Abstract:
Design and manufacture of floor covering webs for, design, manufacture and installation of, asymmetrical carpet tiles having a prominent design element not intersected by a tile edge. Bands or regions define "frames" around what will become central carpet tile areas so that design elements positioned within the frames will not be intersected by a tile edge and may also be at least a predetermined distance from each tile edge. Design elements also may be positioned differing distances from each of at least one pair of opposed tile edges.
Abstract:
A layered cushioned composite (110A) such as a carpet or carpet tile which in at least one embodiment incorporates a layer of stabilizing material (158) and a layer of adhesive material (160) below a primary carpet (112) and above a layer of compressed particle, recycled and/or rebond foam or cushioning material (178) and having special applicability to the residential market, especially the residential do-it-yourself market. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the residential carpet tile has a high twist frieze face, a polyurethane rebond foam cushion, and a non-square shape providing for interlocking with adjacent or abutting carpet tiles.
Abstract:
Textile fiber face modular flooring having edges (70) treated to mimic the appearance of grout between installed modules (42) and methods and apparatus for producing such modules (42).
Abstract:
This application discloses a relatively thin flexible anchor sheet for installation under carpets or other decorative coverings and a covering module composed of a pre-attached decorative covering and anchor sheet which can be assembled by overlapping hook and loop attachment to an additional covering module to create a complete floor covering of carpet, tile, stone or other material and without substantial attachment to a floor.
Abstract:
The device for blanking out base and pattern elements from a material such as a carpet, linoleum, CV, PVC or the like, has means for gripping and clamping the material (52), at least one cutting device (56) for cutting the material, means (54) for generating a relative displacement between the material and cutting device, and a control unit (66) for controlling the cutting device and the relative displacement on the basis of machine-readable cutting patterns.
Abstract:
A floor-covering article has an upper layer with yarns that extend through a primary backing and are at least partially secured to the primary backing by polymeric material, wherein the yarns define an exterior upper surface of the article; an intermediate layer connected to the upper layer; and a secondary backing connected to the intermediate layer so that the intermediate layer is positioned between the upper layer and the secondary backing. The article includes cut peripheral side edges. The length and/or width of the article can be at least about 3 feet. At least one of the peripheral side edges of the secondary backing can define an upright, outwardly-oriented side face extending obliquely to the bottom surface of the secondary backing.
Abstract:
An exercise mat including a flexible sheet member. A plurality of targets are positioned on at least a first surface of the flexible sheet member. Each of the plurality of target includes a verbally-definable unique identifier.
Abstract:
A floor covering containing a decorative pattern is described. The floor covering has a field of hooks substantially covering a floor to receive decorative overlaid pieces. The covering further has a carrier sheet comprising a top side substantially covered in hooks, such hooks being one half of a hook and loop attachment system, and a bottom side substantially covered in loops, such loops being a second half of a hook and loop attachment system. The carrier sheet is detachably attached by its loops to the field of hooks. The covering further has a first set of decorative pieces having a bottom side substantially covered in loops, such being one half of a hook and loop attachment system. The set of decorative pieces are detachably attached to the upper surface of the carrier sheet and comprise a visually distinct design sheet which substantially entirely fills the upper surface of the carrier sheet. Furthermore, the covering has a second set of decorative pieces having a bottom side substantially covered in loops, such loops being one half of a hook and loop attachment system, which are detachably attached to the field of hooks to fill the space around the set of decorative pieces.
Abstract:
Carpet tiles having patterns and color schemes that obviate the need to orient the tiles in a particular positional or rotational relationship relative to each other. The tiles exhibit orthogonal ambiguity, meaning that they may be laid in any side-by-side orientation with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and thereby still achieving an appearance of continuity like broadloom carpet. Each tile has patterns of shapes having some straight and curved elements. At least some of the straight elements on each tile preferably parallel a tile edge. The shapes are formed from a color or combination of colors so that adjacent shapes on each tile have at least one color in common. Furthermore, each tile has at least one color in common with every other tile, so that when the tiles are laid, the colors on adjacent tiles coordinate. Moreover, because the pattern on each tile appears random, placement of the tiles on the floor in any side-by-side orientation simply creates a larger, apparently random pattern, rendering it impossible for any tile to look out of place.
Abstract:
A system and method for forming an area rug (10) using at least one replaceable wear surface (14) positioned on a floor or subfloor (24). The system includes a base (12) and at least one replaceable wear surface (14), of which both may be cut to fit a floor space of almost any shape. The system may be attached to the floor (24) using an adhesive, a double-side tape (29), or a cloth (28), with or without adhesive, or not attached at all. The cloth (28) can be applied coextensive to the base and replaceable wear surface, or intermittingly, such as only at intersecting corners. The system can be sold to consumers as a self contained kit or as a group of components that can be separately selected.