Flexible, Low Profile Hearth Pad

• US 20140178623A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernd Krebes
• Original Assignee: Bernd Krebes
• Inventors: Krebes, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/49
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/306 Resistant to heat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/3065 Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2471/04 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/16 secured to a flexible backing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/005 comprising one layer of ceramic material, e.g. porcelain, ceramic tile layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/041 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/197 Hearths
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 13/002 Surrounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/166 Glass, ceramic, or metal sections [e.g., floor or wall tile, etc.]

Abstract

A hearth pad for live ember protecting a floor. The hearth pad comprises a backing for being placed onto the floor. The backing is made of a flexible sheet material. A plurality of tiles is disposed on the backing and adhered thereto using a flexible adhesive. The tiles are made of a rigid material. A flexible filler is disposed in gaps between adjacent tiles.

Claims

1. A hearth pad comprising:

a backing for being placed onto a floor, the backing being made of a flexible sheet material;

a plurality of tiles disposed on the backing and adhered thereto using a flexible adhesive, the tiles being made of a rigid material; and

,

a flexible filler disposed in gaps between adjacent tiles, wherein the backing and the tiles are capable of supporting the weight of a woodstove or pellet stove placed thereupon and, wherein the flexible sheet material, the flexible adhesive, and the flexible filler have sufficient flexibility to enable the hearth pad to approximately conform to an un-even surface of the floor.

3. The hearth pad according to claim 1 wherein the hearth pad is capable of flexing at least 10 mm over a distance of approximately 1000 mm.

4. The hearth pad according to claim 1 wherein the flexible filler comprises a sanded acrylic caulking.

5. The hearth pad according to claim 4 wherein the flexible glue comprises a polyurethane based adhesive.

6. The hearth pad according to claim 1 wherein a thickness of the backing is substantially less than a thickness of the tiles.

7. The hearth pad according to claim 6 wherein the flexible sheet material is aluminum.

8. The hearth pad according to claim 6 having an overall thickness of less than 13 mm.

9. The hearth pad according to claim 1 wherein the tiles are porcelain tiles.

10. The hearth pad according to claim 1 wherein the backing comprises strips of the flexible sheet material.

11. The hearth pad according to claim 10 wherein the strips of the flexible sheet material are disposed such that a sufficient portion of a bottom surface of the tiles is covered for supporting the same when a woodstove or pellet stove is placed thereupon.

12. The hearth pad according to claim 10 wherein a space between the strips of the flexible sheet material is filled with a flexible mortar.

2. (canceled)

13. A hearth pad comprising:

a backing for being placed onto a floor, the backing being made of an aluminum sheet material;

a plurality of porcelain tiles disposed on the backing and adhered thereto using a polyurethane based adhesive; and

,

a sanded acrylic caulking filler disposed in gaps between adjacent tiles;

wherein the backing and the tiles are capable of supporting the weight of a woodstove or pellet stove placed thereupon and, wherein the sheet material, the adhesive, and the filler have sufficient flexibility to enable the hearth pad to approximately conform to an un-even surface of the floor and, wherein the hearth pad has an overall thickness of less than 13 mm and is capable of flexing at least 10 mm over a distance of approximately 1000 mm.

14. The hearth pad according to claim 13 wherein the backing comprises strips of the aluminum sheet material.