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 gro
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.
대표청구항▼
1. 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 si
1. 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; anda 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; anda 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; andwherein 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; andwherein 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. 2. The floor plank of claim 1, wherein the first contact side is substantially perpendicular to the top side and wherein the length of the first contact side is between 40% and 60% of the distance between the top side and bottom side. 3. The floor plank of claim 1 wherein the cleat further includes a vertical cleat side extending from the second portion of the first angled side to the horizontal cleat side, substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal side and forming an obtuse angle with the second portion of the first angled. 4. The floor plank of claim 1 further comprising: 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; anda 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; anda second angled side extending from the bottom side to the second horizontal side, including a third portion extending from the bottom side, a fourth portion extending from the second horizontal side, 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; andwherein 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. 5. The floor plank of claim 4, wherein the cleft further includes a vertical cleft side extending from the fourth portion of the second angled side to the horizontal cleft side, substantially perpendicular to the second horizontal side and forming an obtuse angle with the fourth portion of the second angled side. 6. The floor plank of claim 4, wherein the first edge of the floor plank is complementary in shape to the second edge of the floor plank so that a second edge of a third floor plank having the same geometry as the floor plank is able to mate with the first edge of the floor plank to create an interlock in a direction perpendicular to the top sides of the floor plank and third floor plank and permit the third floor plank to freely move in a direction away from the floor plank and perpendicular to the first contact side. 7. The floor plank of claim 4, wherein the first edge of the floor plank is complementary in shape to the second edge of the floor plank so that a second edge of a third floor plank having the same geometry as the floor plank is able to mate with the first edge of the floor plank so that the first contact side of the first plank would abut the second contact side of the third floor plank and a gap would be formed between each side of the wedge shaped protrusion of the floor plank and each side of the wedge shaped slot of the third floor plank. 8. 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; anda 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; andwherein 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; andwherein 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. 9. 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; anda 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; andwherein 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; anda 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; andwherein 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; andaffixing 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. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first contact side is substantially perpendicular to the first top side and wherein the length of the first contact side is between 40% and 60% of the distance between the top side and bottom side. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cleat is substantially triangular in shape and further includes a vertical cleat side extending from the second portion of the first angled side to the horizontal cleat side, and substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal side;wherein the cleft further includes a vertical cleft side extending from the fourth portion of the second angled side to the horizontal cleft side, and substantially perpendicular to the second horizontal side; andwherein the horizontal cleat and cleft sides overlap in a horizontal direction when the first and second contact sides abut to create an interlock in a direction perpendicular to the top sides of the first plank and second plank and permit the second plank to freely move in a direction away from the first plank and perpendicular to the first contact side. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein mating the first edge of the first plank with the second edge of the second plank comprises; forming a gap between sides of the wedge shaped protrusion and slot when the first and second contact sides abut;wherein during mating the cleat of the first plank is able to not contact the cleft of the second plank.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (72)
Brookhart ; Jr. George C. (1557 W. Briarwood Ave. Littleton CO 80120), Ballast block for roofing structures.
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