System and method for floor covering installation
First Claim
1. A connector for connecting modular tiles, each tile having an underside, the connector comprising:
- a. a film;
b. a radio frequency transponder attached to the film; and
c. an adhesive on a side of said film, wherein the adhesive is capable of forming a bond with the undersides of the tiles so that, when a connector spans adjacent edges of adjacent tiles so that the adhesive contacts the undersides of the adjacent tiles, the adhesive prevents relative movement between the adjacent tiles.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on an underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the underlying floor surface. Additionally, the tiles need not be installed directly on the floor surface. Rather, an underlayment, such as a film or cushion or cushion composite, may be positioned on the floor surface prior to the installation of tiles.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A connector for connecting modular tiles, each tile having an underside, the connector comprising:
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a. a film; b. a radio frequency transponder attached to the film; and c. an adhesive on a side of said film, wherein the adhesive is capable of forming a bond with the undersides of the tiles so that, when a connector spans adjacent edges of adjacent tiles so that the adhesive contacts the undersides of the adjacent tiles, the adhesive prevents relative movement between the adjacent tiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A floorcovering installation comprising:
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a. a plurality of tiles, each tile having an underside and edges, positioned on a flooring surface; and b. connectors positioned to span adjacent edges of at least some adjacent tiles, the connectors comprising; i. a film; ii. a radio frequency transponder attached to the film; and iii. an adhesive on a side of said film, wherein the adhesive contacts the undersides of the at least some adjacent tiles. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of covering a floor, the method comprising:
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a. positioning a plurality of tiles adjacent to one another on a flooring surface, each tile having an underside and edges; and b. positioning connectors to span adjacent edges of at least some adjacent tiles, the connectors comprising;
(i) a film;
(ii) and a radio frequency transponder adjacent to the film, and (iii) an adhesive on a side of said film;
wherein the adhesive contacts the undersides of the at least some adjacent tiles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for installing radio frequency transponders in a building, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning a plurality of floorcovering tiles adjacent to one another on a floor surface in the building, each tile having an underside, edges and corners; and (b) positioning, under juxtaposed tile corners of the tiles, radio frequency transponder assemblies comprising; (i) a film; (ii) a radio frequency transponder adjacent to the film; and (iii) an adhesive on a side of said film, wherein the adhesive contacts the undersides of the at least some adjacent tiles.
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19. A method for installing a planar array of regularly spaced radio frequency transponders in a building, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning a plurality of floorcovering tiles adjacent to one another on a floor surface in the building, each tile having an underside, edges and corners; and (b) positioning, under and proximate regularly spaced, juxtaposed tile corners of the tiles, radio frequency transponder assemblies comprising; (i) a film; (ii) a radio frequency transponder attached to the film; and (iii) an adhesive on a side of said film, wherein the adhesive contacts the undersides of the at least some adjacent tiles. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification