The present invention relates to a floor panel comprising a top layer and a bottom layer adhered together in an offset relationship such that a marginal end portion of a top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of a bottom surface of the top layer are exposed wherein at least one of the marginal end portions has an adhesive, and a ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer is about 5 or greater. The present invention further relates to a floating floor system incorporating the same.
Floor panels for use in floating floor systems typically comprise a top layer and a bottom layer adhered together in an offset relationship such that a substantially L-shaped marginal end portion of a top surface of the bottom layer and a substantially L-shaped marginal end portion of a bottom surface of the top layer are exposed. The top layer typically comprises at least one mix layer, a print film, a wear layer, and a top coat. The bottom layer typically comprises at least one mix layer. The bottom layer has a thickness about equal to or greater than the top layer. A ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer is typically in the range of about 2 or less. For example, the SURFACE SOURCE product sold by Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. has a top layer with a thickness of about 64 mils (about 1.63 millimeters), and a bottom layer with a thickness of about 61 mils (about 1.55 millimeters). Thus, the ratio of the thickness of the top layer to the bottom layer is about 1.05 (64 mils/61 mils=1.05).
In order to assemble the floating floor system, at least one of the marginal end portions of each of the floor panels is provided with an adhesive. The marginal end portion provided with the adhesive is engaged with the marginal end portion of an adjacent floor panel to form the floating floor system. The floor panels may be formed, for example, such that when the floating floor system is assembled on a sub-floor ends of the top layers of the adjacent floor panels substantially abut, while ends of the bottom layers of the adjacent floor panels are spaced apart a desired distance so that a gap is formed there between. Alternatively, the floor panels may be formed, for example, such that when the floating floor system is assembled on the sub-floor the ends of the top layers of the adjacent floor panels substantially abut and the ends of the bottom layers of the adjacent floor panels substantially abut.
Because the thickness of the bottom layer is significantly large (about 98 mils (about 2.5 millimeters)), when the floor panels are assembled such that a gap is formed between the ends of the bottom layers of the adjacent floor panels, the gap can telescope through the floor panels thereby significantly altering the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the top layer. For example, the gaps may cause buckling at a top surface of the top layer. Alternatively, when the floor panels are assembled such that the ends of the bottom layers of the adjacent floor panels substantially abut, unwanted gaps or overlapping can occur between the ends of the bottom layers due to deviations in the size of the marginal end portions and/or errors occurring during installation. These unwanted gaps or overlaps can additionally telescope through the floor panel thereby also significantly altering the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the top layer.
Additionally, the marginal end portions of the top layer of a first row of the floor panels, which are typically positioned adjacent a wall, remain unsupported when the floating floor system is assembled, because the marginal end portions of the top layer of the first row of the floor panels will not engage with an adjacent floor panel. Thus, because the thickness of the bottom layer is significantly large, the gap occurring between the sub-floor and the marginal end portion of the top layer will also negatively impact the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the top layer. For example, buckling at the top surface of the top layer can occur. Also, because the bottom layer and the top layer comprise mix layers, which contain fillers, the bottom layer and the top layer are prone to absorb moisture thereby further affecting the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the floor panels. This is particularly problematic, since the bottom layer is installed directly on a sub-floor.
Still further, because the bottom layer has a thickness greater than the top layer, when the floor panels are stacked, for example, during shipping, a space exists between the marginal end portions of the top layer of the adjacent flooring panels equal to the thickness of the bottom layer. Thus, during shipping, the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer are prone to bend and/or curl an amount equal to the thickness of the bottom layer. Because of the structural characteristics of the top layer, these bends and/or curls remain in the marginal end portions of the top layer during installation and can thereby significantly alter the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the floor panel. For example, buckling can occur at the top surface of the top layer and/or the bond strength between the marginal end portions of the adjacent floor panels could be negatively affected.
The invention relates to a floor panel comprising a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a visible decorative pattern. The bottom layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the bottom layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the top layer such that the bottom layer is offset from the top layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed. At least one of the marginal end portions has an adhesive, and a ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer is about 5 or greater.
The invention further relates to a floating floor system comprising at least two adjacent floor panels. Each of the floor panels comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a visible decorative pattern. The bottom layer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the bottom layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the top layer such that the bottom layer is offset from the top layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed. At least one of the marginal end portions has an adhesive, and a ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer is about 5 or greater. The marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer is engaged with the marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer of the adjacent floor panel.
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The top layer 11 is adhered to the bottom layer 12 so that the top layer 11 is offset from the bottom layer 12 in a direction of the length L1, L2 and the width W1, W2. In other words, opposing first ends 21 of the top layer 11 are offset in the direction of the length L1, L2 from opposing first ends 23 of the bottom layer 12 an offset distance D1, D2 and opposing second ends 22 of the top layer 11 are offset in the direction of the width W1, W2 from opposing second ends 24 of the bottom layer 12 an offset distance D3, D4. The offset distances D1, D2, D3, D4 are substantially the same. In the illustrated embodiment, the offset distances D1, D2, D3, D4 are, for example, about 1 inch (about 2.5 centimeters). Because the adhesive 20 is provided on substantially the entirety of the top surface 18 of the bottom layer 12, due to the offset of the top layer 11 relative to the bottom layer 12, a substantially L-shaped marginal end portion of the top surface 18 of the bottom layer 12 remains exposed to form an adhesive surface 25, and a substantially L-shaped marginal end portion of the bottom surface 15 of the top layer 11 remains exposed to form an attachment surface 26.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the adhesive 20 may also be provided on the marginal end portion of the bottom surface 15 of the top layer 11 instead of or in addition to the top surface 18 of the bottom layer 12 depending on the type and characteristics of the adhesive 20 used to achieve optimum adhesion and bond strength when adhering the adjacent floor panels 10, as described in more detail below with reference to
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Because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 of the floor panels 10 is significantly less than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the adjacent floor panels 10 are engaged, any unwanted gaps or overlapping that may occur between the first and second ends 22, 23 of the bottom layers 12 of the adjacent floor panels 10 due to deviations in the size of the marginal end portions and/or errors occurring during installation will not impact the aesthetic and/or structural characteristics of the top layer 11. Also, the size of any gaps occurring between the sub-floor 28 and the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer 11 of a first row of the floor panels 10 is reduced. Therefore, by reducing the thickness of the bottom layer 12, buckling at the top surface 18 of the top layer 11 can be prevented. Additionally, because the bottom layer 12 does not comprise a mix layer and is formed of a moisture resistant material, the bottom layer 12 is capable of acting as a moisture barrier between the sub-floor 28 and the floor panel 10. Further, because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 is smaller than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the floor panels 10 are stacked, for example, during shipping, the distance between the unsupported marginal end portions of the adjacent top layers 11 is decreased such that any bending and/or curling of the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layers 11 is reduced.
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Because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 of the floor panels 10′ is smaller than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the gap 29 is provided between the first and second ends 23, 24 of the bottom layers 12 of the adjacent floor panels 10′, the gap 29 will not impact the aesthetic and/or structural characteristics of the top layer 11. Also, the size of any gaps occurring between the sub-floor 28 and the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer 11 of a first row of the floor panels 10′ is reduced. Therefore, by reducing the thickness of the bottom layer 12, buckling at the top surface 18 of the top layer 11 can be prevented. Additionally, because the bottom layer 12 does not comprise a mix layer and is formed of a moisture resistant material, the bottom layer 12 is capable of acting as a moisture barrier between the sub-floor 28 and the floor panel 10. Further, because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 is smaller than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the floor panels 10′ are stacked, for example, during shipping, the distance between the unsupported marginal end portions of adjacent top layers 11 is decreased such that any bending and/or curling of the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer 11 is reduced.
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Because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 of the floor panels 10″ is smaller than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the first and second ends 23, 24 of the bottom layers 12 of the adjacent floor panels 10″ are overlapped, the overlap will not impact the aesthetic and/or structural characteristics of the top layer 11. Also, the size of any gaps occurring between the sub-floor 28 and the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer 11 of a first row of the floor panels 10″ is reduced. Therefore, by reducing the thickness of the bottom layer 12, buckling at the top surface 18 of the top layer 11 can be prevented. Additionally, because the first and second ends 23, 24 of the bottom layers 12 are overlapped, the bottom layer 12 is capable of providing a moisture barrier between the sub-floor 28 and the floor panel 10″. Further, because the thickness T2 of the bottom layer 12 is smaller than the thickness T1 of the top layer 11, when the floor panels 10″ are stacked, for example, during shipping, the distance between the unsupported marginal end portions of adjacent top layers 11 is decreased such that any bending and/or curling of the unsupported marginal end portions of the top layer 11 is reduced.
The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.
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