Plastic flooring with improved seal

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-02-01
THE PARALLAX GRP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In another aspect the various ridges and grooves mate in a manner that provide

Problems solved by technology

The known single-ridge, single-groove floor covering blocks (also called tiles) are relatively easy to install and maintain, but can come apart too easily.
In addition, use of only a single ridge and a single groove on each strip provides a relatively poor water ba

Method used

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  • Plastic flooring with improved seal
  • Plastic flooring with improved seal
  • Plastic flooring with improved seal

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0020] In prior art FIGS. 1 and 2, a modular floor covering system 100 generally comprises blocks 110 and 120, having edge strips 112, 122, respectively. Edge strip 112 has a single ridge 115 and a single groove 117. Edge strip 122 has two ridges 125A, 125B, and two grooves 127A, 127B. A resiliently compressible tubular seal 129 is disposed in groove 127B.

[0021] In FIGS. 3 and 4, a floor covering system 200 generally has a plurality of modular blocks. Here, edge portions of blocks 210 and 220 are shown prior to installation.

[0022] Each block generally has four sides. In a preferred embodiment, two of the sides have edge strips arranged as strip 212, and two other sides have edge strips arranged as strip 222. This configuration allows identical blocks to interlock in a manner that covers a large area. Of course, other embodiments are also contemplated that have other than four sides. Thus, contemplated embodiments include those that have three sides (triangular), five sides (pentag...

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Abstract

A floor or wall covering has blocks with mating strips having multiple ridges and multiple grooves in both mating members. Ridges and grooves can have different sizes and cross-sectional shapes from one another, and can mate in a manner that provides expansion gaps. Male/female positioning pairs can advantageously be included to facilitate alignment of the blocks during installation and use. Preferred floor blocks comprise a ribbed support portion that supports a working surface, and the ribbed support portion defines a plurality of cells that collectively reduce the weight of the block by a factor of at least 20% relative to corresponding block without such cells.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of our U.S. provisional patent application with the Ser. No. 60 / 697,466, which was filed Jul. 7, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The field of the invention is floor coverings. BACKGROUND [0003] There is a need for modular floor covering systems that are relatively easy to install, maintain, and provide reasonably good seal against water infiltration. [0004] Various types of modular floor covering systems are well known, including for example systems having edges that mate using a single ridge and a single groove (see US 2002 / 0189183, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,304). The known single-ridge, single-groove floor covering blocks (also called tiles) are relatively easy to install and maintain, but can come apart too easily. In addition, use of only a single ridge and a single groove on each strip provides a relatively poor water barrier. [0005] More sophisticated water barriers have been developed that use multiple ridges and grooves in only one of ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E04F13/08
CPCE04F13/18E04F2201/05E04F2201/0138E04F15/10
Inventor THRUSH, BRUCEGRIMM, JOHN
Owner THE PARALLAX GRP
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