JP5616803B2 - Connectors, bundles of connectors, methods and systems for installing tiles, and methods of dispensing connectors to carpet installers - Google Patents

Description

  REFERENCE INFORMATION FOR RELATED APPLICATIONS: This application refers to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 619,340 filed Oct. 15, 2004, entitled “Floor Cover Material Installation System and Method”, “Floor Cover Material Installation System and Method”. US patent application Ser. No. 11 / 018,947, filed Dec. 21, 2004, entitled “Method”, and provisional application, filed Jun. 15, 2005, entitled “Floor Cover Installation System and Method”. Claims priority of application No. 60 / 690,762, which is incorporated by reference into the text.

  The present invention relates to floor covering material installation systems and methods, and more particularly to floor covering material installation systems and methods including carpet tiles and other modular floor covering materials.

  Floor covering materials have been used since history. The first such floor covering material was unquestionably plant material such as animal skins or leaves or stems. Later, floor coverings were made, such as by weaving or tying various natural fibers, including sisal and wool. In the beginning of the 20th century, such fiber floor covering material was also manufactured from artificial fibers.

  The initial floor covering was limited in size to the size of the animal skin, but later the floor covering expanded to cover the entire floor of the room. This “wide floor” installation of “wide” floor coverings has become widely used in the 20th century. Exemplary installations of such materials utilize one or a few wide carpets that cover the entire floor of the room. This type of floor covering material is generally affixed to the floor in several ways.

  Later, modular floor coverings utilized smaller, uniformly sized modules or tiles for both solid surface floor coverings such as vinyl tiles and fiber surface floor coverings commonly referred to as carpet tiles. As described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0258870, filed Aug. 11, 2003, "Reconfigurable Module Floor Covering" (incorporated by reference and incorporated herein by reference). In addition, the tile may be installed as a carpet that lays in a part of the room that does not cover the entire surface of the flooring. However, the majority of tiles are used for floor-level installation. Tiles have traditionally been installed with the edges of adjacent tiles aligned and the edges of each tile aligned with rows and columns ("conventional carpet tile installation"). Traditional carpet tiles have historically been products that have been required to mimic the appearance of wide carpets and to hide or at least not emphasize the fact that the product is modular. To achieve this result, at a minimum, carpet tiles or modules in the flooring installation need to be oriented in the same way (ie monolithic) as they were oriented when the module was manufactured. there were. However, in recent years, modular flooring designers with fiber-like surfaces have not sought to hide the flooring design and the flooring is modular, rather the flooring is modular. Began to install flooring that welcomes you. For example, the modules are still installed in aligned rows and columns, but the modules are installed “turned a quarter turn” and rotated 90 ° to each adjacent tile of each tile. Has been. Further, as described in US Pat. No. 6,908,656, carpet tiles have been developed that can be installed “randomly” independent of position or rotational orientation and are incorporated herein by reference. As part of the description.

  However, the modules are not necessarily placed in aligned rows and columns. For example, tiles are also placed in aligned columns that do not form aligned rows of modules so that tile columns appear to shift up or down relative to adjacent tile columns ("Ashler Installation method "). In other installations, the tiles form aligned rows, but the columns are installed in a staggered fashion (“brickwork”).

  Floor covering modules are generally relatively large in size and weight, making it easier to keep the module in the position where the module is positioned when the floor covering is assembled, but more resistant to module movement. It is desirable to provide a method for doing this. This has traditionally been accomplished by attaching the module to the underlying floor surface in various ways.

  Modules are often adhered to the floor by first applying a layer of adhesive to the lower floor surface of the module and then positioning the tile on the adhesive. In this way, the adhesive typically contacts the entire surface area of the back of the floor module, which increases the cost of the material and makes it difficult to reposition the tiles if they are incorrectly positioned. Often becomes. This is especially a problem when installing modules with patterns that must be matched at the seam. Further, when the tile is finally removed, the adhesive may remain on the flooring surface and retain a portion of the tile from which the adhesive has been removed. This adhesive (and any flooring material held by the adhesive) must be removed from the floor to create a smooth surface before installing a new tile. This adds additional cost and time to the installation process.

  The module may also be installed by pre-applying adhesive over the entire back surface (or any part) of the module. For example, apply adhesive to a relatively narrow strip across the back of each module and cover it with a plastic film or strip before installing the module, and cover the plastic film or strip just before the module is placed. It may be peeled off. However, even in this case, this method involves fixing the module directly to the floor, which can result in the disadvantages mentioned above.

  The module is also installed by using double-sided adhesive tape, whereby one side of the tape is positioned on the back side of the module and the other side of the tape is positioned on the floor to secure the module to the floor. Double-sided tape was also positioned between and along the entire adjacent carpet and carpet tile edges. However, like adhesives, double-sided tape may not be able to reposition the tile and may leave a residue on the floor when the tile is removed. Furthermore, the tape has a low tensile strength and is relatively inelastic, so that it tends to stretch and not return to its original shape. This can result in gaps between adjacent tiles.

  In addition to adhering directly to the floor, the module has also been indirectly attached to the underlying floor surface, such as using mechanical fasteners or adhesive-coated pads. For example, hook and loop fasteners are used, whereby either one of the hooks or loops of the loop fastener is secured to the floor and the other sheet of hooks or loops is provided on the back of the module. The module hook or loop engages the hook or loop on the floor to secure the module to the flooring. Adhesive coated pads have also been used. For example, foam pads that have been pre-coated on both sides with a peelable adhesive have been used. During installation, the release paper is removed from both sides of the pad to expose the adhesive and the pad is secured to the floor. The carpet tile is then positioned on the pad and held in place by an adhesive. These systems and methods may improve the installer's ability to reposition tiles, but significantly increase the material cost of installation. Furthermore, using these installation methods, the tiles can move more easily with respect to each other, thereby creating a gap in the installation body (construction).

  There are other installation methods that do not stick the tile directly or indirectly to the floor. For example, adjacent tiles are fixed together using a single-sided adhesive tape such as duct tape. The tile is positioned face down and the tape is secured along the entire adjacent edge of the tile. Without breaking the bond between adjacent tiles, the tile is carefully turned over to expose the wear surface of the tile. This method requires a significant amount of time to position the tape on the tiles, as well as a significant material investment to tape adjacent tile edges along the entire seam. In addition, such adhesive tapes are relatively thin, making it difficult to position the tape on the back of the tile as desired, and, like double-sided adhesive tapes, are low in tensile strength and elasticity and are therefore permanently applied when pressure is applied. Stretching, which tends to create a permanent gap between adjacent tiles.

  Although floor covering material installation methods exist, there is a need for a system and method that reduces the time and material costs required to install the module into a stable floor covering material.

  The present invention addresses the problems of conventional modular floor installation methods by providing a system and method that reduces the time and cost required to install the floor covering. Use connectors to join adjacent floor covering units. Connectors are particularly useful in the installation of modular floor covering units ("tiles"). Each connector includes a film and an adhesive layer applied to one side of the film. In order to install the tile using the connector, the first tile is positioned on the flooring at a location determined by conventional tile installation methods. The connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces up and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the back of the tile and the remaining portion of the connector extends (protrudes) from the back of the tile. The tile is then positioned adjacent to the first tile such that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tile. In this way, the connector spans adjacent edges of adjacent tiles. The tile is assembled on the floor below it, but it is not necessary to fix the tile to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are connected together with connectors to create a floor covering that “floats” on the floor surface on which the tiles are underneath.

  The connector does not need to be positioned along the entire adjacent edge in the installation, nor does it need to run over the edges of all adjacent tiles. Rather, the dimensions of the connector are such that when the connector is positioned on the installation body, the connector does not extend along the entire length of the adjacent edge. Further, although any number of connectors may be used in any number of locations between adjacent tiles, the advantages of the present invention are that in strategic locations within the assembly (some Completely by placing the connector (eg at the corner). This is in contrast to traditional installation methods where it was necessary to install the fixing material along the entire adjacent tile edges to fix all adjacent tile edges during installation. is there.

  The relatively small size and minimum number of connectors required to stabilize tile placement can result in significant material cost savings from traditional tile placement methods. In addition, the use of connectors greatly reduces installation time by eliminating the need to pre-treat the floor prior to installation. Instead of the installer applying a layer of adhesive to the floor and then following the application steps again to position the tile in the adhesive layer, the installer uses the connector to position and secure the tile as it proceeds To do. Furthermore, if a peelable adhesive is used for the connector and the tile surface area in contact with the connector is limited, the tile can be easily repositioned as needed. Still further, because the tiles do not interact with the floor below the tiles, they can be easily removed from the floor and leave little or no adhesive on the bottom floor when removed. As a result, it is not necessary to finish the floor again before the floor is newly covered with another floor covering material.

  Installation can proceed quickly by using a dispenser that includes the connector and preferably delivers the individual connector in a form that is readily graspable. The dispenser may have a structure that separates the connector from the release layer or other connector. The dispenser may be attached to the installer's belt and foot, and may include, for example, a roll connector, a connector on a roll of release material, a connector on a fan folded release material, or a separate connector. The dispenser may be refillable or designed for disposable use.

  The dispenser preferably has a housing for strip stripping material which carries the connectors continuously along the length thereof at intervals. The dispenser may also have an opening for delivering the connector to the user, and may have an actuator for controlling the peeling of the connector and the delivery of the connector to the user through the opening. The dispenser may also have one or more attachment members for attaching the dispenser to the user, such as a belt loop or leg strap. During installation of the carpet, the dispenser installs the carpet using a mounting member so that the installer can move through the room to install the carpet tile using dispensed (dispensed) connectors. It is attached to the person. To obtain the connector, the carpet tile installer moves the actuator away from the release material and pushes the connector through an opening that the connector can easily grasp. The connector may then be attached to one or more carpet tiles.

  Another embodiment includes a housing having an opening from the connector to the outlet and hand movement from a first position to a second position closer to the desired position on the floor surface and closer to the opening than the first position. A dispenser is provided having an actuator actuated at. The dispenser opening is a second portion of the actuator so that the first portion of the user's hand can contact the opening and at the same time the second portion of the user's hand contacts the actuator at the second position. It may be within the reach of the position. Thus, the user can easily grasp the connector that is extended from the opening after moving the actuator from the first position to the second position.

  In another embodiment of the invention, a bundle of connectors, each having a glue on one side, is bonded or otherwise attached together. The individual connectors in the connector bundle may be combined or attached together in various ways. For example, the adhesive on the adhesive side of a connector may be releasably attached to the opposing surface of an adjacent connector, forming a bonded state where the adhesive is permanently bonded or difficult to remove. A release coating may be applied to prevent this. In general, adjacent connectors in a bundle are oriented and aligned in the same direction. As another example, the release layer may separate adjacent connectors with the adhesive layer of the first connector attached to the release material and the opposing surface of the second connector also applied to the release material. . As yet another example, a bundle of connectors is a single strip of release material, on a strip that is folded so that adjacent connectors overlap each other in the bundle, i.e. on a release material folded in a fan shape. It may be a continuous connector attached to the. The bundle of connectors may be included in a dispenser that assists the user when removing individual connectors from the bundle of connectors.

  During carpet installation, the carpet installer can use the bundle of connectors by removing the individual connectors from the bundle and attaching the individual connectors to the back of the carpet edge.

  Another embodiment of the present invention provides a connector having a film with an aqueous or synthetic polymer based adhesive on one side. The adhesive may have a low or no volatile organic compound content and may have plasticizer resistance.

  The connector has alignment marks to facilitate carpet tile installation. Such marks include markings, colors and crosshairs, lines, dots, blocks, and other objects, multicolored sections and quadrants.

  Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for installing carpet tiles that uses connectors with adhesive on one side. The installer places the carpet tile at or near a desired installation position on the floor surface with the carpet tile and the back surface of the tile placed on the floor surface. The installer uses one hand to lift the edge, corner, or other part of the tile, so that the exposed edge of the connector extends beyond the edge of the tile or other tile part. Use the other hand to attach the connector with the adhesive side up. The installer then places the second tile adjacent to the first tile and attaches the back surface of the second tile to the exposed portion of the connector. The dispenser may provide the connector to the installer with the connector facing up and at a location convenient to the portion of the carpet tile to which the connector is attached.

  The present invention relates to a floor covering material installation system and method. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the systems and methods described herein can be used with a variety of floor covering installations. However, Applicants have described that the connectors described herein include all types of installation of modular floor covering units (hereinafter "tiles") (floor installation and carpet installation in a part of a room). ) Was found to be particularly useful. Tiles may have various colors and textures in a range of dimensions and shapes. For example, the individual tiles may be wood board or ceramic shapes and shapes that mimic other tiles, including but not limited to hexagons, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other shapes. In addition, the tiles may be provided in various textures. The tiles of the present invention are typically conventional carpet tiles with woven surfaces, including but not limited to tufted, welded and printed surfaces, but woven and woven It can also be other modular materials, including unfinished fiber flooring, hard vinyl, ceramic, leather, or any other suitable material. The tiles are preferably placed on a generally smooth surface including but not limited to plywood, laminate, linoleum, vinyl tiles, hardwood and concrete. However, as described below, the tiles may be placed on an intermediate substrate that is placed between the tiles and the underlying floor and includes pads and wide carpets.

  FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a connector 20 of the present invention. The connector 20 includes a film 22 and an adhesive layer 24 applied to one surface of the film 22. A release layer 26 is disposed on the adhesive layer 24 to protect the underlying adhesive. In use, the release layer 26 is removed from the connector 20 to expose the adhesive layer 24. As will be described in more detail below, the connector 20 contacts the back of adjacent tiles and spans the adjacent edges of the tiles, thereby connecting the tiles together and connecting the floor covering. Form. In this way, tiles create a floor covering that “floats” on the floor surface under the tile, since the tile is assembled on the floor surface below it without having to be secured to the floor surface.

  The film 22 may be any suitable material, however, to facilitate rapid flooring installation according to the present invention, a connector positioned in partial contact with the backside of the tile approximates the backside of the tile. It is preferably made of a relatively hard material so that it protrudes beyond the tile edges in the same plane. This facilitates accurate positioning of the protruding portion of the connector and proper contact with adjacent tiles. This is typically stiffer than most adhesive tapes that would be greatly rounded or hang down from the back of the tile to which a portion (but not all) of the length of the adhesive tape has been applied. At the same time, the film 22 from which the connector of the present invention is made should be flexible enough to facilitate handling of the rolled connector if desired and to adapt the connector to floor or tile irregularities.

  The film 22 must also be resistant to shrinkage that can result in kinking of adjacent tiles and also exhibit a relatively high tensile strength that resists stretching under traffic and rolling loads. . For example, materials that exhibit a tensile strength between 160-270 megapascals ("MPa") in the flow direction and 165-210 MPa in the direction crossing the flow direction have been found to be particularly suitable for this application. Furthermore, the percentage that the material can be stretched or stretched before it breaks needs to be relatively high to prevent connector breakage and failure when subjected to tensile stress. For example, it is preferred, but not necessary, that the material used be stretchable in the direction of flow 120-200% and in the direction intersecting the flow direction 150-170% before breaking.

  Polymer materials, paperboard and other materials, including fibers and metals, which are suitably hard, thin, strong, water resistant and inexpensive may also be used for the film 22. However, film 22 is preferably a synthetic polymeric material such as polyolefin, polyamide, or polyester, and more preferably polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) polyester. These materials are relatively inexpensive and will fit into the underlying floor when in use and will be resistant to corrosion. While it is preferred that the film material be recyclable, it need not be.

  Film 22 preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.0005 inch to 0.015 inch (about 0.0013 cm-0.038 cm), more preferably 0.003 inch to 0.01 inch (about 0.0076 cm). -0.025 cm), and more preferably 0.005 inches (about 0.013 cm). The film 22 may also be primed (not shown) with an acrylic coating or the like that is applied to the same surface to which the adhesive layer 24 that promotes adhesion between the film 22 and the adhesive layer 24 is applied. But it doesn't have to be. Film 22 may be corona treated on one or both sides to increase surface tension and promote adhesion between film 22 and adhesive 24 without using an adhesion promoting coating.

  The film 22 may have any shape including, but not limited to, a circular shape or a shape constituted by an arbitrary straight line such as a square or a triangle. A square is suitable for most installations. Furthermore, the dimensions of the film 22 can be determined according to the dimensions of the installed tiles. However, in principle, the surface area of the film 22 can be as small as 1% of the surface area of the tile to which the connector is to be attached, preferably in the range of 2-5%. It has been found that a connector surface area of more than 9 square inches (about 58 square centimeters) does not contribute significantly to stabilizing the installation of 18 inch square (about 46 centimeter squares) or 50 centimeter square tiles. Yes. Thus, in order to save material and reduce costs, the connector 20 is preferably about 3 x 3 inches square (about 8 x 8 centimeter squares) or less.

  The adhesive layer 24 can be any adhesive that exhibits certain properties that are desirable for use in the present invention, and the amount of adhesive used for a particular type or connector is often used with the connector 20. It may be decided according to the intended tile. Some carpet tiles have a backing layer, which contains a plasticizer that increases its flexibility and / or changes other properties. The plasticizer has a tendency to migrate and can migrate to the adhesive of certain connectors. Such movement of the plasticizer can weaken the adhesive properties of the connector and reduce the efficiency of the adhesive. Aqueous adhesives (not solvent-based adhesives) that have little or no volatile organic compound content (“VOC”) can have plasticizer resistance and therefore generally are plasticizers. This is desirable when resistance to movement is desired (ie in the installation of carpet tiles containing plasticizers). Acrylic adhesives including those sold by 3M under the identification numbers 9465, 6032, 6035 and 6038 and in particular 9465 (mainly acrylate terpolymers) and 6032 (adhesive acrylate copolymers) are suitable. . Further, although it is preferred that the adhesive 24 be resistant to water or typical carpet detergents, it is not essential. It is also preferable to use a peelable adhesive.

  The adhesive layer 24 of all connectors 20 must adhere well to the back of the tile. However, if necessary, the adhesion to the tile should not be so strong that the connector 20 is prevented from removing and repositioning the tile. The bond strength between the tile and the adhesive (ie, the amount of force required to pull the adhesive layer 24 away from the tile backing layer is the ASTM D-3330 test (commonly referred to as the “90 degree peel test”). If it is too strong, the adhesive layer 24 will peel off the film and remain on the tile, thereby breaking the connector. Therefore, the bond strength between the adhesive layer 24 and the tile should not be stronger than the bond strength between the adhesive layer 24 and the film 22.

  The bond strength is preferably in the range of 5-100 ounces / inch (approximately 5-112 kgf / m) at room temperature. The preferred bond strength may depend on the tile backing layer. For example, the bond strength between an adhesive and a hard-lined tile (eg, made from PVC, polyurethane, or polyolefin) is preferably about 50-70 ounces / inch (about 55-78 kg weight / m). ). The bond strength between the adhesive and the tile having a textile-like backing layer (such as a woven polyolefin or felt backing layer) is preferably about 10-60 oz / inch (about 11-67 kgf / m). ). Further, the bond strength between the adhesive and the cushion-lined tile is preferably about 40-60 ounces / inch (about 44-67 kgf / m), and the bond between the adhesive and the bitumen-lined tile. The strength is preferably about 10-20 ounces / inch (about 11-22 kgf / m). Preferably, the bond strength between the tile and the adhesive at high temperature remains within ± 15% of the bond strength at room temperature.

  The amount of adhesive applied to each connector 20 (ie, the thickness of the adhesive layer) can be determined according to the dimensions of the connector 20 as well as the tiles used with the connector 20. However, while the amount of adhesive should allow to achieve the bond strengths described above, the connector is in sufficient contact and engagement with the backside of the tile, and the amount of adhesive is such that the adhesive is the connector Preferably, it is not so much that it moves beyond the contact surface of the 20 and tiles and touches the floor below. In this way, the floor covering installation will remain unsecured to the floor below it, which will facilitate the modular unit when it is finally removed. About 0.0005 to 0.010 inch (about 0.0013 to 0.025 cm) thick adhesive, more preferably about 0.002 to 0.008 inch (about 0.005 to 0.020 cm) thick It has been found that a connector 20 having a suitable adhesive is suitable for most applications.

  For tiles with a woven or knitted textile-like backing layer, typically more adhesive needs to penetrate the voids (holes) formed in the backing layer, thereby adhering to the tile Provide sufficient interfacial contact between agents. A connector having an adhesive layer 24 about 0.005-0.008 inches thick is preferred for tiles having a textile-like backing layer. For tiles with a relatively flat or shallow embossed backing layer surface, such as hard-lined tiles, less adhesive, preferably in the range of 0.002-0.003 inches (about 0.005-0.008 cm) An adhesive having an inner thickness may be used.

  All adhesives intended for use in connectors only prevent tiles or tiles from moving relative to each other, thereby creating gaps between adjacent tiles after installation It is necessary to have sufficient shear strength.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the connector 20 can be provided with a logo or other design element. For example, a logo may be applied with ink on the side of the film to which the adhesive is applied. Thus, inks that typically have a high VOC content are trapped between the film and the adhesive, preventing unwanted release from the ink. Furthermore, the logo is also protected by the film when the connector is positioned on the release paper. This prevents the logo from being accidentally scratched or removed from the connector.

  It may be useful to print or apply alignment marks (not shown in the drawings) on the connector to facilitate tile placement. Therefore, all that is needed for the installer is to align the edges of the marked tiles (or other parts of the tiles) to ensure optimal connector placement between adjacent tiles. Any mark can be used to tell the installer where the tiles will be placed on the connector. For example, the connector can be provided with a cross, a boundary line, a point, a block, or the like parallel to and transverse to the edge of the connector. In addition, different parts of the connector can be colored (such as dividing the connector into quarters and giving each quarter a different color) to indicate proper carpet tile positioning.

  The release layer 26 can be any material compatible with the adhesive that prevents the release layer 26 from adhering to the adhesive and preventing the release layer 26 from being removed from the connector. Kraft paper having a low energy coating such as a polymer coating (eg, polymeric silicone) on at least one side thereof has been found to be particularly suitable for this application. However, release materials suitable for use in the present invention are widely available commercially, such as 3M, and are readily known to those skilled in the art.

  The connector 20 is preferably provided at the installation site as a separate unit that has already been fully or partially cut to the desired shape and dimensions for use in the installation. Each connector 20 may be manufactured separately, but the economic significance of manufacturing is to first manufacture a sandwich structure of film 22, adhesive layer 24, release layer 26 that is larger than the intended connector dimensions, and then It may be achieved by cutting the connector 20 from the sandwich structure. An adhesive layer 24 is applied over the desired film 22 and then a release layer 26 is positioned in contact with the adhesive layer 24 to form a sandwich structure. In another manufacturing embodiment, the adhesive layer 24 is first applied to the release layer 26 and then the film 22 is positioned on the release layer 26 to form a sandwich structure.

  Obviously, the resulting sandwich structure may then be cut into a connector 20 of the desired shape and dimensions. However, it is preferred that many connectors 20 be provided on a single release layer 26. For example, a connector 20 that has been previously cut or perforated may be positioned continuously along the strip of release layer 26. To facilitate handling and storage, the strip can be wound so that the connector is positioned on the outside (see FIG. 2) or inside of the roll, or the continuous connector 20 is folded into an accordion. . Further, many connectors 20 can be provided on the sheet of release layer 26. Film 22 may be perforated 28 (see FIG. 3) or cut completely to the desired connector shape and dimensions to facilitate removal from release layer 26 (not shown) during installation. It's okay. It will be apparent that the ideal number of connectors 20 provided on the strip or sheet of release material will vary with installation scale.

  It has been found that providing the connector 20 to a strip or sheet of release material facilitates removal of the connector 20 from the release layer 26 and thus reduces installation time. With respect to the connector 20 provided on the strip of release material (as shown in FIG. 2), installation can also proceed quickly through the use of a connector dispenser. The dispenser holds at least one rolled or accordion folded strip of connector 20 and more preferably provides a mechanism for pulling connector 20 away from release layer 26. The dispenser may be made, for example, as a backpack or configured to be attached to an installer's belt and preferably includes a structure that supports a roll of at least one (and preferably more) connectors 20.

  In one embodiment of such a dispenser (see FIG. 4), the roll of release material carrying the connector 20 is in a box 30 made of any sufficiently rigid material such as, for example, plastic, metal, or cardboard. Stored. The box preferably includes three openings 32, 34, 36 through which strips of release material are routed. A strip of release material is routed through the first opening 32, with the opening positioned at the protrusion 38. The release material is then fed back through the second opening 34 into the box 30 and out of the third opening 36. In use, the installer pulls a strip of release material that extends from the third opening 36. As a result, the roll portion of the release layer 26 carrying the connector 20 is advanced. If the release layer 26 extends beyond the protrusion 38, the relatively hard connector 20 cannot conform to the shape of the protrusion 38 and cannot travel beyond the protrusion 38. Instead, once the advanced end of the connector is disengaged from the release layer 26, the installer can then easily grasp the disengaged advance end and remove the connector 20 completely from the release layer 26. Clearly, the more connectors the dispenser can support, the fewer times the installer has to reload the dispenser during installation. This can be particularly useful during large installations.

  In another embodiment of such a dispenser (see FIGS. 10-13), the dispenser 70 includes a housing 72 that holds the connector on a roll of release material 74. The actuator 76 is moved down along the path of the slot 78 from the upper or starting position, causing the single connector to peel from the roll of release material 74 in the housing. The dispenser 70 is constructed in such a way that the individual connectors can be readily grasped by pulling the connectors away from the release material so as to limit the user's contact to the adhesive side of the connector. Specifically, after the actuator 76 is moved along the slot 78, the housing 72 has an opening 80 for extending the connector close to the final position of the user's hand to cause the connector to peel off. Thus, when the actuator 76 is moved from the starting position to the final position along the linear path of the slot 78, the individual connectors are peeled (or partially peeled) from the release material and passed through the opening 80. Presented to the user at a convenient location for the user to hold with his hand. Once the user releases the actuator 76, the actuator 76 returns to the starting position at the top of the slot 78. Necessary for the user to grasp and move the actuator 76 by positioning the actuator 76 at a convenient position for the user and positioning the actuator 76 for the user's hand when the dispenser 70 is attached to the user's body. Preferably, the amount of movement is limited.

  The dispenser 70 may be attached to the installer's belt using a belt loop 82, and the dispenser may be attached to the installer's through an opening 84 in a leg attachment 86 attached to the housing 72 using a strap (not shown). It may be attached to the foot. Since the leg attachment portion 86 has a curved shape and is formed of a relatively soft material (for example, rubber), the leg attachment portion 86 is firmly tightened around the leg of the installer with a strap passing through the opening 84. Forms a cushion that conforms to the shape of the leg between the leg and the housing 72. Alternatively, the leg attaching portion 86 and the housing 72 may be integrated. The dispenser may have a variety of attachment members (eg, belt loops, strap openings, straps, clips, etc.) for attaching the dispenser to a user.

  FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the connector dispenser 70. The drive component group 88 including the rotating chain 90 is used as a drive member that drives the take-up roller 96 (shown in FIGS. 14 to 15) and a drive member that drives the meter roller 98 (also shown in FIGS. 14 to 15). It is attached. These rollers 96, 98 are also attached to the take-up bar 92 and the meter roller bar 94 and rotate above, respectively. One or both of these bars may use a ratchet slip clutch to get one of the bars over the other. As the actuator 76 moves along the slot 78 during assembly and use, the rotating chain 90 of the drive component group 88 rotates, causing the take-up roller 96 and meter roller 98 to rotate. This causes the release layer 104 to travel around the pin 116 so that the relatively soft release material bends around the curve of the pin 116 and the relatively stiff connector is released from the release material through the opening 80. Protruded. A tensioning device or capstan assembly 102 is fitted adjacent meter roller 98 during assembly. The tensioning device 102 is a pair of springs loaded with rollers designed to bias against the meter roller 98 and keeps the release material 104 taut against the meter roller 98 during use.

  A roll of release material 74 is mounted on the spindle or peg 106 with the release material 104 extending to the tip 108. When assembling the dispenser, the roll of release material 74 may be loaded into the appropriate path through the dispenser 70 ending in the roll 74 on the peg 106 and at the tip 108 attached to the take-up roller 96. Is done by sending The tip 108 is attached to the take-up roller 96 by attaching the tip 108 to the periphery of the take-up roller 96 by using an adhesive on the tip 108 by inserting the tip 108 into the slot 110 of the take-up roller 96. Or any other suitable technique.

  When roll 74 is properly seated in dispenser 70, the first connector on roll 74 may be ready for dispensing. The first connector may be spaced a predetermined distance from the tip 108 so that the first connector is in place when the tip 108 is fitted into the slot 110 of the take-up roller 96. In other words, the first connector is positioned on the release material following the tip withdrawal and tip 108 of a predetermined length. Subsequent connectors are spaced along the release material 104 over the remainder of the roll 74. In many cases, the distance along the strip of release material between the connectors will be relatively constant between the connectors.

  After the actuator 76 has pushed the first connector out of the opening 80, the release material 104 has been advanced so that the next connector is ready to be drawn. Accordingly, movement of the actuator 76 will typically cause the release material 104 to be advanced slightly more than the length of one connector that pushes out so that the next connector is pushed into place, so that the dispenser 70 is self- Consistent. The adjustment screw 112 allows the user to adjust the first position of the actuator by making fine adjustments or otherwise, to extend or shorten the distance that the actuator moves. This change is reflected in the amount of change in movement along the path of the release material 104 when the actuator moves from the initial position to the final position.

  FIG. 13 is a side view of the connector dispenser 70 with the cover removed, and further shows the path of the release material 104. As shown, the path of the release material 104 begins at the roll 74 and extends along the curved portion 114 to a sharp curve around the free-rotating rod 116 positioned near the opening 80 and the meter roller 98. Extends around the take-up roller 96. In use, both the take-up roller 96 and the meter roller 98 are rotated by a predetermined amount by the movement of the actuator 76. By this rotation, the release layer 104 advances a predetermined distance along the above-described path. In general, the release material has a sufficient distance so that the connector on the release material 104 is disengaged or partially disengaged from the release material 104 and protrudes from the opening 80 for the user to grasp and use. Will go forward.

  FIG. 12 is a side view of the connector dispenser 74 with a cover attached. Generally, the dispenser housing will have two parts that allow the housing to be opened for loading or unloading a roll of connectors on the release material. The two parts may be connected to each other by a hinge and open in the form of a clamshell. A latch 118 secures the two portions of the housing 72 together to allow the user to quickly and easily refill the dispenser 70 when needed. The positioning of the latch also allows the user to refill the dispenser 70 without removing the dispenser 70 from a position on the user's body.

  14 and 15 show the drive component group 88 of the connector dispenser 70. FIG. When the actuator of the dispenser 76 is attached to the connection of the chain 90 in the drive component group 88, the movement of the actuator 76 along the path of the slot 78 causes the chain 90 to move along the path in the drive component group 88. Rotate. Rotating the chain 90 causes rotation of the meter roller drive member 118 and the take-up roll drive member 120. As described above, rotation of drive members 118, 120 and associated drive rollers 96, 98 cause movement of release material 104 within dispenser 70. One or both of the drive members utilize a ratcheting member to ensure that the drive member is only in one direction, i.e., in a direction corresponding to forward movement of the release material 104 in the dispenser 70 along its path. To rotate. The drive members 118, 120 may be attached to the rollers 96, 98, respectively, in any suitable manner. For example, the drive member may have a 6-point hexagonal profile that mates with a 12-point hexagonal socket on the roller. The 6 to 12 point connection facilitates aligning these parts together when repositioning the cover of the dispenser 70 during assembly or after refilling.

  Further, when the chain moves together with the movement of the actuator, the spring driving member 122 rotates to coil a spring (not shown) inside the spring casing 100 and retain energy. When the user moves the actuator 76 from the start position to the end position and releases the actuator, the spring extends and rotates the chain 90 in the opposite direction, so that the attached actuator 76 follows the path (slot) 78. To return to the starting position. The tensioning device 124 secures the chain 90 in its path within the drive component group 88. The internal components of the drive component group 88 are placed in the casing 126.

  Several alternative dispenser designs are possible. For example, the dispenser may be modified to attach at various locations. In addition to being attached to the user's belt and feet, the dispenser may be strapped between the user's knees, attached to the user's arm or wrist, or worn as a backpack, and the user's shoulder Or may be secured, attached, suspended, or contacted to any suitable part of the user's body. Typically, the dispenser will be placed in a convenient location for the user to access the connector to be dispensed.

  Alternatively, the dispenser may be used away from the user's body. For example, the dispenser may be placed on a flooring or attached to a knee pedestal that the user laps. The dispenser may be suspended from the ceiling or wall, or attached to a zip line. The dispenser may also be part of the package in which the dispenser is shipped or may include some or all of the package in which the dispenser is shipped. As another alternative, the dispenser may dispense more than one connector simultaneously, or it may dispense a grid of connected dispensers.

  Separation of the connector from the release material may also be accomplished by alternative means other than those described above. In addition to peeling by passing a release material around a sharp curve, various other mechanisms are possible. For example, the user may grasp the connector and remove it by removing the connector from the release material. In such cases, the dispenser may dispense a release material with a connector attached for removal by the user. For example, the dispenser may include a bundle of release materials folded in a fan shape, each having a connector on each of the folded portions. Such a dispenser opening allows the user to grab and remove the release material surrounding the connector, then remove the connector and discard the release material.

  As another example, the dispenser may have a continuous roll of connectors without release material. Such a dispenser may have a cutting member near the opening for cutting a predetermined or user-defined amount of connector roll for use as an individual connector. The backing layer of a roll of connectors rolled without a release material as the backing layer may have a release coating.

  As another example, the connectors are stacked individually in a dispenser, each connector having a release material that covers all or part of its adhesive surface so that each of the connectors sticks to the other connector in a bundle There may be no such thing. The release material has a weak adhesive thereon and adjacent connectors in the bundle are bonded in the bundle (ie, the weak adhesive removably sticks to the non-adhesive surface of the adjacent tile).

  Further alternatively, the connectors may be stacked in a bundle in a dispenser so that the adhesive surface of each connector is attached to an adjacent connector. For example, a silicone- or polymeric florin-treated release coating such as acrylic, polyolefin, polyamide, or polyester can be applied to the non-adhesive surface of each tile so that the adhesive surface of adjacent tiles can be removed to the non-adhesive surface It may be attached.

  A bundle of connectors may be used with or without a dispenser. In some cases, it may be convenient for the installer to simply hold the bundle of connectors and remove one connector at a time for use. The connectors in the bundle may be attached in various ways as described above.

  The dispenser of the present invention may also be arranged to dispense the connector directly onto the carpet tile without the user touching the connector. For example, the dispenser may have a corner at which the corner of the carpet tile can be placed. When a carpet tile is placed, the dispenser is driven by the user to dispense the connector at the tile corner or automatically by automatically detecting the presence of the tile. A similar design may be used to attach the connector directly to the carpet tile edges (not the corners). Alternatively, the dispenser may be designed to roll (roll) under the corner of the carpet tile when the carpet tile is placed on the flooring. When in place, the dispenser dispenses the connector directly onto the carpet tile. This rolling movement may also cause the dispenser to push out the connector.

  The dispenser of the present invention may also be configured to advance the release material that holds the connector in various ways. In addition to the user controlled actuator, the advancement of the release material can be triggered by the user pulling on the release material, the user pulling on the connector, the electric motor, the user action (eg, the user swinging left and right on the knee pad) Or any other suitable technique or device.

  The dispenser of the present invention will typically dispense the connector in an orientation that is convenient for the user or installer of the carpet tile, but this need not always be the case. Preferably, the connector will be dispensed with the connector's adhesive side up so that the user does not need to flip or rotate it before applying or positioning the connector. The dispenser may also include a counter and display for tracking and displaying the number of connectors remaining on the release material. The dispenser may be provided with an opening so that the user can see the remaining connectors held inside.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the release material 26 may be omitted entirely. Rather, the connectors 20 can be stacked on top of each other with the adhesive layer 24 of one connector 20 in contact with the film 22 of the connector 20 positioned over the connector in a bundle. The installer then simply peels connector 20 from the bundle during installation.

  In one installation method of tiles using connectors, the first tile is placed on the floor at a location determined by conventional tile installation methods. The connector 20 is peeled from the release layer 26 (or from the bundle of connectors 20), and the adhesive layer 24 is disposed so as to face upward when viewed from the floor below. The connector 20 is positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer 24 adheres to the back surface of the tile, and the remaining portion of the connector 20 extends from the back surface of the tile. The tile or tiles are then positioned adjacent to the first tile such that a portion of the connector 20 adheres to the adjacent tile. In this way, the connector spans adjacent edges of adjacent tiles.

  Any number of connectors 20 may be used to join adjacent tiles in the installation. However, in order to create a stable floor covering, there is no need for the connector to be positioned along the entire edge of the adjacent tile, nor to be positioned over the entire edge of the adjacent tile. Rather, unlike the adhesive tape that is used along the entire edges of adjacent tiles to secure adjacent tiles, the connector 20 of the present invention is along a very limited length of adjacent edges. It only needs to be extended. For example, floor covering tiles where only 5% to 10% of the edges of adjacent tiles are secured with connectors 20 are exposed to pedestrian traffic, rolling traffic, and pressure applied during cleaning and maintenance. As well as the ability to hold relative positions during installation, as well as planar stability (measured by tile indentation and / or rounding), and dimensional stability (measured by tile distortion) It was found to show.

  FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a traditional placement of tiles (ie, placement in rows and columns to be aligned). For the sake of brevity, the connector positioning will be described with respect to the basic unit 40 of the four tiles 41-44, as shown aligned in FIG. The tiles 41-44 are preferably joined using a central connector 46 at the corner where they intersect. Further, diagonal corners from the central connector 46 of each tile are also coupled to adjacent tiles using the connector 20. In this way, only two tile connectors in total (including the central connector 46 and a quarter of the connectors at each of the four diagonal corners), the basic units of the four tiles 41 to 44 are installed. Just use it to do. When this is further broken down, each of the four tiles 41-44 on average gains its stability from only one-half of the surface area of the connector.

  FIG. 7 shows a possible connector arrangement in a brickwork installation (or when the ashler installation of FIG. 7 is rotated 90 degrees). For the sake of brevity, the preferred positioning of the connector 20 will be described with respect to the basic unit 60 of four tiles 61-64, as shown aligned in FIG. Similar to tiles 41-44, only two tile connectors in total (1/2 connectors for each tile) need only be used to install the basic unit 60 of four tiles 61-64.

  Figures 5-8 illustrate some of the myriad connector arrangements for installing tiles. The connector 20 may be positioned at any position between adjacent tiles, so any tile in the installation can be as many connectors as possible from just one connector part and tile dimensions and connector 20 dimensions. You may make it contact. In addition to placement at the corners of the intersecting tiles, the connector 20 may be positioned so as to span the adjacent edges of only two tiles. In addition, connectors 20 of different shapes or dimensions may be used in a single installation. For example, in addition to the rectangular connectors shown in FIG. 5, triangular connectors may be useful at installation boundaries, such as where tiles touch walls.

  In addition to placing the connector 20 in the field, it is also possible to pre-position the connector 20 at the desired location on the tile during manufacture. For example, the release material 26 of the connector 20 may be perforated. Thus, during manufacture, a portion of the release material 26 can be removed along the perforations to expose a portion of the adhesive layer 24. That portion of the connector 20 can then be adhered to the back of the edge of the tile 50 described above (see FIG. 9). The adhesive on the remaining portion of the connector 20 is still protected by the remaining release material 26. In order to prevent the connector 20 extending from the tile 50 from interfering with the packaging of the tile 50 for shipping, the connector 20 is bent along the back surface of the perforation (in direction A) so that the connector 20 It is preferred that the backside of the lap be flush with itself. During installation, the installer need only extend the connector 20 from the edge of the tile 50, remove the remaining release material 26 and install the tile 50 as described above.

  Since the tile is not secured to the flooring, it is not necessary to place the tile directly on the floor surface below it. Rather, the connector 20 of the present invention works equally well with tiles positioned on an intermediate substrate positioned between the tile and the flooring. For example, a barrier material such as a plastic sheet may be positioned on the floor prior to tile installation. The plastic sheet can help protect the flooring from damage that could be caused by liquid spilled through the tile seam and also spilled into the existing flooring. As well, thus eliminating the need for sealants and barrier coatings. In addition, cushions or foam pads may also be positioned on the flooring prior to tile installation. The cushion makes your feet comfortable and eliminates the need to use cushion-lined carpet tiles. Instead, a hard-lined tile can simply be placed on the underlying cushion pad.

  The connector of the present invention improves upon existing tile installation systems and methods. The connector uses less material and cheaper material than traditional installation systems. Furthermore, the use of connectors eliminates the need for pre-treatment of flooring prior to installation (in about 60% of the time of the adhesive system), thereby significantly reducing tile installation time. Rather than apply a layer of adhesive to the flooring and then follow the steps of the application again to position the tile on the adhesive layer, the installer uses the connector to position and secure . Furthermore, if a peelable adhesive is used at the connector and the surface area of the tile contacting the connector is limited, the tile can be easily repositioned if necessary. Still further, since the tile does not contact the floor below it, the tile can be easily removed from the flooring and the floor below it can be brought to its initial state upon removal. As a result, the flooring need not be refinished before it is newly covered with another floor covering.

  The embodiments described above are exemplary and not limiting. Many variations of the structures illustrated in the drawings and the materials described above are possible, and such variations are within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the connector and peeling layer of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows another embodiment of the connector and peeling layer of this invention. It is a top view which shows another Example of the connector of this invention. It is the schematic which shows one Embodiment of the connector dispenser of this invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing tile installation according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a small group of tiles in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing another tile installation according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing a subset of the tiles of FIG. 7. 1 is a side perspective view showing an embodiment of the connector of the present invention attached to an edge of a tile. FIG. It is a perspective view of a connector dispenser. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connector dispenser of FIG. It is a side view of the connector dispenser of FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view of the connector dispenser of FIG. 10 with a front cover removed. It is a side view of the drive component group of the connector dispenser of FIG. It is a front view of the drive component group of the connector dispenser of FIG.

Claims (37)

A connector for installing modular tiles on the floor surface without fixing the modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
a. With film,
b. A layer of adhesive disposed on one side of the film and a connector spans adjacent edges of adjacent tiles so that the adhesive layer contacts the back of each adjacent tile. The adhesive layer can form a bond with the back of the tile so as to prevent relative movement between adjacent tiles while extending along only a portion of the edges of adjacent tiles And
c. Alignment marks for facilitating tile placement, and when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back side of the tile, the connector aligns the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back side of the tile. A connector that protrudes beyond.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mark has a cross shape.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mark is a line.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mark is a dot.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mark is a block.   The connector of claim 1, wherein the indicia includes two colors.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the mark divides the connector into four quadrants.   The connector of claim 7, wherein the four quadrants include two colors. A method of installing modular tiles on the floor surface,
Providing a connector with a film with an adhesive on one side thereof;
Placing the first tile close to a desired installation position for the first tile on the floor surface, with the back surface of the first tile resting on the floor surface;
Using a first hand to lift a portion of the first tile;
Using a second hand to attach a connector to the back of a portion of the first tile;
The adhesive on one side of the connector film then adheres to the back surface of a portion of the first tile so that the exposed portion of the connector extends beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back surface of the tile. And placing the second tile on the floor surface near a desired installation location for the second tile adjacent to the first tile and on the exposed portion of the connector; Installation method of modular tiles, including   The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a connector using a dispenser.   11. The method of claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising providing a connector with the adhesive side facing up. A connector for joining modular tiles on the floor surface without securing the modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
With film,
An adhesive layer disposed on one side of the film, the adhesive layer comprising a water-based adhesive;
The connector extends over only a portion of the edge of the adjacent tile when the connector is spanned over the adjacent edge of the adjacent tile and the adhesive layer contacts the back of each adjacent tile. The adhesive layer can form a bond with the back of the tile so as to prevent relative movement between adjacent tiles,
A connector that protrudes beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back surface of the tile when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back surface of the tile.   The connector according to claim 12, wherein the adhesive has a low content of volatile organic compounds.   The connector according to claim 12, wherein the adhesive does not contain a volatile organic compound.   The connector according to claim 12, wherein the adhesive has plasticizer resistance. A connector for joining modular tiles on the floor surface without securing the modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
With film,
An adhesive layer positioned on one side of the film, the adhesive layer comprising an acrylic adhesive;
The connector extends over only a portion of the edge of the adjacent tile when the connector is spanned over the adjacent edge of the adjacent tile and the adhesive layer contacts the back of each adjacent tile. The adhesive layer can form a bond with the back of the tile so as to prevent relative movement between adjacent tiles,
A connector that protrudes beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back surface of the tile when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back surface of the tile.   The connector according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive has a low content of volatile organic compounds.   The connector according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive does not contain a volatile organic compound.   The connector according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive has plasticizer resistance.   The connector according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive is mainly an acrylate terpolymer.   The connector of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is a tackified acrylate copolymer. A system for installing modular tiles on a floor surface without securing modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
a. Connectors, each comprising (i) a film and (ii) a layer of peelable adhesive disposed on one side of said film, wherein the connectors are spanned over adjacent edges of adjacent tiles As the adhesive layer contacts the backside of each of the adjacent tiles, the adhesive layer extends along only a portion of the edge of the adjacent tile so as to prevent relative movement between adjacent tiles. A connector capable of forming a bond between the adhesive layer and the backside of the tile;
b. A strip of release layers, wherein the plurality of connectors are such that an adhesive layer of each of the plurality of connectors is located between the release layer and each film of the plurality of connectors on the strip of the release layer A strip of release layer, wherein each of the plurality of individual connectors is adapted to be removed separately from the release layer;
c. A connector dispenser,
(I) a casing for stripping the release layer;
(Ii) a connector dispenser comprising a protrusion that protrudes at least partially outside the housing, wherein at least a portion of the connector is at least partially pulled away from the release layer when the release layer is pulled beyond the protrusion; With
A modular tile installation system in which, when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back side of the tile, the connector protrudes beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back side of the tile.   24. The system of claim 22, wherein the release layer strip is rolled.   24. A system according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a peelable adhesive.   25. A system according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the connector is recombinable with the back of the tile after the bond between the adhesive layer and the back of the tile is broken.   26. A system as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, further comprising an undercoat between the film and the adhesive layer.   A method of dispensing a connector to a carpet installer during installation of a carpet on a floor surface,
  Providing a dispenser having an actuator comprising a release material having a plurality of connectors and controlling the release of the connector from the release material and the release of the connector through the opening of the dispenser;
  Attaching the dispenser to the carpet installer,
  Moving the actuator to detach the connector from the release material and let the user push it through the opening;
  Grabbing the connector from the position where the connector is extended in the opening;
  Attaching the connector to the back of the carpet,
  The method wherein the connector protrudes beyond the edge of the carpet in approximately the same plane as the back of the carpet when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back of the carpet.   A bundle of connectors for installing modular tiles on the floor surface without securing the modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
  At least a first connector and a second connector, each of the first and second connectors including a film having an adhesive surface having a layer of adhesive and a surface opposite to the adhesive surface; The connector extends over only a portion of the edge of the adjacent tile when the connector is spanned over the adjacent edge of the adjacent tile and the adhesive layer contacts the back of each adjacent tile. The adhesive layer can form a bond with the back of the tile so as to prevent relative movement between adjacent tiles,
  The first connector and the second connector are detachably attached to each other,
  When the first and second connectors are positioned in partial contact with the back surface of the tile, the first and second connectors protrude beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back surface of the tile. Bunch of.   29. The connector bundle of claim 28, wherein the bundle is in a dispenser.   30. The first connector and the second connector are adjacent to each other and oriented in the same direction, and the adhesive layer of the first connector is attached to the opposite side of the second connector. A bundle of connectors as described in 1.   31. A bundle of connectors according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the opposite side of the second connector is provided with a release coating.   The first connector and the second connector are adjacent to each other and oriented in the same direction, the adhesive layer of the first connector is attached to the release material, and the opposite side of the second connector is attached to the release material 32. A bundle of connectors according to any one of claims 28 to 31. A method for installing modular tiles on the floor surface without securing the modular tiles each having a back surface to the floor surface,
Providing a bundle of connectors, each of the connectors including a film having an adhesive surface with a layer of adhesive and a surface opposite the adhesive surface, the connector spanning adjacent edges of adjacent tiles; When the adhesive layer contacts the back of each adjacent tile, the adhesive layer extends along only a portion of the edge of the adjacent tile and prevents relative movement between adjacent tiles. The adhesive layer can form a bond with the backside of the tile,
Removing the connector from the connector bundle,
Attaching a connector to the back of one tile,
The method wherein the connector protrudes beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the back surface of the tile when the connector is positioned in partial contact with the back surface of the tile .   34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing a bundle of connectors in the dispenser.   35. The connector bundle according to claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the bundle of connectors further includes a first connector and a second connector adjacent to each other, and the adhesive layer of the first connector is attached to the opposite side of the second connector. the method of.   36. The method of claim 35, wherein the opposite side of the second connector comprises a release coating.   The connector bundle further includes a first connector and a second connector adjacent to each other, the adhesive layer of the first connector being attached to the release material and the opposite side of the second connector being attached to the release material 35. A method according to claim 33 or claim 34.

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