Seaming apparatus and method

A weather and wear resistant seaming apparatus for seaming floor covering sections having dense or thick backing layers comprising:

• an elongated plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being substantially smooth and said upper surface being divided into multiple transversely spaced and longitudinally extending zones including first and second edge zones which are laterally spaced by a central zone, said plate being inextendible in both longitudinal and lateral directions;
• a plurality of sharp, elongated projections extending upwardly at spaced locations from said first and second edge zones, said projections having a top and an elongated body portion, the elongated body portion being essentially non-tapered, the top being sharply tapered to promote piercing engagement with a dense or thick floor covering backing and the elongated body extending upwards from the upper surface at an angle of less than 90 degrees;
• and
• a pressure sensitive adhesive layer positioned within said central zone and extending substantially entirely the length of said elongated plate, said plate being adapted to be positioned upon a supporting surface and interconnected to said floor covering sections to be seamed by positioning said plate below said floor covering sections with terminal edge portions of said floor covering sections being fixably engaged with said adhesive layer and with a respective set of said projections and abutting in said central zone.