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US 9,453,346 B2Granted
Surface covering connection joints
AssigneeBest Woods Inc.
InventorPaul Yau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present technology relates to connection joints for surface coverings which includes but is not limited to floor coverings and building panels. Embodiments of the present technology include connection joints that are strong and allow for the use of less material than is needed for tongue and groove connection joints. In embodiments related to floor coverings, these advantages are accomplished by reducing total thickness of a floor plank while increasing the thickness of the wear layer relative to the overall thickness of the floor plank and still be able to maintain a structurally strong connection joint.
Claims12
A floor plank for horizontal flooring assemblies comprising:
- a top side;
- a bottom side substantially parallel to the top side, wherein the floor plank is affixed to a horizontal surface with the bottom side contacting the horizontal surface;
- a first edge extending from the top side to the bottom side comprising;
- a first contact side extending from the top side to a first terminal position between the top side and the bottom side;
- and
- a wedge shaped protrusion comprising;
- a first horizontal side extending from the first terminal position, facing toward the top side, and substantially parallel to the top side;
- and
- a first angled side extending from the bottom side to the first horizontal side, including a first portion extending from the bottom side, a second portion extending from the first horizontal side, and a cleat;
- wherein an angle formed between the bottom side and the first portion of the first angled side is obtuse, an angle formed between the first horizontal side and the second portion of the first angled side is acute, and the first portion and second portion of the first angled side are coplanar;
- and
- wherein the cleat is located between the first and second portions of the first angled side and includes a horizontal cleat side extending from the first portion of the first angled side, substantially parallel to the first horizontal side, and forming an obtuse angle with the first portion of the first angled side;
- wherein the first edge is configured to mate with a third edge, of a second floor plank affixed to the horizontal surface adjacent the floor plank, the third edge having a complementary shape to the first edge and includes a wedge shaped slot including a cleft;
- and
- wherein the second floor plank is configured to shrink in a direction away from the floor plank when affixed to the horizontal surface adjacent the floor plank, due to a change in temperature or humidity, creating a gap between the first edge and the third edge and the cleat of the first edge and cleft of the third edge are configured to maintain an overlap to limit vertical movement of the second plank when shrunk.
12 more elements
A floor plank for horizontal assemblies comprising:
- a top side;
- a bottom side substantially parallel to the top side, where the floor plank is affixed to a horizontal surface with the bottom side contacting the horizontal surface;
- a second edge extending from the top side to the bottom side comprising;
- a second contact side extending from the top side to a second terminal position between the top side and the bottom side;
- and
- a wedge shaped slot comprising;
- a second horizontal side extending from the second terminal position, facing toward the bottom side, and substantially parallel to the top side;
- a second angled side extending from the bottom side to the second horizontal side, including a third portion, a fourth portion and a cleft;
- wherein an angle formed between the bottom side and the third portion of the second angled side is acute, an angle formed between the second horizontal side and the fourth portion of the second angled side is acute, and the third and fourth portions of the second angled side are coplanar;
- and
- wherein the cleft is located between the third and fourth portions of the second angled side and includes a horizontal cleft side extending from the third portion of the second angled side, substantially parallel to the second horizontal side, and forming an obtuse angle with the third portion of the second angled side;
- wherein the second edge is configured to mate with a third edge, of a second floor plank affixed to the horizontal surface adjacent the floor plank, the third edge having a complementary shape to the second edge and includes a wedge shaped protrusion including a cleat;
- and
- wherein the floor plank is configured to shrink in a direction away from the second floor plank when affixed to the horizontal surface adjacent the second floor plank, due to a change in temperature or humidity, creating a gap between the second edge and the third edge and the cleat of the third edge and cleft of the second edge are configured to maintain an overlap to limit vertical movement of the floor plank when shrunk.
11 more elements
A method of forming a floor covering comprising;
- providing a first plank comprising;
- a first top side;
- a first bottom side substantially parallel to the first top side;
- a first edge extending from the first top side to the first bottom side comprising;
- a first contact side extending from the first top side to a first terminal position between the first top side and the first bottom side;
- and
- a wedge shaped protrusion comprising;
- a first horizontal side extending from the first terminal position, facing toward the first top side, and substantially parallel to the first top side;
- a first angled side extending from the first bottom side to the first horizontal side, including a first portion extending from the first bottom side, a second portion extending from the first horizontal side, and a cleat;
- wherein an angle formed between the first bottom side and the first portion of the first angled side is obtuse, an angle formed between the first horizontal side and the second portion of the first angle side is acute, and the first portion and second portion of the first angled side are coplanar;
- and
- wherein the cleat is located between the first and second portions of the first angled side and includes a horizontal cleat side extending from the first portion of the first angled side, substantially parallel to the first horizontal side, and forming an obtuse angle with the first portion of the first angled side;
- affixing the first bottom side of the first plank to a sub-floor;
- providing a second plank comprising;
- a second top side;
- a second bottom side substantially parallel to the second top side;
- a second edge extending from the second top side toward the second bottom side comprising;
- a second contact side extending from the second top side to a second terminal position between the second top side and the second bottom side;
- and
- a wedge shaped slot comprising;
- a second horizontal side extending from the second terminal position, facing toward the second bottom side, and substantially parallel to the second top side;
- a second angled side extending from the second bottom side to the second horizontal side, including a third portion extending from the second bottom side, a fourth portion extending from the second horizontal side, and a cleft;
- wherein an angle formed between the second bottom side and the third portion of the second angled side is acute, an angle formed between the fourth portion of the second horizontal side and the second angled side is acute, and the third and fourth portions of the second angled side are coplanar;
- and
- wherein the cleft is located between the third and fourth portions of the second angled side and includes a horizontal cleft side extending from the third portion of the second angled side, substantially parallel to the second horizontal side, and forming an obtuse angle with the third portion of the second angled side;
- mating the first edge of the first plank with the second edge of the second plank by placing the bottom side of the second plank on the sub-floor, so that the second top side is substantially coplanar with the first top side, and sliding the second plank along the sub-floor toward the first plank, while maintaining the first and second top sides being substantially coplanar, so that the first and second contact sides abut;
- and
- affixing a side of the second plank, opposite the second edge of the second plank, to the sub-floor;
- wherein the second plank is configured to shrink in a direction away from the first plank when affixed to the sub-floor, due to a change in temperature or humidity, creating a gap between the first edge and the second edge and the cleat of the first edge and cleft of the second edge are configured to maintain an overlap to limit vertical movement of the second plank when shrunk.
26 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.