Back to results
US 12,044,417 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for positioning heating elements
AssigneeProgress Profiles SPA
InventorDavid D. Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of protrusions that extend from a common base member. The protrusions and base member can include an opening therethrough that allows for subsequent layers of material, such as adhesive, to interact and bond to each other. The protrusions are arranged in such a way to contain a wire, string, or heating element, within a receiving area. The arrangement of the protrusions allow for routing of the wire, string, or heating element in a variety of angles, bends, and other routing layouts.
Claims20
A floor underlayment, comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a plurality of routing hubs arranged in rows and columns, each routing hub comprising:
- a routing hub center point;
- a plurality of surfaces configured to contact flooring, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces are substantially planar and offset from the base by a first height, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces are substantially symmetrically disposed around the routing hub center point, and wherein each of the plurality of surfaces are discrete and separated from one another by a cavity;
- a plurality of element receiving surfaces curved in a plane that is parallel to the plurality of contact surfaces, each element receiving surface extending between the base and one of the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the element receiving surfaces having a first linear portion and a second convex portion;
- and
- an interior surface sloping downward along a radius of curvature in a vertical direction from one of the plurality of surfaces toward the base in the direction of the routing hub center point.
5 more elements
A floor assembly, comprising;
- an underlayment layer comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a plurality of protrusions arranged as clusters of protrusions in rows and columns, each cluster of protrusions centered around a hub center and comprising:
- a routing hub center point;
- a contact surface configured to contact flooring, the contact surface substantially planar and offset from the base by a first height;
- an element receiving surface curved in a plane that is parallel to the contact surface, the element receiving surface extending between the base and the contact surface and having a first portion perpendicular to the contact surface and a second portion that is not perpendicular to the contact surface, the second portion positioned between the first portion and the contact surface;
- and
- a sloped surface sloping downward from the contact surface toward the base;
- an element receiving cavity separating at least two contact surfaces of protrusions in the cluster of protrusions, wherein the at least two contact surfaces are symmetrically arranged around the routing hub center point, and wherein the sloped surface slopes toward the routing hub center point;
- and
- a heating element in contact with the element receiving surface.
9 more elements
An underlayment comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a plurality of routing hubs, each routing hub comprising:
- a plurality of discrete contact surfaces configured to contact flooring, the plurality of discrete contact surfaces symmetrically arranged about a center point of the routing hub, wherein each of the plurality of discrete contact surfaces is substantially planar and offset from the base by a first height, and wherein each of the plurality of discrete contact surfaces is separated from another contact surface by a cavity;
- a plurality of element receiving surfaces having a convex curvature relative to the center point in a horizontal plane, each element receiving surface extending between the base and one contact surface of the plurality of contact surfaces, each element receiving surface having a portion that curves away from the center point in a vertical plane;
- and
- an interior surface sloping downward from each of the plurality of contact surfaces toward the base in a direction of the center point.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.