent edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking the adjacent edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to the edges. The lock includes a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at a rear side of the one adjacent floor panel, and a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels.

Abstract: The suspension and sound-insulation system is intended to be used in houses or buildings. In this system, a finishing panel is attached to a rigid structure surface by a plurality of rubber cylinders each provided with an open cavity extending axially. Each cylinder is attached to the structure surface by a suspension rod provided with opposite ends, which is inserted into the cavity of the cylinder and whose opposite ends are folded so as to extend the structure surface and be fixed thereto. The finishing panel is attached to suspension bars that are attached to the cylinders by other suspension rods passing through the cavities of the cylinders. The cavities of the rubber cylinders are axially offset and the cylinders are oriented during their installation in such a manner that their cavities are closer to the structure surface and to the suspension bars. The other suspension rods are also shaped and sized to receive and support one of the suspension bars.

Abstract: A floor for a basketball court or the like assembled from a plurality of separate floor sections arranged in staggered rows with each section including a plurality of spaced apart sleepers, a subfloor secured to the sleepers, and a wood strip flooring layer secured to the subfloor. Abutting edges of adjoining floor sections are reinforced by tongues and complementary edge pockets mounted on respective abutting edges of adjoining sections. The edge pockets may be formed by recessing the subfloor inwardly of outer edges of the sleepers and the flooring layer. A similar edge pocket may be formed on the adjoining floor section that the tongue is received into. Each tongue is preferably fabricated of a tough, non-marring polymeric material such as ultra-high molecular weight plastic. Alternatively, a similar tongue and pocket arrangement may be formed by mounting a tongue and bracket set on the subfloors of adjoining floor sections.

Abstract: A finished flooring underlayment is disclosed including a flexible membrane which is resistant to water, mold and deterioration under wet or dry conditions, and which has intertwined filaments bonded to the membrane surface that act as mortar reinforcement and as gauges to provide a uniform thickness of application for cementicious mortar. The mortar is provided separately and is mixed to a suitable consistency with either water or latex additive, then poured or placed on the mat, utilizing the gauges provided by the filaments to effect a uniform thickness of application. This mortar hardens to a strong, load bearing surface or slab suitable for application of finished flooring.

Abstract: An anchored/resilient floor system includes at least one upper flooring layer supported by parallel rows of attachment members which are supported above a base by a plurality of compressible pads, the attachment members being secured to the base at predetermined positions therealong by a fastener construction which permits downward deflection under loaded conditions but prevents vertical raising of the members beyond their initial static position. The attachment members are anchored in a manner which does not hold the pads in a precompressed state when the floor is unloaded. The fastener construction may include a one, two or three piece construction. The single member fastener construction is particularly suitable for reanchoring or retrofitting an already installed floor at a significantly lower cost than that of installing a new floor, and the one-piece fastener construction also may be adapted for use with a portable floor.