System and method for floor covering installation

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for installing floor coverings, especially those comprising carpet tiles and other modular floor coverings.

Background Art [0002] Floor coverings were in use before recorded human history. The first such materials were undoubtedly animal skins or plant materials such as leaves or stems. Later, floor coverings were made by weaving or tying many naturally occurring fibers, including sisal and wool. Beginning in the twentieth century, such floor coverings with fiber facing have also started to be made of artificial fibers.

[0003] Although the first coatings were limited in size to animal skin in size, later coatings expanded to cover entire floors in the room. Such wall-to-wall installations of coatings manufactured on "wide looms" came into widespread use in the twentieth century. Typical installations of such materials use a small amount of pieces of liner produced on a wide loom to cover floors in entire rooms. This type of floor covering from wall to wall is usually in some way attached to the floor.

[0004] Later, modular floor coverings used smaller modules of uniform size or tiles, both for hard floor floor coverings, such as vinyl tiles, and floor coverings with a textile facing surface, usually called carpet tiles. As explained in US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0258870 for "Modular Floor Covers for Reconfiguration", filed August 11, 2003, tiles can be installed as rugs that do not cover the entire floor surface. However, the vast majority of tiles are used in wall-to-wall installations. The tiles were traditionally installed in aligned rows and columns, with the edges of each tile adapted to the edges of the adjacent tiles ("conventional way of installing carpet tiles"). Conventional carpet tile (carpet tile) was historically a product that tried to imitate the appearance of a carpet made of a wide loom and hide or at least not emphasize the fact that the product was modular. Achieving this result required, at least, that the carpet tiles or modules were placed in the floor installation with the same orientation as the modules had when they were produced (i.e. monolithically). However, designers of modular floors with a textile facing surface have recently begun to design floors and floor installations that do not try to mask, but rather emphasize the modularity of the floor. For example, modules, although still installed in aligned rows and columns, are installed "rotated a quarter turn," with each tile position rotated 90 ° relative to each adjacent tile. In addition, carpet tiles have been developed that can be installed "randomly" regardless of location or pivot position, as described in US Patent No. 6,908,656.

[0005] However, modules are not always installed in aligned rows and columns. For example, tiles are also installed in aligned columns that do not form aligned rows of modules, so that the tile column appears to be shifted up or down relative to adjacent tile columns ("broken installation method"). In other installations, the tiles are installed in aligned rows, which do not form aligned columns, but rather offset columns ("installation method - laying bricks").

[0006] Although the floor covering modules generally have a fairly large size and weight, which makes it easier to keep the modules in the place where they are laid when the floor covering is installed, it is desirable to obtain means to further inhibit the movement of the module. Traditionally, this has been achieved by attaching modules to the floor surface in many ways.

[0007] Modules are often glued to the floor, first by applying a layer of adhesive to the surface of the floor substrate, and then placing tiles on top of the adhesive. With this method, the adhesive usually contacts the entire bottom surface area of ​​the floor modules, which increases material costs and often leads to difficulties when placing tiles when they are placed incorrectly. This is a particular problem when installing patterned modules that must be folded around the edges. In addition, when the tiles are finally removed, the adhesive remains on the floor surface and this adhesive sometimes retains parts of the removed tiles. The adhesive (and any floor materials held by the adhesive) must be removed from the floor to create a smooth surface before installing new tiles. This increases both the cost and the time of the installation process.

[0008] Modules can also be installed by applying glue to the entire bottom (or any part) of the module beforehand. For example, glue can be applied to a relatively narrow strip across the bottom of each module, and covered before installing the module by a plastic film or paper strip that is removed just before placing the module. However, this method also provides for fixing the modules directly to the floor and may result in the disadvantages discussed above.

[0009] Modules were also installed using double-sided adhesive tape, where one side of the tape is placed on the back surface of the module and the other side of the tape is placed on the floor, thus securing the module to the floor. Double-sided tape was also placed between and along the entire edges of the adjacent liner and liner tile. However, as with glue, double-sided tape can be "memorable" in relation to changing the position of the tile and can also leave residue on the floor when removing tiles. In addition, the tape has low tensile strength and is relatively inflexible and as a result tends to stretch and not recover its shape. This can cause gaps between adjacent tiles.

[0010] In addition to the direct attachment to the floor, the modules were also attached indirectly to the floor surface of the floor, by means of mechanical fasteners or glued washers. For example, "hook-and-loop" connections have been used, where a sheet containing either hooks or loops is attached to the floor and a second sheet containing either hooks or loops is on the back surface of the modules. The hooks or loops on the modules then attach to the hooks or loops on the floor to attach the modules to the floor. Glue coated washers were also used. For example, a foam pad was used, previously coated on both sides with glue. During installation, the paper release liner is removed from both sides of the pad to expose the adhesive, and the pad is attached to the floor. The carpet tiles are then placed on top of the pad and held in place by the adhesive. Although these systems and methods can improve the installer's ability to re-lay tiles, they significantly increase the cost of installation material. In addition, with these installation methods, the tiles are more likely to move relative to each other and thus create gaps in the installation.

[0011] There are other installation methods where the tiles are either directly or indirectly attached to the floor. For example, a single-sided adhesive tape, such as insulating tape, was used to attach adjacent tiles to each other. The tiles are placed face down, and the tape is attached along the entire adjacent tile edges. The tiles must then be carefully turned to reveal their usable surfaces without breaking the connection between adjacent tiles. This method requires considerable time to place the tape on the tiles as well as a considerable amount of material to tape the edges of adjacent tiles along the entire periphery together. In addition, this adhesive tape is relatively weak, which makes it difficult to position the tape as needed at the bottom of the tiles, and as with double-sided adhesive tape, this tape suffers from low tensile strength and lack of elasticity, making probable permanent stretching under stress and thus creating permanent gaps between adjacent plates.

[0012] Document US 2005/0059308 (Edwin D. Parsons) relates to a laminated structure or label for attachment to the surface of a tire, for example an RFID label or label, comprising a face layer of material, permeable to migrating oils and paraffin present in the tire rubber. The permeable material allows oils and paraffin to pass through the face material and prevents their accumulation between the face material and the adhesive layer, increasing the adhesion and durability of the laminate structure to the tire rubber. Document US 2004/0095244 (Kevin Conwell et al.) Relates to a tire label with an integral barrier layer designed to resist staining and discoloration caused by the migration of mobile substances such as oils, paraffins, resins, binders, lubricants and plasticizers, from inside the tire and / or adhesive for the label material. The label may also have an integral RFID tag. Document WO 2005/071597 (University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc) relates to a "smart floor" system based on a matrix of radio frequency identification (RFID) labels for navigation and positioning, for guiding people, which includes multiple RFID labels. RFID tags are embedded inside or rigidly attached to a walking surface, such as carpet tile, tile or wooden floor. Document WO 2006/044928 (Interface, Inc. fasteners for connecting modular floor units. The fasteners comprise a film and an adhesive layer applied on one side of the film.

Applies to coverings [0013] Although there are methods for installing floor coverings, there is a need for a system and method that reduces both the time and material costs needed to install modules on a stable floor covering.

Summary of the Invention [0014] The present invention has alleviated the above problems by providing a floor covering installation comprising:

a. many tiles, with each tile having a bottom and edges, placed on the floor surface; and

b. connectors positioned to include adjacent edges of at least some adjacent plates, said connector comprising:

i. foil; and ii. an adhesive on one side of the film, wherein the adhesive is capable of forming a bond with the underside of the tiles, such that when used, when the fastener includes adjacent edges of adjacent tiles, so that the adhesive contacts the undersides of adjacent tiles, the shear strength of the adhesive prevents relative movement between adjacent tiles, wherein the adhesive contacts the bottom of at least several adjacent tiles;

characterized in that said connector comprises a radio frequency transponder attached to the film.

Embodiments of this invention solve the problems of previous methods for installing modular floors by providing systems and methods that reduce the time and material costs needed to install a floor covering. Fasteners are used to connect adjacent floor covering units. Fasteners are particularly useful when installing modular floor covering units ("tiles"). In one embodiment, the fasteners comprise a foil and an adhesive layer applied to one side of the foil. To install tiles using fasteners, the first tile is placed on the floor in the position determined by conventional tile installation methods. The fastener is placed with the adhesive layer facing up and not in contact with the floor. The fastener is usually positioned so that only part of the adhesive layer adheres to the bottom of the tile, leaving the rest of the fastener protruding from the bottom of the tile. The tiles are then placed adjacent the first tile so that part of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors cover the adjacent edges of adjacent tiles. The tiles are mounted on the floor surface without having to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are joined together by means of connectors, such that the tiles form a coating covering that "floats" on the floor surface of the floor.

[0015] The connectors need not be placed along the entire adjacent edges, or even across all adjacent edges of the tiles in the installation. Rather, the connectors have such dimensions that when placed in the installation they do not extend along the entire length of the adjacent edges. In addition, although any number of fasteners may be used at any number of locations between adjacent tiles, the benefits of the present invention can be fully realized by placing the fasteners at strategic locations within the assembly (such as in some corners where four tiles meet). This is the opposite of previous installation methods that require placing stabilizing material along the entire adjacent tile edges so that all adjacent tile edges in the installation are stabilized.

[0016] The size and relatively minimum number of fasteners needed to stabilize tile installation can result in a significant reduction in material costs compared to previous tile installation methods. In addition, the use of fasteners significantly reduces the time to install tiles by eliminating the need for floor preparation before installation. Instead of applying a layer of adhesive to the floor and then stepping back to place the tiles on the adhesive layer, in the case of fasteners, the installer places the tiles and fixes them by constantly moving forward. In addition, given the detachable adhesive used on the fasteners and the limited surface area of ​​the tiles that contacts the fasteners, the tiles can easily be interleaved as needed. In addition, because the tiles do not interact with the floor substrate, they are easy to remove from the floor and leave little or no glue residue on the floor substrate with such removal. As a result, the floor does not require finishing before it is again covered with another floor covering.

[0017] In addition, the connectors can be adapted to conduct electricity. When the conductive connectors are attached to the plates, the continuity of electrical conduction is maintained by adjacent plates. This enables electric current to pass through plates for use in security systems, voice and data transmission, in electromechanical membranes, tracking and locating monitoring, path searching (e.g. when a person walks on the floor, the floor is illuminated in some way to help a person find the way ) and many other alternatives.

[0018] The fastener may have position indicators to facilitate the installation of carpet tiles. Such indicators include markings, colors, objects such as crosses, segments, lines, dots, and quadrants.

blocks,

The method of lining using fasteners, and installing multi-colored tiles with glue on one side, is as follows. The installer places the carpet tile in the desired position or near the desired installation position on the floor surface with the bottom of the tile resting on the floor surface. The installer uses one hand to lift the edge, corner or other part of the tile, and the other hand to fix the connector, glue up, to the edge or other part of the bottom of the tile part so that the exposed part of the connector protrudes beyond the edge of the tile. The installer then places the second tile next to the first tile and fixes the bottom of the second tile to the exposed portion of the connector. The dispenser can provide the connector to be installed, glue up, and in a convenient location to the part of the carpet tile to which the connector is to be attached.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0019] Further advantageous features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description made with reference to the attached drawing in Fig. 15. Figures 1-14 do not show particular embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the connector and the release liner layer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the connectors and the release liner layer.

Fig. 3 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the fasteners.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a connector dispenser.

<td>FIG.</td><td> 5</td><td>is</td><td>view</td><td>installations</td><td>tiles</td><td>from the bottom.</td>

<td>FIG.</td><td> 6</td><td>is</td><td>view</td><td>subassembly</td><td>tiles</td><td>from Fig. 5 below.</td>

<td>FIG.</td><td> 7</td><td>is</td><td>view</td><td colspan="3">other tile installation from below.</td>

<td>FIG.</td><td> 8</td><td>is</td><td>view</td><td>subassembly</td><td>tiles</td><td>from Fig. 7 from below</td>

Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a connector attached to the edge of a plate.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a film sandwiched between the carpet tile and the floor surface.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the foil and the cushion pad placed between the carpet tile and the floor substrate surface.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the cushion pad placed between the floor tile and the floor surface.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the composite cushion pad.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the composite of the cushion pad of Fig. 13 sandwiched between an existing liner or tile and a new liner or tile.

Fig. 15 is a top view of an embodiment of a radio frequency transponder of a connector according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings [0020] Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for installing modular floor coverings. One skilled in the art will understand that the systems and methods described herein can be used in various floor covering installations. However, applicants have found that the fasteners described herein are particularly useful in any type of installation (including wall-to-wall liner installations and local carpet installations) of modular floor covering units (hereinafter "tiles"). Tiles can have different colors and textures in terms of sizes and shapes. For example, individual tiles may have a shape that imitates wooden floorboards or ceramic and other tile shapes, including, without limitation, hexagonal, square, rectangular, triangular and other shapes. In addition, the tiles may have different textures. The tiles may typically be conventional carpet tiles (including without limitation quilted, bonded or printed faces), but may also be other modular materials, including floor fabrics and nonwovens, hard vinyl, ceramics, leather, or any other suitable material. The tiles are preferably installed on a generally smooth surface, including without limitation plywood, laminates, linoleum, vinyl tiles, hardwood or concrete. However, as discussed below, tiles can be installed on an intermediate backing, including a pad (padding) and a wide loom rug woven between the tiles and the floor substrate.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a connector 20 according to the present invention. The connector 20 comprises a film 22 and an adhesive layer 24 applied to one side of the film 22. A layer of the spacer 26 is placed on top of the adhesive layer 24 to protect the underlying adhesive. In use, the spacer layer 26 is removed from the connector 20 to expose the adhesive layer 24. As will be described in more detail below, the connector 20 is then positioned such that the adhesive layer 24 contacts the bottom of the adjacent tiles to enclose adjacent tile edges and thus join the tiles together to form a floor covering. In this way, the tiles are mounted on the floor surface of the floor without having to attach them to the floor surface such that the tiles form a floor covering that "floats" on the surface of the floor substrate.

[0022] The film 22 can be made of any suitable material, but to facilitate the quick installation of the floor in accordance with the present invention, the film is preferably made of a material that is relatively stiff so that the connector, placed partly in contact with the bottom of the tile, will protrude beyond the edge of the tile in approximately the same plane as the bottom of the tile. This facilitates the correct positioning of the protruding part of the connector to make proper contact with the adjacent plate. This is usually greater stiffness than most adhesive tapes, which significantly curl or fall down from the bottom of the plate to which part (but not all) of such adhesive tape is attached. At the same time, the film 22 from which the fasteners of the present invention are made should be sufficiently flexible to facilitate the handling of the fasteners in a roll, if necessary, and to allow the fasteners to adapt to the irregularities of the floor or tile.

[0023] Film 22 should also be resistant to shrinkage, which may cause buckling of adjacent tiles, and have a relatively high tensile strength to exhibit tensile strength at walking and rolling loads. They exhibit strength for example, tensile material y, from 160 which

270 megapascals (MPa) towards production and from 165 - 210

MPa in the transverse direction to the production direction have proved to be particularly suitable for this application. In addition, the percentage by which the material may be elongated or stretched before tearing should also be relatively high to prevent tearing of the fastener and damage when subjected to tensile stress. For example, it is preferred, but not required, that the material used be able to stretch 120-200% of its size in its manufacturing direction and 150-170% of its size in its transverse direction before production.

[0024] Polymer materials, cardboard and other materials including fabrics and metals that are suitably rigid, thin, strong, waterproof and inexpensive can also be used for film 22. However, film 22 is preferably a synthetic polymer material such as polyolefins, polyamide or polyester, and more preferably polyester polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"). These materials are relatively cheap, will adapt to the floor during use and will be corrosion resistant. Although not necessary, it is preferred that the film material is recyclable.

[0025] Film 22 preferably has a thickness of 0.0005 inch (0.0127 mm) to 0.015 inch (0.381 mm), and more preferably 0.003 inch (0.0762 mm) to 0.01 inch (0.254 mm), and yet more preferably it is 0.005 inch (0.0127 mm). Film 22 may or may not also have a primer coating (not shown in the figures), such as an acrylic coating, applied to the same side to which the adhesive layer 24 is to be applied to promote adhesion between film 22 and adhesive layer 24. Film 22 may be corona treated on one or both sides to increase surface tension and promote adhesion between film 22 and adhesive 24 without the use of adhesion promoting coatings.

[0026] The film 22 may have any shape, including, but not limited to, a round shape or any rectilinear shape such as a square or triangular shape. The square shape is suitable for most installations. In addition, film size 22 can be the size of the tiles being installed. However, depending on the rule, the surface area of ​​the film 22 may be only 1%, preferably 2-5%, of the surface area of ​​the tiles for which the connectors are intended to be installed. The connector surface area was found to exceed nine square inches (58.064 cm)²) does not significantly contribute to the stability of the 18 inch (45.72 cm2) or 50 square inch tile installation. Thus, fasteners 20 should be preferably, but not necessarily, be a square of no more than about three inches (7.62 cm) by three inches (7.62 cm) to save materials and reduce costs.

[0027] Although the adhesive layer 24 may be any adhesive that exhibits certain properties desirable for use in the present invention, the specific type or amount of adhesive used in the fastener may often depend on the plate with which the fastener 20 is to be used. Some carpet tiles have undercoats containing a plasticizer to increase flexibility and / or change other properties of the undercoat. The plasticizer has a tendency to migrate and may migrate to some connector adhesives.

weaken the adhesive properties of fasteners, effective. Water-diluted adhesives (more than solvent-diluted adhesives) with or without low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, may be resistant to plasticizers and thus may generally be preferred in cases of resistance to plasticizer migration

This migration can make them less lining tiles containing when desired (i.e. in plasticizer installations).

Acrylic adhesives are suitable, including those sold by 3M under the identification numbers 9465, 6032, 6035 and 6038, and in particular 9465 (which is primarily an acrylate terpolymer) and 6032 (an acrylate copolymer with increased viscosity). In addition, adhesive 24 preferably, but not necessarily, is waterproof and resistant to common liner cleaning detergents. The use of a release adhesive is also preferred.

[0028] The adhesive layer 24 in all fasteners 20 should adhere well to the back side of the plates. However, adhesion to the plate should not be so strong as to prevent removal and repositioning of the plate relative to the fastener 20, if desired. If the bond strength between the tile and the adhesive (i.e. the amount of force needed to separate the adhesive layer 24 from the tile backing, which can be measured using the ASTM-D-3330 test (commonly known as "90 degree peeling test")) is too high. adhesive 24 will be peeled off the foil and will remain on the plate, thereby destroying the connector. Thus, the bonding force between the adhesive layer 24 and the plate should not be stronger than the bonding force between the adhesive layer 24 and the film 22.

[0029] The bond strength is preferably from 5 - 100 ounces / inch (5.58 - 39 - 111.61 kg / m), inclusive, at room temperature. The preferred bond strength may depend on the undercoat of the plate. For example, the bond strength between the adhesive and the hard backed tiles, such as those made of PVC, polyurethane or polyolefins, is preferably about 50 - 70 ounces / inch (55.81 - 78.13 kg / m). The bond strength between the adhesive and the tiles having a textile backing, such as for example a woven polypropylene or felt backing, is preferably about 10-60 ounces / inch (11.16-66.97 kg / m). In addition, the bond strength between the adhesive and the tiles on the cushioning undercoat is preferably about 40-60 ounces / inch (44.64-66.97 kg / m), and the bond strength between the adhesive and the tiles on the bituminous undercoat is preferably about

- 20 oz / inch (11.16 - 22.32 kg / m). It is preferred that the bond strength between the tile and the adhesive at elevated temperatures remain within +/- 15% of the bond strength at room temperature.

[0030] The amount of adhesive (i.e. the thickness of the adhesive layer) on each fastener 20 may depend on both the size of the fastener 20 and the tile used with the fastener 20. However, preferably, while the amount of adhesive is sufficient to allow the connector to contact and connect to the bottom of the plate to achieve the bonding force given above, it should not be so large that the adhesive migrates beyond the contact surface of the connector and the plate in contact with the under floor. In this way, the floor covering installation will remain unattached to the floor substrate to facilitate the possible removal of modular units. An adhesive thickness of about 0.0005 - 0.010 inches (0.0127 mm - 0.254 mm), and more preferably about 0.002 - 0.08 inches (0.051 mm - 0.20 mm), has been found to be suitable for most applications.

[0031] For tiles having a woven or knitted textile undercoat, more glue will usually be needed to penetrate the cavities formed in the undercoat and thus ensure sufficient interfacial contact between the tile and the adhesive. Fasteners having an adhesive layer 24 that has a thickness of about 0.005 - 0.008 inches (0.127 mm - 0.20 mm) are preferred for tiles having a textile backing. For tiles having a relatively flat or shallowly pressed undercoat surface, such as hard backed tiles, less glue can be used, preferably with a thickness in the range 0.002 - 0.003 inch (0.051 mm - 0.0726 mm).

[0032] All of the adhesives intended for use on fasteners should also have sufficient shear strength to prevent tile displacement relative to the fasteners or relative to each other, and thus create gaps between adjacent tiles after installation.

[0033] Although not shown in the figures, it is possible to place a logo or other design elements on the fasteners 20. For example, the logo may be painted with ink on the side of the film on which the adhesive is to be applied. In this way, the ink, which usually has a high content of volatile organic compounds (VOC), gets trapped between the film and the adhesive, preventing any unwanted emissions from the ink. In addition, when the connector is placed on a paper spacer, the logo is also protected by foil. This prevents accidental scratching of the logo or its removal from the connector.

[0034] It may be useful to print or otherwise position the markings on the connectors (not shown in the figures) to facilitate the installation of the tiles. The installer only needs to set the tile edges (or other tile parts) with markings to ensure that the connectors are optimally positioned between adjacent tiles. Any markings that provide the installer with information about where the tiles should be placed on the connectors can be used. For example, connectors may contain crosses, separated parallel and transverse lines to the edges of connectors, dots, blocks, etc. In addition, different parts of connectors may be colored (such as by dividing connectors into quadrants and giving different color to each quadrant) to indicate the correct location of the tile the liner.

[0035] Chemical sensors can be placed on the connectors 20 to monitor the moisture content of the floor substrate. If the moisture content rises above a predetermined level, the sensor sends a radio signal. In this way, you can monitor the moisture content of the floor and take countermeasures specifically targeted at the problem areas.

[0036] In addition, pressure sensors may also be associated with connectors 20. For example, if someone falls on the floor, the pressure sensor will warn the control system (via wireless signaling) that the pressure in a given floor area has exceeded a predetermined level. The sensor thus acts as a guide to the high pressure area. Such technology can be especially useful in the homes of the elderly or in hospitals, where caregivers need constant assurance that their pupils are safe (i.e. they have not fallen and cannot get up).

[0037] The connectors are equipped with radio frequency identification ("RFID") labels by the use of radio frequency transponders. A radio frequency transponder is a radio transmitter and / or any type of receiver that is activated when it receives a radio frequency signal. Transponders can be built into the connector or otherwise attached to the connector in any way. One or more transponders may be printed on one or more fasteners used in the installation, for example the transponder may be printed on each side of the film or on an insert that is attached to the film or fastener. However, it is not necessary for the transponder to be on every connector in the installation. Various configurations can be used, including the configurations shown in the drawings.

[0038] Fig. 15 is a top view of an embodiment of a radio frequency transponder of a connector 320. The connector 320 may include a film with an adhesive layer that is embedded or otherwise bonded to a sheet 322 that contains or otherwise has one or more transponders having a frequency of radio. Alternatively, the transponder components may be directly embedded or otherwise attached to the connector foil. In some embodiments, the radio frequency transponder is attached to the connector film, which means that the radio frequency transponder is directly or indirectly (e.g., as part of sheet 322 or by any other intermediate elements) connected to or located adjacent to the connecting film . Sheet 322 may further include an adhesive layer or a face (of paper or polymer) with an adhesive layer. The radio frequency transponder includes a connecting element 324 that is connected to or otherwise used with an 328 integrated circuit. The connecting element 324 may comprise a conductive material such as copper or aluminum shaped as a coil or which otherwise acts as an antenna. The radio frequency transponder may also include a bridge 326 that connects the ends of the connecting element 324 to complete the loop and form a circuit. Integrated circuit 328 is an electronic microprocessor that can be read and / or write.

[0039] Although Fig. 15 shows a high frequency ("HF") transponder built into the switch 220, an ultra high frequency ("UHF") transponder of any kind can be used instead, for example the switch 220 may include a transponder that has a single a layer of conductive material or that extends from opposite sides of the integrated circuit to create shapes that are their mirror images. Radio transponder components can be encrusted, printed or embedded as part of a connector in any other way. The transponder components may be passive, passive memory, semi-active, active or use any other information technique. The ingredients may or may not contain batteries and / or performance control software. One or more transponder components may contain metal, organic polymers, or any other material. Transponder components may include, but are not limited to, RFID components manufactured, among others, by Alien Technology Corporation, Avery Dennison Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Omron Corporation, and UPM Raflatac.

[0040]

Setting 330 markings (including, but not limited to crosses, multi-colored line segments, dots, blocks, and quadrants) may be provided on the connector 320 to provide guidance for an installer wishing to place a connector in the corner or edge of a carpet tile. The connector can be placed in the corner, on the edge or simply on the back side of the plate. In a multi-tile installation, some fasteners may include the edges of adjacent tiles, while others may simply be placed on the bottom of the tiles, i.e. each attached to a single tile.

[0041] Connectors containing radio frequency transponders offer RFID capabilities and can be placed in any arrangement when installing the floor floor. The connectors can be arranged to create an intelligent floor covering that has embedded components regularly spaced. For example, fasteners may be arranged regularly, juxtaposed with tile corners, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8. One benefit of some embodiments is the creation of a array of regularly spaced radio frequency transponders that can send, store and / or receive information that does not require any additional installation outside the installation that is already needed for the use of plate fasteners. Such a matrix can be used to create a xy coordinate network or other map of regularly spaced components. For example, the robotic device can be moved over a coordinate grid to identify relative positions of the labels relative to each other. These relative positions can be used to map transponder positions in a matrix. A map can also be created when the connectors are positioned irregularly. The map can be generated, for example, using location simulation and mapping ("SLAM") techniques. In any case, such a map can be used with a floor plan, or include a floor plan and / or a mapping program, so that radio transponder mapping can be used to identify the physical location of one or more readers in the form of radio transponders. When the radio transponder reader is moving, it can record radio transponder sequences that it reads and sends (e.g. in the form of wireless transmission) this information to a location station that monitors in real time the location of the equipment or the person wearing the reader. In a multi-connector installation, transponders of different connectors may operate on the same or different frequencies. For example, in one embodiment, the transponders in the installation are in the range of low to high frequencies. Information can be sent on different channels, each of which is associated with a specific transponder component. The radio frequency reader may further include a transmitter that sends information that is recorded in one or more transponders. For example, it may send information stating that vacuuming has occurred or the date when vacuuming occurred. As another example, it can send position information regarding the relative position or position map of the transponder receiving information, e.g., x, y or x, y, z coordinates. This information can be obtained when the transponder is read by other reading devices.

[0042] In general, connectors equipped with radio transponders may facilitate a wide range of functions, including location, verification; tracking, positioning and authenticated. By way of example only, connectors equipped with RFID technology may be used to locate the position of people, objects or couplings, for example tracking the location of a fireman or fireman's equipment. They can also be used to track people or equipment movement paths or to guide equipment to exact locations to perform specific functions.

[0043] In one application, radio frequency transponders serve the mapping function to guide equipment equipped with a radio frequency element reader. For example, the reader can be placed on a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning device. The reader can be programmed with a sequence or unique transponder numbers, which are located on switches in the room. When the robotic (automatic) vacuum cleaner is programmed in this way and the transponders on connectors in the room are read by the robot vacuum cleaner reader and used to guide the vacuum cleaner towards the connectors in the order in which the transponder numbers of the connectors appear in the programmed sequence. In this way, the entire floor can be automatically cleaned or otherwise maintained. The transponder numbers of the connectors located in the higher traffic appear more often in to ensure that these areas are cleaned more thoroughly. Various radio transponder readers may be used, including those offered by APSX, LLC^® and Skyetek, Inc.^®.

[0044] In another embodiment, other types of robots are equipped with a reader. The reader can be programmed with a sequence of transponder numbers to guide the robot to different locations. For example, the reader on the robot in the hospital activated, there may be sequence areas, it can be programmed to guide the robot along the designated path so that the robot can deliver medicine to rooms and perform other tasks. In addition to connectors equipped with radio frequency transponders forming a map on which the robot can follow to reach the desired location, the connectors can help in the exact positioning of the robot (or other equipment not manually driven). For example, if the robot needs to charge itself at the power supply, the transponder connector can be placed directly near the power supply. In this way, the connector can lead the robot to power and correctly position the robot relative to the power supply to charge it.

[0045] In another embodiment, the shopping cart may be equipped with a reader. The buyer can indicate the desired products, and radio frequency transponders on the connectors lead the trolley to the desired places in the store. Reading devices can be used in a variety of other circumstances, including shopping centers, museums, hospitals, but not limited to entertainment venues, and in connection with global location systems or otherwise facilitating their operation.

[0046] Transponders can also be used to monitor the location and / or movement of equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, the hospital equipment is equipped with a reader. The location of each piece of equipment in the hospital can be determined when the reader reads the transponder number of the coupler, which is different from the other transponder number of the coupler. In another embodiment of the invention, the movement of equipment such as a vacuum cleaner can be monitored to determine if the area has been cleaned or not. For example, a reader on a vacuum cleaner (both manually and automatically driven) can either store (to be downloaded later) or transmit (via wireless communication) to the control system the numbers of the switch transponder that it reads in the room. If the transponder number on the switch in the room is not read, then the vacuum cleaner obviously did not clean near the switch. In this way, information about the history of cleaning the room can be recorded.

[0047] Similarly, transponders on switches and transponder readers in shopping carts and / or baskets can be used to collect information about the flow of traffic through the store. In this way, information about where people walk in the store, how long they stay in certain areas, etc. is collected and can be used for a variety of purposes, including designing the layout of the store to better adapt to traffic flows and customer needs. Similarly, shopping carts equipped with readers may include a display that presents advertisements and other information to buyers based on the areas in which they are located, where they went and / or the areas where they stayed for some time.

[0048] A floor surface equipped with radio frequency transponders has many potential benefits. In addition to facilitating the monitoring of the maintenance, location of equipment and persons, and robotic navigation, mentioned inter alia in this description, it can be used to provide additional security and the benefits of security in the home, workplace or other room.

[0049] The radio frequency transponder and / or other RFID components can be printed directly or be part of a modular plate, for example RFID components made of metal, organic or any other directly printed on the back of the polymer, polymer material can be the surface of the plates modular or on any other component material. In one embodiment, radio frequency transponders are printed on one or more modular plates near the edge or corner of each plate. When the boards are installed, the connectors can be positioned to adhere to the modular boards in places that cover or otherwise protect the radio frequency transponders.

[0050] The floor covering installation can also be equipped with both sensors, such as chemical sensors and pressure sensors and radio frequency transponders. Sensors can record information in radio transponders, and information can be collected by a radio transponder reading device, for example as part of a maintenance program. For example, the sensor can detect moisture content information and record this information on a nearby radio transponder. The connector may contain one or more sensors and / or one or more radio transponder components.

[0051] Returning to Fig. 1, the release layer (spacers) 26 may be made of any material compatible with the adhesive, such that the release layer 26 does not adhere to the adhesive to prevent its removal from the fastener. It has been found that wrapping paper having a low energy coating, such as a polymer coating (e.g., polymer silicone), on at least one side, is particularly suitable for this application. However, release materials suitable for use in this invention are widely available commercially, such as from 3M, and commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0052] The connectors 20 are preferably delivered to the installation site as individual units already fully or partially cut to the desired shape and size for use in the installation. Although each fastener 20 can be manufactured separately, production economics can be achieved first by producing a multi-layer element comprising film 22, an adhesive layer 24, a release layer (spacers) 26 larger than the intended size of the fastener, and then cutting the connectors from this sandwich element. The adhesive layer 24 can be applied to the desired film 22, after which the release layer 26 is placed in contact with the adhesive layer 24 to form a multi-layer element. In another embodiment of manufacture, the adhesive layer 24 is first applied to the release layer 26, after which the film 22 is placed on the release layer 26 to form a multilayer element.

[0053] The resulting multi-layer element can of course then be cut into fasteners 20 of the desired shape and size. However, a number of fasteners 20 are preferably placed on a single release layer 26. For example, multiple pre-cut or perforated fasteners may be placed sequentially along the strip of release layer 26. For ease of movement and storage, this strip can be rolled up so that the fasteners are placed outside (see Figure 2) or inside the roll, or folded between successive fasteners 20 in a harmonica shape. In addition, a number of fasteners 20 may be placed on the release layer sheet 26. Film 22 may include perforations 28 (see Fig. 3) or it can be cut completely to the desired shape and size of the connector to facilitate removal from the release layer 26 during installation. The optimal number of release material on a strip or sheet (not shown) will of course depend on the size of the installation.

[0054] It has been found that the placement of the fasteners 20 on the strip or sheet of release material facilitates the removal of the fasteners 20 from the release layer 26 and thus reduces installation time. With respect to the fasteners 20 located on the strip of releasing material (as shown in Fig. 2), the installation can also be accelerated by using a fastener dispenser that houses at least one rolled or harmonica fastener strap 20, and which preferably also provides a mechanism for separating the fasteners from the release layer 26. The dispenser, which for example can be shaped as a backpack or attached to the installer's belt, it preferably comprises a structure for supporting at least one roll of fasteners 20 (and preferably more).

[0055] In one embodiment of such a dispenser (see Fig. 4), the roll of fasteners 20 having release material is placed in a box 30 made of any sufficiently rigid material, such as, for example, plastic, metal or cardboard. The box preferably has three holes 32, 24, 36 through which a strip of release material is fed. A strip of release material is fed through the first opening 32 in which the projection 38 is located. The release material is then fed back into the box 30 through the second opening 34 and outside the third opening 36. In use, the installer pulls the release material protruding from the third opening 36. As a result, the strip extends forward from rolls of release layer sections 26 carrying fasteners 20. Because the release layer 26 extends over the protrusion 38, the connector 20, which is relatively stiff, is unable to conform to the shape of the protrusion and slides over the protrusion 38. Instead, the front edge of the connector detaches from the release layer 26 after whereby the installer can easily grip the detached edge to remove the connector 20 completely from the release layer 26. Of course, the more connectors the dispenser can hold, the fewer times the installer must load the dispenser during installation. This can be particularly beneficial in large installations.

[0056] Release of the linker from the release material can also be achieved by alternative means to those described above. In addition to causing release of the spacer by moving the release material around a sharp fold, various other mechanisms are considered. For example, the release can be triggered by a user gripping the connector and removing it from the release material. In such cases, the dispenser may dispense release material with the connector attached for removal by the user. For example, the dispenser may contain a supply of release material folded in a fan having one connector on each folded part. The opening in such a dispenser allows the user to grip and remove the release material containing the connector and then remove the connector and eject the release material.

[0057] As another example, the dispenser may have a continuous roll of fasteners without any release material. Such a dispenser may have a cutting element near the opening to break a predetermined or user-defined amount of the connector roll for use as a single connector. The backing of the fastener roll that is unwound without the release material may have a release coating as the backing.

[0058] In another example, the fasteners can be individually stacked in the dispenser such that each fastener has a release material covering all or part of its adhesive side so that it will not stick to other fasteners in the stack. The release material may have a weak adhesive on it such that adjacent connectors are stacked together (i.e., weak adhesive removably adheres to the non-adhesive side of adjacent tiles).

[0059] In yet another alternative, the connectors may be stacked within the dispenser so that the adhesive side of each connector is connected to an adjacent connector. For example, a siliconized or polyfluorinated release coating such as an acrylic, polyolefin, polyamide or polyester coating can be applied to the non-adhesive side of each tile so that the adhesive sides of adjacent tiles can be detachably attached to the non-adhesive sides.

[0060] Stacks of connectors may be used with or without the dispenser. In some cases, it may be convenient for the installer to simply hold a pile of fasteners and remove one fastener for use. The connectors in the stack can be attached in various ways such as the methods described above.

[0061] In another embodiment of the present invention, the release material 26 can be completely omitted. rather, the fasteners 20 may be stacked on top of each other, with the adhesive layer 24 of one fastener in contact with the film 22 of the fastener 20 located above it in a stack. The installer simply peels the connector 20 off the stack during installation.

[0062] In one tile installation method using fasteners, the first tile is placed on the floor in a position determined by conventional tile installation methods. The connector 20 is peeled off the release layer 26 (or from the pile of connectors 20) and positioned so that the adhesive layer 24 faces upwards from the floor substrate. The connector 20 is positioned such that only part of the adhesive layer 24 adheres to the bottom of the plate, leaving the rest of the connector 20 protruding from the bottom of the plate. The plate or plates are then placed adjacent the first plate so that part of the connector 20 adjoins the adjacent plate (s). In this way, the connectors include the adjacent edge (s) of the adjacent tile (s).

[0063]

Any number of fasteners 20 can be used to connect adjacent tiles in the installation. However, to create a stable floor covering, fasteners need not be placed along the entire edges of adjacent tiles, or even across all edges of adjacent tiles. Rather, unlike the adhesive tape that was used to attach adjacent tiles together, along the entire edges of adjacent tiles, the fasteners of the present invention only need to extend along a very limited length of adjacent edges. For example, that floor covering installation tiles, 5% - 10% of the edges of adjacent tiles are stabilized by means of connectors 20, show flat stability (measured by bending and / or bending tiles) and dimensional stability (measured by tilting tiles), as well as the ability to maintain their relative positions in the installation when subjected to pedestrian traffic, rolling motion, and stress applied during cleaning and maintenance.

it has been found that only [0064] Fig. 5 shows one embodiment of a conventional installation (i.e. aligned columns and rows) of tiles. For ease of discussion, the position of the connectors is discussed relative to the base unit 40 consisting of four plates 41-44, such as shown and arranged in Fig. 6. The plates 41-44 are preferably connected to the middle connector 46 at the corners where they intersect. In addition, the corner of each plate, diagonal to the middle connector 36, is also connected to the adjacent plates by means of the connector 20. In this way, only two plate connectors (middle connector 46 plus a quarter of the connector in each of the four diagonal corners of the plate) must be used for installing the basic unit 40 consisting of four plates 41 - 44. By separating this even more, each of the four tiles 41 - 44 derives its stability on average from half of the connector's surface area.

[0065] Fig. 7 illustrates the possible location of the connectors in the installation of the tiles arranged as bricks (or in the "broken" installation. If we rotate Fig. 7 by ninety degrees). For ease of discussion, the preferred location of the connectors 20 is discussed relative to the base unit 60 consisting of four plates 61-64, such as shown and arranged in Fig. 8. Like tiles 41 - 44, only two tile connectors (one second connector for each plate) must be used to install the base unit 60 consisting of four tiles 61 - 64.

[0066] Figures 5-8 show only a few of the myriad possibilities of arranging the connectors for installing the tiles. Fasteners 20 can be positioned in any position between adjacent tiles, and thus any tile in the installation can contact a portion of as few as one fastener and as many fasteners as possible considering the size of the tile and fasteners 20. In addition to placing corners of intersecting tiles, the connectors 20 can be positioned to include adjacent edges of only two tiles. In addition, variously shaped or sized connectors 20 may be useful in one installation. For example, in addition to the rectangular fasteners shown in Fig. 5, triangular fasteners may be useful at the periphery of the installation where the tiles abut against the wall.

[0067] In addition to arranging the fasteners 20 at the installation site, it is also possible to place the fasteners 20 in the desired positions on the plates during manufacture. For example, the release material 26 on the fasteners 20 may be perforated. During manufacture, part of the releasing material 26 can thus be removed along the perforation to expose part of the adhesive layer 24. This part of the connector 20 can then be glued to the bottom of the edge of the plate 50 as discussed above (see Fig. 9). The adhesive on the remainder of the connector 20 is still protected by the remaining release material 26. To prevent interference by the connector 20 that protrudes from the plate 50, interference with packaging of the plate 50 for shipment, it may be advantageous to bend the connector 20 along the back of the perforation (in the A direction) so that the bottom of the connector 20 lies in the same plane as the connector. During installation, the installer only needs to slide the connector 20 from the edge of the plate 50, remove the remaining release layer 26, and install the tiles 50, as discussed above.

[0068] Since the tiles are not attached to the floor, they do not need to be placed directly on the floor surface of the floor. The fasteners 20 of the present invention work equally well with tiles located on an intermediate substrate located between the tiles and the floor. Such an intermediate substrate can be used to protect the floor from damage, such as can be caused by liquids spilled onto tiles that escape through the periphery of the tile. In addition, intermediate substrates can serve as a barrier to the moisture present in the existing floor and thus eliminate the need for sealants and barrier coatings. Since the intermediate substrate does not need to be glued to the floor surface, it is removed with minimal cleaning and replacement costs.

[0069] One embodiment of the intermediate substrate is a sheet or foil 202 that can be placed on the floor 206 prior to installing the tiles, and thus between the floor 206 and the tiles 200, as shown in Fig. 10. Foil 202 can be made of any suitable material and is preferably, but not necessarily, treated to prevent non-porous and moisture-impermeable. In addition, film 202 is preferably insensitive to strongly alkaline conditions and preferably does not emit volatile organic compounds in excess of 350 micrograms / cm². Foil 202 is preferably, but not necessarily, flexible to match the irregularities of the floor 206. Foil 202 can be made of any number of materials, including polymeric materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or PVC. A suitable film 202 may also include, but is not limited to, certain polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, and cellulose based polymers.

[0070] Although the film 202 may be of any thickness, in one embodiment the thickness is from about 1/1000 inch (0.0254 mm) to about 40/1000 inch (1.016 mm), and more preferably from about 2/1000 inch ( 0.051 mm) to about 10/1000 inches (0.254 mm). Preferably, but not necessarily, the undercoat film has antimicrobial properties in its natural state, but if not, the film may or may not be antibacterial chemical agents for bacterial or microbial growth. In addition, the flammability of other films should preferably not have a negative effect on the underlying organisms' flammability classification or smoke production of the tile. It may be desirable to increase the coefficient of friction on at least one side of the film 202 to give the film 202 anti-slip properties. Preferably, but not necessarily, the coefficient of friction of at least one side of the film 202 is greater than 0.55. For example, one side of film 202 may be made of resin materials with sticky surface properties. For example, the film 202 may have a relatively smooth side (page 208 in Fig. 10) and an opposite side with a higher coefficient of friction (page 206 in Fig. 10). The foil 202 can be positioned so that the side 206 faces the floor 204. When it is so positioned, the friction between floor 204 and foil side 202 prevents movement of foil 202 (and thus carpet or carpet tiles placed thereon) relative to floor 204, even with heavy pedestrian traffic or other movement of tiles located above. Although page 208 may also contain surface properties to increase their friction coefficient, it is preferably relatively smooth to prevent film 202 from sticking to the tile or other primer.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment, the intermediate substrate, between the tiles and the floor, is a cushioning pad or foam pad placed on the floor before installing the tiles. The cushioning pad provides comfort under your feet and can eliminate the need for carpet tiles with a cushioning pad. You can simply install tiles with a hard undercoat on a cushioned undercoat. In addition, the cushion pad serves as a barrier to moisture present in the existing floor.

[0073] The cushion pad may be made of any natural or synthetic material, or mixtures thereof, which give a cushioning effect, such as compressible elastic composites. For example, the cushioning pad may be made of foam, rubber, cork, and woven, felt or non-woven fabric. The cushioning pad may be made of new or recycled polymer material, and is preferably, but not necessarily, made of 100% recycled material. If the cushion pad pad is made of foam material, the foam may be open or closed cell foam, and may be made of any suitable polymer, including polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and polyolefin, but not limited to them. Woven, non-woven or felt felt cushioning pads may be made of natural or synthetic materials including wood, cotton, flax, hemp, kenaf, sugar cane, and other naturally occurring cellulosic derivatives or polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins and mixtures thereof, but not are limited to them. In the case of non-woven fabric, the cushioning pad may be formed by needling, using binders either without them, or in a "spun-bonding" process. When weaving, the cushion pad may be formed by weaving, knitting, etc. The pad may be reinforced with fibers (e.g., glass fibers) to obtain dimensional stability and increased tear strength. Although not necessary, the pad preferably has the same properties as film 22 (for example, it is moisture resistant, has a low content of volatile organic compounds, adapts to the floor, etc.).

[0074] Depending on the moisture resistance properties of the pad, it may be desirable to install a cushion pad with the foil 202. In the embodiment of Fig. 11, the foil 202 is placed directly on the floor surface 204. The cushion pad 210 is then placed on top of the film 202, and the plate 200 is placed on top of the pad 210. Adjacent plates can be held in place using connectors 20, which may optionally be conductive connectors 150, as described above.

[0075] In another embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the cushion pad 210 is used without the foil 202. In this embodiment, the cushion pad 210 is placed directly on the floor surface 204. The plate 200 is then placed on top of the cushion pad 210. Adjacent plates can then be attached together by means of connectors 20 or conductive connectors 150 as described above. As with film 202, it may be desirable to give a larger coefficient of friction to at least one side of the pad 210 to prevent mutual displacement between the pad and the foil (see Fig (see Fig. 12).

11) or washer and floor [0076] The cushioning pad 210 may have any thickness. However, it is preferred that the thickness of the cushion pad does not exceed the thickness of the pad cushion, so that after compression, the cushion pad is compressed below the cushion pad, danger of tripping.

not causing [0077]

Regardless of the type of intermediate substrate used, if present), in one embodiment all the tiles placed on the interconnected, especially the liner, the top of the intermediate substrate are using the fasteners disclosed herein. In this way, none of the layers in the installation is connected to any other layer in the installation (for example, the intermediate substrate is not connected to the floor and the liner or tiles are not connected to the intermediate substrate). In this way, the floor can be easily removed without the need for cleaning and preparation before installing another floor covering.

[0078] Yet another embodiment of the intermediate substrate is a composite cushioning pad, well suited for installing new or carpet tiles on existing wall-to-wall or carpet tiles, without removing the existing carpet or carpet tiles.

[0079] One embodiment of the composite cushion pad 216 is shown in Fig. 13. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the composite pad 216 includes a semi-rigid layer 220 attached to the shock pad 226. "Semi-rigid" means any structure that has some flexibility so that it can be bent to some extent. The cushion pad 226 may have, but need not have, properties similar to those disclosed above for the cushion pad 210. The semi-rigid layer 220 may be made of any material. A polymer synthetic material such as polyolefin, polyamide or polyester is particularly suitable for this application.

[0080] The semi-rigid layer 220 has a first side 222 and a second side 224. The second side 224 includes gripping means, such as teeth 218, which protrude on the other side 224. Although teeth 218 are disclosed as being formed integrally with the semi-rigid layer 220, they need not be such be. The gripping elements can be attached in any manner (such as by means of glue, fasteners, clamps or any other chemical or mechanical fastening means) to the other side 224 of the semi-rigid layer 220.

[0081] First page 222 is attached to the cushion pad 226. If the cushion 226 is preformed, the semi-rigid layer 220 may be formed on the preformed cushion pad 226. Alternatively, if foam material is used to make the cushion pad 226, the foam may be deposited directly on first page 222 of the pre-formed semi-rigid layer 220. Alternatively, the cushion pad 226 and the semi-rigid layer 220 may be pre-formed and then glued or otherwise joined together.

[0082] As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 14, the composite cushion pad 216 may be placed on top of the existing liner or tiles 212. Preferably, the composite pad 216 is placed such that the gripping elements 218 penetrate into a portion of the existing liner or tiles 212, to prevent mutual displacement between the composite washer 216 and existing liner or tiles 212. A new liner or carpet tiles 214 are then placed on top of the cushion pad 226.

[0083] The use of a composite cushioning pad 216 allows the new liner or carpet tiles to be placed on an existing carpet or carpet tiles without first removing the previous carpet or carpet tiles. The new carpet tiles can then be fastened together by means of connectors 20 or conductive connectors 150 as described above. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, no layers (i.e., existing liner or tiles 212, composite washer 216, and new liner or tiles 214) are attached to each other. In this way, the installation of new tiles does not have to be durable, but rather it can be easily removed. Furthermore, the gripping means 218 are preferably, but not necessarily, designed so as not to damage the face of the existing liner or tiles. In this way, the installation of new tiles can be easily removed without changing the appearance or usability of the existing carpet or tiles.

[0084] The fasteners of the present invention are an improvement over current tile installation systems and methods. Fasteners use both less material and less expensive materials than traditional installation systems. In addition, the use of fasteners significantly reduces installation time (by up to 60% of the time for gluing systems), by eliminating the need to prepare the floor before installation. Instead of applying a layer of glue to the floor and then stepping back to place the tiles on the adhesive layer, in the case of fasteners, the installer places the tiles and fixes them by constantly moving forward. In addition, given the detachable adhesive used on the fasteners and the limited surface area of ​​the tiles that contacts the fasteners, the tiles can easily be interleaved as needed. In addition, because the tiles do not interact with the floor substrate, they are easy to remove from the floor and leave the floor substrate clean after such removal. As a result, the floor does not require finishing before it is again covered with another floor covering.

[0085] The embodiments described above are for illustration only and not limiting. Many variations of the constructions shown in the drawings and in the materials described above are possible and fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

INTERFACE, INC.

Proxy:

79P34843PL00

EP 2 374 856 B1