FLOORING DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20110203213A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paata Dzigava
• Original Assignee: Paata Dzigava
• Inventors: Dzigava, Paata
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/588.1
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/28 Uniting ornamental elements on a support, e.g. mosaics B44C3/123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/04 Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/04 only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members rollable parquet E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0107 by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edges
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0511 Strips or bars, e.g. nailing strips

Abstract

A flooring system including at least two sets of flooring panels. A first set of flooring panels having a first shape and recessed grooves on the opposite lateral sides. The first set of panels being constructed from a plurality of wood elements adhesively affixed together. A second set of flooring panels having a second shape and an integral tongue protruding from the opposite lateral sides. The second set of panels being constructed at least one wood element. The first set of panels and second set of panels are connected by mating the tongue and groove. The resulting connection between the panels forming a floor with substantially flush upper surface.

Claims

1. A flooring system, comprising:

a set of first flooring panels having a first shape including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two lateral sides, each of the first flooring panels including an at least one groove extending at least partially the length of the at least two lateral sides, and each of the first flooring panels being constructed from a plurality of substantially monolithic solid wood elements adhesively affixed together;

a set of second flooring panels having a second shape including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two lateral sides, each of the second flooring panels including an at least one tongue extending at least partially the length of the at least two lateral sides, and each of the second flooring panels being constructed of at least one substantially monolithic solid wood element;

the first flooring panels and the second flooring panels being connected such that the tongues of the second flooring panels are inserted into the grooves of the first flooring panels; and

the resulting connection between the flooring panels forming a floor with substantially flush upper surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the groove of the first flooring panels at least partially extend on three lateral sides of the first flooring panels and the tongue of the second flooring panels at least partially extend on three lateral sides of the second flooring panels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the groove of the first flooring panels at least partially extend on all lateral sides of first flooring panels and the tongue of the second flooring panels at least partially extend on all lateral sides of the second flooring panels.

4. The system of claim 1, where the first and second flooring panels generally have different geometric shapes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flooring panels comprise a plurality of pieces of material forming a decorative design on the upper surface of the floor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective insert shaped to correspond to the contour of the groove of the first flooring panels, the insert being located in the groove of the first flooring panels.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the insert includes a guide capable of having at least one nail or staple placed through a lower region of the groove of the first flooring panels and into a base structure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the guide is oriented at about a 45 degree angle from vertical.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the insert includes a guide capable of having at least one nail or staple placed through it and into a base structure.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tongue of second flooring panels discontinuously extends at least partially the length of at least one lateral side of the second flooring panels such that the length of the lateral side includes at least one tongued region and at least one non-tongued region.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising

an insert having a non-tongued region shaped to the contour of the non-tongued region of the second flooring panels and a tongued region.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-tongued region of the insert includes a sloped surface and the non-tongued region of the second flooring panels includes a similarly sloped surface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the tongue region of the insert is capable of being inserted into the groove of the first flooring panels and is capable of receiving an at least one nail or staple such that the insert is substantially affixed to a base structure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert is capable of receiving the at least one nail or staple such that the nail or staple passes through the insert, through a region of the groove of the first flooring panel, and into the base structure.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert is capable of receiving the at least one nail or staple such that the nail or staple passes through the insert and into the base structure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein when the insert is affixed to the base structure the non-tongued region of the second flooring panel is capable of being mated with the non-tongued region of the insert.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a retention element substantially maintaining the flooring panels flush upper surface;

the first flooring panels including at least one retention element receiving opening, the retention element receiving opening being on at least one lateral side of the first flooring panels and creating an opening extending a predetermined depth into the body the first floor panel;

the second flooring panels including at least one retention element receiving opening located at least one of the tongued region and the non-tongued region of the second flooring panel, the retention element receiving opening extending from one lateral side to the other lateral side of the second flooring panel creating a retention element receiving opening extending through the body of the second flooring panel;

wherein the retention element is inserted into the receiving opening in the first flooring panel and placed through the first flooring panel and inserted into the receiving opening in the second flooring panel and inserted at least partially into the second flooring panel; and

wherein at least some of the retention element remains in both the first and second flooring panels.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the retention element remains in both the first and second flooring panels, a region of the retention element remains substantially flush with tongue of the second flooring panel.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the retention element is further comprising:

a first end, a second end, and a substantially monolithic body connecting the first end to the second end; and

the monolithic body has an external surface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the external surface of the retention element is at least one of substantially smooth and contains a geometric shape designed to mate with the receiving opening in the first and second flooring panels.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second end of the retention element are at least one of substantially triangular, square, polygonal, hexagonal, star shaped, circular, oval, and rectangular.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the height of the retention element is substantially similar to the height of the tongue of the second flooring panels and the retention element includes a substantially flat upper and lower surface.