US1898375A - Ornamented hard surface floor covering - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1933. J Q CCARTHY 1,898,375

ORNAMENTED HARD SURFACE FLOOR COVERING Filed Aug. 21. 1928;

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca J CLARENCE MCCARTHY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA ORNAMENTED HARD SURFACE FLOOR COVERING Application filed August 21, 1928. Serial No. 301,015.

This invention relates to hard surface floor coverings, such as linoleum and felt base goods, and is particularly adapted for use 111 connection with molded inlaid linoleum although it is not confined to such material. More particularly the invention pertains to the securing of new ornamental efl'ects in goods of this kind.

All linoleum and hard surface floor coverings have a lustrous finish. Where the goods are perfectly flat the color and pattern effect does not stand out to good advantage under certain light eflfects. For instance, when one is looking toward the light over such a piece of linoleum, the reflection of the light from the lustrous surface destroys the pattern efl'ect, some times obviating it entirely.

This has been partly overcome by forming a narrow depressed groove between adjacent pattern elements. This is shown for instance, in patent to Humphreys and McCarthy, Number 1,630,085. This method of decoration causes the different pattern elements to stand out in relief as embossed surfaces and breaks up, to some extent, the smooth surface, so that when the goods are viewed looking toward the light the pattern is more conspicuous. This is particularly true where the pattern is one which simulates small Dutch tile floor effects and the pattern elements are relatively small.

However, where the pattern elements are large and the surfaces of the individual pattern elements are flat and smooth, the indentation between pattern elements is not suflicient to bring out to good advantage, the decorative effect which is sought, especially where the goods are viewed in unfavorable lights.

According tothe present invention this objection to large pattern elements is effectively overcome, and a decorative effect of the desired nature can be plainly brought out even when viewed under unfavorable lighting conditions. l

It has also been found that in smoothsurface goods of this nature having a lustrous finish, antique or worn eifects, such as are desirable for some schemes of decoration, cannot be secured at all. The present invention provides for the surfacing of a covering material of this nature in such a way that antique eifects can be produced.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a piece of hard surface covering material embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 represents a transverse section through a piece of material such as shown in Figure 1.

In the drawing, 2 designates a piece of covering material having a pattern comprised of relatively large pattern elements 3, 4, 5 and 6. These pattern elements are represented as tiles or stones having an interliner 7 representing a mortar joint between them. The pattern elements 3 and 4 are of the same general nature, representing in the particular pattern shown, pieces of stone, but they are of different colors. The pattern elements 5 are intended to represent ceramic blocks while the pattern element 6 may be decorated to imitate slate or marble.

The pattern elements 3 and 4 have a surface embossing over substantially their entire area, different portions of their areas being irregularly embossed to difl'erent elevations. The-embossing is in the form of patches of irregular contour.

The pattern elements 5 are also embossed over the greater portion of their areas with close worm-like depressions which are in marked contrast to the patch-like embossed areas of the pattern elements 3 and 4:. The light reflecting qualities of the pattern elements 5 are entirely distinct from the light reflecting qualities of the surfaces 3 and 4.

To give further contrast to the pattern, the pattern elements 6 may be perfectly smooth. A marble or slate-like appearance may be provided in a molded inlaid linoleum by inlaying pieces of sheeted linoleum with loose granular material in the molded inlay process, as disclosed in McCarthy application, Serial No. 298,192, filed August 8, 1928.

The joint structure or interliner 7 is preferably pressed in to form an irregular groove between the different pattern elements.

With this arrangement the pattern ele- .ments will not only stand in relief by reason of the depressed interliner, and will not only be contrasted by reason of their different colors, but they will also possess different light reflecting qualities by reason of the different surface characteristics of ad acent pattern elements. Therefore, when the material is viewed, even in unfavorable light, the pattern will stand out and the desired decorative effect be secured.. The pattern elements are preferably of relatively large area, as compared with the usual tile patterns in floor coverings, but by reason of the embossing over the surface of the pattern elements, the lustrous surface of the material will not conceal the pattern effect.

This eflect is further enhanced by the contrast obtained throu h the use of some smooth attern elements an by the contrast secured 1n the different texture of the embossing in some of the adjacent pattern elements.

- Linoleum and hard surface coverings have heretofore been characterized by the provision of as smooth a surface as possible. The present invention constitutes a radical de- Earture from the established ideas regarding oor coverings of this nature. Heretofore they have been made as smooth as possible except for the embossed interliner in order to facilitate the cleaning of the material.

In a floor covering made in accordance with the present invention, the embossing over the surfaces of the pattern elements provides irregular receptacles for collecting enough dirt to cause an irregular discoloration of the material so that it assumes a genuinely antique appearance shortly after being laid.

It is customary for all linoleum and floor coverings to be given a wax or lacquer finish so that the material has a high polish. The present t e of decoration permits the use of wax or acquer to give a high polish, and

et the embossin destroys the sheen caused y reflecting light, thereby making certain pattern elements stand out, and bringing out the color even when the material is viewed in a strong and unfavorable light. A linoleum or covering material of unique and highly ornamental appearance is secured which is in marked variance to the smooth coverings heretofore employed.

.Incidentall the material, even when it is highly waxe offers a more secure footing to the person walking thereover by reason of the surface irregularity than the smooth surface heretofore commonly employed on floor coverings.

While I have described my invention in connection with a particular pattern, it will be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular pattern efi'ects shown and that it may be otherwise embodied. While the term linoleum is generally appl ed to a composition containing linseed having a pattern thereon comprised of a plurality of pattern elements of contrasting color, different elements having difierent types of surface embossing thereon over substantially the entire area thereof, other pattern elements being smooth.

3. A hard surface flexible floor covering havin a pattern thereon comprised of a plurahty of pattern elements of contrasting color, different elements having diflerent types of surface embossing thereon over substantially the entire area thereof, said pattern elements being separated by a depression which is of a color contrasting with the color of the attern elements.

' 4. A har surface flexible floor covering material having a pattern comprised of a plurality of differently colored pattern elements, at least some of the pattern elements havin their surface characteristic altered by em ossing substantially over the entire surface thereof, the embossing in some pattern elements being of a different texture from the embossing in other pattern elements.

5. A hard surface flexible floor covering material having a pattern comprised of a plurality of differently colored pattern elements, at least some of the pattern elements having their surface characteristic altered by embossing substantially over the entire surface thereof the embossing in some pattern elements being of a different texture from the embossing in other pattern elements, all of the pattern elements having a depressed interliner therebetween.

6. A flexible hard surface floor covering having'a pattern adapted to be clearly discernible under unfavorable light conditions,

comprised of a plurality of pattern elements pattern elements being difierent from the nature of the embossing on other pattern ele-'- ments.

8. A flexible hard surface floor covering having a pattern adapted to be clearly discernible under unfavorable light conditions,

comprised of a plurality of pattern elements of different colors, the surfaces of various pattern elements being variously embossed over substantially their entire area, the nature of the embossing on some of the pattern elements being diflerent from the nature of the embossing on. other pattern elements, some of the other pattern elements having smooth unembossed surfaces.

9. An ornamental hard surface flexible floor covering in which antique effects can be reproduced with short usage, comprising a sheet of floor covering material having a pattern thereon formed of a plurality of oddly shaped pattern elements of relatively large area, said pattern elements being connected by a depressed interliner contrasting in color withthe color of the pattern elements, some of said pattern elements being v difi'erently colored from other pattern elements, some .of the pattern elements having embossing over substantially the entire surface thereof, the embossing on some pattern elements being of a different character than embossing on other pattern elements, the depressed interliner serving to make the pattern elements stand out in relief and-the embossed surfaces of the pattern elements serv ing to alter the light reflectingqualities of the relatively large areas of the pattern elements, the embossing presenting small irregularities adapted become discolored with a I short usage. y v

10. As a new article of manufacture,

molded inlaid linoleum comprising a backing having different inlays lying thereover, one mlay'having its surface characteristics altered by embossing its surface in one de-" sign, and another of said inlays having its surface embossed in another design.

11. A flexible hard surface floor covering material having a pattern comprised of a, l plurality of pattern elements of contrast-' ing color, said pattern elements being connected by a depressed interliner contrasting in color with the color of the pattern 'elements, some ofthe pattern elements havin portions of their area irregularly embosse the embossing on some of the pattern elements being of a contour different than the embossing on other attern elements, the embossed surfaces of t e pattern elements serving to alter the light reflecting qualities of the pattern elements. Y 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

J CLARENCE MoCARTHY.

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