Covering module and anchor sheet

Abstract

This application discloses a relatively thin flexible anchor sheet for installation under carpets or other decorative coverings and a covering module composed of a pre-attached decorative covering and anchor sheet which can be assembled by overlapping hook and loop attachment to an additional covering module to create a complete floor covering of carpet tile, stone or other material and without attachment to a floor.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 875,305 filed Jun. 25, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 703,901 filed Nov. 2, 2000 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,353 on Sep. 28, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 850,726 filed May 2, 1997 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,477 on Oct. 23, 2001, and which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 684,004 filed Jul. 19, 1996, now abandoned. The specifications of all of the foregoing applications and patents are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention concerns a relatively thin flexible anchor sheet for use under carpets or other decorative coverings. In practice, when installed, the anchor sheet acts to tie the decorative covering together as a functional unit and to add mass and stability to such unit, particularly a unit having a flexible dec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] As previously mentioned, there are advantages to allow the carpet or other decorative covering to be attached to an underlying undersurface at only a few discrete attachment points or even in some cases not attached at all so as to be easily removable. Attachment to the underlying substrate at discrete attachment points provides for minimal damage to the underlying substrate, ease of removal from the substrate and ease of installation. However, a product, method and system is needed to convert these individual attachment points to structurally integrated attachment across the entire undersurface of a carpet or other decorative covering to enable overlaying carpet or other decorative covering to be engineered to maintain atmospheric stability, flatness and horizontal plane stability when stressed with forces produced by human traffic, rolling vehicles, moving furniture or moisture or temperature changes.

Problems solved by technology

It should be emphasized that the anchor sheet, however, is not structural support in the conventional sense as disclosed for example, in the anchor board of Pacione U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,443 since it does not support the floor or wall on which it is placed.

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