Floor covering system comprising a lighting system

A floor covering system comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected flooring tiles and a lighting system, the lighting system having a plurality of light sources disposed on a common substrate;
• wherein each of the flooring tiles comprises a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring layer having a user side and an opposite back side;
• and wherein the lighting system is provided at the back side of the PVC flooring;
• an auxiliary layer comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the auxiliary layer positioned at the back side of the PVC flooring layer, the auxiliary layer further comprising a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of light units is positioned entirely within a respective one of the openings in the auxiliary layer;
• wherein the PVC flooring layer has a light transmission for light generated by the lighting unit in the range of 0.5% to 30% such that the lighting system is not visible through the user side of the PVC flooring when no light is emitted by the lighting system, and further wherein the PVC flooring layer is configured to protect the lighting unit from damage when a user walks on the floor covering system;
• wherein at least two of the flooring tiles are disposed on the common substrate of the lighting system.

A flooring tile comprising:

• a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring layer having a user side and an opposite back side, and at least one recess at the back side;
• and
• a lighting system for generating light, the lighting system provided at the back side of the PVC flooring, the lighting system comprising a plurality of light units, each light unit having a plurality of light sources disposed on a common substrate, the light sources of at least one of the light units protruding in the at least one recess of the PVC flooring layer;
• an auxiliary layer comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the auxiliary layer positioned at the back side of the PVC flooring layer, the auxiliary layer further comprising a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of light units is positioned entirely within a respective one of the openings in the auxiliary layer;
• wherein the PVC flooring layer has a light transmission for light generated by the lighting unit in the range of 0.5% to 30% such that the lighting unit is not visible through the user side of the PVC flooring when no light is emitted by the lighting unit, and further wherein the PVC flooring layer is configured to protect the lighting unit from damage when a user walks on the floor covering system.