# US 6,718,720 B1 · Flooring system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,718,720 B1 - Document ID: US6718720B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/262,771 - Filed: 2002-10-02 - Published: 2004-04-08 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2002-10-02 - Assignees: Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products Inc. - Inventors: Gregory E. Doppler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6718720B1 ## CPC - E04F 15/02: Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16) - E04B 5/02: Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units (E04B5/43 - E04B5/48 take precedence) - E04B 5/026: {with beams or slabs of plastic} - E04B 5/10: with metal beams or girders, e.g. with steel lattice girders (E04B5/14 takes precedence) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract A flooring system includes a first floor member having a through hole and includes a second floor member having a non-through hole which extends from the bottom side toward the top side of the second floor member. The second floor member is positioned above the first floor member with the non-through hole aligned with the through hole. A radially-expandable fastener (such as a rivet) extends through the through hole and into the non-through hole. A method for installing a flooring system includes obtaining a first floor member having a through hole, obtaining a second floor member, and positioning the second floor member above the first floor member. A non-through hole is created extending from its bottom side toward its top side. A radially-expandable fastener (such as a rivet) is installed in the first and second floor members. The radially-expandable fastener extends through the through hole and into the non-through hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for installing a flooring system comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a first floor member having a lower surface and an upper surface and having a through hole extending from the lower surface to the upper surface; b) obtaining a second floor member having a bottom side and a top side; c) disposing the second floor member above the first floor member; d) creating a non-through hole extending from the bottom side toward the top side of the second floor member; and e) installing a radially-expandable fastener in the first and second floor members, wherein the radially-expandable fastener extends through the through hole and into the non-through hole securing the second floor member to the first floor member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radially-expandable fastener is a rivet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein step c) disposes the second floor member on the first floor member, and wherein step d) is performed entirely with the second floor member disposed above and on the first floor member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein step d) uses a drill having a drill bit, wherein during step d) the drill is disposed beneath the first floor member, and wherein during step d) the drill bit is disposed in the through hole of the first floor member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, also including, before step e), the step of creating a surface roughness, which is detectable to the finger touch of an average person, on the outer circumferential surface of the rivet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the second floor member includes a first flooring panel having a first edge, and wherein the method also includes the steps of obtaining a second flooring panel having a second edge and disposing the first and second flooring panels with the first edge adjacent the second edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first floor member includes substantially-parallel ribs and valleys, and wherein step e) installs the rivet in one of the ribs of the first floor member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, also including the step of disposing a shim on the first floor member spanning a valley when the first and second edges of the first and second flooring panels are disposed over the valley. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, also including the step of attaching at least one of the valleys of the first floor member to a flooring support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first floor member obtained in step a) includes corrugated metal roof decking, and wherein the second floor member obtained in step b) comprises a wood product.