Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MODULAR FLOOR COVERING SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
application no.
63/142,025, filed on January 27, 2021, U.S. non-provisional patent application
no. 17/241,180,
filed on April 27, 2021, and U.S. non-provisional patent application
no.17/464,767, filed on
September 2, 2021.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a floor covering system, and more
particularly, to a
modular floor covering system that utilizes a plurality of fasteners for
connecting a plurality of
floor covering components to one another.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] A modular rug system includes a pair of individual rugs connected to
one another by
fasteners. The rugs are configured to cover a floor surface area. Fasteners
that create a secure
connection between the rugs may have a first component extending on the
underside of the rugs
and a second component disposed over the top surface of each of the rugs. The
first and second
components of each fastener would extend through the thickness of the rugs and
would connect
to one another for creating a secure connection between the rugs and the
fasteners. However, the
second component of each fastener typically protrudes above the top surface of
a rug, creating a
visual bump on top of each rug and an uneven surface to step on.
[0004] Therefore, an improved way to connect rug pieces to one another is
needed.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
SUMMARY
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular rug
system including two or
more spaced rug and/or carpet components (collectively "rugs") that are
selectively and securely
connected to one another via a plurality of fasteners that do not protrude
upwardly over the upper
surfaces of the rugs.
[0006] Each rug in the modular rug system of the present invention includes a
plurality of
through openings. Each fastener includes an elongated link extending between a
through opening
of a first rug and a through opening of a second rug (adjoining the first rug)
on an underside of
the two rugs, and a pair of nuts, bolts or screws (collectively "screws")
disposed over the
adjoining rugs and selectively connected to opposite ends of the link ¨ via a
through opening in
each of the first and second rugs ¨ in order to securely connect the first and
second rugs to one
another.
[0007] Significantly, each rug in the modular rug system present invention has
a plurality of
recesses at its top surface. Each recess is configured to house one of the
screws therein in order
to prevent the screw from protruding upwardly over the top surface of each
rug. This
configuration provides an even walkable surface over the rugs and reduces the
likelihood of a
user tripping over the modular rug system of the present invention since the
screw heads do not
protrude upwardly over the rugs.
[0008] The recesses and the through holes in the rugs may be formed during the
manufacturing
process at predetermined locations along one or more edges of each rug. This
configuration is
advantageous for several reasons. First, the recesses serve as visual guides,
indicating to a
technician the location of each link under each rug such that the technician
can quickly and
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
efficiently connect a screw to each end of each link during the installation
process. This can
reduce installation time and labor costs associated therewith. Second, the
configuration is
advantageous as there is no technical need to drill/punch the through holes in
the field during the
installation process, thereby further reducing installation time and labor
costs.
[0009] In each rug, the recesses can be manufactured by using a different yarn
and/or a different
knitting or weaving pattern than that utilized in the remainder of the rug in
order to further assist
a technician in visually distinguishing the depressions during installation of
the modular rug
system of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and other features of the present invention will become more
apparent by
describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a modular floor covering
system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top plan view illustrating the modular floor covering
system of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the modular floor
covering system of FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the modular floor covering
system of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a top plan view illustrating a connecting element that is
included in the
modular floor covering system of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the connecting element
of FIG. 5;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fastener that is configured
to be selectively
connected to the connecting element of FIG. 5, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a top plan view illustrating the fastener of FIG. 7;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view illustrating the fastener of FIG. 7;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 9;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a cut-out region B of FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 11;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a top plan view illustrating the cut-out region B of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 16 is a side elevational view illustrating a portion of a
connecting element
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a fastener that is
configured to be selectively
connected to the connecting element of FIG. 16, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 18 is a top view illustrating the fastener of FIG. 17;
[0029] FIG. 19 is a side elevational view illustrating the fastener of FIG.
17;
[0030] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 19;
[0031] FIG. 21 is a top plan view illustrating a shape of a rug/carpet that
can be used in forming
a modular floor covering system;
[0032] FIG. 22 is a top plan view illustrating another shape of a rug/carpet
that can be used in
forming a modular floor covering system;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0033] FIG. 23 is a top plan view illustrating yet another shape of a
rug/carpet that can be used
in forming a modular floor covering system;
[0034] FIG. 24 is a top plan view illustrating still a further shape of a
rug/carpet that can be
used in forming a modular floor covering system; and
[0035] FIG. 25 is a top plan view illustrating a modular floor covering system
according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described more
fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention
may, however,
be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to
the embodiments
set forth herein. Like reference numerals may refer to like elements
throughout the specification.
The sizes and/or proportions of the elements illustrated in the drawings may
be exaggerated for
clarity. In addition, the dimensions illustrated in the drawings are merely
exemplary. The scope
of the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0037] When an element is referred to as being disposed on another element,
intervening
elements may be disposed therebetween. In addition, elements, components,
parts, etc., not
described in detail with respect to a certain figure or embodiment may be
assumed to be similar
to or the same as corresponding elements, components, parts, etc., described
in other parts of the
specification.
[0038] FIGS. 1-15 illustrate a modular floor covering system according to an
exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0039] The modular floor covering system of FIGS. 1-15 includes a first floor
covering
component 102, a second floor covering component 104, and a plurality of
connecting members
106 selectively connecting the first and second floor covering components 102
and 104 to one
another along a length of neighboring sides of the first and second floor
covering components
102 and 104. The first and second floor covering components 102 and 104 may be
referred to as
floor covers for brevity purposes.
[0040] Each one of the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 may be a rug,
a carpet, or
more broadly, a flexible sheet of fabric material that is suitable for
covering and/or protecting a
floor area. The first and second floor covers 102 and 104 may be configured to
cover a floor
surface that receives foot traffic, a floor surface that is not subject to
foot traffic, and/or a floor
surface that supports furniture in order to protect the underlying floor
surface from wear and tear
and/or damage that could occur through repeated use.
[0041] The first and second floor covers 102 and 104 may be made of the same
material and/or
construction as one another, or of different materials and/or construction.
For example, each one
of the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 can be a piece of carpet or a
rug that is formed
by weaving or knitting flexible fiber material, a sheet of non-woven material
such as felt or the
like, or a combination thereof.
[0042] The fiber that is woven or knit to form the carpet/rug floors covers
102 and 104 may be a
natural or a synthetic material, for example, wool, silk, linen, cotton,
polyester, nylon, rayon,
polyamide, etc., or a blend thereof. The nonwoven sheet material may include
natural fibers, for
example, wool, fur (e.g., hair fibers from animals other than sheep and goat),
or a blend thereof,
synthetic fibers, for example, acrylic fibers, nylon fibers, polyester fibers,
etc., or a blend thereof,
or a blend of natural and synthetic fibers.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0043] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-15 (see FIGS 1-4 in particular), the first
and second floor
covers 102 and 104 have the same shape and size as one another. However, the
present invention
is not limited thereto. A modular floor covering system according to the
present invention can be
formed of two or more floor covers that are connected to one another, and the
shape and size of
each floor cover can be the same as or different from the shape and size of
the other floor cover(s)
of the modular floor covering system.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the first floor cover 102 has a width W
and a length L of
predetermined dimensions, and a side 110 (or edge 110) facing (or neighboring)
the second floor
cover 104. As illustrated, the length L is greater than the width W. Referring
to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4
again, the second floor cover 104 has a side 112 (or edge 112) facing the side
110 of the first
floor cover 102. In other words, the sides 110 and 112 face one another.
[0045] In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 are
illustrated as being
rectangular, but the present invention is not limited to this shape. Each one
of the first and second
floor covers 102 and 104 may have, for example, a polygonal shape, a circular
shape, an
elliptical shape, an oval shape, or an irregular shape.
[0046] FIGS. 5-10 illustrate one of the connecting members 106 that is used to
selectively
connect the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 to one another. In the
embodiment of FIGS.
1-15, all of the connecting members 106 are the same as one another. However,
this
configuration is non-limiting, and a modular floor covering system of the
present invention may
also employ different kinds of connecting members for connecting the two or
more pieces of
floor covers to one another.
[0047] Each connecting member 106 can be made of a metal, a polymeric
material, leather
(which would include suede), different kinds of woven fabrics, leather-wrapped
or
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
fabric-wrapped substrates (e.g., substrates like "TEXON", offered for sale by
Texon Materials,
Inc.), wood, materials like sisal and jute, or a combination thereof. The
metal may be, for
example, brass, aluminum, steel, copper, etc., or of an alloy of metals. The
polymeric material
may be, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, or other
material exhibiting
sufficient structural toughness under load. More specifically, coupling
components 118
(described below), of each connecting member 106 are preferably made of a
metal, elastomeric
material, wood, or combination thereof, while each connecting element 114
(described below)
can be made of any one of the materials described above or of a combination
thereof.
[0048] In order for the connecting members 106 to selectively and securely
connect the first and
second floor covers to one another, the first floor cover 102 includes a
plurality of through
openings 122 (see FIGS. 14 and 15) spaced apart from one another and disposed
substantially
adjacent to the side 110 (along the length of side 110). Each opening 122
extends through the
entire thickness of the first floor cover 102 and is configured to receive a
portion of a respective
connecting member 106 therethrough in order to selectively connect the first
floor cover 102
with each connecting member 106.
[0049] In addition, the second floor cover 104 also includes a plurality of
through openings 122
(see FIGS. 12 and 15) spaced apart from one another and disposed substantially
adjacent to the
side 112 (along the length of side 112). Each opening 122 in the second floor
cover 104 extends
through the entire thickness of the second floor cover 104, and is configured
to receive a portion
of a respective connecting member 106 therethrough in order to selectively
connect the second
floor cover 104 with each connecting member 106. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,
12, 13 and 15,
each opening 122 may extend from a center of its respective recess 128 in both
the first and
second floor covers 102 and 104.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0050] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, matching pairs of the openings 122
(and recesses 128)
in the first and second floor coverings 102 and 104 are arranged at equal
intervals from one
another along the length of the sides 110 and 112 such that the intervals
between the connecting
members 106 may be substantially equal with one another. However, the present
invention is not
limited thereto, and the intervals between the connecting members 106 may be
varied in
dimension as desired by varying the locations of the openings 122 and recesses
128.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 5-12, each connecting member 106 includes a
connecting element
114 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and a pair of fasteners 116 (see FIGS. 7-10
illustrating one of the
fasteners 116) that are configured to be selectively attached to the
connecting element 114.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 15, each connecting element 114 of each connecting
member 106
includes a centrally located body 120, a pair of arms 115 and 117 extending
from the body 120 at
opposite directions, a first coupling component 118 protruding upwardly from
arm 115 (see FIG.
6), and a second coupling component 118 protruding upwardly from arm 117 (see
FIG. 6). In
other words, the two coupling component 118 are spaced apart from one another
along a length
of the connecting element 114, and are located near opposite ends of the
connecting element 114.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 15, in each connecting member 106, one of the
coupling
components 118 is configured to be inserted upwardly from a bottom surface (or
rear face) of the
first floor cover 102 into one of the openings 122 of the first floor cover
102, and the other
coupling component 118 is configured to be inserted upwardly from a bottom
surface (or rear
face) of the second floor cover 104 into a matching opening 122 of the second
floor cover 104.
[0053] Then, for each connecting member 106, a first fastener 116 is
selectively connected to
one of the coupling components 118 ¨ from a top surface (or front face) of the
first floor cover
102 - via the opening 122 in the first floor cover 102, and a second fastener
116 is selectively
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
connected to the other coupling component 118 - from a top surface (or front
face) of the second
floor cover 104 - via the opening 122 in the second floor cover 104. See FIG.
15 illustrating a
pair of fasteners 116 being selectively connected to the coupling components
118 of a connecting
member 106 from a top surface of the modular floor covering system.
[0054] The first and second fasteners 116 may be made of a metal, a polymeric
material, and/or
wood, as described elsewhere in this specification.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 12, each coupling component 118 may include
internal threads 124.
Referring to FIGS. 7-10 and 12, each fastener 116 may include a protrusion
with external threads
126. In other words, the fastener 116 of FIGS. 7-10 and 12 is a male fastener.
The threads 124
and 126 match one another such that two fasteners 116 can be selectively
coupled to a
connecting element 114 by screwing each fastener 116 into a corresponding
coupling component
118 of each connecting element 114.
[0056] However, the present invention is not limited to this connection scheme
between a
connecting element 114 and the fasteners 116 of a connecting member 106. For
example, FIGS.
16 and 17-20 illustrate a connecting member 206 featuring threads 224 on the
outside of a
coupling component 218 (see FIG. 16) of a connecting element 214, and a
fastener 216 having
internal threads 226 formed inside of a cavity 230 of the fastener 216 (see
FIG. 20). In other
words, the fastener 216 is a female fastener. When the coupling component 218
and the fastener
216 are selectively connected to one another, the coupling component 218 is
able to be
accommodated inside of the cavity 230 of the fastener 216.
[0057] Other fastening mechanisms may be used in addition to, or instead of,
those described
above. For example, a coupling component and a respective fastener can be
configured to snap
onto one another in order to be selectively coupled to one another, or could
have an interference
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
fit/force fit configuration. For example, in the interference fit
configuration, the coupling
component and the respective fastener can be similar to their respective
counterparts shown in
FIGS. 16 and 17-20, except that, the coupling component and the respective
fastener would not
have threads and would therefore selectively mate via an interference fit.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the protruding body 120 of each connecting
element 114
extends in the gap 108 between the first and second floor covers 102 and 104.
[0059] The first and second floor covers 102 and 104 are spaced apart from one
another by a
gap 108, as more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 13 and 15. The gap 108 is
predetermined by
the structural configuration of the connecting members 106 and the location of
through openings
122 in the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 (see FIG. 15). The gap
108 is preferably
constant throughout the length of facing sides 110 and 112 of the first and
second floor covers
102 and 104.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the protruding body 120 of each connecting
element 114
preferably extends the entire width of the gap 108. Alternatively, the
protruding body 120 of each
connecting element 114 extends less than the entire width of the gap 108. In
addition, the
modular floor covering system of the invention can include a mixture of
connecting elements
having different protruding bodies, some that extend the entire width of the
gap and others that
extend less than the entire width of the gap between two pieces of rug or
carpet elements.
[0061] The top of the protruding body 120 of at least one connecting member
106 can be
configured to match the top surface of the first and second floor covers 102
and 104 in order to
act as a bridge between the first and second floor covers 102 and 104.
Alternatively, the vertical
height of the protruding body 120 of at least one of the connecting members
106 may be set to be
below the top elevation of the first and second floor covers 102 and 104.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 13, and more particularly to FIGS. 11, 12
and 15, the top
side of each one of the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 includes an
annular recess or
depression 128 disposed around each opening 122. Each recess 128 may be
formed, for example,
by weaving or knitting the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 with a
shorter pile and/or a
different texture than the remainder of the first and second floor covers 102
and 104. A pile may
be the raised surface or nap of a fabric, which consists of upright loops or
strands of yarn.
[0063] In other words, each of the first and second floor covers 102 and 104
can be made of a
fabric material having a shorter pile construction and/or a different texture
at the recesses 128
than at other portions (or remainder) of the first and second floor covers 102
and 104. Each
recess 128 in the first floor cover 102 is an integral part (or continuous
part) of the first floor
cover 102, and each recess 128 in the second floor cover 104 is an integral
part of the second
floor cover 104.
[0064] The opening 122 in each recess 128 may be pre-formed during the weaving
and/or
knitting process that is used to create the first and second floor covers 102
and 104. Alternatively,
the opening 122 in each recess 128 in the first and second floor covers 102
and 104 may be
formed by a punching and/or drilling process as known to those skilled in the
art after the first
and second floor covers 102 and 104 are manufactured.
[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, 13 and 15, the recesses 128 in the first
floor cover 102 are
arranged adjacent to the side 110 of the first floor cover 102, and the
recesses 128 in the second
floor cover 104 are arranged adjacent to the side 112 of the second floor
cover 104.
[0066] It is preferred that the fasteners 116, 216 (see FIG. 20), etc., do not
extend above the
height of a modular floor covering system (e.g., above a top surface of the
first and second floor
covers 102 and 104). This way, the possibility of a user tripping over the
fasteners 116 is reduced
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
or eliminated. For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 15, each recess 128
houses at least a portion
of a respective fastener 116, 216, etc., therein (or preferably the entire
fastener 116, 216, etc.,
therein). In addition, when the upper surfaces of the first and second floor
covers 102 and 104
are substantially flush with top surfaces of the fasteners 116, this
configuration provides an even
surface to walk on over the modular rug system.
[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 15, since the connecting element 114 of
each connecting
member 106 extends along the bottom surfaces of (or underneath) the first and
second floor
covers 102 and 104, and since the fasteners 116 are fastened to each
connecting element 114
from the recesses 128 at the top sides of the first and second floor covers
102 and 104, the
fasteners 116 engage with the recesses 128 (or grab the recesses 128) in order
to selectively
connect the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 to each connecting
member 106.
[0068] The recesses 128 in the first and second floor covers 102 and 104 can
also aid in the
installation of the modular floor covering system, serving as a visual guide
by indicating to an
installing technician where the openings 122 are located such that the
technician can quickly and
easily connect the fasteners 116 to the coupling portions 118 in the openings
122.
[0069] FIGS. 21-24 illustrate examples of floor covers having various shapes.
For example, FIG.
21 illustrates a half disk-shaped rug 102A. FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 respectively
illustrate
rectangular-shaped rugs 120B, 102C and 102D, each having different sizes
and/or proportions
from one another. The floor covers 102A-102D illustrated in FIGS. 21-24 can be
used in
combination with one another or with floor covers described elsewhere in this
specification in
order to form a modular floor covering system that has a desired shape and/or
size.
[0070] The recesses 128 are illustrated as being round in the drawings, but
the present invention
is not limited to this configuration. The recesses 128 can also have other
shapes, for example, an
13
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
oval shape, an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, or an irregular shape
including flat and/or
curved sides.
[0071] As stated above, the present invention is directed to a modular floor
covering system that
includes a plurality of floor covers selectively connected to one another to
form a composite
floor-covering configuration. In other words, two or more floor covers can be
selectively
connected to one another to form a modular floor covering system. While the
embodiments
described above illustrate a modular floor covering systems with two floor
covers, it is important
to convey that there is no limit on the number of floor covers that can be
connected to one
another in order to form a modular floor covering system of the present
invention. The number of
floor covers that are connected to one another depends on the shape and size
of the floor area that
needs to be covered, among many other considerations described below, such as
spacing
concerns (e.g., whether the individual pieces of carpet/rug material fit into
a transporting vehicle,
narrow hallways, small elevators, etc.).
[0072] Merely as an example, the embodiment of FIG. 25 illustrates a modular
floor covering
system that includes six floor covers.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 25, a modular floor covering system includes a
plurality of floor
covers 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 and 312, and a plurality of connecting members
314, a plurality
of connecting members 316, a plurality of connecting members 318, a plurality
of connecting
members 320, and a plurality of connecting members 322 selectively connecting
the floor covers
302-312 to one another.
[0074] Each of the connecting members 314, 316, 318, 320 and 322 may be the
same as or
similar to a connecting member 106, or the same as other connecting members
described above.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 25, the floor cover 304 may include a plurality of
depressions 330
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
arranged along an edge adjoining the floor cover 302. The floor cover 302 may
include a
plurality of depressions 332 along an edge adjoining the floor cover 304. The
depressions 330
and 332 may be the same as or similar to the depressions 128 described above.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 25, the floor cover 306 may include a plurality of
depressions 334
arranged along an edge adjoining the floor cover 302. The floor cover 302 may
include a
plurality of depressions 336 along an edge adjoining the floor cover 306. The
depressions 334
and 336 may be the same as or similar to the depressions 128 described above.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 25, the floor cover 308 may include a plurality of
depressions 348
arranged along an edge adjoining the floor cover 306. The floor cover 306 may
include a
plurality of depressions 346 along an edge adjoining the floor cover 308. The
depressions 346
and 348 may be the same as or similar to the depressions 128 described above.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 25, the floor cover 310 may include a plurality of
depressions 342
arranged along an edge adjoining the floor cover 302. The floor cover 302 may
include a
plurality of depressions 344 along an edge adjoining the floor cover 310. The
depressions 342
and 344 may be the same as or similar to the depressions 128 described above.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 25, the floor cover 312 may include a plurality of
depressions 338
arranged along an edge adjoining the floor cover 302. The floor cover 302 may
include a
plurality of depressions 340 along an edge adjoining the floor cover 312. The
depressions 338
and 340 may be the same as or similar to the depressions 128 described above.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 25, all the sides of the floor cover 302 include
connecting
members 314-320 in order to selectively connect the floor covers 304, 306 310
and 312 all
around the floor cover 302. Depending on the desired configuration of a
modular floor covering
system, one side, more than one side, or all of the sides of a floor cover can
be selectively
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
connected to neighboring floor cover(s) in order to form the modular floor
covering system of
the present invention.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 25, a plurality of gaps 324-332 are formed between
the floor covers
302-312. Each one of the gaps 324-332 is preferably constant in width
throughout a length of the
edges of its respective floor covers. The gaps 324-332 may be the same size as
one another, or
may be of different sizes. In an embodiment, a modular floor covering system
can also have a
combination of gaps that are equal to one another (e.g., equal widths) and
gaps that are different
from one another (e.g., different widths).
[0082] The modular floor covering system according to the present invention
can be
advantageously configured to cover a variety of surface areas having different
shapes and/or
sizes, for example, compound shapes composed of two or more elemental (or
geometric) shapes,
and/or irregular shapes. In other words, the individual pieces of carpet, rug
and/or non-woven
flexible material sheets that form a particular overall shape or configuration
may have, for
example, a polygonal, circular, elliptical, oval, or irregular shape.
[0083] Since the upper surface of each rug of a modular floor covering system
of the present
invention can be depressed (or recessed) at specific locations in order to fit
the fasteners therein
(e.g., fasteners 116, 216, etc.) the fasteners can be prevented from
protruding upwardly over the
top surface of each rug. This configuration can reduce the likelihood of
causing a user to trip the
since the fasteners do not protrude upwardly over the upper surface of the
rugs.
[0084] The depressions (or recesses) can also visually aid a technician in
locating the through
openings in the rugs of the modular rug system of the present invention such
that the technician
can quickly and efficiently install the connecting members 106, 206, or the
like to the rugs.
[0085] In order to expedite the installation process of a modular rug system
of the present
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
invention, and for aesthetic purposes, the recesses/depressions on the rugs,
as described above,
can be manufactured by using a different yarn, a different knitting or weaving
pattern, or a
combination thereof, than the rest of the rug in order to further assist a
technician in visually
distinguishing the depressions during installation of the modular rug system.
However, the
present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the
recesses/depressions can also
manufactured by using the same yarn and/or the same knitting or weaving
pattern as the rest of
the rug.
[0086] The configuration of a modular floor covering system of the present
invention is
advantageous not only for enabling protective floor coverage of various
shapes, but also for
enabling a piece-wise installation of the covering system where the
transportation and
installation of a large one-piece floor covering system would be impractical
or cost prohibitive.
[0087] For example, the process of manufacturing one large piece of carpet and
then cutting that
piece into a compound or irregular shape for covering only a desired floor
area may be
impractical and/or cost prohibitive.
[0088] In addition, it may be impractical or even impossible to transport one
large piece of
carpet or rug from a delivery vehicle into a room other destination when the
path leading to that
destination includes spatial restrictions such as narrow corridors with bends
and a low ceiling,
small elevators with a low ceiling, narrow doors, and so on.
[0089] The present invention solves such issues by modularizing a floor
covering system into
individual components that are easy to manufacture, transport, and install on
a piece-by-piece
basis.
[0090] In addition, the use of the connecting members of the present invention
not only ensures
that the individual floor covering components remain attached to one another
after installation,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
such use also creates a visual gap between the individual floor covering
components that
improves the aesthetics of the finished product.
[0091] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described
with reference to
exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art that
various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from
the spirit and
scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-26
