US20090107077A1

US20090107077A1 - Modular flooring

Info

Publication number: US20090107077A1
Application number: US11/930,060
Authority: US
Inventors: An-Min Zhang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-30
Filing date: 2007-10-30
Publication date: 2009-04-30

Abstract

A modular flooring includes a plurality of floorings and a plurality of floor connectors. Each of the floorings has at least two opposite sides respectively formed with a hidden engaged hole which is a recessed structure. When the floorings are laid adjacent to each other and the corresponding hidden engaged holes of each two of the floorings are aligned with each other, each of the floor connectors is respectively inserted into the corresponding hidden engaged holes, so that the floorings adjacent to each other can be combined mutually. As a result, the assembling convenience and the flexibility of the modular flooring are increased.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular flooring, and more particularly to a modular flooring provided with hidden engaged holes and floor connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently, a traditional method for laying a wood flooring comprises the steps of: providing a foundation on the ground; and mounting a plurality of floorings having a square structure on the foundation in turn by an adhesive or a plurality of nails. However, the traditional method is inconvenient to lay the floorings, and costs more manpower and working time. Once one of the floorings is damaged, it needs to complicatedly disassemble the floorings for repairing or replacing the damaged floorings.
A modular flooring is easier and simpler structure for installation. The modular flooring comprises a plurality of floorings. Each of the floorings has two opposite sides respectively formed with a projected rail and a groove. The projected rail can be inserted into and engaged with the groove of another flooring. Thus, when laying the modular flooring, every two of the adjacent floorings can be combined with each other by engaging the projected rail with the groove. If necessary, a plurality of nails can be used to position the floorings.
However, each of the foregoing floorings is only provided with the projected rail and the groove on the two opposite sides thereof, respectively, so that the floorings only can be combined with each other along a common combinational direction limited by the projected rail and the groove. As a result, the modular flooring only can generate a simpler combinational pattern. Furthermore, after the floorings are positioned by the nails, the modular flooring can not be easily disassembled. In other words, it is uneasy to disassemble the modular flooring when one of the floorings is damaged or there is a need for changing the combinational pattern.
Furthermore, each of the floorings has at least one side provided with the projected rail. Thus, after finishing the modular flooring, at least one of the floorings has the projected rail projected on the at least one side and adjacent to a building wall. In other words, the modular flooring can not fully cover all ground area to be laid. Moreover, the modular flooring also can not resist dropped water, objects, or insects accidentally intruding into a space between the floorings and accumulating on the ground, resulting in a hygienic problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a modular flooring, wherein a portion or all of floorings thereof can be easily changed when some of the floorings are damaged or there is a need for changing a combinational pattern thereof.
To achieve the above object, the modular flooring of a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of floorings and a plurality of floor connectors, wherein each of the floorings has at least two opposite sides respectively formed with a hidden engaged hole which is a recessed structure. When the floorings are laid adjacent to each other and the corresponding hidden engaged holes of each two of the floorings are aligned with each other, each of the floor connectors is inserted into a respective said corresponding hidden engaged hole, so that the floorings adjacent to each other can be combined with mutually.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of a modular flooring according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a modular flooring with a waterproof rubber strip according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the waterproof rubber strip according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a first combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a second combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a third combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fourth combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a fifth combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a sixth combinational pattern defined by the modular flooring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a modular flooring according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As shown, the modular flooring comprises a plurality of floorings 10 and a plurality of connectors 20.
Each of the floorings 10 has two opposite first sides 11, 12 which is respectively formed with a hidden engaged hole 41, 42, i.e. a recessed structure. Meanwhile, each of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42 is respectively communicated with an opening 43 formed on two opposite second sides 13,14 adjacent to the opposite first sides 11, 12 of each of the floorings 10. It should be noted that each of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42 can be further defined as a combination of an inner portion 44 and an outer portion 45 at a cross-section of each of the floorings 10, wherein the inner portion 44 is closed to a center portion of the flooring 10, while the outer portion 45 is closed to the opposite first sides 11, 12 of the flooring 10. Furthermore, the inner portion 44 has an inner diameter greater than that of the outer portion 45. Each of the floor connectors 20 is shaped in a configuration complementary to that of each said hidden engaged hole 41, 42.
For laying the floorings 10, each two of the floorings 10 are placed adjacent to each other, so that the corresponding hidden engaged holes 41, 42 of the two adjacent floorings 10 are aligned with each other to collectively define a channel structure. Meanwhile, each of the floor connectors 20 is respectively inserted with an opening 43 into the channel structure defined by the two corresponding hidden engaged holes 41, 42, so as to combine the two adjacent floorings 10 mutually. As a result, the plurality of the floorings 10 can be combined to form a modular flooring having a greater area.
Referring back to FIG. 1, in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two hidden engaged holes 41, 42 formed on the two opposite first sides 11, 12 of each of the floorings 10 are shaped in the same configuration, while each of the floor connectors 20 are shaped in a configuration complementary to that of the channel structure composed of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42. Thus, each of the floor connectors 20 can be smoothly inserted into the channel structure defined by the two corresponding hidden engaged holes 41, 42, while the inner portion 44 with a greater inner diameter and the outer portion 45 with a smaller inner diameter of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42 can be used to substantially enhance the engagement relationship between the floor connectors 20 and the floorings 10.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a modular flooring according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and similar to the first preferred embodiment previously discussed. As shown, each of floorings 10 has two opposite sides formed with the hidden engaged holes 41, 42, which are shaped in different configurations. When each two of the floorings 10 are placed adjacent to each other, the corresponding hidden engaged holes 41, 42 of the two adjacent floorings 10 are similarly aligned with each other to collectively define a channel structure. Meanwhile, each of the floor connectors 20 are shaped in a configuration complementary to that of the channel structure composed of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42. Thus, each of the floor connectors 20 is smoothly inserted into the channel structure defined by the two corresponding hidden engaged holes 41, 42, so as to tightly combine the two adjacent floorings 10 with each other.
In the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention, the floorings 10 can be selected from double-face veneered floors, double-face pressed laminate floors, strengthened floors, wooden floors, bamboo floors, and composite floors. Meanwhile, the recessed structure of the hidden engaged holes 41, 42 can be selected from a square recess, a rectangular recess, a circular recess, and a trapezoid recess.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A, a modular flooring according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and similar to the first and second preferred embodiments described above. As shown, the modular flooring further comprises a plurality of waterproof rubber strips 30 which is preferably a T-shaped cross-sectional structure. Each of the waterproof rubber strips 30 is respectively disposed between each two of the adjacent floorings 10. As a result, the waterproof rubber strips 30 can efficiently protect the floorings from being corroded by the moisture, in order to elongate the life span of the floorings 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 9, in the first, second, and third preferred embodiments of the present invention, the floorings of the modular flooring can be fabricated into various modular units, such as strip units, square units, rectangular units, triangular units, rhombus units, circular units, semicircular units, or quarter-circular units. When each two of the floorings have the sides thereof contact fully or partially, the hidden engaged holes on the sides define a collective channel structure as described above, so that the floor connector can be slid into the channel structure for combining each two adjacent floorings mutually. As a result, the present invention provides various combination manners of the modular flooring.
As described above, the present invention provides the following advantages:
1. The floorings are provided with the hidden engaged holes, so as to lower the material cost of the floorings, and to increase the convenience and the flexibility of laying the modular flooring.
2. The floor connectors have a simpler structure to lower the manufacture cost and to simplify the manufacturing process thereof. Meanwhile, the floor connectors can be reusable. It is most important that the floor connectors and the hidden engaged holes provide a more convenient method for combining the adjacent floorings with each other.
3. The recessed structure of the hidden engaged holes includes the inner portion with a greater inner diameter and the outer portion with a smaller inner diameter, so that the hidden engaged holes and the floor connectors can cause a tightly engaged combination of the adjacent floorings.
4. The waterproof rubber strip can be used to protect the floorings from being corroded by the moisture, so as to elongate the life span of the floorings.
5. When the floorings are selected from the double-face veneered floors, or double-face pressed laminate floors, each of the floorings have two surfaces thereof applicable, so that the floorings can be overturned to reuse for saving the floor material and enhancing the economical efficiency.
The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications to the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modular flooring, comprising:

a plurality of floorings;

a plurality of floor connectors; and

at least two hidden engaged holes respectively formed on two opposite sides of each of the floorings, wherein each of the hidden engaged holes is a recessed structure;

wherein when two of the floorings are placed adjacent to each other, the corresponding hidden engaged holes thereof are aligned with each other, and each of the floor connectors is respectively inserted into the corresponding hidden engaged holes, so that the floorings adjacent to each other are combined mutually.

2. The modular flooring of claim 1, wherein each of the hidden engaged holes can be further defined as a combination of an inner portion and an outer portion at a cross-section of each of the floorings, wherein the inner portion is closed to a center portion of the flooring, while the outer portion is closed to the sides of the flooring, and the inner portion has an inner diameter greater than that of the outer portion.

3. The modular flooring of claim 1, wherein the at least two hidden engaged holes formed on the two opposite sides of each of the floorings are shaped in the same configuration.

4. The modular flooring of claim 1, wherein the at least two hidden engaged holes formed on the two opposite sides of each of the floorings are shaped in different configurations.

5. The modular flooring of claim 1, wherein the floorings are double-face veneered floorings, double-face pressed laminate floorings, strengthened floorings, wooden floorings, bamboo floorings, or composite floorings.

6. The modular flooring of claim 1, wherein the recessed structure of the hidden engaged holes is a square recess, a rectangular recess, a circular recess, or a trapezoid recess.

7. The modular flooring of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of waterproof rubber strips which is disposed between each two of the adjacent floorings, wherein each of the waterproof rubber strips is a T-shaped structure.