Preseamed sheet flooring method
AssigneeArmstrong World Industries, Inc.
InventorsJennifer W. Sager, Ronald S. Lenox, George L. Lilley, Robert K. Keener
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preseamed sheet flooring product having first and second sheet products positioned closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween. An adhesive is positioned in the seam and has visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the sheet flooring product. The seam also has wear characteristics sufficiently similar to wear characteristics of the sheet flooring product to maintain the visually indistinct appearance of the adhesive on the surface of the seam as wear occurs to the end product sheet material.
Claims15
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying a hot melt adhesive tape to at least one side of the seam and to a surface of the first and second sheet products, said adhesive tape having sufficient width to bridge the seam and an adjacent strip of the first and second sheet products and, visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed preseamed sheet flooring product;
- (c) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive tape into the seam;
- and
- (d) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying an adhesive to the seam, said adhesive having visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed sheet flooring product;
- (c) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- (d) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together;
- and
- (e) forming the preseamed flooring product into a compact configuration suitable for storage and shipment prior to installation on a floor.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying a release paper having an adhesive coated thereon to the seam, said adhesive having visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed preseamed sheet flooring products;
- (c) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- and
- (d) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying to at least one side of the seam a hot melt adhesive tape having sufficient width to bridge the seam and an adjacent strip of the first and second sheet products, said adhesive having visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed preseamed sheet flooring product;
- (c) applying a release paper to the hot melt adhesive tape;
- (d) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- and
- (e) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a predetermined width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet Products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying a rope of hot melt adhesive to the surface of the first and second sheet products and bridging the seam, said adhesive having visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed preseamed sheet flooring product:
- (c) placing the rope on top of the seam in position to be forced into the seam by the pressure applied thereto;
- (d) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- and
- (e) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a predetermined width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying a hot melt adhesive powder to the seam;
- (c) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- and
- (d) curing the adhesive powder to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a width suitable for installation on a subfloor and providing the appearance and wear characteristics of a seamless floor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second layered composite sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween;
- (b) applying first and second strips of hot melt adhesive material to respective front and back. surfaces of the first and second sheet products in overlapping relation to the seam, said adhesive having visual characteristics suitable for creating an indistinct appearance of the seam in the completed preseamed sheet flooring product;
- (c) applying pressure and heat to the adhesive to force the adhesive into the seam;
- and
- (d) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
A method of forming a preseamed sheet flooring product having a predetermined greater width suitable for installation on a subfloor having a width greater than the width of conventional sheet flooring products, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second sheet products closely adjacent each other edge-to-edge to form a seam therebetween having a width of, between between 10 and 100 microns;
- (b) applying an adhesive to the seam;
- (c) applying pressure to the adhesive sufficient to initiate capillary flow of the adhesive in the seam:
- and
- (d) curing the adhesive to thereby permanently bond the first and second sheet products together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.