AU769155B2 - Anchor sheet framework and subflooring - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Tac-Fast Systems S.A.

Actual Inventor: Joseph Rocco Pacione Address for Service: BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 CCN: 3710000352 Invention Title: ANCHOR SHEET FRAMEWORK AND SUBFLOORING Details of Original Application No. 19569/99 dated 11 Jan 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 28767AUP01 la ANCHOR SHEET FRAMEWORK AND SUBFLOORING INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to the installation of decorative coverings. It has been shown in the present inventor's first patent, United States Patent No. 4,822,658 that carpets having a looped backing can be conveniently installed on a floor by the use of complementary hooked tape.

One of the primary ways disclosed in that patent is attaching the tape to the floor at the perimeter and seams (hereinafter.'perimeter and seam" installation). The present inventor has also developed an anchor sheet which is described in U.S. patent application 08/685,004 filed July 19, 1996 and continuation-in-part application 08/850,726 filed May 2, 1997 (the specifications of which are herein incorporated by reference). Rather than attaching the carpet directly to a hooked tape attached to the floor, an intermediate thin flexible relatively rigid anchor sheet is provided which gives rigidity and integrity and mass to the overlying pieces of carpet covering. The anchor sheet can be covered in hooks. The carpet has an underlying looped backing for attachment to the hooks. The carpet can be in pieces which overlap the anchor sheet pieces to provide rigidity and strength to the total unit The perimeter and seam method and the anchor sheet structure and method can both be used and will both work. However in some circumstances it may be advisable to use a combination of both methods in which a form of anchor sheet provides a stable framework into which either a cushion or a covering material or both can be inserted either attached to the floor by a hook and loop attachment method or as a "free float" within the framework. In these circumstances, the anchor sheet can be a support for a covering unit attached to the anchor sheet by hook and loop as shown in the earlier related cases. Carpet within the framework can then be installed with hook and loop or in a conventional manner, without hook and loop, by glue down or even by free floating.

In some circumstances the hook tape of a perimeter and seam installation can be the "framework" within which an anchor sheet installation can be made. In this case the anchor sheet may float within the framework created by hook tape attached to a floor. Additional methods of attaching a tape framework and a tape framework construction are disclosed as well as other methods of installing an anchor sheet as a framework, including the use of a form or jig.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The need for flexibility in installing floor coverings is well known. Most floor coverings must be cut and fit on site and therefore must be flexible to provide for different physical limitations. In addition subflooring and supporting substrates differ widely in both quality and type, even in new construction. In old construction existing flooring may remain and present problems.

The background to the invention is substantially shown in the present inventor's prior issued patents U.S. 4,822,658 (April 18, 1989, Pacione); U.S. 5,191,692 (March 9, 1993, Pacione); U.S. 5,382,462 (January 17, 1995, Pacione); and U.S. 5,479,755 (January 2, 1996, Pacione). In addition attempts to make structural semi-permanent flooring and wall material incorporating a hook surface is also disclosed in the present inventor's earlier anchor board system -2- U.S. 5,060,443 (October 29, 1991, Pacione); U.S. 5,259,163 (November 9, 1993, Pacione); and U.S. 5,144,786 (September 8, 1992, Pacione).

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect, the invention provides a modular frame work for carpet comprising: i) a plurality of covering modules comprising a decorative covering attached to a thin flexible rigid anchor sheet so as to leave exposed overlapping areas of anchor sheet or covering for detachable attachment to an adjoining module having exposed overlapping areas of respectively covering or anchor sheet; ii) the overlapping areas of the covering modules being detachably interlockingly attached and the covering modules defining and enclosing an area without substantial attachment to a floor or attachment at a few discrete points.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

Preferably, carpet or underpad or carpet and underpad depending upon the height of the framework created, is then cut and fit within the area defined by the covering modules.

A thin rigid but flexible anchor sheet has advantages to stabilize the overlying carpet to provide a relatively rigid subfloor for installation of an overlying carpet. When a resilient backing of cushioning material is attached to or supplied under such anchor sheet, the anchor sheet provides a novel subfloor which has significant advantages over existing underpads.

We have described the anchor sheet as both "flexible" and "rigid". Preferably, it is flexible in the sense that over a reasonable length it can bend and in most circumstances can even be rolled with a radius of curvature for example of perhaps 3 or 4 inches unlike -3for example plywood. Preferably, it is rigid in the sense that if held at one end it can support itself for instance over a distance of 12-24 inches without drooping unlike a cloth or fabric tape.

It is not commonly appreciated that an underpad, while it provides resiliency, can lead to degradation in the overlying decorative textile surface. This is because the resiliency allows for the carpet to deform when walked upon or when furniture or other items are placed on the carpet. This deformation can, if it is not properly supported from below, result in crushing and eventual deterioration of the carpet structure.

Advantageously, the anchor sheet of this invention has a relatively rigid yet flexible thin sheet material, preferably a plastic or of a polymer material such as a polyester, polycarbonate, polypropylene or even a graphite or other advanced polymer material overlying a resilient cushion. Advantageously, this structure provides a surprising amount of resiliency and cushioning to the carpet. However because the overlying anchor sheet is relatively rigid, the carpet fibres are protected from crushing and therefore the life of the carpet is significantly extended while still appearing to have a sufficient degree of resiliency.

In order to provide the proper degree of resilience in the hooks and the proper degree of rigidity to the sheet, the hooks and sheets may need to be made from, for example, different plastic materials by lamination or coextrusion.

To the inventor's knowledge no person, until disclosed in this and the earlier related applications, has had the relatively unconventional idea of covering a resilient S"material with a thin flexible relatively rigid sheet material.

While not as pronounced, the advantages of a relatively rigid but flexible anchor sheet to create a smooth subfloor and to tie overlying carpet pieces together into a stable mass can to some extent be achieved even without a resilient undercushioning.

Advantageously, the subfloor and structure created by the first resilient layer and the second layer of anchor sheet, can be covered across its surface by perimeter and seam hooked tape so as to allow for installation of a carpet on the subfloor in accordance with the method described in U.S. patent 4,822,658. In this case the subfloor is actually not attached to the floor directly but is normally "floating" but this may be sufficient, in many installations, to stabilize the carpet.

Advantageously, the anchor sheet can act as a framework for either a carpet or an underpad or both. The anchor sheet perimeter and the resilient underpad may be either free floating or installed in a conventional manner within the anchor sheet framework.

Advantageously, an anchor sheet subfloor can also be installed within a perimeter bounded by hooked tape, in effect creating a hooked tape framework. The tape may be of a form disclosed in, for instance, U.S. patent 5,382,462 or having a tape with a cushioned backing or a tape with a foundation sheet as disclosed in the present application.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method for installing the modular framework of the first aspect comprising the steps of: a) placing a jig of a pre-determined size in a location to be covered i b) locating a plurality of covering modules by detachable interlocking attachment of overlapping areas of anchor sheet or covering of covering modules to the overlapping areas of respectively covering or anchor sheet of an adjoining module around the perimeter of the jig c) removing the jig d) installing a decorative covering in the space formerly occupied by the jig.

-4a- BRIEF DESC TJON 0F THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, reference being had to the accmpamAV drawingswhereinz Figure I shows coveting modules and a jig for intallation.

Figure 2 shows the- covering modules and jig in the process of installation to a floor.

Figure 3 shows the next step in installation of the covering module and jig.

-Figure 4 shows the. finished covering -module framnework-: Figure 5 shows the covering module framework at the commencement of the I ihStallairn of an inserted cushion or carpet .Figure.. 6 shows the coplt.. ovrig Figure 7 shows the anchor sheet perimeter arrangement Fig ~re7A hamanother form of anchor sheet perimeter arrangement similar to ttshamwn Fikur ~:Figure 8 shows another form of anchor sheet perimeter arrangement in which the anchor sheet carries a decorative covering which contains a border pattern.

Figure aA shows a completed anchor sheet perieter arrangement Figure S shows a form of anchor sheet upon which is installed a perimeter and seam book and loop tape arrangement Figure 10 shows a form of tape suitable foiruse in a perimeter arrangement Figure 11 shows a cross-secton of a perimeter arrngement having a hooked tape bounimn an area of anchor sheet and an overlying decorative covering.

Figure 12 shoam an arrangement of anchor sheet providing a border.

Figure 13 shows another border arrangement with anchor sheet and curshion.

DIESCRIPTlON OF PREFERRED

EMBODIAENTS

In Figure 1 is show a varietj, of coveing modules 2 and 4. These are similar to the type Of covering moduledssd in related case 08M50,726. In the case of covering module 2 there is an anchor sheet 6 larger than the decorative covering piece 8. In the case of covering module 4 there is a decorative coveting Piece 10 which overlaps the anchor sheet 12.

Normally the anch~or sheet areas would be substanufjjy covered in hooks 14 as shown in only rePmnt~, detai. The overlapping Pieces 10 will! have on their undersurface loops (not shown) for 3122chnitto'the exposed hooks 14 of anchor sheet, for instance, 6.

A gorpemr 16 i also shown in ligure, 1. Its use Will become apparent.

3Z The a at 1S has-comers for intstance 18 and 19 which serve to locate the cOMfsprdn comets of decorative covering Piece 8 at each of the four'corner of the jig. Thus the coeigmoduLes are separated and appropitly spaced in the desired location. Covering module 4 can then be inserted along the sides of the jig abutting the jig as shown. Loops on the undersurface of covering piece 10 (not shown) will enable the covering piece to be installed in detachable attachment in a manner shown in related case 08/850,726 preferably by the use of a smooth slip cover as disclosed in related United States Patent Application Serial No. 08/850,726.

The slip cover can be a hard smooth piece temporarily inserted. It can then be removed when the pieces are in position and the covering modules will form a framework as shown in figure 3, in which pieces 4 and pieces 2 have combined to create a structure. Jig 16 is then removed as shown in figure 4 so that the anchor sheet framework now lies upon and circumscribes an area of floor 21 and also an area of hooked anchor sheet 20 which is at a different level than the surface of decorative covering 22.

As shown in figure 5 a decorative covering unit 24 can be inserted into the Y:framewok 26. The unit may be carpet having a ldoped backing (not shown) in which case the carpet would be detachably attached to hooks 28 in the area shown. Normally the complete area would be covered in hooks but only representative samples are shown.

If desired the floor area 21 could be made level with the hooked area 28 by the use of an anchor sheet of suitable thickness, also covered with hooks or smooth, or by the installation of a pad. The area of floor 21 could be left empty because of the low profile of the hooked area Figure 6 shows the unfinished subunit which is ready to be attached by hooks 30 to other adjoining anchor sheet units or covering modules.

In figure 7 is shown another form of anchor sheet perimeter installation in which an anchor sheet 32 is formed having a thin rigid flexible covering 34 preferably formed of a plastic or polymer material as described in related application 08/850,726 preferably of a polypropylene, polycarbonate or polyester material and laminated and bonded thereto is a resilient cushion 36 of polyurethane foam or other similar carpet underpad material. Similar anchor sheet units 32A and 32B are placed on the floor in abutting relation and the units may be joined together by a pressure sensitive adhesive hooked tape 38 overlying the seams of the anchor sheets or by plain single-sided pressure sensitive tape. Additional hooked tape 40 is added to the perimeter of the anchor sheet installation to provide for a regular perimeter and seam installation as shown in U.S. Patent 4,822,658. It would be convenient if the tape covering joins 41 line up with carpet seams but if they do not, additional tape can be installed on the anchor sheet 32 to provide for at least seam coverage.

Of course if plain tape is used, then hooked tape will normally have to be installed at the carpet seams. Such tape is normally covered prior to installation. Full coverage could also be provided either by adding more hooked tape or by providing anchor sheet 32 with a flexible sheet pre-manufactured with a complete hook covering.

In figure 7A is shown an additional similar form of arrangement which combines a hooked tape 42 to be described later at the perimeter of the room, an underpad or anchor sheet with underpad 44, an additional anchor sheet with underpad 46, conventional underpads 48 and 50 and anchor sheets 52 and 54 with resilient cushioning and then tape 56. Thus a complete resilient underlayment is created which is partly a framework made by tape 42 and anchor sheets 44, 46, 52 and 54 within which are contained conventional underpads 48 and 50. A carpet can then be installed over top of this by perimeter and seam tape using tape 42 and 56 at the perimeter and tape 53 at the seams or by the use of an additionl1 anchor sheet (not shown) to provide for decorative surface covering pieces. As shown in figure 8 an additional foundation sheet 58 of a similar material to the anchor sheet can have pre-attached permanently or detachably an anchor sheet 60 having a resilient undercushion 62. The anchor sheet 60 could be one as shown in related application 08/850,726 having its upper surface substantially covered in hooks 64. Decorative cover pieces, in this case carpet units 65, can then be installed in any pattern over the anchor sheet. In the example given in figure 8 they are installed in a border pattern. When fully assembled as shown in figure 8A such a unit can create a framework within which carpet can be installed in a conventional way, or using hook and loop or perimeter and seam or in a small enough area free floated within the area bounded by the decorative border 66 as shown in figure 8A.

Figure 9 shows an arrangement similar to figure 7 in which there is an anchor sheet and resilient cushion framework 68 on either side of conventional carpet pads 70. The conventional carpet pads may be free floating or attached to the floor in a conventional manner. Normally if the anchor sheets 68 are on the perimeter of the room and abut, for instance, wall 71 on one side and wall 72 on the other side, the whole structure can be "free floating" in the sense that it is not attached to the floor. Hook tape 74 can be installed at the perimeter. Suspended tape 76 at the seams provides a form of perimeter and seam installation over top of a conventional cushion or a partial anchor sheet and conventional cushion. The carpet or other decorative surface covering has loops on its undersurface at 80 (not shown) for detachable attachment to hooks 81 on tape pieces 74 and 76.

Figure 10 shows a form of hook tape that can be used to create a perimeter for the installation of a conventional underpad 87. This tape has a foundation layer 82 to which is attached the tape 84 having a resilient cushion layer 86. The tape is hook tape and contains across its surface resilient hooks 88. It normally would be supplied with a tape covering 90. The foundation sheet 82 allows for a lip or area so that the hook tape may be stapled or nailed through the sheet 82 or through tape 84 to the floor or it can be installed using double-sided adhesive tape 92 or by hook and loop or by a conventional method.

Another form of tape 94 is also shown having foundation sheets 96 and 98 on both sides of the tape. The tape could be stapled to a floor and within the framework bounded by the tape could be inserted an appropriate underpad which could either be installed in a conventional manner or free floating between the tape and an overlying anchor sheet or an anchor sheet having hooked covering (not shown) could also be installed within the area bounded by the tape.

In figure 11 is shown a cross-section of hooked tape 100 having cushion 102 attached to the floor.

If the tape is as shown in figure 10 it could have foundation sheet 82 for installation.

Anchor sheet 104 with (as shown) or without an attached resilient cushion can then be inserted within the area bounded by hooked tape 100 and a decorative covering 106 having an undersurface covered in loops 107 could be installed across the area created by the hooked tape and anchor sheet Figure 12 shows an arrangement in which an anchor sheet 108 is provided with hooks at least over the exposed area 110 shown and also under carpet pieces 112 and border pieces 114, 116 and 118: Border pieces 114, 116 and 118 may be detachably attached to anchor sheet 108 in a pattern and anchor sheet 108 with such pieces could be sold as a preassembled unit Such piece could be attached to a floor by pressure sensitive adhesive, with hook and loop or by nailing through sheet 108. Carpet 112 having a loop backing and a pile surface 120 could then be installed and attached to hooks on anchor sheet 110.

Figure 13 shows another arrangement, in which anchor sheet 122, has a resilient cushion 124 and a carpet covering piece 126 detachably attached to the anchor sheet A conventional cushion 128 can abut the anchor sheet and cushion and a carpet 130 having a loop backing 132 can be installed over the anchor sheet 122 and cushion 128.

It will be recognized that within the description of this present case and the related earlier pending cases many variations and perfnutations and combinations are possible of anchor sheet and tape with or without cushion and with or without installation directly to the floor all of which come within the spirit of the described invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims (4)

1. A modular frame work for carpet comprising: i) a plurality of covering modules comprising a decorative covering attached to a thin flexible rigid anchor sheet so as to leave exposed overlapping areas of anchor sheet or covering for detachable attachment to an adjoining module having exposed overlapping areas of respectively covering or anchor sheet; ii) the overlapping areas of the covering modules being detachably interlockingly attached and the covering modules defining and enclosing an area without substantial attachment to a floor or attachment at a few discrete points.

2. The framework of claim 1 in which a carpet is cut and fit within the area defined by the covering modules.

3. A method for installing the modular framework of claim 1 comprising the steps of: Sa) placing a jig of a pre-determined size in a location to be covered b) locating a plurality of covering modules by detachable interlocking attachment of overlapping areas of anchor sheet or covering of covering modules to the overlapping areas of respectively covering or anchor sheet of an adjoining module around the perimeter of the jig c) removing the jig d) installing a decorative covering in the space formerly occupied by the jig. 20

4. A modular framework for carpet substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. A method for installing a modular framework, said method substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. DATED this 8 th Day of January, 2003 TAC-FAST SYSTEMS S.A. Attorney: STUART M. SMITH Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS