Structures for creating spaces while installing anchor sheet and attachment piece subfloors
AssigneeTac-Fast Georgia L.L.C.
InventorsJoseph Pacione, John Pacione
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Structures are described that create spaces while installing anchor sheet and attachment piece subfloors, but which allow for the expansion and contraction of anchor sheets after installation. The structures may be used on either the attachment pieces, anchor sheets or both. In one embodiment, the structure is a deformable margin; in another embodiment, the structure is a pull-away strip.
Claims38
An attachment piece for use in a subfloor with at least one anchor sheet, the at least one anchor sheet having a recess of a first shape in a first area, the anchor sheet having a complete cut of a second area of a second shape, and said second area lying within the first area, the attachment piece comprising:
- a first portion having an upper surface extending horizontally and shaped to fit in the recess;
- a second portion attached to the first portion and shaped to fit in the complete cut;
- the second portion having at least one resilient layer;
- a spacing structure;
- the spacing structure mounted on least one of the first portion or the second portion to establish a horizontal stand-off distance between the attachment piece and the at least one anchor sheet during installation.
An attachment piece comprising a body extending axially and a head radially larger than the body formed on an axial end of the body, the head having a spacing structure, an aperture extending axially through the head and body for receiving a fastener and having a countersunk portion for recessing the head of the fastener at or below the surface of the head of the attachment piece, and a spacing structure located on either the body or the head, the spacing structure extending transverse to the axis.
An anchor sheet for use in a subfloor for detachable attachment to a decorative covering, the anchor sheet comprising:
- an upper surface having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering;
- a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the lower surface being covered with a resilient layer;
- a recess of a first shape reducing the thickness of the anchor sheet in a first area;
- a complete cut through the anchor sheet of a smaller second area within the first area of a second shape;
- and
- a spacing structure positioned on the anchor sheet to space adjacent anchor sheets or attachment pieces.
The anchor sheet of 33, further comprising:
- the anchor sheet having at least two adjacent edges which have a lower portion cut away to create an overhanging area of anchor sheet and at least two adjacent lower edges substantially under the overhang;
- and
- the anchor sheet having at least two adjacent edges which have an upper portion cut away to create an underlay area of anchor sheet leaving at least two adjacent underlay edges at the outer edge of the underlay.
A method of installing an anchor sheet and attachment piece subfloor over a floor, the subfloor to receive a detachable decorative covering, said anchor sheets having an upper surface having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering and a cut-away section of reduced thickness of a first area of a first shape and a complete cut through the anchor sheet of a smaller second area of a second shape within the first area, said attachment pieces having an upper surface having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering, and said attachment pieces having a spacing structure positioned to space surrounding anchor sheets, comprising the steps of:
- laying the anchor sheets over a floor;
- inserting the attachment pieces in the complete cut areas;
- and
- attaching at least some of the attachment pieces to the floor while arranging the surrounding anchor sheets so the surrounding anchor sheets touch but do not deform the spacing structures.
A method of installing an anchor sheet and attachment piece subfloor over a floor, the subfloor to receive a detachable decorative covering, said anchor sheets having an upper surface having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering and a cut-away section of reduced thickness of a first area of a first shape and a complete cut through the anchor sheet of a smaller second area of a second shape within the first area, said attachment pieces having an upper surface having a means for detachable attachment to the decorative covering, and said anchor sheets having a spacing structure positioned to fend surrounding anchor sheets and attachment pieces, comprising the steps of:
- laying the anchor sheets over a floor;
- inserting the attachment pieces in the complete cut areas;
- and
- attaching at least some of the attachment pieces to the floor while arranging the surrounding anchor sheets so the anchor sheets and attachment pieces touch but do not deform the spacing structures.
A floor for covering a structure to form a surface, the floor comprising:
- a plurality of anchor sheets;
- the plurality of anchor sheets being arranged to substantially cover the structure to form a floor having an upper surface;
- a plurality of passageways having walls extending from the upper surface of the floor to the structure below;
- the passageways having a portion countersunk from the upper surface of the floor, forming a first bearing surface below the plane of the floor;
- the plurality of attachment pieces being shaped to fit into the passageways, the attachment pieces having a wider upper portion to create a second bearing surface;
- the plurality of attachment pieces being inserted into the passageways such that the second bearing surface faces the first bearing surface in which at least some of the attachment pieces have a deformable margin to space the pieces from the walls of the passageway;
- and
- in which at least some of the attachment pieces with the deformable margin are attached to the floor.
An attachment piece for use with a floor formed from units to cover a structure, the floor having walled passageways extending from an upper surface of the floor to the structure below, the passageways having a portion countersunk from the upper surface of the floor forming a first bearing surface below the plane of the floor, the attachment piece comprising:
- a piece shaped to fit into the passageways having a wider upper portion to create a second bearing surface to face the first bearing surface on the countersunk portion of the passageway, and in which the attachment piece has a deformable periphery to space the piece from the walls of the passageway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.