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The invention relates to a flooring panel having opposed pairs of substantially parallel side edges, a tongue connector member, and a groove connector member. In one aspect, the tongue connector member extends along one side edge and the groove connector member extends along the opposed side edge. T

The invention relates to a flooring panel having opposed pairs of substantially parallel side edges, a tongue connector member, and a groove connector member. In one aspect, the tongue connector member extends along one side edge and the groove connector member extends along the opposed side edge. The tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that portions of the coupled flooring panels are positioned in abutting relationship.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flooring panel, comprising: opposed pairs of substantially parallel side edges;a tongue connector member extending along one side edge of at least one of the opposed pairs of side edges, the tongue connector member comprising: a top tongue contact surface;an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder;

1. A flooring panel, comprising: opposed pairs of substantially parallel side edges;a tongue connector member extending along one side edge of at least one of the opposed pairs of side edges, the tongue connector member comprising: a top tongue contact surface;an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder;means for preventing blemishing of a top surface of the flooring panel comprising a displacement cavity defined at least partially by the top tongue contact surface and having a displacement axis;means for guiding a fastener comprising an elongate recess defined and extending inwardly therein a portion of the top tongue contact surface and underlying the displacement cavity, wherein, in cross-section of the tongue connector member, the elongate recess has an elongate length dimension that has a centerline recess axis positioned at an acute angle relative to the displacement axis, wherein a portion of the top tongue contact surface defining the displacement cavity defines a displaceable surface; anda groove connector member defined in one side edge of at least one of the opposed pairs of side edges, the groove connector member comprising an upper lip and a lower lip,wherein the tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that a distal end of the upper shoulder of a first flooring panel contacts a distal end of the upper lip of a second flooring panel upon coupling of the respective tongue and groove connector members of the respective first and second flooring panels to each other along adjacent side edges. 2. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein a portion of the displacement cavity forms a top cavity surface which is positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent the top surface. 3. The flooring panel of claim 2, wherein the displaceable surface is movable between a first position and a second position in which at least a portion of the displaceable surface is displaced toward the displacement axis, and wherein, in the first position, at least a portion of the displaceable surface is spaced from and underlies the top cavity surface at a first distance. 4. The flooring panel of claim 3, wherein, in the second position, at least a portion of the displaceable surface is spaced from and underlies the top cavity surface at a second distance, and wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. 5. The flooring panel of claim 4, wherein a portion of the elongate recess defines a fastening surface. 6. The flooring panel of claim 4, wherein the displacement cavity extends longitudinally substantially parallel to the upper shoulder of the tongue connector member. 7. The flooring panel of claim 4, wherein the flooring panel has a longitudinal length, and wherein the elongate recess extends longitudinally substantially the longitudinal length of the flooring panel. 8. The flooring panel of claim 4, wherein the centerline recess axis intersects a bottom surface of the flooring panel. 9. The flooring panel of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface defines a trough. 10. The flooring panel of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the trough intersects the centerline recess axis. 11. The flooring panel of claim 9, wherein the trough extends longitudinally substantially parallel to the tongue connector member. 12. The flooring panel of claim 11, wherein the trough extends substantially the longitudinal dimension of the flooring panel. 13. The flooring panel of claim 4, wherein the flooring panel comprises a wood based core material comprising a ground wood product and a binding agent unified to form a cured composite. 14. The flooring panel of claim 13, wherein the core material comprises MDF. 15. The flooring panel of claim 13, wherein the core material comprises HDF. 16. The flooring panel of claim 13, wherein the flooring panel comprises a decorative layer connected to an upper surface of the core material. 17. The flooring panel of claim 16, wherein the decorative layer is formed from a hardwood. 18. The flooring panel of claim 13, wherein the flooring panel comprises a bottom support layer connected to a lower surface of the core material. 19. The flooring panel of claim 18, wherein the bottom support layer has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface defines a trough. 20. The flooring panel of claim 19, wherein the trough extends longitudinally substantially parallel to the tongue connector member. 21. The flooring panel of claim 19, wherein the trough extends substantially the longitudinal dimension of the flooring panel. 22. The flooring panel of claim 18, wherein the bottom support layer is formed from a hardwood. 23. The flooring panel of claim 13, wherein the respective tongue and groove connector members are made from the core material. 24. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that a distal end of the lower shoulder of the first flooring panel is spaced from a distal end portion of the lower lip of the second flooring panel upon coupling of the respective tongue and groove connector members of the respective first and second flooring panels to each other along adjacent side edges. 25. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the tongue connector member comprises a bottom tongue contact surface and distal peripheral surface that extends between the respective top and bottom tongue contact surfaces. 26. The flooring panel of claim 25, wherein the groove connector member has an upper groove contact surface, a lower groove contact surface and a wall surface extending between the respective top and bottom groove contact surfaces. 27. The flooring panel of claim 26, wherein the tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that a portion of the distal peripheral surface of the tongue connector member of the first flooring panel is spaced from a portion of the wall surface of the groove connector member of the second flooring panel upon coupling of the respective tongue and groove connector members of the respective first and second flooring panels to each other along adjacent side edges. 28. The flooring panel of claim 26, wherein, in a coupled position, the distal peripheral surface of the tongue connector member of the first flooring panel, the wall surface of the groove connector member and portions of the respective upper and lower groove contact surfaces define a longitudinally extending pocket. 29. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the displacement axis is substantially parallel to the top surface of the flooring panel. 30. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the elongate recess completely underlies the upper shoulder of the tongue connector member. 31. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the centerline recess axis is normal to a longitudinal axis of the flooring panel. 32. The flooring panel of claim 1, wherein the fastening surface is a planar fastening surface. 33. A method for making a flooring panel, comprising: providing at least one plank of flooring material, each plank comprising a pair of opposed side edges, a top surface and a bottom surface;forming a tongue connector member into and extending along at least one of the side edges of the pair of opposed side edges that is configured for preventing blemishing of a top surface of the flooring panel, the tongue connector member comprising: an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder;a top tongue contact surface;a bottom tongue contact surface;a distal peripheral surface extending between the respective top and bottom tongue contact surfaces;a displacement cavity defined at least partially by the top tongue contact surface and having a displacement axis; andan elongate recess defined and extending inwardly therein a portion of the top tongue contact surface and underlying the displacement cavity, wherein, in cross-section of the tongue connector member, the elongate recess has an elongate length dimension that has a centerline recess axis positioned at an acute angle relative to the displacement axis, and wherein a portion of the top tongue contact surface defining the displacement cavity defines a displaceable surface; andforming a groove connector member into and extending along a side edge opposite of the tongue, the groove connector member comprising an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein the groove connector member has an upper groove contact surface, a lower groove contact surface, and a wall surface extending between the respective upper and lower groove contact surfaces; wherein the tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that a distal end of the upper shoulder of a first flooring panel contacts a distal end of the upper lip of a second flooring panel upon coupling of the respective tongue and groove connector members of the respective first and second flooring panels to each other along adjacent side edges. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the displaceable surface is movable between a first position and second position, in which at least a portion of the displaceable surface is displaced into the displacement cavity and toward the displacement axis. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein a portion of the displacement cavity forms a top cavity surface which is positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent the top surface, and wherein, in the first position, at least a portion of the displaceable surface is spaced from and underlies the top cavity surface at a first distance. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein in the second position, at least a portion of the displaceable surface is spaced from and underlies the top cavity surface at a second distance, and wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. 37. The method of claim 33, wherein the displacement axis forms an acute angle relative to the centerline recess axis. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the displacement axis is substantially parallel to the top surface of the flooring panel. 39. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming at least a portion of the tongue connector member and groove connector member from a wood based core material comprising a ground wood product and a binding agent unified to form a cured composite. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the core material comprises MDF. 41. The method of claim 39, wherein the core material comprises HDF. 42. The method of claim 39, further comprising connecting a decorative layer to an upper surface of the core material. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the decorative material comprises a hardwood. 44. The method of claim 39, further comprising connecting a bottom support layer to a lower surface of the core material. 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising forming a trough in a bottom surface of the bottom support layer. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the trough intersects the centerline recess axis. 47. The method of claim 33, wherein the elongate recess completely underlies the upper shoulder of the tongue connector member. 48. The method of claim 33, wherein a portion of the elongate recess defines a planar fastening surface. 49. A method of assembling a floor, comprising: a. providing a plurality of planks of flooring material, each plank comprising: i. opposed pairs of substantially parallel side edges, a top surface, and a bottom surface;ii. a tongue connector member extending along at least one of the side edges of the pair of opposed side edges, the tongue connector member comprising: an upper shoulder;a lower shoulder;a top tongue contact surface;a bottom tongue contact surface;a displacement cavity defined at least partially by the top tongue contact surface and having a displacement axis; andan elongate recess defined and extending inwardly therein a portion of the top tongue contact surface and underlying the displacement cavity, wherein, in cross-section of the tongue connector member, the elongate recess has an elongate length dimension that has a centerline recess axis positioned at an acute angle relative to the displacement axis, wherein a portion of the top tongue contact surface defining the displacement cavity defines a displaceable surface, and wherein the displaceable surface is movable between a first position and a second position in which at least a portion of the displaceable surface is displaced into the displacement cavity and toward the displacement axis; andiii. a groove connector member defined in one side edge of at least one of the opposed pairs of side edges, the groove connector member comprising an upper lip and a lower lip,wherein the tongue connector member and the groove connector member are configured to cooperatively couple with each other such that a distal end of the upper shoulder of a first flooring panel contacts a distal end of the upper lip of a second flooring panel upon coupling of the respective tongue and groove connector members of the respective first and second flooring panels to each other along adjacent side edges;b. placing a first one of the plurality of planks on an installation surface, whereby the installation surface substantially underlies the bottom surface of the plank;c. driving at least one fastener therethrough a fastening surface of the elongate recess such that a portion of the fastener penetrates into the installation surface and such that a portion of the displaceable surface is displaced to the second position and is contained within the displacement cavity to prevent blemishing of the top surface of the flooring panel;d. placing a second one of the plurality of planks on the installation surface such that the groove connector member of the second plank cooperatively engages the tongue connector member of the first plank; ande. repeating steps (c) and (d) for additional planks until a total number of desired planks is achieved. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the displacement axis is substantially parallel to the top surface of the flooring panel.