Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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LAMINATE FLOOR JOINERY CLIP AND
METHOD AND SYSTEM OF USING SAME
EACRGRQUND OF TH8 INVENTION
Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates in general to a
joinery clip for joining adjacent panel or floor sections in
abutting relationship, a panel system of adjacently positioned
panels secured in abutting relationship, and a flooring system
including a plurality of flooring planks connected in abutting
relationship. Particularly, the present invention is directed
to a joinEry clip having a body portion, a first flange
section extending away from the body portion, and a second
flange section spaced from the first flange section and
extending away from the body portion. The first and second
flange sections each have a barb configured to be received in
a channel of one of the adjacent floor sections being joined.
The barbs have a tang portion that prevents ready removal of
the barb when received in the channel.
The panel system of the invention has at least two
panels positioned in adj-acent abutting relationship, each
panel having a top side and a bottom side. Each panel has at
least one extending groove formed in the bottom side of the
panel. Additionally, the panel system has a clip for joining
the adjacently positioned panels that abut each other edge to
edge. The clip is similar to the joinery clip described
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above. The barb of the first flange section is engaged in a
groove of one of the adjacently positioned panels and the barb
of the second flange section is engaged in a groove of the
other of the adjacently positioned panels. The barbs have a
tang portion that prevents ready removal of the barbs from the
grooves.
The flooring system of the invention is comprised of
at least two flooring planks disposed in adjacent abutting
relationship and a clip for connecting the flooring planks.
The flooring planks each have a top surface and a bottom
surface and include at least one groove extending in the
bottom surface. The body portion of the clip is disposed
against the seam formed between the two flooring planks. The
barb of the first flange section of the clip is engaged in a
groove of one of the flooring planks and the barb of the
second flange section of the clip is engaged in a groove of
the other of the flooring planks.
The present invention is further directed to a
method of installing a floor using a joinery clip to connect
adjacent pieces of flooring material.
D scription Of Related Art
A variety of materials are available for use as
floorings. Several of these materials are sold in the form of
panels or planks including laminate and natural wood
materials. A floor of this type may generally be installed by
laying appropriately sized panels of flooring material side by
side and connecting the panels to each other and, sometimes,
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to the underlying surface onto which the floor is being
installed.
Frequently, flooring material comprised of panels
are connected together by a ~tongue and groove" method. The
panels employed in this process typically are narrow and
rectangular in shape having a length substantially greater
. than their width, but can be square in shape and in some
instances triangularly shaped. Most commonly, the two panels
are positioned in adjacent abutting relationship and connected
together along their lengths. Along one lengthwise side of a
panel there is a protrusion formed by the panel material
commonly referred to as a "tongue". Along the other
lengthwise side of the same panel there is a groove or recess
formed into the panel material. When two such panels are laid
next to each other along their lengthwise sides, the tongue
side of one panel fits into the groove side of the other
panel. The fitting of the tongue side of the first panel into
the groove side of the second panel forms a first physical
connection between the two panels. The tongue and groove
arrangement aligns the top surfaces of the panels.
Likewise formed panels can be similarly added and
connected to the first two panels until a desired area is
covered by the connected panels to form a floor. The length
of the panels can be adjusted to fit the size of the room in
which the floor is being installed without losing the tongue
and groove mechanism of connecting the panels.
Typically, a second physical connection is made at
the seams between adjacent panels by using glue, mastic's
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screws, or nails. Glue is also used to seal and waterproof
the seams.
The installation of a floor having panels fitted
together by the tongue and groove method and sealed with glue
generally requires additional steps. For example, the first
three rows of panels of the floor must not only be glued, but
_ clamped together to establish a straight line. Additional
panels are also glued at the seams, but do not require
clamping. While the glue is necessary to seal the seams
created between panels by the tongue and~groove connections,
excess glue is extruded through the seam onto the surface of
the panels. Consequently, a significant amount of time is
needed to clean the glue off of the decorative surface of the
panels. If not removed, excess glue creates a haze on the
surface of the floor and is cosmetically undesirable.
In addition to the clamping and cleaning steps,
floors formed by panels that are glued together require
expansion joints approximately every twenty feet. A wood
floor comprised of panels that are glued together essentially
forms a solid structure. The expansion joints compensate for
the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. A raised
molding is installed as an expansion joint every twenty feet
in a glued floor. As with the gluing step, the installation
of expansion joints increases the overall installation time
for the floor.
As the floor is used, the individual panels will
undergo normal wear and tear. If the seams between the panels
are sealed with glue, replacement of individual panels that
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become damaged is more difficult because the glue line must be
broken. The floor is also more difficult to disassemble when
glue is used. Consequently, there are limitations associated
with the use of glue to seal the seams formed between adjacent
panels.
In view of the above, there remains a need for a
device that can be used to connect adjacent floor panels
together without needing glue to create a seal at the seams.
Further, there remains a need for a panel system including a
series of laminate or wood panels connected together in a
manner that does not require glue, clamps, or expansion joints
and the deficiencies associated with their use. There also
remains a need for a flooring system comprised of panels
connected together without the use of glue to seal the seams
between the panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in and apparent from the description and drawings
that follow, as well as will be learned by practice of the
invention. Additional advantages of the invention will be
realized and attained by the elements of the apparatus,
systems, and method particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
Advantages of the present invention include
elimination of the need to use glue to seal the seams formed
between the individual panels or planks used to form a floor.
Therefore, the need to clean excess glue from those seams is
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eliminated while still maintaining a tight joint between the
panels or planks. An additional advantage of the present
invention is a reduction in the time needed to install the
floor because it is no longer necessary to remove excess glue.
Damaged panels or planks are more easily replaced and entire
floors are more easily disassembled using the present
invention. The present invention may be used in conjunction
with the traditional "tongue and groove" method of connecting
floor panels or planks. To achieve these and other advantages
and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention
is directed to a joinery clip, a panel system, a flooring
system, and a method of installing a floor.
The joinery clip has a body portion, a first flange
section, and a second flange section. The first flange
section extends away from the body portion. The second flange
section is spaced from the first flange section and also
extends away from the body portion. Both the first and second
flange sections have a barb that is ccynfigured to be received
in a channel of a flooring section. Each flooring section,
whether a panel or plank, has at least one channel formed in
the bottom surface. The channels are formed in proximity to
the edges of the flooring sections. The barbs of the flange
sections of the joinery clip of the invention each have a tang
portion that prevents ready removal of the barbs when they are
received within the channels of the flooring sections.
The panel system of the invention has at least two
panels and a clip, similar to the joinery clip described
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above) for connecting the panels together. The panels are
positioned adjacent to and abutting each other along their
edges. The panels have a top side and a bottom side, the
bottoms sides of each of the panels having a groove formed
therein. The barb of the first flange section of the joinery
clip is engaged in the groove of one of the panels and the
barb of the second flange section of the joinery clip is
engaged in the groove of the other of the panels. The tang
portions of the barbs prevent ready removal of the barbs from
the respective grooves.
The grooves formed in the bottom sides of the panels
of the panel system are formed along the lengths of the
panels. More than one groove can be formed in the bottom side
of each panel. Generally, if there is more than one groove
formed in the bottom side of a panel, the additional grooves
are formed along the other edges of the panel. More than one
joinery clip can be used to connect or join the adjacent
panels where they abut each other edge to edge.
The flooring system of the invention has at least
two flooring planks and at least one clip for connecting the
flooring planks together. The clips are similar to the
joinery clips described herein. The flooring planks are
positioned adjacent each other so that their edges abut. Each
of the flooring planks has a top surface and a bottom surface,
the bottom surface having an extending groove. The flooring
planks also each have two length sides and two width sides.
One of the length sides has a recess formed into it and the
other of the length sides has a protrusion formed on it. The
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protrusion is sized to complement the recess. The flooring
planks are first joined by fitting the protrusion along the
length of one of the flooring planks into the recess formed in
one of the lengths of the other flooring plank. In order to
securely connect the two flooring planks together, the body
portion of the clip is disposed against the seam formed
between the abutting edges of the flooring planks. The barb
of the first flange section of the clip is engaged in the
groove of one of the flooring planks. The barb of the second
flange section is engaged in the groove of the other flooring
plank. The barbs of the clip have tang portions to prevent
ready removal of the barbs from the grooves of the flooring
planks.
The grooves formed in the bottom surfaces of the
flooring planks can be formed along the length of the flooring
planks. Typically, in the flooring system, the length sides
of the flooring planks will abut each other, therefore, the
grooves in which the clip is engaged are along the length
sides. More than one groove can be formed in the bottom
surfaces of the flooring planks. Multiple grooves permit
connections to adjacent flooring planks on more than one side.
If multiple grooves are used, they are formed along the edges
of the flooring planks. The flooring planks can be made of
laminate, natural wood, or another suitable flooring material.
The flooring planks can be pretreated to have water-proof or
other desirable properties.
The objects and advantages of the present invention
are further achieved by a method of installing a floor. The
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method of installing a floor includes the steps of positioning
at least two floor panels, fitting the floor panels together
along their lengths by a "tongue and groove" arrangement,
selecting a number of joinery clips, disposing the joinery
clips, and engaging the joinery clips into the floor panels.
The floor panels are positioned adjacent to each other so that
their edges abut each other. The floor panels each have a top
surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surfaces having
grooves formed along each side of the floor panels. Each
floor panel has two lengthwise sides. Oae of the lengthwise
sides has a recess formed therein and the other lengthwise
side has a protrusion formed on it. The protrusion is sized
to fit into the recess of a similarly configured adjoining
floor panel. When positioned next to each other, the recess
side of one panel is adjacent to the protrusion side of the
other panel. The method includes a step of fitting the
protrusion side of the one floor panel into the recess side of
the other floor panel.
The flooring panels are maintained in abutting
adjacent position by using a sufficient number of joinery
clips to securely connect the abutting edges of the flooring
panels. The joinery clips have a body portion, a first flange
section, and a second flange section. Both the first and
second flange sections extend away from the body portion. The
second flange section is spaced from the first flange section.
Both of the flange sections include a barb and each of the
barbs has a tang portion.
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The joinery clips are disposed such that the body
portions of the clips are positioned against the seam formed
by the abutting edges of the adjacent floor panels. With the
body portion spanning the seam formed between the two floor
panels, the barb of the first flange section of the clip is
engaged in the groove in the bottom surface of one of the
floor panels. Next, the barb of the second flange section is
engaged in the groove of the other floor panel. The floor
panels are connectEd together by~the joinery clips being
engaged in the grooves formed in the bottom surfaces of the
floor panels.
Additional floor panels can be connected together
using the joinery clips. Floor panels can be connected
together along any of their edges because each edge of a floor
panel has a groove formed in its bottom surface. A sufficient
number of floor panels are connected together in a desired
pattern to form a floor covering the desired area.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing
general description and the following detailed description are
exemplary and provided for purposes of explanation only, and
are not restrictive. of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the
preferred embodiment of the invention, and together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
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1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the
joinery clip of the present invention.
Fig. 2 ie a perspective view of another example of
the joinery clip of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the joinery clip shown in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the joinery clip shown in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an end view of the joinery clip shown in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an example of the
panel system of the invention.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom side of a
panel that can be used for the panel system of the invention.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an example of the
flooring system of the invention.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an additional
example of the flooring system of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the joinery clip, panel system, and
flooring system of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,
the same reference characters will be used throughout the
drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, where
it is needed to provide a clearer description of the
invention, different reference characters are used to refer to
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like parts. The method of the present invention will be
described in conjunction with the detailed description of the
joinery clip and the flooring system for clarity.
An exemplary embodiment of the joinery clip of the
present invention is shown in Fig. 1 and designated generally
by reference character 100. The joinery clip 100 is comprised
of a body portion 110, a first flange section 120 and a second
flange section 130. The body portion 110 is preferably of
flat dimension so that when the joinery clip 100 is used to
join adjacent panels or floor sections, the body portion 1l0
does not contribute significantly to the thickness of the
panel system or flooring system. The dimensions of the body
portion 110 are dependent upon the span across which the
joinery clip 100 must join the adjacent panels or flooring
sections.
Extending away from the body portion 110 is a first
flange section 120. At the opposite side of and also
extending away from the body portion 110 is a second flange
section l30. The first flange section l20 and second flange
section l30 extend far enough away from the body portion 110
to be engaged in a groove or charnel of a panel or flooring
section. The first flange section 120 and second flange
section 130 are spaced a predetermined distance apart to be
able to join two adjacent panels or flooring sections.
The first flange section 120 has a barb l40 and the
second flange section 130 has a barb 150. The barbs, 140 and
l50, are configured to be received in a channel or groove -
formed in the bottom sides of the adjacent panels or flooring
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sections. Barb 140 has a tang portion 160 and barb 150 has a
tang portion 170 designed to prevent the ready removal of the
barbs from the channels or grooves into Which they have been
inserted. In Fig. 1, the barbs, 140 and 150, are directed
outward away from the body portion 110. Another example of
the joinery clip 100 of the invention is depicted in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 2, the barbs, 140 and 150, are directed inward toward
the body portion 110. As with the joinery clip 100 dzpicted
in Fig. 1, the tang portions, 160 and 170, of the barbs, 140
and 150, shown in Fig. 2 prevent the ready removal of the
barbs from the channels or grooves into which they have been
inserted. Because the tang portions, 160 and 170, grip the
interior of the channel, the barbs, 140 and 150, must be
removed from the channels by using a screwdriver or similar
implement.
The barbs, 140 and 15Q, depicted in Figs..1 andJ2,
are continuous along the entire lengths of the first flange
section 120 and the second flange section 130, respectively.
In another embodiment of the joinery clip 100 of the
invention, the barbs extend only along part of the length of
the flange sections. Further, it is also possible to have
multiple barbs spaced intermittently along the lengths of the
flange sections. Regardless of the number or lengths of the
barbs, the barbs are configured to be received in channels and
they have tang portions to prevent ready removal from the
channels.
Fig. 3 shows a top view of the joinery clip 100
depicted in Fig. 1. The planar dimension of the body portion
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i
110 is visible in~Fig. 3. The barb 140 of the first flange
section 120 and the barb 150 of the second flange section 130
are shown extending vertically downward away from the body
portion 110. In this embodiment, the barbs, 140 and 150, are
angled downward in order to be received in the channels of
adjacent floor sections. Fig. 4 is a side view of the joinery
clip 100 depicted in Fig. 1. In the side view of the joinery
clip 100, the second flange section 130 is visible. Also
visible are the tang portion 170 and barb 150 of the second
flange section 130. The tang portion 170 is configured to
prevent ready removal of the barb l50 from a groove or channel
into which the second flange section has been inserted.
Fig. 5 depicts an end view of the joinery clip 100
depicted in Fig. 1. The relative dimensions of the body
portion 110, the first flange section 120 and the second
flange section 130 are visible. The width of the first flange
section 120, inciuding~the barb 140 and-tang portion 16D, is
approximately the same as the width of the channel into which
the first flange section 120 will be inserted. Likewise, the
width of the second flange section 130, including the barb 150
and tang portion 170, is approximately the same as the width
of the channel formed in the bottom side of the adjacent panel
or flooring section into which the second flange section 130
will be inserted.
The joinery clip 100 of the invention can be made of
aluminum) plastic, or other suitable material sufficiently
strong to connect adjacent panels or flooring sections. The
joinery clip material is selected to be compatible with the
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i
panel or flooring material and with the intended use of the
panel system or flooring system.
An exemplary embodiment of the panel system of the
invention is depicted in Fig. 6. While the panel system
depicted in Fig. 6 is exemplary of the panel system of the
invention, the panel system of the invention is not limited to
two panels; additional panels may be used as needed for the
desired application.
The panel system 200 is comprised of at least two
panels and at least one clip for joining adjacently positioned
panels. The panel system 200 includes a number of clips
sufficient to securely join the panels. In Fig. 6, a first
panel 210 is positioned in adjacent abutting relationship to a
second panel 220. As depicted, the panels are adjacently
abutting each other when they are positioned such that their
sides are in contact and a seam is formed between them. The
panels, 210 and 220, each have a top side, 230 and 235,
respectively, and a bottom side, not visible in Fig. 6. Each
panel, 210 and 220, also has a recess '(groove) 260 formed into
one of its sides and a protrusion (tongue) 265 formed on the
opposite side. In Fig. 6, the protrusion 265 of the second
panel 220 is disposed within the recess 260 of the first panel
210. Additional panels can be positioned adjacent to the
exposed sides of the panels, 210 and 220. A protrusion of
another panel could be disposed within the recess 260 of the
second panel 220 and the protrusion 265 of the first panel 210
could be disposed within a recess of another panel.
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Each panel, 210 and 220, also has a groove or
channel, 240 and 250, respectively, formed in its bottom side.
The grooves, 240 and 250, either can extend the entire length
of the panels, 210 and 220, or they can only be formed at the
locations in the bottom sides where it is necessary to insert
a clip 100. In Fig. 6, the grooves, 240 and 250, extend the
length of panels, 210 and 220, as depicted by the broken
lines. The configuration of the grooves, 240 and 250, provides
a snug fit with the barbs of the clip 100. The depth of the
grooves, 240 and 250, is selected to provide good engagement
with the barbs. Preferably, the depth of the grooves, 240 and
250, is less than one half the height of the panels, 210 and
220. If the grooves, 240 and 250, are too deep, the structure
of the panels, 210 and 220, is weakened.
The panel system 200 also comprises a clip 100 for
joining the adjacently positioned panels, 210 and 220. The
clip 100 is similar to the joinery clip depicted in Figs. 1-5
and described above. The body portion 1l0 of the clip 100
spans across the seam formed between the bottom sides of the
adjacent abutting panels, 210 and 220. The body portion 110
also extends a short distance along the seam. The first
flange section 120 of the clip 100 is engaged in the groove
240 of the first panel 210. The barb of the first flange
section 120 is configured to fit within the groove 240.
Similarly, the second flange section 130 of the clip 100 is
engaged in the groove 250 of the second panel 220. The barb
of the second flange section l30 is configured to fit within
the groove 250. The tang portions of the barbs of the flange
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sections engage the sidewalls of the grooves, 240 and 250, and
prevent ready removal of the flange sections from the grooves,
240 and 250. The tang portion is formed at an angle with the
top of the barb. The width at the top of the barb is narrower
than the width at the bottom, where the tang portion is
located. The increasing width of the barb permits easy
insertion of the flange section into the groove but resists
removal of the flange section from the groove.
Not visible, but shown by broken lines in Fig. 6,
the grooves, 240 and 250, are formed through the full length
of the sides of the panels, 210 and 220, that are adjacently
abutting each other. Therefore, more than one clip 100 can be
used to join the panels, 210 and 220. In order to reduce the
span between the panels, 210 and 220, that must be covered by
the body portion 110 of the clip, the grooves, 240 and 250,
preferably are formed near the edges of the panels, 210 and
220.
In another embodiment of the panel system of the
invention, the panel 2l0 has more than one groove formed in
its bottom side for receiving clips. The plurality of grooves
pernrits the panel 210 to be joined to adjacent panels on each
of its sides. Fig. 7 depicts the bottom side 270 of a panel
210. In addition to groove 240, the bottom side 270 has
additional grooves, 242, 244, and 246, formed into it. The
plurality of grooves, 240, 242, 244, and 246, permits the
panel 210 to be joined with adjacent abutting panels on each
of its sides. More than one clip may be engaged in each of
the grooves, 240, 242, 244, and 246, to join the panel 210
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with adjacent abutting panels. The clips 100 can be engaged
at the ends or in the middles of the grooves, 240, 242, 244,
and 246. The number of clips used is dependent on the
dimensions of the panels 210 being joined and the magnitude of
separating force to which the panels will be exposed. With
some panel systems 200, it may be possible to reduce the
number of clips by increasing the length of the body portion
l10 of the clips 100.
The panel 210 has edges 280 A, B, C, and D that
define its perimeter. In order to reduce the size of the
clips needed to join like-sized panels 2l0, the grooves, 240,
242, 244, and 246, are formed parallel to and near the edges
280 A, 8, C, and D. However, a sufficient portion of the body
of the panel 210 should be maintained between the edges 280 A,
H, C, and D and the grooves, 240, 242, 244, and 246, to
prevent the panel 210 from breaking and to provide a strong
connection between panels.
The panel system of the invention may be comprised
of as many panels as are necessary to form the desired area of
connected panels. Such a system of panels may be used for a
variety of purposes. For example, the panel system may be
used to form a wall covering, a partition, a sound barrier, a
ceiling, or a floor. The material out of which the panels are
constructed is selected to suit the purpose of the panel
system, so long as it is capable of having a groove formed
therein. For example, if the panel system is to be used for a
decorative-type covering, the top side may be patterned. If - -
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the panel system is to act as a sound barrier, a sound
absorbing material may be used to fabricate the panels.
The present invention also encompasses a flooring
system. An exemplary embodiment of the flooring system of the
invention is depicted in Fig. 8. However, the flooring system
of the invention is not limited to two flooring planks. A
plurality of flooring planks may be used in the flooring
system of the invention so that the resulting floor surface
covers the desired area.
The flooring system 300 comprises at least two
flooring Blanks, 310 and 320, and at least one connecting clip
100. While the flooring planks, 310 and 320, may be of any
dimension, those depicted in Fig. 8 are of a length
substantially longer than their width. The sides of the
flooring planks, 310 and 320, are in adjacent abutting
relationship to each other forming a seam 368. The first
flooring plank 310 has a top surface 330 and a bottom surface,
not visible in Fig. 8. The second flooring plank 320 has a
top surface 335 and a bottom surface, also not visible in Fig.
8. The first flooring plank 310 has a groove 340 formed
through the length of its bottom surface; likewise, the second
flooring plank 320 has a groove 350 formed through the length
of its bottom surface. Though the bottom surfaces are not
visible, the hidden appearances of the grooves, 340 and 350,
formed through the lengths of the flooring planks, 310 and
320, are depicted by broken lines. As with the panel system
of the invention, the grooves, 340 and 350, may either extend
the entire length of the flooring planks, 310 and 320, or they
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may only be formed at those points along the lengths where
clips will be engaged.
Each flooring plank, 310 and 320, may employ a
"tongue and groove" arrangement. The tongue and groove
arrangement generally includes a recess (groove) formed into
one side and a protrusion (tongue) formed on the other side of
a flooring plank. The protrusion is sized to fit into the
recess formed in the side of an adjacent flooring plank. In
Fig. 8, each of the flooring planks, 310 and 320, has a recess
360 along one side and a protrusion 365 along the opposite
side. The protrusion 365 of the second flooring plank 320 is
disposed or inserted within the recess 360 of the first
flooring plank 310. The protrusion side of an additional
flooring plank can be inserted within the exposed recess 360
of the second flooring plank 320. Likewise, the exposed
protrusion 365 of the first flooring plank 310 may be inserted
within the recess of an additional flooring plank. With
flooring planks that are rectangular in shape, the tongue and
groove are generally disposed on opposite lengthwise sides.
With square flooring planks, each plank generally includes
either a11 tongues or a11 grooves on each side. The
appropriate plank is then selected depending on whether a
tongue or a groove side is exposed.
The clip 100 of the flooring system 300 may be used
in conjunction with the tongue and groove arrangement between
flooring planks, 310 and 320. When it is used, the tongue and
groove arrangement keeps the top surfaces of the flooring
planks aligned.
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The clip 100 of the flooring system 300 is similar
to the joinery clip depicted in Figs. 1-5. The body portion
110 of the clip 100 is disposed against the seam 368 formed
between the abutting flooring planks, 310 and 320. The barb
140 of the clip 100 is engaged in the groove 340 of the first
flooring plank 310. The other barb 150 of the clip 100 is
engaged in the groove 350 of the second flooring plank 320.
The tang portions of the barbs prevent the ready removal of
the barbs, 140 azd 150, from the grooves, 340 and 350.
while mostly hidden in Fig. 8, the grooves, 340 and
350, can extend along the entire length of the flooring
planks, 310 and 320. The extension of the grooves. 340 and
350, is depicted by broken lines in Fig_ 8. In order to
minimize the distance spanned by the body portion 1l0 of the
clip 100, the grooves, 340 and 350, are formed proximately to
the abutting edges of the flooring planks, 310 and 320. More
than one clip 100 can be used to connect the flooring planks,
310 and 320. The number of clips selected can depend on the
length of the flooring planks and the forces working to pull
the planks apart. The clips can be engaged at the ends and in
the middles of the grooves, 340 and 350. While the barbs, 140
and 150, of the clip 100 are designed to prevent ready removal
of the clip 100 from the grooves, 340 and 350, the clip 100
can be removed using a screwdriver or other appropriate
implement.
The flooring planks of the flooring system 300 can
have more than one groove.formed in their bottom surfaces.
When a groove is formed along each side of the bottom surface,
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..'
flooring planks can be connected on a11 sides. Another
embodiment of the flooring system of the invention is depicted
in Fig. 9. The flooring planks of the flooring system 400
each have grooves formed along each aide of their bottom
surfaces. In order to reduce the size of the clips needed, it
is preferable to have the grooves formed near the edges of the
bottom surfaces of the flooring planks.
In the flooring system 400, a first flooring plank
410 adjacently abuts, along their lengths, a second flooring
plank 420. For purpose of example and not limitation, the
flooring planks of the flooring system 400 have lengths longer
than their widths, but the lengths of the flooring planks
vary. The second flooring plank 420 adjacently abuts, along
their widths, a third flooring plank 430. At least one clip
100 is engaged within the groove 470 of the first flooring
plank 410 .to connect the first flooring plank 410 with the
second flooring plank 420. Likewise, at least one clip 100 is
engaged within the grooves 470 of the second flooring plank
420 and third flooring plank 430 to connect them together.
Additional flooring planks may be connected to the flooring
planks, 410, 420, and 430 depicted in Fig. 9 until the desired
area of flooring surface is achieved. In order to achieve a
particular pattern or design of flooring planks, the lengths
of the flooring planks may vary.
The flooring planks of the flooring system 400
depicted in Fig. 9 may also be joined by a "tongue and groove"
arrangement. With the "tongue and groove" arrangement, the
protrusion formed along a side of one flooring plank fits into
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the recess formed into a side of an adjacent flooring plank.
Therefore, each flooring plank has a protrusion-bearing side
and a recess-bearing side for joining with similarly
constructed flooring planks on each side. The tongue and
groove arrangement aids the alignment of the top surfaces of
the flooring planks. The recess 460 sides of the second
flooring plank 420 and the third flooring plank 430 are
visible in Fig. 9. One end of the protrusion 465 sides of the
first flooring plank 410 and the third flooring plank 430 are
also visible. In addition to clips, the first flooring plank
410 is also connected to the second and third flooring planks,
420 and 430, by a tongue and groove arrangement.
The flooring planks of the flooring system of the
invention may be constructed of any suitable floor material
capable of having grooves formed in its bottom surface. For
example, the flooring planks may be made of natural wood or
laminate material. In order to provide the desired attributes
of a floor, the flooring planks may be pre-treated. For
example, the flooring planks may be pre-treated with water
repellent so that the flooring system is waterproof. One of
the benefits of the flooring system of the present invention
is elimination of the need to glue the component planks
together. Excess glue is difficult to remove and makes it
difficult to remove individual planks that become damaged or
worn in the normal usage of the floor. The flooring system of
the invention does not require glue and permits replacement of
individual planks. Tight joints are formed between the
flooring planks even though glue is not used. Though usually
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undesirable, glue may be used with the flooring system of the
invention.
The present invention also encompasses a method of
installing a floor. The method includes positioning at least
two floor panels adjacent to each other. A side of one floor
panel will be adjacent a side of the other floor panel and
will form a seam between the floor panels. The floor panels
each have a top surface and a bottom surface. There are
grooves formed in the bottom surfaces of the panels. The
grooves are formed to run parallel with the edges of the
bottom surfaces of the panels.
The floor panels may be rectangular or of such other
shape that they can be positioned adjacent to each other such
as square, triangular, hexagonal, or octagonal. When the
floor panels are rectangular, each floor panel has two lengths
and two widths. The floor panels may be fabricated such that
adjacent floor panels fit together by a "tongue and groove"
arrangement. For such an arrangement with rectangular floor
panels, each floor panel has a protrusion formed on one of its
sides and a recess formed into the opposite side. The
protrusion is sized to fit into the recess of an adjacent
floor panel. Once the floor panels have been positioned
adjacent to each other, the protrusion of one panel is fit
into the recess of the adjacent panel.
Next, a number of joinery clips are selected for
connecting the floor panels together. The number of joinery
clips selected will depend on the length of the sides of the -
floor panels being connected. More clips may be necessary if
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it is anticipated that the floor panels will be exposed to
increased forces that work to separate the floor panels.
For purpose of example and not limitation, if the
floor panels are four feet long, two joinery clips may be
sufficient to form a tight connection between the floor
panels. The floor panels may also be connected along the seam
formed by the widths of the panels being adjacent to each
other. If the floor panels are four feet long and eight
inches wide, one clip is generally sufficient to connect
adjacent widths of two panels. The number of joinery clips
can potentially be reduced by increasing the length of the
body portion of the joinery clip.
The joinery clips have a body portion, a first
flange section extending away from the body portion, and a
second flange section spaced from the first flange section and
also extending away from the body portion. The first and
second flange sections each have a barb that includes a tang
portion. The joinery clips used in the method of installing a
floor of the invention are similar to the clips depicted in
Figs. 1-5 and described above.
After the necessary number of joinery clips are
selected, the body portions of the joinery clips are disposed
against the seam formed between the two floor panels
positioned adjacent each other. Preferably, the body portion
of the joinery clip is flat so that when it is disposed
against the seam, it does not contribute significantly to the
thickness of the floor. The joinery clips are spaced along
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_.;
1
the seam in such a way that a tight connection will be formed
between the floor panels.
In order to apply the joinery clip to the adjacent
floor panels, the barb of the first flange section of the
joinery clip is engaged in the groove of one of the floor
panels. While the barb is easily inserted into the groove,
the tang portion of the barb prevents movement of the first
flange section out of the groove. The barb of the second
flange section is then engaged in the groove of the other
floor panel. While no tool is necessary to engage the flange
sections in the grooves, a screwdriver or other similar
implement is needed to remove the flange sections from the
grooves.
In some cases, it is desirable to apply protective
coatings to the seam formed between the floor panels. For
example, it may be desirable to apply a waterproofing agent
along the seam formed between the floor panels. A waterproof
surface may also be achieved by pre-treating the cores of the
floor panels prior to installation.
In view of the description above, it is evident that
the present invention reduces the time needed to form a panel
system or to install a floor. Use of the joinery clip of the
invention to connect panels or flooring planks together
eliminates the need to use glue or similar adhesive
substances. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean and
remove excess glue from the seams between adjacent panels or
flooring planks. The present invention also eliminates the
risk of damage to the appearance of the panel system or floor
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that may be caused by excess glue that is either not removed
or inadequately removed. Further, by not using glue, worn or
damaged panels or flooring planks may be replaced
individually. The present invention also allows a panel or
floor system to be easily disassembled.
Although reference has been made to the use of the
joinery clip for forming panel and floor systems for the
purpose of explanation, it ~is understood that alternative uses
may be made of the joinery clip of the invention. It also
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the design and
construction of the joinery clip, panel system, and floor
system, as well as in the performance of the method, without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent
to those skilled in the art from consideration of the
specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.
It is intended that the specification and examples be
considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit
of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
6237163.1 1169B 1227C 973790~l
