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US 5,290,591 AGranted
Decorative inlaid types of sheet materials for commercial use
AssigneeTarkett Inc.
InventorsEduard F. Lussi, Thomas G. Smith
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Abstract
The invention provides decorative, inlaid sheet materials which incorporate a matrix layer of discrete, low aspect ratio particles embedded in a resinous coating. The use of printed patterns which are visible beneath the adhesive matrix containing the particles constitutes a characteristic of the invention. The sheet materials of this invention are real through-patterned inlaids which do not lose their pattern due to wear in use, and which offer unique design advantages and flexibility, as well as superior properties.
Claims7
A process for making a decorative inlaid floor covering which comprises the sequential steps of:
- a) over the surface of a substrate, printing in the form of a pattern with one or more inks to make a printed layer;
- b) coating the printed layer with a layer of ungelled vinyl plastisol adhesive;
- c) depositing a substantially uniform layer of particles consisting essentially of spheroidal particles having an aspect ratio no greater than about 2:1 in a dense loading to prevent the underlying pattern from showing through interstices between said particles;
- and
- d) heating at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to embed said spheroidal particles in said ungelled vinyl plastisol adhesive and to gel the vinyl plastisol adhesive, thereby forming an adhesive matrix layer, wherein said pattern is visible through said adhesive matrix layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.