U.S. patent application number 09/920855 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-06 for water guard molding and method of installation.
Invention is credited to Stanchfield, Oliver O..
Application Number | 20030024190 09/920855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25444514 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030024190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stanchfield, Oliver O. |
February 6, 2003 |
Water guard molding and method of installation
Abstract
A molding for positioning along a corner formed by an
intersection of a wall and a floating floor, or between adjacent
edges of a floating floor. The molding includes a generally planar
floating floor engaging surface and a wall engaging surface. A pad
is positioned along the floating-floor engaging face, and
resiliently creates a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to
prevent moisture from contacting the corner when the molding is in
an installed position along the corner.
Inventors: |
Stanchfield, Oliver O.;
(Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher, L.L.P.
Suite 850
1615 L Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
25444514 |
Appl. No.: |
09/920855 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/287.1 ;
52/309.13; 52/309.15; 52/470; 52/631; 52/716.2; 52/745.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 19/0477 20130101;
E04F 19/065 20130101; E04F 19/06 20130101; E04F 15/18 20130101;
E04F 2019/0454 20130101; E04F 19/045 20130101; E04F 19/0495
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/287.1 ;
52/309.13; 52/309.15; 52/470; 52/631; 52/716.2; 52/745.21 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/00 |
Claims
1. A molding for positioning along a corner formed by an
intersection of wall and a floating floor, the molding having a
longitudinal axis and comprising: a core; and, a surface formed of
a thermosetting resin and a decor sheet; said molding having a
generally planar floating floor engaging surface; a pad positioned
along the floating-floor engaging surface; wherein, the pad
resiliently creates a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to
prevent moisture from seeping between said floor and said molding
when the molding is in an installed position.
2. The molding as in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive
positioned on the pad and configured to engage the floating floor
when the molding is in the installed position.
3. The molding as in claim 1, further comprising a wall-engaging
surface, and apertures in the wall engaging surface to allow a
connector to pass therethrough, the connector fastening the molding
to the corner when the molding is in the installed position.
4. The molding as in claim 1, wherein the molding has a generally
quarter-round cross-section at planes transverse to the
longitudinal axis.
5. The molding as in claim 3, further comprising an intermediate
surface connecting the wall-engaging surface and the floating-floor
engaging surface.
6. The molding as in claim 5, wherein the intermediate surface is
angled so that the wall, floating floor, and intermediate surface
form a generally triangular shape in a plane transverse to the
longitudinal axis.
7. The molding as in claim 3, further comprising a face on the
molding and positioned to face outwardly from the corner.
8. The molding as in claim 7, wherein the face is one of curved or
flat.
9. The molding as in claim 1, wherein the pad is positioned distal
a front edge of the floating floor engaging surface, wherein the
front edge of the floating floor engaging surface is distal the
corner.
10. The molding as in claim 1, wherein the molding has a generally
uniform cross-section at planes transverse to the longitudinal
axis
11. The molding as in claim 1, wherein the pad is formed of a
material that is a resilient material made from one of a
closed-cell foamed plastic material or an open cell, foamed plastic
material.
12. The molding as in claim 1, further comprising a hollow formed
in the pad.
13. The molding as in claim 1, wherein glue is applied to the pad
immediately before the molding is placed in the installed
condition.
14. The molding according to claim 1, wherein the pad includes a
preformed layer of adhesive; and wherein, a removable film covers
the adhesive.
15. The combination of a floating floor and a molding as set forth
in claim 1.
16. A molding for positioning over adjacent edges of a floating
floor, the molding having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a
first generally planar floating floor engaging surface; a second
generally planar floating floor surface; a first pad positioned
along the first floor engaging surface; a second pad positioned
along the second floor engaging surface wherein, each pad
resiliently creates a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to
prevent moisture from seeping beneath the floating floor when the
molding is in an installed position.
17. The molding as in claim 16, further comprising an adhesive
positioned on at least one of the first pad or second pad, the
adhesive configured to engage the floating floor when the molding
is in the installed position.
18. The molding as in claim 17, wherein the adhesive is preformed
onto the pad, and; a removable film covers the adhesive.
19. The molding as in claim 16, wherein glue is applied to the pad
immediately before the molding is placed in the installed
condition.
20. The molding as in claim 16, further comprising a longitudinally
extending flange positioned between the first floating-floor
engaging surface and the second floating-floor engaging surface,
the flange depending downwardly between the edges when the molding
is in the installed position.
21. The molding as in claim 16, further comprising a face on the
molding and positioned to face outwardly from the floating
floor.
22. The molding as in claim 21, wherein the face has a shape that
is one of a curved shape or a flat shape.
23. The molding as in claim 16, wherein the first floor engaging
surface and the second floor engaging surface are substantially
coplanar.
24. The molding as in claim 16, wherein the molding has a generally
uniform cross-section at planes transverse to the longitudinal
axis.
25. The molding as in claim 16, wherein each pad is formed of a
resilient material that one of an open-cell foamed plastic material
or a closed-cell foamed plastic material.
26. The molding as in claim 16, further comprising a hollow formed
in at least one of the first pad or the second pad.
27. A method of preventing moisture from seeping into a gap between
a floating floor and a molding, the method comprising the steps of:
installing a molding into contact with the floating floor, the
molding being provided with a pad positioned to contact the
floating floor.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pad comprises a resilient
material that is one of a closed cell foamed plastic or an
open-cell foamed plastic.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the molding is a saddle.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein the molding is installed
between the floating floor and a wall.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the molding is installed
between adjacent edges of the floating floor.
32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:
applying a sealant to first and second ends of the molding, the
first and second ends being positioned at opposite ends of a
longitudinal axis of the molding.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the sealant is a silicone
sealant.
34. The method of claim 27, including the step of comprising the
pad when said molding is installed in contact with the floating
floor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is a molding for use with floating floors, for
example, for positioning along the corner formed between a wall and
a floating floor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Floating floors are well-known in the art. In general, a
floating floor provides a unique feel and sound as compared to a
secured floor, which often is a very hard material, such as a
concrete subfloor, or wood applied to a subfloor. A floating floor,
such as a laminate floor, is installed to float above the subfloor
by the use of an underlayment between the subfloor and the floating
floor.
[0003] Of course, the floating floor will have some bend, give and
flexibility. The edges of the floating floor should come as close
as possible to the wall; however, exact precision is rarely
possible. Additionally, expansion gaps are necessary to allow for
expansion of the flooring material. Thus, moldings are used to
cover the edge of the floating floor.
[0004] Notwithstanding their aesthetic and decorative beauty,
floating floors often present maintenance problems. Moisture
seeping between the subfloor and floating floor could cause
extensive damage, especially to composite floating floors, such as
those made of a compressed core of wood fibers, known in the
industry as medium density fiberboard (MDF) and high density
fiberboard (HDF).
[0005] The moldings of the prior art provide an aesthetic, finished
look by hiding the expansion gap that exists between the floating
floor and a wall. However, because a floating floor requires a gap
for expansion space of approximately 1/4", and floats on a sound
deadening or impact-alleviating underlayment, permitting
flexibility of the floating floor, a water tight fit between the
molding of the prior art and the floating floor could not be
maintained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is a molding for positioning along the corner
formed a first surface, such as a wall, and a floating floor. The
molding has a generally planar floating floor engaging surface, and
a wall engaging surface, and is made of the same material as the
floating floor including an identical or complementary color and
pattern. An elastomeric, compressed open-cell, or closed-cell foam
pad is positioned on the lower edge of the molding along the
floating-floor engaging face, and the pad resiliently creates a
substantially moisture-tight seal so as to prevent moisture from
the core of the floating floor, the underlayment, or into the gap
between the floating floor and wall.
[0007] Optionally, the molding may include an adhesive positioned
on the pad and configured to engage the floating floor when the
molding is in the installed position. It may also include apertures
in the wall engaging surface to allow a connector to pass
therethrough, the connector fastening the molding to the corner
when the molding is in the installed position.
[0008] The molding may a generally quarter-round cross-section at
planes transverse to the longitudinal axis. An intermediate surface
may connect the wall-engaging surface and the floating-floor
engaging surface. Generally, the intermediate surface is angled so
that the wall, floating floor, and intermediate surface form a
generally triangular shape in a plane transverse to the
longitudinal axis.
[0009] The molding may have a face positioned to face outwardly
from the corner. The face may be curved or flat, depending on one's
individual tastes. The cross section of the molding, at planes
transverse to the longitudinal axis, may be generally uniform. The
molding may be formed of MDF or HDF to which is adhered a surface
layer or a thermosetting resin and a decor sheet. The resin is
preferably a melamine resin, though other resins are suitable.
Optionally, hard metal or ceramic particles, such as aluminum oxide
or silicon dioxide, etc. may be imbedded in the decor or overlay it
so as to provide abrasion resistance.
[0010] The invention further comprises a method of preventing
moisture from seeping into a gap between a floating floor and a
molding. The method includes the steps of installing a molding into
contact with the floating floor; the molding has a pad positioned
to contact the floating floor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
molding according to the principles of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
molding, according to the principles of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, showing an underside view.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a molding, shown installed
in a corner between a wall and a floating floor.
[0015] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a molding shown installed
in a corner between a wall and a floating floor, wherein the wall
includes a wall base.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a saddle-type molding,
according to the principles of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the molding shown in FIG. 5,
shown in an installed condition.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the molding shown in an installed
condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention. The
molding 10 has a floating-floor engaging face 12 and a second face
14, shown as a wall-engaging face 14. The wall-engaging face 14 may
have apertures 22 extending therethrough to allow an installer to
connect to the wall.
[0020] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a pad 18 is coupled to
the floating-floor engaging face 12 of molding 10. In a preferred
embodiment, no adhesive is necessary to keep the pad 18 in contact
with the floating floor 10. The pad 18 can be effective as a water
tight seal due to the resilient nature of the pad or the pad may be
compressed when engaging the floating floor 26. No other structure
or material is necessary to ensure the water tight seal. However,
an adhesive 19 may be on a surface of the pad 18. An intermediate
surface 16 extends between the floor-engaging surface 12 and the
wall-engaging surface 14. The face 20 of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 is generally planar or flat.
[0021] In FIG. 2, the face 20 is shown as a quarter-round or curved
surface. In either any embodiment of the invention, cross-sections
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the molding are generally
uniform; however, varying cross-sections may also be possible.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows the underside of the molding 10. Pad 18 may be
kept in a water tight relationship with the floating floor 26
solely due to its resilient nature and would be facilitated by a
slight compression of pad 18 when in its installed position. An
adhesive 19 may be applied to the pad 18 in order to keep the pad
18 engaged with the floating floor. In a preferred embodiment, the
adhesive 19 is a preformed layer covered by a removable protective
film 21. In order to install the molding, the protective film 21 is
removed, exposing the adhesive 19; then, the molding 10 is
positioned and installed, as will be shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0023] The floating floor 26 may have pliability; thus, it is
necessary that the pad 18 be resilient, deformable, and remain in
contact with the floating floor engaging surface 12 and the
floating floor 25. Suitable materials for pad 18 include natural
and synthetic rubber, compressed open-cell foamed plastic, closed
cell foamed plastics, elastomeric polymer materials, hollow core
polymeric materials, and similar materials.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram showing the molding 10 in
an installed condition. The floating floor 26 rests on underlayment
28 which are placed on the subfloor 24, thereby creating a space 25
between the floating floor 26 and the subfloor 24. The floating
floor 26 may be formed of interlocking panels, or any other known
floating-floor material. As shown, an expansion gap 30 may exist
between the wall 32 and the edge of the floating floor 26. This gap
30 would allow moisture to seep beneath the floating floor 26.
Moisture would allow bacterial growth that could harm the
underlayment 28, damage the floating floor 26, harm an MDF or HDF
core layer, or otherwise cause damage to the wall 32 or subfloor
24. Hence, a relatively water-resistant and water tight molding 10
is needed.
[0025] When weight is applied to the floating floor 26 near the
wall 32, the floating floor 26 will naturally deform downward
toward the subfloor 24. Consequently, the floating floor 26 may
tend to deform away from the molding 10. However, an adhesive 19
and pad 18 on the floor-engaging surface 12 will assist in
preventing moisture from passing under the molding 10 in the event
weight tends to pull the floating floor 26 away from the molding
10. Alternatively, a compressed foam pad 18 will expand and
contract with the downward and upward movement of the floor, thus
maintaining a seal that prevents moisture from passing under the
molding 10. When no load is applied to the floating floor 26,
however, a front edge of the molding 10 will remain in contact with
the floating floor 26 thereby preventing the formation of a gap
between the floor-engaging surface 12 and the floating floor
26.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows that the molding 10 may also be used in
cooperation with wall base 33. In this embodiment, the
wall-engaging face 14 abuts the wall base 33 instead of the wall
32.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the molding 10, also
known as a saddle-type molding. While the embodiment is different
in its overall function, parts having similar structure have been
given identical reference numbers. The saddle molding 10 in FIG. 5
is for use in preventing moisture from seeping between two
relatively coplanar surfaces, such as adjacent, but separate,
panels of a floor, for example. The molding 10 has a first floating
floor engaging surface 12 and a second floor engaging surface 13.
Each of these has a pad 18 adhered to thereto. A longitudinally
extending flange 17 is formed between the first 12 and second 13
floor engaging surfaces. An adhesive 19 may be applied to a face of
at least one pad 18 in order to maintain contact between the pad 18
and the floating floor 24. A hollow 23 may extend through the pad
18 in order to improve the resilience and flexibility of the pad
18.
[0028] The design as shown in FIG. 5 may also be used as an end
molding or carpet reducer. Frequently, an end molding is placed in
an expansion space. The expansion space may be filled with a
sealant, thereby eliminating or reducing the need for a pad 18.
[0029] The invention may also be incorporated into carpet reducers,
hard surface reducers, T-moldings and stair nosings that are not
flush moldings, and therefore do not require foam beneath the
portions of the moldings that overlap and press against the
floating floor. These embodiments of the invention use a pressure
fit from snapping the moldings 10 into their hidden metal tracks
with sufficient tightness in order to ensure a secure fit. The
stair nosing, for example, is screwed to the subfloor 24 and
creates enough pressure to maintain a tight fit against the
floating floor.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in an installed
condition over adjacent edges of a floating floor 26. The floating
floor 26 is separated from the subfloor 24 by an underlayment 28.
Of course, the molding 10 may be positioned over edges of differing
types of flooring, such as tile, carpet, wood, or the like. As
shown, edges of the floating floor 24 are separated by a gap 30. As
shown the molding 10 fits over the gap 30 so that the flange 17
fits within the gap 30.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the molding 10 of any embodiment may be
used with inside corners 46 or outside corners 47; additionally, a
straight-type joint 48, or even an angled joint (not shown) between
the moldings 10 may also be constructed. Moreover, the molding 10
of the present invention may be incorporated into carpet stops,
door casings, door stops, or door jambs, or any application where a
relatively water-tight, yet aesthetically pleasing, edging or
molding is desired. When the method is used in conjunction with
either type of corner 46, 47 or joint 48, a sealant, such as a
silicone, or equivalent, sealant, should be placed around the cut
edges to seal the same before the corners are joined. Additionally,
silicone, or an equivalent, sealant may also be applied beneath and
behind undercut door casings and door jambs when the flooring is
being installed.
[0032] It is to be understood that the moldings of the invention
are not limited to the shapes illustrated in the appended drawings;
they may be of any shape known to one skilled in the art.
[0033] Moreover, the floating floors, as used in the present
invention, are not limited to a laminate or a core of MDF or HDF,
but may be used with floating floors of any construction, for
example, wood veneer on a base of plywood; solid plastic panels,
composite plastic, and foamed plastic panels; laminate and plywood
panels, composite laminate, MDF or HDF and metal panels, wood and
plastic panels, etc.
[0034] While the embodiments herein have been described in detail,
the descriptions have been for illustrative purposes only, and have
not been intended to limit the scope of the invention. The
invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *