IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0078940
(2005-03-11)
|
등록번호 |
US-7849642
(2011-02-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Forster, Cheryl
- Jenkins, Mark
- Laitinen, Tyler
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Connor Sport Court International, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Thorpe North & Western LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
91 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus providing a tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles. The tile includes a top surface, bottom side, front and rear sides and first and second lateral sides. The top surface includes an elongated shape and the bottom s
A method and apparatus providing a tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles. The tile includes a top surface, bottom side, front and rear sides and first and second lateral sides. The top surface includes an elongated shape and the bottom side includes a support grid. The front and rear sides are defined along a longitudinal length of the elongated shape. The front side includes at least one first hinge member and the rear side includes at least one complementary second hinge member configured to be engageable with the at least one first hinge member of an adjacently positioned tile. The first and second lateral sides define a width of the elongated shape with the first and second lateral sides including a respective tab and slot coupling portion each having a coupling length at least one-third the width of the elongated shape.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. A tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles, the tile comprising: a top surface having an elongated shape and a bottom side including a support grid; front and rear sides de
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. A tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles, the tile comprising: a top surface having an elongated shape and a bottom side including a support grid; front and rear sides defined along a longitudinal length of the elongated shape, the front side including at least one first hinge member and the rear side including at least one complementary second hinge member configured to be engageable with an at least one first hinge member of an adjacently positioned tile; and first and second lateral sides defining a width of the elongated shape, the first and second lateral sides including a respective tab and slot coupling portion wherein a length of the at least one first hinge member is different than a length of the tab. 2. The tile of claim 1, wherein the tab and slot coupling portion are each configured to removably couple with the respective slot and tab coupling portions of other tiles positioned adjacent the first and second lateral sides, respectively. 3. The tile of claim 2, wherein the tab coupling portion comprises an upper surface substantially flush with the top surface of the tile. 4. The tile of claim 3, wherein the tab coupling portion comprises a downward tab extension configured to rigidly nest in a slot coupling portion of an adjacently positioned tile. 5. The tile of claim 1, wherein the support grid comprises a wave configuration configured to stabilize the top surface of the tile. 6. The tile of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises a raised portion operable to substantially mimic a configuration of the support grid to conceal an impression of the support grid and provide a gripable surface to the top surface. 7. The tile of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises perforations defined therethrough to extend to the bottom side configured to allow liquid to pass through the perforations. 8. The tile of claim 1, wherein the at least one first and second hinge members formed on the respective front and rear sides are each configured to mate with respective complementary second and first hinge members of another tile positioned adjacent the front and rear sides, respectively. 9. The tile of claim 8, wherein the at least one first and second hinge members are configured to rotate with the respective complementary second and first hinge members of the other tiles positioned adjacent the front and rear sides, respectively. 10. The tile of claim 1, wherein the first hinge member comprises a hinge configuration protruding outward from the front side of the tile, wherein the hinge configuration comprises a post attaching portion defining a post channel therein. 11. The tile of claim 10, wherein the post attaching portion comprises a rounded corner on at least a portion of its outermost edge to facilitate clearance between the first and second hinge members during rotation, and to provide a closer fit between adjacent coupled tiles. 12. A modular floor covering, comprising: multiple tiles configured to be removably coupled to form a tile array including columns and rows of the multiple tiles, at least one of the multiple tiles including: a top surface having an elongated shape and a bottom side including a support grid; front and rear sides defined along a longitudinal length of the elongated shape, the front side including at least one first hinge member and the rear side including at least one second hinge member; and first and second lateral sides defining a width of the elongated shape, the first and second lateral sides including a respective tab and slot coupling portion wherein a length of the at least one first hinge member is different than a length of the tab; wherein the at least one first and second hinge members formed on the respective front and rear sides are each configured to mate with respective complementary second and first hinge members of other tiles positioned adjacent the front and rear sides, respectively; and wherein the tab and slot coupling portion of the respective first and second lateral sides are each configured to rigidly mate with respective slot and tab coupling portions of the tiles positioned adjacent the first and second lateral sides, respectively. 13. The modular floor covering of claim 12, wherein the tab and slot coupling portions are configured to substantially prevent transverse movement between adjacent columns of the multiple tiles. 14. The modular floor covering of claim 12, wherein the top surface comprises a raised portion operable to at least partially and substantially mimic a configuration of the support grid to conceal an impression of the support grid and provide a gripable surface to the top surface of the tile array. 15. The modular floor covering of claim 12, wherein the support grid of each of the tiles comprises a wave configuration operable to stabilize the top surface of each of the tiles. 16. The modular floor covering of claim 12, wherein the top surface comprises perforations defined therethrough to extend to the bottom side and configured to allow liquid to pass through the perforations. 17. The modular floor covering of claim 12, wherein the at least one first and second hinge members are configured to rotate with respective complementary second and first hinge members of other tiles to form a column of tiles operable to be rolled-into and rolled-out from a tile roll. 18. The tile of claim 12, wherein the first hinge member comprises a hinge configuration protruding outward from the front side of the tile, wherein the hinge configuration comprises a post attaching portion defining a post channel therein. 19. The tile of claim 18, wherein the post attaching portion comprises a rounded corner on at least a portion of its outermost edge to facilitate clearance between the first and second hinge members during rotation, and to provide a closer fit between adjacent coupled tiles. 20. A method of installing a modular flooring onto a floor surface, the method comprising: unrolling multiple tile rolls, each having at least one column of tiles, onto a floor surface with a top surface facing upward and a bottom side having a support grid facing the floor surface, the tiles coupled together along a longitudinal length of front and rear sides of the tiles with at least one combination of first and second hinge members integrally formed in the respective front and rear sides of the tiles; and coupling adjacently positioned columns by interconnecting a tab and slot coupling portion formed in respective first and second lateral sides of each of the tiles to form a tile array of the tiles, wherein a length of the at least one first hinge member is different than a length of the tab. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the coupling comprises nesting the first coupling portion with a downward extension disposed in a coupling opening with a removable rigid fit. 22. A tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles, the tile comprising: a top surface having a periphery and an under-side including a support configuration; at least two opposing sides of the periphery each including a coupling portion, wherein a first side of the periphery comprises a protruding coupling portion, wherein an opposing second side of the periphery comprises a receiving coupling portion, first and second hinge members disposed about the periphery of the tile, wherein the length of the first hinge member is different than a length of the protruding coupling portion. 23. A modular floor covering, comprising: multiple tiles configured to be removably coupled to form a tile array, each of the multiple tiles including: a top surface having a periphery and an under-side including a support configuration; at least two opposing sides of the periphery each including a coupling portion, wherein a first side of the periphery comprises a protruding coupling portion, and wherein an opposing second side of the periphery comprises a receiving coupling portion, wherein the coupling portions of the at least two opposing sides are configured to couple with complementary coupling portions formed with adjacently positioned tiles; and at least one hinge member disposed about the periphery of the tile and a second hinge member disposed opposite the first hinge member, wherein a length of the at least one hinge member is different than a length of the protruding coupling portion. 24. A modular floor covering, comprising: multiple tiles configured to be removably coupled to form a tile array, each of the multiple tiles including: a top surface having a periphery and an under-side including a support configuration; at least one side of the periphery defining a length and including a first coupling portion, the first coupling portion having a coupling length at least one-third the length of the at least one side, a second coupling portion disposed opposite the first coupling portion; and first and second hinge members disposed about the periphery, wherein a length of the first hinge member is different than a length of the first coupling portion.
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