Channeled floor covering
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsJohnny W. Zimmerle, Todd C. Starr, Wyatt A. Cline
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floor covering main body comprising an intermediate channeled surface. A plurality of non-contiguous but adjacent lugs extends upwardly from the intermediate channeled surface. A substantially planar composite upper surface is disposed above the intermediate surface and is defined by the top surfaces of the lugs. The intermediate channeled surface carries or channels liquid away from the upper walking surface. A plurality of floor covering main bodies can be aligned to form a flooring system. In another configuration, some or all of the lugs may be contiguous.
Claims38
A floor covering comprising:
- a main body, the main body having:
- a lower surface;
- a non-planar intermediate surface, the intermediate surface further comprising:
- a first raised section;
- a second raised section;
- an intermediate lower region disposed between the first raised section and the second raised section;
- and
- a plurality of lugs extending upwardly from the intermediate surface to define a substantially planar composite upper surface defined by top surfaces of the lugs to form at least a portion of a floor, the lugs being arranged to define overlapping rows wherein at least a portion of the lugs in one row extend into a portion of an adjacent row.
A flooring system comprising:
- a plurality of flooring main bodies comprising:
- a lower surface;
- a non-planar intermediate surface, the intermediate surface further comprising:
- a first raised section,
- a second raised section,
- an intermediate lower region disposed between the first raised section and the second raised section, and
- a plurality of lugs extending upwardly from the intermediate surface to define a substantially planar composite upper surface defined by top surfaces of the lugs to form at least a portion of a floor, the lugs being arranged to define overlapping rows wherein at least a portion of the lugs in one row extend into a portion of an adjacent row;
- and
- wherein the main bodies are disposed adjacent each other such that one of plurality of flooring main bodies first raised section aligns with another one of the plurality of flooring main bodies second raised section.
A floor covering main body comprising:
- a lower surface;
- an undulated intermediate surface disposed above the lower surface;
- a plurality of non-contiguous but adjacent lugs extending upwardly from the
- intermediate surface;
- a substantially planar composite upper surface disposed above the intermediate surface and defined by the top surfaces of the lugs.
A floor covering main body comprising:
- a lower surface;
- an intermediate channeled surface;
- and
- a plurality of lugs extending upwardly from the intermediate surface to define a substantially planar composite upper surface defined by top surfaces of the lugs to form at least a portion of a floor, the lugs being arranged to define overlapping rows wherein at least a portion of the lugs in one row extend into a portion of an adjacent row.
A floor covering comprising:
- a main body, the main body having:
- a lower surface;
- a non-planar intermediate surface, the intermediate surface further comprising:
- a first raised section;
- a second raised section;
- an intermediate lower region disposed between the first raised section and the second raised section;
- a third raised section;
- a second intermediate lower region disposed between the second raised section and the third raised section;
- a plurality of non-contiguous but adjacent lugs extending upwardly from the intermediate surface;
- and
- a substantially planar composite upper surface defined by the top surfaces of the lugs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.