Back to results
US 11,892,176 B2Granted
Universal membrane configured to be divided to form a base membrane and a cover membrane that is couplable to the base membrane to form an uncoupling membrane for installation between a subfloor and floor tiles
AssigneeMP Global Products, L.L.C.
InventorsChase Warneke, Alan B. Collison, Reid Borgman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal membrane is configured to be installed between a subfloor and floor tiles to allow movement of the floor tiles relative to the subfloor. The universal membrane includes a base layer, a plurality of studs projecting from the base layer, and a plurality of sidewalls projecting from the base layer and disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of studs. Each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls forming a perimeter of a pocket. The base layer forms a bottom wall of the pocket.
Claims17
A floor structure comprising:
- a universal membrane configured to be installed between a subfloor and floor tiles to allow movement of the floor tiles relative to the subfloor, the universal membrane comprising:
- a base layer forming a planar surface;
- a plurality of studs projecting from the base layer;
- and
- a plurality of sidewalls projecting from the base layer and disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of studs, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls forming a perimeter of a pocket, the base layer forming a bottom wall of the pocket, wherein:
- a first portion of the universal membrane is configured to be separated from a second portion of the universal membrane;
- the first and second portions of the universal membrane are configured to be coupled to one another by inserting the plurality of studs on one of the first and second portions of the universal membrane into the pockets formed by the plurality of sidewalls on the other one of the first and second portions of the universal membrane;
- the first portion of the universal membrane forms a base membrane configured to be placed on the subfloor;
- and
- the second portion of the universal membrane forms a cover membrane configured to cover the base membrane and to support the floor tiles.
7 more elements
A floor structure comprising:
- a subfloor;
- floor tiles;
- a base membrane configured to be placed onto the subfloor, the base membrane including a base layer forming a planar surface;
- and
- a cover membrane configured to be directly coupled to the base membrane to form a support surface for supporting the floor tiles, the base and cover membranes collectively forming an uncoupling membrane configured to allow movement of the floor tiles relative to the subfloor,
- wherein:
- the floor structure is free of any heating element;
- the base membrane further includes a plurality of protrusions projecting from the base layer and defining a plurality of pockets therein;
- the cover membrane includes a cover layer and a plurality of studs projecting from the cover layer, the plurality of studs on the cover membrane configured to fit within the plurality of pockets in the base membrane to couple the cover membrane to thebase membrane;
- the base membrane further includes a plurality of studs projecting from the base layer;
- and
- the cover membrane further includes a plurality of protrusions projecting from the cover layer and defining a plurality of pockets therein, theplurality of studs on the base membrane configured to fit within the plurality of pockets in the cover membrane to couple the cover membrane to thebase membrane.
9 more elements
A method of installing a floor structure, the method comprising:
- separating a universal membrane into a base membrane and a cover membrane, each of the base and cover membranes including a base layer, the base layer forming a planar surface, a plurality of studs projecting from the base layer, and a plurality of sidewalls projecting from the base layer and disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of studs, the plurality of sidewalls defining a plurality of pockets with each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls forming a perimeter of one of the plurality of pockets;
- placing the base membrane onto a subfloor;
- coupling the cover membrane to the base membrane by inserting the plurality of studs on the cover membrane into the plurality of pockets in the base membrane and inserting the plurality of studs on the base membrane into the plurality of pockets in the cover membrane;
- and
- installing floor tiles on the cover membrane.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.